Patent ID: 7602201

Claim:
A test socket assembly for use in testing an integrated circuit, the test socket assembly comprising: an integrally formed single piece socket formed substantially of an insulating material, the single piece socket having a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the single piece socket has a plurality of holes formed therein, the holes being configured to receive a plurality of electrically conductive springs from the bottom portion of the single piece socket; a plurality of pins, each pin being positioned in one of the plurality of holes of the single piece socket, and each pin configured to receive a lead of the integrated circuit to be tested, by non-zero insertion force of the leads of the integrated circuit through the top portion of the single piece socket; and the plurality of electrically conductive springs, each hole having therein a separate one of the electrically conductive springs; wherein the single piece socket is positionable on a circuit board with the plurality of holes being in alignment with electrical contacts on the circuit board such that the plurality of springs are electrically interconnecting the contacts and the plurality of pins.