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US6174172B1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electric contact unit

Assignee: NHK Spring Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1996-12-25
•
Granted: 2001-01-16
•
Expires: 2016-12-25
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Abstract

Abstract The electric contact unit 1 according to the present invention comprises an insulating base board 2 incorporated with resilient coil-shaped electroconductive members 3 . Each of the coil-shaped electroconductive members 3 may include a small number of turns, for instance a single turn, of coil wire, and comprises an intermediate part secured to the base board 2 and a pair of axial projecting parts projecting from either side of the base board. The base board 2 is secured relative to a semiconductor device 4 and a circuit board 6 in such a manner that the two ends of each coil-shaped electroconductive member resiliently engage an electroconductive ball 5 serving as a terminal fixedly secured to a lower surface of the semiconductor device 4 by soldering, and a terminal pattern 7 formed on the circuit board 6 disposed opposite to the ball. Because the number of turns of the coil-shaped electroconductive member can be reduced as desired so that electric current is not required to be passed through a path involving an undesirably large number of turns, the electric inductance and resistance of the electroconductive member can be thereby minimized while ensuring a sufficient resiliency to the electroconductive member.

Inventors

  • 👤 Toshio Kazama

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 20:51
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R33/00; H01R33/74; H01R33/76; H01R12/00; H01R12/50; H01R12/51; H01R12/52; G; G01; G01R; G01R1/00; G01R1/02; G01R1/04; G01R1/0408; G01R1/0433; G01R1/0441; G01R1/0466; G01R1/06; G01R1/067; G01R1/06711; G01R1/06733; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/712; H01R12/714; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/22; H01R13/24; H01R13/2407; H01R13/2421; G01R1/0483; G01R1/06716

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 56
Claim 1
Independent Claim 174 words
An electric contact unit for conducting electric current between a pair of mutually opposing parts to be contacted, comprising: a base board having a plurality of through holes passed therethrough; a plurality of coil-shaped resilient and electroconductive members passed through corresponding ones of said through holes, wherein each coil-shaped member is wound around an axis unique to each member; and an insulator electrically insulating said coil-shaped electroconductive members from one another; wherein each of said coil-shaped electroconductive members includes an intermediate part fixedly secured in the corresponding through hole and a pair of projecting parts projecting, along said axis and at approximately a right angle to a plane defined by said base board, from respective sides of said base board, wherein each projecting part has an outer diameter not less than the outer diameter of the intermediate part, and wherein each of said coil-shaped members is configured to conduct high frequency electric current at reduced inductance by said intermediate part and both of said projecting parts each including no more than approximately one turn.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 174 words
An electric contact unit for conducting electric current between a pair of mutually opposing parts to be contacted, comprising: a base board having a plurality of through holes passed therethrough; a plurality of coil-shaped resilient and electroconductive members passed through corresponding ones of said through holes, wherein each coil-shaped member is wound around an axis unique to each member; and an insulator electrically insulating said coil-shaped electroconductive members from one another; wherein each of said coil-shaped electroconductive members includes an intermediate part fixedly secured in the corresponding through hole and a pair of projecting parts projecting, along said axis and at approximately a right angle to a plane defined by said base board, from respective sides of said base board, wherein each projecting part has an outer diameter not less than the outer diameter of the intermediate part, and wherein each of said coil-shaped members is configured to conduct high frequency electric current at reduced inductance by said intermediate part and both of said projecting parts each including no more than approximately one turn.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 16 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 1 , wherein said base board comprises said insulator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 27 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 2 , wherein said intermediate part of each of said coil-shaped electroconductive members in insert molded in said base board.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 45 words
An electronic contact unit according to claim 1 , wherein said base board is an electroconductive metallic board, and said insulator comprises a tubular insulating member received in each of said through holes and configured to receive a corresponding one of said coil-shaped electroconductive members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 39 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said projecting parts of said coil-shaped electroconductive members comprises wire end which extends at a certain angle toward a major surface of said base board.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 39 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said projecting parts of said coil-shaped electroconductive members comprises a wire end which extends substantially in parallel with the plane defined by said base board.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 27 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 1 , further comprising means for mounting said base board on a circuit board at a prescribed spacing defined therebetween.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 28 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 1 , wherein said electric contact unit is adapted as a socket for mounting a semiconductor device on a circuit board.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 33 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 1 , wherein said electric contact unit is adapted as an electric connector for electrically connecting a pair of opposing groups of parts to be contacted.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 165 words
