Socket connector having reinforced and compact mounting arrangement

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electrical connector for electrically connecting an Integrated Package (IC) such as a microprocessor with a circuit substrate such as a printed circuit board (PCB), and more particularly to a socket connector having metallic reinforced mounting arrangement for readily and compactly mounting the socket connector onto the printed circuit board.

2. Description of Prior Art

Land Grid Array (LGA) connector is widely used for establishing electrical connection between an electronic package, e.g. a Central Processing Unit (CPU), and a PCB, e.g. a motherboard. Contact of the LGA connector generally comprises a resilient arm for engaging with pad arranged on the CPU. Such LGA connector is typically illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 7,044,746 issued to Copper on May 16, 2006. When a LGA connector is mounted onto an upper surface of the PCB, a back plate will be assembled with the LGA connector from a lower surface of the PCB so as to reinforce strengthen of the LGA connector. Thus, steady mechanical connection between the LGA connector and the PCB is established.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,470,128 issued to Ju on Dec. 30, 2008 disclose a LGA connector. The connector comprises an insulating body 11 , conducting pins 12 , a rod 13 , and a fastening device. The fastening device includes a back plate 14 , and a fastening hook 15 that is located on the back plate 14 . The fastening portion of the rod 13 is wedged to the fastening hook of the fastening device. Thereby, the chip module is firmly fastening in the insulating body.

However, as we know, the LGA connector and the PCB are secured within an enclosure of the computer. Because of the back plate occupies a space that is under the lower surface of the PCB, other electronic components will not be conveniently mounted under the lower surface of the PCB in the interior of the shell. One solution is to increase the size of the shell. Obviously, such means can not meet the need of trend for miniaturization of the electronic devices.

In view of the above, an improved electrical connector that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages is desired.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector/assembly for electrically connecting an electronic package such as a CPU with a circuit substrate such as a PCB, which has metallic reinforced mounting arrangement for readily and compactly mounting the socket connector onto the printed circuit board.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, an electrical connector assembly for establishing electrical connection between an Integrated Package (IC) and a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is provided. The electrical connector assembly comprises an insulative housing, a plurality of contacts received in the insulative housing, a PCB adapted to have the insulative housing mounted thereon and a metal reinforcement element disposed on a lower surface of the housing and soldered to the PCB. By above-mentioned way, a back plate may be canceled and space under the PCB is saved under a condition that steady mechanical connection between the PCB and the housing is achieved.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric, exploded view of an electrical connector in accordance with a first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an electrical connector mounted on a PCB in accordance with a first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 3A is an enlarged view of the circle portion of FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the insulative housing of the electrical connector in accordance with the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the reinforcement element in accordance with the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an assembled view of the reinforcement element and the housing in accordance with the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an isometric, exploded view of an electrical connector in accordance with a second preferred embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an assembled view of the reinforcement element and the housing in accordance with the second preferred embodiment;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the reinforcement element in accordance with the second preferred embodiment;

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the insulative housing of the electrical connector in accordance with the second preferred embodiment;

FIG. 11 is an isometric, assembled, side view of an electrical connector mounted on a PCB in accordance with a second preferred embodiment,

FIG. 11A is an enlarged view of the circle portion of FIG. 11 ; and

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of an electrical connector mounted on a PCB in accordance with a third preferred embodiment.

Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the present invention in detail.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6 , an electrical connector 1 in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention used for electrically connecting an Integrated Package (IC) 8 with a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) 9 is shown. The connector 1 comprises an insulative housing 10 having a plurality of passageways 1000 , and a plurality of electrical contacts 12 received in corresponding passageways, respectively, a pressing member 14 for securing the IC 8 in the insulative housing 10 , and a plurality of fastener 16 for securing the pressing member 14 .

