Contact module for a low height multi-chip carrier socket

Claim 2

A contact module for arranging with another similar contact module to form a connector for electrically connecting the leads of a component to respective pads on a substrate, wherein the leads are spaced apart and projecting from a peripheral edge of the component, and wherein a positioning means is included for positioning both said contact module and said similar contact module with respect to said pads only during assembly of said modules in said forming of said connector, said positioning means being separable from said modules thereafter, comprising: (a) a body having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of slots formed lateral to said longitudinal axis; (b) a plurality of contacts, one for each of said slots and arranged for electrically connecting some of said leads to respective ones of said pads on said substrate, each said contact including a terminal portion arranged to electrically engage a respective said pad and a contacting portion arranged to electrically engage a respective said lead; (c) locking means for urging each said lead into pressing electrical contact with said contacting portion of a respective one of said contacts; (d) means for engaging features on said positioning means for aligning said body therewith.

Claim 3

The contact module according to claim 1 wherein said features on said positioning means comprise openings and said means for engaging said features comprise a plurality of projections on said body spaced so that some of said projections engage corresponding openings thereby aligning said body with said positioning means.

Claim 4

The contact module according to claim 2 wherein said projections are of cylindrical shape and are spaced in substantially a straight line.

Claim 5

The contact module according to claim 3 including a cutaway in at least one end of said body so that said contact module and said similar contact module can be positioned in close adjacent proximity.

Claim 6

The contact module according to claim 1 wherein each said contact includes a contacting portion and an opposed backup portion, and said locking means includes means for forming each said lead about said contacting portion of its respective contact.

Claim 7

The contact module according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of contacts includes an expandable structure means for storing energy when said locking means is wedged between a respective lead and backup portion so that the stored energy acts to effect said pressing electrical contact.

Claim 8

The contact module according to claim 1 wherein said locking means includes a wedging member having a camming surface for engaging and forming each said lead about its respective contacting portion when assembled to said body.

Claim 9

The contact module according to claim 1 wherein said body includes a bottom and an upstanding wall, a longitudinal groove being disposed in said wall normal to said plurality of slots and arranged to receive said wedging member so that when said wedging member is assembled to said body said camming surfaces will engage and form each said lead about its respective contacting portion.

Claim 10

In a method of making a socket for terminating a chip carrier having a plurality of leads extending outwardly from said carrier, wherein each said lead is electrically connected to a respective contact of said socket which in turn is electrically connected to a respective pad on a substrate, said socket comprising at least a first contact module and a second contact module, wherein a positioning plate is included for aligning and positioning said modules with respect to said pads, each said contact module comprising: (a) a body having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of slots formed lateral to said longitudinal axis; (b) a plurality of contacts, one for each of said slots and arranged for electrically connecting some of said leads to respective ones of said pads on said substrate, each said contact including a terminal portion arranged to electrically engage a respective said pad and a contacting portion arranged to electrically engage a respective said lead; (c) a locking means for urging each said lead against said contacting portion of a respective one of said contacts; (d) means for engaging features on said positioning plate for uniquely aligning said body therewith; the steps comprising: (1) providing a positioning plate having at least one edge and a plurality of features associated with said edge; (2) assembling said first and second contact modules to said positioning plate so that said means for engaging of each module is in aligning engagement with respective ones of said features, said modules being in mutual alignment with said edge; (3) aligning said positioning plate so that said terminal portion of each contact in said modules is in alignment with and close proximity to a respective one of said pads on said substrate; (4) providing low resistance contact between each said terminal portion to its said respective pad; and (5) then removing said positioning plate.

