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US5166609A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Adapter and test fixture for an integrated circuit device package

Assignee: Techsearch LLC
•
Filing: 1990-05-24
•
Granted: 1992-11-24
•
Expires: 2010-05-24
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Abstract

Abstract A test fixture for a high pin count surface mounted IC device has a test head assembly connected to an adapter having electrically conductive elements that couple the output of the IC device to test points on the test head assembly. The test points are coupled to conductive pads on the test head assembly via conductive runs. The test head assembly conductive pads mate with conductive pad formed in the electrically conductive elements of the adapter. The conductive elements engage leads on the IC device providing conductive paths between the IC leads an the test points on the test head assembly. The test fixture is secured to the IC device by friction forces between the periphery of the IC device and the inner surface of the adapter. The test fixture or the adapter is usable as a low profile chip carrier by inverting the fixture or adapter and as a circuit board interconnect.

Inventors

  • 👤 Paul A. Cole
  • 👤 Bozidar Janko
  • 👤 Richard G. Chambers
  • 👤 Wolfgang H. Herr
  • 👤 Douglas W. Trobough
  • 👤 Peter M. Compton

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 20:46
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R1/00; G01R1/02; G01R1/04; G01R1/0408; G01R1/0433; H; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/03; H05K1/0393; H05K1/14; H05K1/141; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/912

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 159 words
An adapter for a surface mounted integrated circuit device wherein the integrated circuit device has top and bottom surfaces and a periphery from which electrically conductive leads extend that are soldered directly to conductive runs on a substrate, the adapter comprising: a housing positionable on the integrated circuit device mounted directly on the substrate having a top and vertically depending sidewalls with inner and outer surfaces, the top and inner surface sidewalls forming a cavity for receiving the integrated circuit device; electrically conductive elements disposed within the housing with each element having one end being exposed within the cavity for engaging one of the leads of the surface mounted integrated circuit device and the other end forming an electrical contact pad that is exposed on the top of the housing; coverplates coextensive with the outer sidewall surfaces for securing the electrically conductive elements within the housing; and means for securing the housing on the surface mounted integrated circuit device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 159 words
An adapter for a surface mounted integrated circuit device wherein the integrated circuit device has top and bottom surfaces and a periphery from which electrically conductive leads extend that are soldered directly to conductive runs on a substrate, the adapter comprising: a housing positionable on the integrated circuit device mounted directly on the substrate having a top and vertically depending sidewalls with inner and outer surfaces, the top and inner surface sidewalls forming a cavity for receiving the integrated circuit device; electrically conductive elements disposed within the housing with each element having one end being exposed within the cavity for engaging one of the leads of the surface mounted integrated circuit device and the other end forming an electrical contact pad that is exposed on the top of the housing; coverplates coextensive with the outer sidewall surfaces for securing the electrically conductive elements within the housing; and means for securing the housing on the surface mounted integrated circuit device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 92 words
The adapter as recited in claim 1 wherein each sidewall further comprises a solid portion adjacent to the top with inwardly angled grooves formed in the outer surface normal to the top and a second portion adjacent to the solid portion wherein the grooves extend through the sidewall forming a comb structures having alternating ribs and slots with the electrically conductive elements fitting within the grooves of the solid portion and extending through the slots in the second portion, the ribs of the comb structure providing electrical isolation between the conductive elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 52 words
The adapter as recited in claim 1 wherein each electrically conductive element further comprises a first segment angularly depending from a second segment with the angle between the segments being greater than ninety degrees, the first segment being the electrical contact pad and the second segment engaging one of the device leads.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 38 words
The adapter as recited in claim 1 wherein the securing means comprises the inner surface of the sidewalls mating with the periphery of the surface mounted integrated circuit device producing frictional forces for holding the adapter in place.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 63 words
The adapter as recited in claim 1 wherein the securing means comprises a locking clip having a handle, engaging pin and locking pin with the pins being normal to and extending from the handle in the same direction, the engaging pin slidably mating with the housing and the locking pin slidably mating with the bottom surface of the surface mounted integrated circuit device.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4560216A Cited
US4657324A Cited
US4645279A Cited
US4866374A Cited
US4621884A Cited
US4816751A Cited
US4835469A Cited
EP0305951A1 Cited
US4996476A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-11-24 1996-05-25 1996-11-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-11-24 2000-05-25 2000-11-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-11-24 2004-05-25 2004-11-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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