Plug-in type sockets for testing semiconductors

Claim 2

The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the openings in the first and second members comprise transversely extending channels, and wherein the concave surface comprises a recess formed in a side of at least one of the channels, forming spaced shoulders adjacent opposite sides of the recess which are engageable with spaced portions of the conductor.

Claim 3

The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the conductor comprises a resilient member having legs arranged in a substantially U-shaped configuration; a contact element on each leg, said contact elements being wider than the legs; and bearing surfaces adjacent opposite sides of the concave surface in the opening in the actuating member, said bearing surface being engageable with portions of the contact element adjacent edges thereof such that initial movement of theactuating members deflects the legs inwardly to move the contact elements into engagement with the lead positioned therebetween, and additional movement deflects central portions of the contact elements toward the concave surface between the bearing surfaces.

Claim 4

The combination called for in claim 1 with the addition of surfaces on the conductor engageable with surfaces on the actuating members to limit longitudinal movement of said conductor relative to said openings in the actuating members.

Claim 5

The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the means to impart relative movement between the first and second actuating members comprises, actuating means rotatably disposed relative to the first member; and a protrusion on said actuating means movable into engagement with a surface on the second member for moving the openings in the first and second members out of coinciding relationship.

Claim 6

The combination called for in claim 6 wherein the actuating means comprises a shaft and the protrusion comprises an offset section formed in said shaft.

Claim 7

The combination called for in claim 6 wherein the projection comprises a cam; first resilient means secured to the first member; second resilient means secured to the second member; means to secure the cam for rotation relative to the first and second resilient means to exert forces against said first and second resilient means to move the first and second members in opposite directions.

Claim 8

The combination called for in claim 1 wherein said first and second actuating members have a plurality of openings formed therein positionable in coinciding relationship.

Claim 9

The combination called for in claim 9 wherein the openings are arranged in a pattern corresponding to the array of leads on a semiconductor device.

Claim 10

In a socket for making a disengageable connection between leads on a semiconductor device comprising, an electrical conductor having resilient legs arranged in a substantially U-shaped configuration; a contact element on each of said legs, said contact elements being wider than the legs; and actuating means adapted to exert inwardly directed forces adjacent edges of the contact elements for deflecting the resilient legs to move the contact elements into engagement with a lead positioned therebetween, and for deflecting the contact eLements about the longitudinal axis of the lead.

Claim 11

The combination called for in claim 11 wherein the actuating means comprises first and second actuating members; means for mounting the first and second actuating members in sliding relation; bearing surfaces on said first and second actuating members engageable with said contact elements adjacent edges thereof for applying force thereto; and means for moving the first actuating member relative to the second actuating member.

Claim 12

A socket for making electrical connections to each of a plurality of leads on a semiconductor device comprising, a first member having spaced rows of substantially parallel outwardly extending channels formed in the lower surface thereof, said member having a plurality of spaced apertures extending therethrough, each of said apertures intersecting a central portion of one of said channels; a second member having channels formed therein substantially coinciding with the position of channels formed in said first member, passages through said second member intersecting each channel formed therein; spaced shoulders adjacent at least one side of each channel in said second member; a pair of resilient legs extending through each of said passages in said second member; resilient contacts in the channels of the first and second members, said contacts being secured to ends of the legs; means secured between the legs for urging said legs apart to bias said contacts secured thereto into engagement with said shoulders formed in the channels of the second member; and actuating means engageable with the first and second members for imparting relative movement therebetween to move the channels in the first member relative to the channels in the second member, causing the shoulders in the respective channels to engage spaced portions of the contacts for urging said contacts into pressure relation with a lead positioned therebetween.

Claim 13

A socket comprising, upper and lower sections disposed in spaced apart relation; means to secure the upper section relative to the lower section; a central section positioned between said upper and lower sections, said upper and central sections having a plurality of receptacles formed therein; a plurality of electrical conductors communicating with said receptacles; walls in said receptacles adapted to form concave surfaces; means to move the central section of the socket relative to the upper section of the socket urging spaced portions of said concave surfaces against edges of the conductors to position said conductors against terminals inserted into said receptacles and to permit movement of said central section a distance relative to the upper section which is greater than the distance the conductors move to engage the terminals.

Claim 14

A socket for positioning a lead in electrically conductive relation with a conductor comprising, first and second actuating members having openings formed therein, at least one of said openings having a concave surface formed therein; means to movably secure said actuating members together, said openings being positionable in overlying relationship; resilient means secured between the first and second actuating members for biasing said members toward a position wherein openings in the respective members are disposed in overlying relationship; a resilient conductor positioned to extend into said openings; and means to impart relative movement between the first and second actuating members for initially moving said conductor into pressure relation with a lead extending into said openings and to subsequently bend the conductor around a portion of the surface of the lead, said conductor being deformed toward the concave surface.

Claim 15

aA socket for positioning a lead in electrically conductive relation with a conductor comprising first and second actuating members having openings formed therein, at least one of said openings having a concave surface formed therein; means to movably secure said actuating members together, said openings Being positionable in overlying relationship; a resilient conductor positioned to extend into said openings; actuating means rotatably disposed relative to the first actuating member; a cam on said actuating means; first resilient means secured to the first actuating member; second resilient means secured to the second actuating member; means to secure the cam for rotation relative to the first and second resilient means to exert forces against said first and second resilient means to move the first and second actuatin members in opposite directions and for initially moving said conductor into pressure relation with a lead extending into said openings and to subsequently bend the conductor around a portion of the surface of the lead, said conductor being deformed toward the concave surface.

Claim 16

A socket for positioning a lead in electrically conductive relation with a conductor comprising, first and second actuating members having openings formed therein, at least one of said openings having a concave surface formed therein; means to movably secure said actuating members together, said openings being positionable in overlying relationship; a resilient conductor positioned to extend into said openings; and means to impart relative movement between the first and second actuating members for initially moving said conductor into pressure relation with a lead extending into said openings and to subsequently bend the conductor around a portion of the surface of the lead, said conductor being deformed toward the concave surface; wherein the conductor comprises a resilient member having legs arranged in a substantially U-shaped configuration; a contact element on each leg, said contact elements being wider than the legs; and bearing surfaces adjacent opposite sides of the concave surface in the opening in the actuating member, said bearing surface being engageable with portions of the contact element adjacent edges thereof such that initial movement of the actuating members deflects the legs inwardly to move the contact elements into engagement with the lead positioned therebetween, and additional movement deflects central portions of the contact elements toward the concave surface between the bearing surfaces.

Claim 17

A socket for testing semi-conductors having multiple leads comprising, a first plate having circular openings formed therein; a second plate having passages extending therethrough; means to position the first and second plates such that the openings and the passages are in coninciding relationships; a plurality of electrical conductors each having a substantially flat portion positioned in coinciding openings and passages in the first and second plates, said flat portion of each of said conductors having edges adjacent spaced portions of said circular opening; and means to move the first plate relative to the second plate to urge spaced surfaces in the circular opening into engagement with edges of the flat conductor such that the central portion of the conductor will deflect toward the surfaces of the circular opening intermediate said spaced surfaces upon engagement with a semi-conductor lead extending into the passage and the opening.