Electrical connector having terminals with reinforced interference portions

[00002] 1. Field of the Invention

[00003] The present invention relates to an electrical connector for electrically connecting an electronic package such as a land grid array (LGA) chip with a circuit substrate such as a printed circuit board (PCB), and particularly to an electrical connector with terminals each having a plurality of interference blocks.

[00004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[00005] Land grid array (LGA) connectors are widely used in personal computer (PC) systems to electrically connect LGA chips with PCBs. An LGA connector comprises a multiplicity of terminals arranged in a housing in a rectangular array. Each terminal has a first contact portion soldered to a PCB, and a second contact portion depressed by and engaging with a corresponding contact pad of an LGA chip. Thus the LGA chip and the PCB are electrically connected by the connector.

[00006] U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,653,598 and 6,176,707 and Taiwan Pat. No. 501318 each disclose a conventional LGA electrical connector. Referring to FIG. 7, U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,707 discloses a conventional terminal 6 of an LGA electrical connector. The terminal 6 is stamped from a resilient metal strip, and comprises a connection portion 60 with a pair of opposite interference blocks 62. The two interference blocks 62 protrude from opposite sides of the connection 60 respectively, for interferentially fixing the terminal 6 in a corresponding passageway of a housing of the LGA connector (not shown). A convex first top spring arm 64 extends upwardly and forwardly from the connection portion 60. An opposite convex second bottom spring arm 66 extends downwardly and forwardly from the connection portion 60. The first spring arm 64 has a curved top first contact portion 640 for engaging with a plate-like contact pad of an LGA chip (not shown) when the LGA chip is pressed against the LGA connector. The second spring arm 66 has a curved bottom second contact portion 660 for soldering to a PCB (not shown). Thus the terminal 6 electrically connects the LGA chip and the PCB.

[00007] However, a junction of each interference block 62 and the connection portion 60 is relatively small compared with a width of the interference block 62. Thus the interference blocks 62 are liable to deform when the terminal 6 is engaged in the corresponding passageway of the housing, and in subsequent use of the LGA electrical connector. When this happens, interferential force between the terminal 6 and the housing in the passageway is reduced, resulting in the terminal 6 not being securely fastened in the passageway. This can lead to disruption or failure of electrical connection between the LGA chip and PCB.

[00008] A new LGA electrical connector which overcomes the above-mentioned problems is desired.

[00009] An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector having terminals securely fixed in a housing thereof.

[00010] In order to achieve the above object, an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing and a plurality of terminals. The housing defines a plurality of passageways receiving the terminals therein. Each passageway comprises a narrow first passage and a broad second passage in communication with one end of the first passage. The first passage has two stepped interior sidewalls each with a first sidewall and a second sidewall. A space between the opposite first sidewalls is greater than that between the opposite second sidewalls. Each terminal comprises a pair of retention portions. Each retention portion itself is separated thereby forming a first interference portion and a second interference portion. The first interference portion is wider than the second interference portion in an axis parallel to a top face of the retention portion. The first interference portion of the retention portion interferentially engages with the first sidewall of the passageway. The second interference portion of the protrusions interferentially engages with the second sidewall of the passageway. Thus, the terminal can be securely received in the passageway of the housing.

[00011] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[00019] Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the present invention in detail.

[00020] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6, an LGA electrical connector 3 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is adapted for electrically connecting an LGA chip 4 with a PCB 5. The LGA connector 3 comprises an insulative housing 2, and a multiplicity of terminals 1 arranged in a multiplicity of passageways 20 of the housing 2 in a rectangular array.

[00021] Referring particularly to FIG. 3, each terminal 1 is stamped from a sheet of conductive metallic material, and has a generally C-shaped profile. The terminal 1 comprises a connection portion 14. An upper section and a lower section of the connection portion 14 are bifurcated respectively by a first spring arm 10 and a second spring arm 12. A pair of opposite lateral retention portions 15 is thereby formed on the connection portion 14. The first spring arm 10 is generally convex and tapered, and extends upwardly and forwardly from the upper section of the connection portion 14. The first spring arm 10 has a curved top first contact portion 101 at a free end thereof, for engaging with a corresponding plate-like first contact pad 40 of the LGA chip 4 when the LGA chip 4 is pressed against the LGA connector 3. Thus, the LGA connector 3 is electrically connected with the LGA chip 4. The second spring arm 12 is generally convex and tapered, and extends downwardly and forwardly from the lower section of the connection portion 14. The second spring arm 12 has a curved bottom second contact portion 121 at a free end thereof, for soldering the terminal 1 to a corresponding second contact pad 50 of the PCB 5. Thus, the terminal 1 electrically connects the LGA chip 4 to the PCB 5. Each retention portion 15 itself is bifurcated, and forms a top first interference block 150 and a bottom second interference block 152. The first and second interference blocks 150, 152 are adapted for interferentially fixing the terminal 1 in the corresponding passageway 20 of the housing 2. The first interference block 150 is wider than the second interference block 152 along an axis parallel to a top face of the retention portion 15. A cross-sectional area of a junction of the first interference block 150 and a medial part of the retention portion 15 is relatively large compared with an overall cross-sectional area of the first interference block 150. A cross-sectional area of a junction of the second interference block 152 and the medial part of the retention portion 15 is relatively large compared with an overall cross-sectional area of the second interference block 152. Therefore, structures of the first and second interference blocks 150, 152 are reinforced. This enables interferential forces between the terminal 1 and the housing 2 in the corresponding passageway 20 to be enhanced.

[00022] Referring also to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the housing 2 has a top face 22 and an opposite bottom face 24. Each passageway 20 spans a thickness of the housing 2 between the top face 22 and the bottom face 24, and has a generally T-shaped profile. The passageway 20 comprises a broad receiving hole 202, and a narrow retention space 201 in communication with one end of the receiving hole 202. Each of lateral sidewalls of the passageway 20 at opposite sides of the retention space 201 is stepped, and comprises an upper first sidewall 2010 and a lower second sidewall 2012. Thus a space between the opposite second sidewalls 2012 is less than a space between the opposite first sidewalls 2010.

[00023] Referring particularly to FIG. 6, each terminal 1 is received in the corresponding passageway 20 of the housing 2. The receiving hole 202 of the housing 2 receives the first and second spring arms 10, 12 of the terminal 1, and the retention space 201 of the housing 2 interferentially receives the retention portion 15 of the terminal 1. Once the terminal 1 has been completely fastened in the passageway 20 of the housing 2, the first contact portion 101 of the terminal 1 protrudes out from the first face 22 of the housing 2, and the second contact portion 121 of the terminal 1 protrudes out from the second face 24 of the housing 2. The first interference blocks 150 of the terminal 1 interferentially engage with the first sidewalls 2010 of the passageway 20 of the housing 2, and the second interference blocks 152 interferentially engage with the second sidewalls 2012 of the passageway 20. Thus, the terminal 1 is interferentially retained in the passageway 20. Because the space between the second sidewalls 2012 is less than that between the first sidewalls 2010 and the first interference blocks 150 are wider than the second interference blocks 152, the terminal 1 is easily received into the passageway 20. In addition, the terminal 1 can not slide too far down in the passageway 20. Furthermore, because the structures of the first and second interference blocks 150, 152 are reinforced, retention forces between the terminal 1 and the housing 2 are enhanced. Accordingly, the terminal 1 is securely and reliably retained in the passageway 20. Moreover, the terminal 1 resists distortion in assembly and in subsequent use of the LGA connector 3. As a result, signal transmission between the LGA chip and the PCB is stable and reliable,

[00024] While a 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.