An electric contact unit for conducting electric current between a pair of mutually opposing parts to be contacted comprising: a base board having a plurality of through holes passed therethrough, a plurality of coil-shaped resilient and electroconductive members passed through corresponding ones of said through holes, wherein each coil-shaped member is wound around an axis unique to each member; and an insulator electrically insulating said coil-shaped electroconductive members from one another, wherein each of said coil-shaped electroconductive members includes an intermediate part fixedly secured in the corresponding through hole and a pair of projecting parts projecting, along said axis and at approximately a right angle to a plane defined by said base board, from respective sides of said base board, each axially projecting part having an outer diameter not less than the outer diameter of the intermediate part, and wherein each of said coil-shaped electroconductive members is configured to conduct high frequency electric current at reduced inductance by including no more than approximately one turn.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 165 words
An electric contact unit for conducting electric current between a pair of mutually opposing parts to be contacted comprising: a base board having a plurality of through holes passed therethrough, a plurality of coil-shaped resilient and electroconductive members passed through corresponding ones of said through holes, wherein each coil-shaped member is wound around an axis unique to each member; and an insulator electrically insulating said coil-shaped electroconductive members from one another, wherein each of said coil-shaped electroconductive members includes an intermediate part fixedly secured in the corresponding through hole and a pair of projecting parts projecting, along said axis and at approximately a right angle to a plane defined by said base board, from respective sides of said base board, each axially projecting part having an outer diameter not less than the outer diameter of the intermediate part, and wherein each of said coil-shaped electroconductive members is configured to conduct high frequency electric current at reduced inductance by including no more than approximately one turn.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 16 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 10 , wherein said base board comprises said insulator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 27 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 11 , wherein said intermediate part of each of said coil-shaped electroconductive members is insert molded in said base board.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 41 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 10 , wherein at least one of said projecting parts of said coil-shaped electroconductive members comprises a wire end which extends at a certain angle away from a major surface of said base board.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 48 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 10 , wherein at least one of said projecting parts of said coil-shaped electroconductive members comprises a wire end spaced apart from an adjacent coil turn and which extends at a certain angle toward a major surface of said base board.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 39 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 10 , wherein at least one of said projecting parts of said coil-shaped electroconductive members comprises a wire end which extends substantially in parallel with a major surface of said base board.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 27 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 10 , further comprising means for mounting said base board on a circuit board at a prescribed spacing defined therebetween.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 28 words
An electric contact unit according to claims 10 , wherein said electric contact unit is adapted as a socket for mounting a semiconductor device on a circuit board.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 197 words
An electric contact unit for conducting electric current between a pair of mutually opposing parts to be contacted comprising: a base board having a plurality of through holes passed therethrough, wherein an interior surface of each of said through holes is plated with an electroconductive material; a plurality of coil-shaped resilient and electroconductive members passed through corresponding ones of said through holes, wherein each coil-shaped member is wound around an axis unique to each member; and an insulator electrically insulating said coil-shaped electroconductive members from one another, wherein each of said coil-shaped electroconductive members includes an intermediate part fixedly secured in the corresponding through hole and a pair of projecting parts projecting, along said axis and at approximately a right angle to a plane defined by said base board, from respective sides of said base board, each projecting part having an outer diameter not less than the outer diameter of the intermediate part, and coils of said intermediate part of each of said coil-shaped electroconductive members are configured to conduct high frequency electric current at reduced inductance by being soldered or brazed so as to contact each other and the corresponding electroconductive material in each through hole.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 197 words