The insulative housing 10 comprises a base 100 , peripheral walls 102 extending upwardly from edges of the base 100 and defining a receiving cavity therebetween adapted to have the IC 8 received therein. As shown in FIG. 3A , the plurality of contacts 12 are received in the base 100 and the soldering end 120 is soldered to the PCB 9 via soldering ball 4 . Two opposite peripheral walls 102 each define an extending portion 104 extending in a direction of away from the receiving cavity. The extending portion 104 defines a plurality of through holes 1040 . In this embodiment, extending portion 104 defines two through holes 1040 at opposite ends thereof, respectively. Furthermore, the extending portion 104 defines a plurality of projections 1041 extending downwardly.

In this embodiment, a bottom surface of the extending portion 104 and a bottom surface of the insulative housing 10 are flushed with each other/or coplanar. Each of extending portions 104 has a reinforcement element 18 attached on the bottom surface. The reinforcement element 18 is generally of a plate configuration and made from metallic material or other hard material. The reinforcement element 18 defines an opening (not labeled) in a middle portion, so as to save material and reduce cost. The reinforcement element 18 defines two holes 180 at opposite ends, respectively and two hollow post portions 181 at opposite ends, respectively.

The pressing member 14 defines a plurality of positioning holes 140 corresponding to the through holes 1040 . In an assembly, the IC 8 is loaded into the receiving cavity of the housing 10 and the pressing member 14 is disposed upon the IC 8 , and the fastener 18 passes through the positioning holes 140 and the through holes 1040 in turn to engage with the post portion 181 . The insulative housing 10 is attached to the PCB 9 by the contact 12 soldered to the PCB 9 . Thus, the pressing member 14 , the IC 8 , the insulative housing 10 and the PCB 9 are assembled together. In addition, each of the holes 180 of the reinforcement element 18 engages with a projection 1401 of the housing 10 by interference fit, thus providing a steady and reliable mechanical connection between the reinforcement element 18 and the housing 10 .

Because of the reinforcement element 18 disposed at the bottom surface of the housing 10 , overall rigidity of the housing 10 is increased. Therefore, there is no need to place a back plate onto a lower surface of the PCB 9 . Accordingly, mounting space under the lower surface of the PCB 9 is spared for other electronic components.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 7-10 , an electrical connector 2 in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention using for electrically connecting an IC 8 with a PCB 9 is shown. The electrical connector 2 has a structure which is similar to the electrical connector 1 and comprises an insulative housing 20 having a plurality of passageways (not shown), and a plurality of electrical contacts 22 received in corresponding passageways, respectively, a pressing member 24 for securing the IC 8 in the insulative housing 20 , and a plurality of fastener 26 for securing the pressing member 24 . A reinforcement element 28 made from metal is disposed at a bottom surface of insulative housing 20 .

In an assembly, the IC 8 is inserted into the receiving cavity of the housing 20 and the pressing member 24 is disposed upon the IC 8 , and the fastener 28 passes through the positioning holes 240 and the through holes 2040 in turn to engage with the post portion 281 . In addition, each of the holes 280 of the reinforcement element 28 engages with a projection 2401 of the housing 20 by interference fit. By this doing, the reinforcement element 28 is attached onto the bottom surface of the insulative housing 20 .

As an alternative, the reinforcement element 28 has a soldering portion 282 extending toward a contact region and occupying a certain region in the contact region. As shown in FIG. 11 , when the electrical connector 2 is mounted onto the PCB 9 , the soldering portion 282 is soldered to the PCB 9 via the solder mass 3 . Two opposite sides of the insulative housing 20 each have a reinforcement element 28 attached on the bottom surface. Accordingly, besides the strength of the insulative housing 12 is increased, the mechanical connection between the housing 10 and the PCB 9 is increased.

As an alternative, as shown in FIG. 12 , a third embodiment in accordance with the present invention is achieved when a back plate 7 is disposed at a lower surface of the PCB 9 . In the embodiment, thickness of the back plate 7 may be smaller and thinner than a conventional back plate and accordingly mounting space under lower surface of the PCB is provided for mounting other electronic component. Alternatively, if the fastener 26 can pass through the positioning holes 240 and the through hole 2040 , so as to engage with the back plate 7 .

While the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention has been shown and described, equivalent modifications and changes known to persons skilled in the art according to the spirit of the present invention are considered within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.