| Socket connector having multi-piece housing -> Monitor Keywords |
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Socket connector having multi-piece housingRelated Patent Categories: Electrical Connectors, Preformed Panel Circuit Arrangement, E.g., Pcb, Icm, Dip, Chip, Wafer, Etc., With Provision To Conduct Electricity From Panel Circuit To Another Panel Circuit, Micro Panel Circuit Arrangement, E.g., Icm, Dip, Chip, Wafer, Etc., Dual Inline Package (dip), LeadlessSocket connector having multi-piece housing description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060089015, Socket connector having multi-piece housing. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a socket connector for electrically connecting a central process unit (CPU) to a printed circuit board (PCB). [0003] 2. Description of Related Art [0004] Socket connectors for mounting CPUs on a PCB are well known. The socket connector may be mounted to the PCB, while the CPU is snap-fitted into the socket connector. One advantage of this arrangement is that, unlike CPUs that are soldered directly on the PCB, a CPU that is mounted in a socket connector can be easily disconnected from the PCB for testing and replacement. However, the relatively dense layout and small size of electrical contacts on some CPUs necessitates precise alignment both between the socket connector and the PCB, and between the CPU and the socket connector. [0005] In general, a socket connector includes an insulative housing and a plurality of electrical contacts received in the insulative housing. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,196,849 and 6,786,738 disclose such a socket connector comprising a housing defining an array of holes therethrough corresponding to an array of contacts of the CPU, and a plurality of electrical contacts received in the holes. The housing that is molded from an insulative material is of a single-piece structure. However, as the housing is a thin, flat plate, after it is molded, during the cooling course, it will be warped. Thus the holes in the housing will be shoved or skewed. As a result, the electrical contacts cannot be placed in the holes correctly. Or even through the electrical contacts are placed into the holes, precise alignment between the CPU and the socket connector cannot be ensured. That causes electrical connection between the CPU and the PCB to become unreliable. [0006] Thereby, an improved socket connector is required to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a socket connector which has reliable structure and can perform securely electrical connection between a central process unit (CPU) and a printed circuit board (PCB). [0008] In order to achieve above-mentioned objects, a socket connector in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a housing, and a number of electrical contacts received in the housing. The housing, being of a frame defining an opening, is constructed by joining pieces of separate housing-plates end by end. Each housing-plate defines a number of channels therethrough. The electrical contacts are respectively received in the channels, and each has a contact beam projecting out to electrically connect with the CPU. [0009] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] FIG. 1 is a simplified, exploded, perspective view of a socket connector in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0011] FIG. 2 is an inverted perspective view of FIG. 1, but springs and electrical contacts are removed; [0012] FIG. 3 is a partly assembled view showing housing-plates of FIG. 1 assembled to form a housing; [0013] FIG. 4 is view showing the socket connector of FIG. 1 after assembled, and a pick up cap to be assembled to the socket connector; and [0014] FIG. 5 is an assembled view of FIG. 4, showing the pick up cap being assembled on the socket connector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0015] Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail. [0016] Referring to FIG. 1, a socket connector 100 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing 1, a plurality of electrical contacts 2 to be received in the housing 1, a cover 3 for closing the electrical contacts 2, and springs 4 for linking the cover 3 and the housing 1. [0017] The housing 1 comprises four pieces of separate housing-plates 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d. As each piece of housing-plate 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d is much smaller than a single-piece housing, it will suffer a littler warp during the cooling course after it is molded. Therefore flatness and reliability of the housing 1 can be controlled more easily. As the four housing-plates 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d are of the same structure, we will refer to the housing-plate 1c to be typical of all the housing-plates 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d to describe their structure. Each housing-plate is longitudinal and comprises a first end 11, a second end 12, and a middle portion 10. The two ends 11 and 12 are both thinner than the middle portion 10,wherein the first end 11 has an under surface upper than that of the middle portion 10 and the second end 12 has an upper surface lower than that of the middle portion 10. The first end 11 defines a binding hole 112 and a first aligning hole 111. The second end 12 has a binding tab 122 and a second aligning hole 121. [0018] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the four pieces of housing-plates 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d are joined end by end. Now, a process how to join the housing-plate 1a with other two housing-plates will be described as an example. The housing-plates 1a and 1b are disposed in a position that they are perpendicular to each other. Then the first end 11a of the housing-plate 1a is overlapped onto the second end 12b of the housing-plate 1b, together to make up a thickness proximate to that of the middle portion 10, while the first aligning hole 111a aligning with second aligning hole 121b to form a unitary hole 14, and the binding tab 122b being received in the binding hole 112a to bind the two plates 1a, 1b. As the binding tab 122b has a diameter slightly larger than that of the binding hole 112a, the two plate 1a, 1b are toughly assembled together after the binding tab 122b is forced into the binding hole 112a. Alike, the housing-plates 1a and 1d are joined in a similar way, that the second end 12a of the housing-plate 1a is overlapped to the first end 12d of the housing-plate 1d with the second aligning hole 121a aligning with the first aligning hole 111d and the binding tab 122a received within the binding hole 112d. [0019] The middle portion 10 of each housing-plate defines a plurality of channels 105 (only partially shown) therethrough for receiving the electrical contacts 2. Each electrical contact 2 has a contact beam 21 to project out of the housing 1 to electrically connect with a central process unit (CPU) (not shown), as shown in FIG. 3. [0020] At the middle portion 10 adjacent to the two ends 11 and 12 respectively, there are a rim 104 protruding from outer edges thereof, a pair of spring receiving holes 102 for accommodating one ends of the springs 4, and a recess 103 between the spring receiving holes 102. Additionally, an ear 101 projects outwardly from a longitudinal middle of the middle portion 10. The ear 101 defines a slot therethrough. Corresponding to the four pieces of housing-plates 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, the cover 3 comprises four pieces of cover-plates 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d. As shown in FIG. 2, each cover-plate has a pair of middle legs 32 and a pair of end legs 33 at each end thereof to be respectively inserted into the slot of the ear 101 and recess 103 in housing-plate, and defines second spring receiving holes 34 for accommodating the other ends of the springs 4. Then the cover-plates are assembled to corresponding housing-plate to cover the middle portion 10. Continue reading about Socket connector having multi-piece housing... Full patent description for Socket connector having multi-piece housing Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Socket connector having multi-piece housing patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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