An electric contact unit for conducting electric current between a pair of mutually opposing parts to be contacted comprising: a base board having a plurality of through holes passed therethrough, wherein an interior surface of each of said through holes is plated with an electroconductive material; a plurality of coil-shaped resilient and electroconductive members passed through corresponding ones of said through holes, wherein each coil-shaped member is wound around an axis unique to each member; and an insulator electrically insulating said coil-shaped electroconductive members from one another, wherein each of said coil-shaped electroconductive members includes an intermediate part fixedly secured in the corresponding through hole and a pair of projecting parts projecting, along said axis and at approximately a right angle to a plane defined by said base board, from respective sides of said base board, each projecting part having an outer diameter not less than the outer diameter of the intermediate part, and coils of said intermediate part of each of said coil-shaped electroconductive members are configured to conduct high frequency electric current at reduced inductance by being soldered or brazed so as to contact each other and the corresponding electroconductive material in each through hole.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 33 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 18 , wherein said electric contact unit is adapted as an electric connector for electrically connecting a pair of opposing groups of parts to be contacted.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 16 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 18 , wherein said base board comprises said insulator.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 41 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 18 , wherein at least one of said projecting parts of said coil-shaped electroconductive members comprises a wire end which extends at a certain angle away from a major surface of said base board.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 48 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 18 , wherein at least one of said projecting parts of said coil-shaped electroconductive members comprises a wire end spaced apart from an adjacent coil turn and which extends at a certain angle toward a major surface of said base board.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 39 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 18 , wherein at least one of said projecting parts of said coil-shaped electroconductive members comprises a wire end which extends substantially in parallel with a major surface of said base board.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 51 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 18 , wherein at least one of said projecting parts of said coil-shaped electroconductive members comprises a wire end which is coiled around the axis and has an outer diameter that is somewhat greater than an associated inner diameter of the corresponding through hole.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 27 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 18 , further comprising means for mounting said base board on a circuit board at a prescribed spacing defined therebetween.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 28 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 18 , wherein said electric contact unit is adapted as a socket for mounting a semiconductor device on a circuit board.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 33 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 18 , wherein said electric contact unit is adapted as an electric connector for electrically connecting a pair of opposing groups of parts to be contacted.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 237 words
An electric contact unit for conducting electric current between a pair of mutually opposing parts to be contacted, comprising: a base board having a plurality of through holes passed therethrough; a plurality of coil-shaped resilient and electroconductive members passed through corresponding ones of said through holes, wherein each coil-shaped member is wound around an axis unique to each member; and an insulator electrically insulating said coil-shaped electroconductive members from one another; wherein each of said coil-shaped electroconductive members includes an intermediate part fixedly secured in the corresponding through hole and a pair of projecting parts projecting, along said axis and at approximately a right angle to a plane defined by said base board, from respective sides of said base board, each projecting part having an outer diameter not less than the outer diameter of the intermediate part, and at least one of said axially projecting parts of said coil-shaped electroconductive members comprises a wire end spaced apart from an adjacent coil turn and which extends at a certain angle toward a major surface of said base board; and an interior surface of each of said through holes is plated with an electroconductive material, and coils of said intermediate part of each of said coil-shaped electroconductive members are configured to conduct high frequency electric current at reduced inductance by being soldered or brazed so as to contact each other and the corresponding electroconductive material in each through hole.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 237 words
An electric contact unit for conducting electric current between a pair of mutually opposing parts to be contacted, comprising: a base board having a plurality of through holes passed therethrough; a plurality of coil-shaped resilient and electroconductive members passed through corresponding ones of said through holes, wherein each coil-shaped member is wound around an axis unique to each member; and an insulator electrically insulating said coil-shaped electroconductive members from one another; wherein each of said coil-shaped electroconductive members includes an intermediate part fixedly secured in the corresponding through hole and a pair of projecting parts projecting, along said axis and at approximately a right angle to a plane defined by said base board, from respective sides of said base board, each projecting part having an outer diameter not less than the outer diameter of the intermediate part, and at least one of said axially projecting parts of said coil-shaped electroconductive members comprises a wire end spaced apart from an adjacent coil turn and which extends at a certain angle toward a major surface of said base board; and an interior surface of each of said through holes is plated with an electroconductive material, and coils of said intermediate part of each of said coil-shaped electroconductive members are configured to conduct high frequency electric current at reduced inductance by being soldered or brazed so as to contact each other and the corresponding electroconductive material in each through hole.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 16 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 28 , wherein said base board comprises said insulator.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 45 words
