Patent US5243757A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5243757A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of making contact surface for contact element
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1992-05-26
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Granted: 1993-09-14
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Expires: 2012-05-26
Abstract
Abstract A miniature socket (10) for electrically interconnecting contact pads on a bare integrated circuit chip (16) to circuit pads (64) on a substrate (18) is disclosed. The socket includes a housing (12) and contact elements (14) having a diameter of about 0.003 inches. The housing (12) includes a recess (28) on one surface (30) for receiving the circuit chip (16) and cavities (44) on an opposite surface (38) for receiving the contact elements (14) and passages (56) leading to the recess (28) from the cavities (44) for receiving the pin sections (80) on the elements (14). Methods of forming a gold tip (84) on the pin sections (80) and for providing cavities (44) and passages (56) in the housing (12) are also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Dimitry G. Grabbe
- 👤 Iosif Korsunsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:28
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/03; H01R43/00; H01R43/16; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49204; Y10T29/49208; Y10T29/49218; Y10T29/4922
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of forming a contact surface on a contact element, comprising the steps of: forming a contact element having a diameter of about 0.003 inches, said element having a pin section at one end; providing a plating of a noble metal on said pin section at a free end thereof; recessing said free end back to provide a sleeve of said plating extending outwardly from said recessed free end; collapsing said sleeve onto said recessed free end; and compacting said collapsed sleeve into a rounded tip on said recessed free end.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of forming a contact surface on a contact element, comprising the steps of: forming a contact element having a diameter of about 0.003 inches, said element having a pin section at one end; providing a plating of a noble metal on said pin section at a free end thereof; recessing said free end back to provide a sleeve of said plating extending outwardly from said recessed free end; collapsing said sleeve onto said recessed free end; and compacting said collapsed sleeve into a rounded tip on said recessed free end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of forming a contact element includes forming said element from a wire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of forming a contact element includes forming said element from flat metal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of loading said formed and plated contact elements into a socket housing before the step of recessing said free end.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of forming a contact surface on a contact element, comprising the steps of: forming a contact element from a noble metal-plated conductive material with a pin section at one end having a free end; recessing the conductive material core at said free end to provide a noble metal sleeve extending outwardly from a recessed free end; collapsing said sleeve onto said recessed free end; and forming said collapsed sleeve into a rounded tip.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of forming a contact surface on a contact element, comprising the steps of: forming a contact element from a noble metal-plated conductive material with a pin section at one end having a free end; recessing the conductive material core at said free end to provide a noble metal sleeve extending outwardly from a recessed free end; collapsing said sleeve onto said recessed free end; and forming said collapsed sleeve into a rounded tip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the step of forming a contact element includes forming said element from flat metal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 6 further including the step of forming the flat metal into a diameter of about 0.003 inches.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the step of forming a contact element includes forming said element from a noble metal-plated wire.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the diameter of said wire is about 0.003 inches.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the step of forming a contact element includes forming said element from a gold plated wire.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the steps of collapsing said sleeve and forming said collapsed sleeve into a rounded tip includes using hydrogen flame fusing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the steps of collapsing said sleeve and forming said collapsed sleeve into a rounded tip includes using spark discharge fusing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the steps of collapsing said sleeve and forming said collapsed sleeve into a rounded tip includes using laser fusing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the steps of collapsing said sleeve and forming said collapsed sleeve into a rounded tip includes using micro arc fusing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the step of recessing the conductive material core includes shearing the core and the steps of collapsing and forming include the use of fusing said sleeve.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-09-13 | 1997-03-15 | 1997-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-09-13 | 2001-03-15 | 2001-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-09-13 | 2005-03-15 | 2005-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |