On-center electrically conductive pins for integrated testing

摘要

A structure and method for providing a contact pin between a device under test (DUT) and a load board which provides upper and lower contact point which are axial aligned is disclosed. The pin has an upper (30) and lower (32) section and a hinge (44/46) in between which allow flex of both upper and lower contact (24/26) which, but the axial alignment can provide a direct replacement for POGO pins but with greater reliability. It also includes a structure and method for removing upper pins 230 by use of a modified hinge 244a.

主权项

1. A socket for making electrical connection between an integrated circuit device under test (DUT) having a plurality of contacts and a load board having a plurality of contact pads so that a signal may be transmitted therebetween wherein said contact and its corresponding pad, said DUT contacts and contact pads on the load board are generally vertically aligned along a contact axis, the socket comprising:
a. a housing having a top and bottom, and a pin guide being interposed between said contacts and said pads and said pin guide including a plurality of spaced apart insulating and separating plates thereby defining a plurality of slots for receiving pin pairs; with said slots being generally at least partially axially aligned along said contact axis; said pin guide further including a longitudinal cylindrical bore substantially orthogonal to said axis and extending through at least some of said plates thereby creating a cavity for an elastomer; b. a bias element, including an elongated elastomer sized to be received within said bore; c. a multi-piece pin pair including:
1. a first upper pin leg having a contact tip at its distal end, an upper body portion extending from said tip and a upper hinge part at its proximal end;2. a second lower pin leg having a load board pad contact portion at its distal end, a lower hinge part at its proximal end, and a lower body portion extending from said pad contact portion to said hinge part;3. said hinge parts being rotatably joined by movable electrical and mechanical interconnection between said first and second legs, to make a rotational and electrical pivotable link contact therebetween,4. said upper body portion including curved inner periphery shaped to engage said elastomer;5. said lower body portion including a curved inner periphery shaped to engage said elastomer;6. said bias element being separate from said upper and lower body portions but engaging said portions, to provide a bias force on side portions to engage the contacts and pads;so that said legs surrounds, at least in part, said elastomer when in said pin guide said contact tip and said load board pad contact on said pin pair being generally in axial alignment with contact axis while said upper and lower body portions of said pin pairs are laterally offset and at least partially out of alignment with said contact axis, when said legs are contained within said slot.