An electronic contact unit according to claim 28 , wherein said base board is an electroconductive metallic board, and said insulator comprises a tubular insulating member received in each of said through holes and configured to receive a corresponding one of said coil-shaped electroconductive members.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 51 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 28 , wherein at least one of said projecting parts of said coil-shaped electroconductive members comprises a wire end which is coiled around the axis and has an outer diameter that is somewhat greater than an associated inner diameter of the corresponding through hole.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 27 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 28 , further comprising means for mounting said base board on a circuit board at a prescribed spacing defined therebetween.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 28 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 28 , wherein said electric contact unit is adapted as a socket for mounting a semiconductor device on a circuit board.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 33 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 28 , wherein said electric contact unit is adapted as an electric connector for electrically connecting a pair of opposing groups of parts to be contacted.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 194 words
An electric contact unit for conducting electric current between a pair of mutually opposing parts to be contacted, comprising: a base board having a plurality of through holes passed therethrough; a plurality of coil-shaped resilient and electroconductive members passed through corresponding ones of said through holes, wherein each coil-shaped member is wound around an axis unique to each member; and an insulator electrically insulating said coil-shaped electroconductive members from one another; wherein each of said coil-shaped electroconductive members includes an intermediate part fixedly secured in the corresponding through hole and a pair of projecting parts projecting along said axis and at approximately a right amgle to a plane defined by said base board, from respective sides of said base board, wherein each projecting part has an outer diameter not less than the outer diameter of the intermediate part, and wherein at least one of said projecting parts of said coil-shaped electroconductive members comprises a wire coil configured to conduct high frequency electric current at reduced inductance by including no more than approximately one coil turn, and having an outer diameter which is somewhat greater than an associated inner diameter of the corresponding through hole.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 194 words
An electric contact unit for conducting electric current between a pair of mutually opposing parts to be contacted, comprising: a base board having a plurality of through holes passed therethrough; a plurality of coil-shaped resilient and electroconductive members passed through corresponding ones of said through holes, wherein each coil-shaped member is wound around an axis unique to each member; and an insulator electrically insulating said coil-shaped electroconductive members from one another; wherein each of said coil-shaped electroconductive members includes an intermediate part fixedly secured in the corresponding through hole and a pair of projecting parts projecting along said axis and at approximately a right amgle to a plane defined by said base board, from respective sides of said base board, wherein each projecting part has an outer diameter not less than the outer diameter of the intermediate part, and wherein at least one of said projecting parts of said coil-shaped electroconductive members comprises a wire coil configured to conduct high frequency electric current at reduced inductance by including no more than approximately one coil turn, and having an outer diameter which is somewhat greater than an associated inner diameter of the corresponding through hole.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 16 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 35 , wherein said base board comprises said insulator.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 69 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 35 , wherein an interior surface of each of said through holes is plated with an electroconductive material, and coils of said intermediate part of each of said coil-shaped electroconductive members are configured to conduct high frequency electric current at reduced inductance by being soldered or brazed so as to contact each other and the corresponding electroconductive material in each through hole.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim 45 words
An electronic contact unit according to claim 35 , wherein said base board is an electroconductive metallic board, and said insulator comprises a tubular insulating member received in each of said through holes and configured to receive a corresponding one of said coil-shaped electroconductive members.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim 41 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 35 , wherein at least one of said projecting parts of said coil-shaped electroconductive members comprises a wire end which extends at a certain angle away from a major surface of said base board.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim 48 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 35 , wherein at least one of said projecting parts of said coil-shaped electroconductive members comprises a wire end spaced apart from an adjacent coil turn and which extends at a certain angle toward a major surface of said base board.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim 39 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 35 , wherein at least one of said projecting parts of said coil-shaped electroconductive members comprises a wire end which extends substantially in parallel with a major surface of said base board.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim 27 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 35 , further comprising means for mounting said base board on a circuit board at a prescribed spacing defined therebetween.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim 28 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 35 , wherein said electric contact unit is adapted as a socket for mounting a semiconductor device on a circuit board.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim 33 words