Claim 11

In a method of making a socket for terminating a chip carrier having a plurality of leads extending outwardly from said carrier, wherein each said lead is electrically connected to a respective contact of said socket which in turn is electrically connected to a respective pad on a substrate, said socket comprising at least a first contact module and a second contact module, wherein a positioning plate is included for aligning and positioning said modules with respect to said pads, each said contact module comprising: (a) a body having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of slots formed lateral to said longitudinal axis; (b) a plurality of contacts, one for each of said slots and arranged for electrically connecting some of said leads to respective ones of said pads on said substrate, each said contact including a terminal portion arranged to electrically engage a respective said pad and a contacting portion arranged to electrically engage a respective said lead; (c) a locking means for urging each said lead against said contacting portion of a respective one of said contacts; (d) means for engaging features on said positioning plate for uniquely aligning said body therewith; the steps comprising: (1) providing a positioning plate having at least one edge and a plurality of features associated with said edge; (2) assembling said first and second contact modules to said positioning plate so that said means for engaging of each module is in aligning engagement with respective ones of said features, said modules being in mutual alignment with said edge; (3) aligning said positioning plate so that said terminal portion of each contact in said modules is in alignment with and close proximity to a respective one of said pads on said substrate; (4) providing low resistance contact between each said terminal portion to its said respective pad; and (5) then removing said positioning plate.

Claim 12

The method according to claim 9 including the step: applying adhesive to a junction of said modules and said substrate sufficient to secure said modules to said substrate.

Claim 13

The method according to claim 10 wherein said step of applying adhesive is performed after step (5).

Claim 14

The method according to claim 9 wherein said step of providing a low resistance contact includes soldering said terminal portions to their respective pads.

Claim 15

The method according to claim 9 including prior to step (2) the following step: (1.1) cutting one of said first and second contact modules to a length corresponding to the length of its respective said edge of said positioning plate.

Claim 16

A connector for electrically connecting the leads of a component to respective pads on a substrate, wherein the leads are spaced apart and projecting from a peripheral edge of the component, said connector comprising: at least two similar contact modules, wherein a positioning means is included for aligning and positioning said modules with respect to said pads only during assembly of sid modules into said connector, said positioning means being separable from said modules thereafter, each said module comprising: (a) a body having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of slots formed lateral to said longitudinal axis; (b) a plurality of contacts, one for each of said slots and arranged for electrically connecting some of said leads to respective ones of said pads on said substrate, each said contact including a terminal portion arranged to electrically engage a respective said pad; (c) locking means for urging each said lead against said contacting portion of a respective one of said contacts; (d) means for releasably engaging features on said positioning means for aligning said body therewith.

Claim 17

A connector for electrically connecting the leads of a component to respective pads on a substrate, wherein the leads are spaced apart and projecting from a peripheral edge of the component, said connector comprising: at least two similar contact modules, wherein a positioning means is included for aligning and positioning said modules with respect to said pads only during assembly of sid modules into said connector, said positioning means being separable from said modules thereafter, each said module comprising: (a) a body having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of slots formed lateral to said longitudinal axis; (b) a plurality of contacts, one for each of said slots and arranged for electrically connecting some of said leads to respective ones of said pads on said substrate, each said contact including a terminal portion arranged to electrically engage a respective said pad; (c) locking means for urging each said lead against said contacting portion of a respective one of said contacts; (d) means for releasably engaging features on said positioning means for aligning said body therewith.

Claim 18

The connector according to claim 14 wherein said features on said positioning means comprise openings and said means for releasably engaging said features comprise a plurality of projections on said body spaced so that some of said projections engage corresponding openings thereby aligning said body with said positioning means.

Claim 19

The connector according to claim 15 wherein said projections are of cylindrical shape and are spaced in substantially a straight line.

Claim 20

The connector according to claim 16 including a cutaway in at least one end of said body so that said two similar contact modules can be positioned in close adjacent proximity.

Claim 21

The contact module according to claim 14 wherein each said contact includes a contacting portion and an opposed backup portion, and said locking means includes means for forming each said lead about said contacting portion of its respective contact.

Claim 22

The connector according to claim 14 wherein said locking means includes a wedging member having a camming surface for engaging and forming each said lead about its respective contacting portion when assembled to said body.

Claim 23

The connector according to claim 19 wherein said body includes a bottom and an upstanding wall, a longitudinal groove being disposed in said wall normal to said plurality of slots and arranged to receive said wedging member so that when said wedging member is assembled to said body said camming surfaces will engage and form each said lead about its respective contacting portion.

Claim 24

The connector according to claim 14 wherein said terminal portion of each of said contacts is arranged to be physically attaching to a respective pad to effect said assembly of said module into said connector.