An electric contact unit according to claim 35 , wherein said electric contact unit is adapted as an electric connector for electrically connecting a pair of opposing groups of parts to be contacted.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim 127 words
An electric contact unit comprising: a base board having a hole extending through the base board; an electrical insulator surrounding the hole; and a wire coil wound around an axis perpendicular to the base board; wherein the coil has a first end portion, a second end portion opposite the first end portion, and an intermediate portion between the first and the second end portions; wherein the intermediate portion is positioned and fixed within the hole such that the first and second end portions project from opposite sides of the base board; and wherein the wire coil is configured to conduct high frequency electric current at reduced inductance by the intermediate portion and the first and second end portions each including no more than approximately one coil turn.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim 127 words
An electric contact unit comprising: a base board having a hole extending through the base board; an electrical insulator surrounding the hole; and a wire coil wound around an axis perpendicular to the base board; wherein the coil has a first end portion, a second end portion opposite the first end portion, and an intermediate portion between the first and the second end portions; wherein the intermediate portion is positioned and fixed within the hole such that the first and second end portions project from opposite sides of the base board; and wherein the wire coil is configured to conduct high frequency electric current at reduced inductance by the intermediate portion and the first and second end portions each including no more than approximately one coil turn.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim 116 words
An electric contact unit comprising: a base board having a hole extending through the base board; an electrical insulator surrounding the hole; and a wire coil wound around an axis perpendicular to the base board; wherein the coil has a first end portion, a second end portion opposite the first end portion, and an intermediate portion between the first and the second end portions; wherein the intermediate portion is positioned and fixed within the hole such that the first and second end portions project from opposite sides of the base board; and wherein the wire coil is configured to conduct high frequency electric current at reduced inductance by including no more than approximately one coil turn.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim 116 words
An electric contact unit comprising: a base board having a hole extending through the base board; an electrical insulator surrounding the hole; and a wire coil wound around an axis perpendicular to the base board; wherein the coil has a first end portion, a second end portion opposite the first end portion, and an intermediate portion between the first and the second end portions; wherein the intermediate portion is positioned and fixed within the hole such that the first and second end portions project from opposite sides of the base board; and wherein the wire coil is configured to conduct high frequency electric current at reduced inductance by including no more than approximately one coil turn.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim 157 words
An electric contact unit comprising: a base board having an orifice extending through the base board; a through hole positioned in the orifice and having an electroconductive portion; an electrical insulator surrounding the through hole; and a wire coil wound around the axis and having a first end portion, a second end portion opposite the first end portion, and an intermediate portion between the first and the second end portions; wherein the intermediate portion is positioned and fixed within the through hole such that the first and second end portions project from opposite sides of the base board; and wherein the wire coil is configured to conduct high frequency electric current at reduced inductance by having coils of the intermediate portion soldered or brazed so as to electrically contact one another and the electroconductive portion of the through hole, and by having the first and second end portions each include no more than approximately one coil turn.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim 157 words
An electric contact unit comprising: a base board having an orifice extending through the base board; a through hole positioned in the orifice and having an electroconductive portion; an electrical insulator surrounding the through hole; and a wire coil wound around the axis and having a first end portion, a second end portion opposite the first end portion, and an intermediate portion between the first and the second end portions; wherein the intermediate portion is positioned and fixed within the through hole such that the first and second end portions project from opposite sides of the base board; and wherein the wire coil is configured to conduct high frequency electric current at reduced inductance by having coils of the intermediate portion soldered or brazed so as to electrically contact one another and the electroconductive portion of the through hole, and by having the first and second end portions each include no more than approximately one coil turn.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim 22 words
The unit of claim 47 , wherein the first and second end portions together include no more than approximately one coil turn.

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