Land grid array connector

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an electrical connector for electrically connecting an electronic package such as an integrated circuit (IC) chip with a circuit substrate such as a printed circuit board (PCB), and particularly to a land grid array connector adapted for receiving a land grid package (LGP) therein and electrically connecting the LGP with a PCB.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Land grid array (LGA) connector for electrically connecting a Land Grid Package (LGP) with a printed circuit board (PCB) is widely used in the field of electrical connectors. The LGA connector typically comprises an insulative housing, a stiffener defined around the housing, a clip pivotably engaged on one end of the stiffener, and a lever engaged on an opposite end of the stiffener for fastening the clip onto the housing. The LGP is clasped between the clip and the housing.

[0005] Referring to FIGS. 5–6, a conventional Land Grid Array (LGA) connector is illustrated. The LGA connector 6 comprises an insulative housing 61, a stiffener 62 defined around the housing 61, a metal clip 63 pivotably engaged on one end of the stiffener 62, and a lever 64 engaged on an opposite end of the stiffener 62 for fastening the clip 63 onto the housing 61. The stiffener 62 comprises a bottom plate 621 and four sidewalls 622 therefrom. Said lever 64 is pivotably connected to one sidewall 622 of the stiffener 62, said clip 63 is pivotably connected to the opposite sidewall of stiffener 62 in a moveable manner. The housing 61 is mounted on the bottom plate 621 of the stiffener 62, with a gap between a side surface of the housing 61 and corresponding sidewall 622 of the stiffener 62. The clip 63 has a substantially rectangular configuration, with a window in the middle thereof. The clip 63 comprises a pair of pressing plates 630 and a pair of side plates 632 extending downwardly from each outer edge of the pressing plate 630 respectively, the pressing plates 630 bend downwardly. The lever 64 comprises an operation lever 641 and a perpendicular pressing lever 642 for pressing the clip 63 to clasp the LGP 7 between the clip 63 and the housing 61.

[0006] In use, the clip 63 is first rotated to a vertical open position, and the LGP 7 is seated onto a predetermined position of the housing 61. Then the clip 63 is rotated to a horizontal close position. When the middle portions of the two pressing plates 630 of the clip 63 are fittingly rested on LGP 7, the side plate 632 goes into the gap between the side surface of the housing 61 and corresponding side wall 622. When the operation lever 641 is subsequently actuated, the pressing portion 642 presses an end of the clip 63, therefore fastening the housing 61 and LGP 7 between the stiffener 62 and the clip 63.

[0007] Because the clip 63 is connected to the stiffener 62 in a moveable manner, the clip 63 is likely to move on the stiffener 62 before the pressing portion 642 is rotated down for fastening an end of the clip 63. As a consequence, middle portions of the two pressing plates 630 of the clip 63 will engage the LGP 7 at a improper position, not at the predetermined middle position of the LGP. In result, when the pressing portion 642 is rotated down for pressing an end of the clip 63, the LGP 7 will tilt, even be damaged because of being pressed at a improper place by the two pressing plates 630.

[0008] In view of the above, a new LGA connector which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages is desired.

[0009] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an LGA connector that can prevent the land grid chip (LGP) from tilting or being damaged when LGP is being sandwiched in the LGA connector, therefore ensuring a reliability electrical connection performance between the LGP and the LGA connector.

[0010] To achieve the above-mentioned object, an LGA connector in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing, a stiffener defined around the housing, a clip pivotably engaged on one end of the stiffener in a moveable manner, and a lever engaged on an opposite end of the stiffener for fastening the clip onto the housing. The stiffener comprises a bottom plate and a plurality of side walls extending from the bottom plate, and the housing comprises a plurality of side surfaces aligned with said side walls. A gap is formed between corresponding side surface of the housing and side wall of the stiffener. The clip comprises a pair of pressing plates and a pair of side plates extending downwardly from each outer edge of the pressing plate respectively. A slot is formed in corresponding position of the bottom plate of the stiffener for accepting the side plate of the clip partly when the clip is rotated to a horizontal closed position. Thus the clip can no longer move freely on the stiffener in the horizontal direction, that will promise that the pressing plates of the clip press the LGP at a predetermined proper position of the LGP. Therefore ensuring a reliability electrical connection performance between the LGP and the LGA connector.

[0011] 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:

[0018] Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the present invention in detail.

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1–4, a land grid array connector 1 in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention comprises an insulative housing 2, a stiffener 3 defined around the housing 2, a metal clip 4 pivotably engaged on one end of the stiffener 3 in a moveable manner, and a lever 5 engaged on an opposite end of the stiffener 3 for fastening the clip 4 onto the housing 2. A Land Grid Package 8 (LGP) is ready to be disposed between the housing 2 and the clip 4, for connecting with the printed circuit board via the connector 1.

[0020] The housing 2 has a substantially rectangular configuration with a plurality of side surfaces. A plurality of passageways (not labeled) is defined in the housing 2 for receiving a corresponding number of electrical contacts (not labeled) therein. The stiffener 3 comprises a bottom plate 31 and four side walls 32 comprising a pair of first side walls 322 and a pair of second side walls 324 connecting the first side walls 322 extending upwardly from the bottom plate 31. The bottom plate 31 and side walls 32 cooperatively define a receiving room for accommodating the housing 2. Said clip 4 and lever 5 are pivotably engaged the second side walls 324 of the stiffener 3. The housing 2 is received in the stiffener 3, and the first side walls 322 and corresponding side surfaces each define a gap therebetween. The bottom plate 31 of the stiffener 3 defines slots 34 aligned with said gaps and in communication with the first side walls 322.

[0021] The clip 4 is also substantially rectangular. The clip 4 comprises a pair of pressing plates 41 and a pair of side plates 42 extending downwardly from each outer edge of the pressing plate 41 respectively. The length and width of the side plates 42 is set by referring to that of the free ends of the slots for the side plates being closely received in the slots 34. The side plate 42 has also a substantially rectangular configuration with a long outer edge, each of the side plates defining a pair of slant sides in the free end. The free end of the side plate 42 enters into the slot 34 of the stiffener 3 when the clip 4 is rotated to a horizontal closed position. A pair of hooks 43 and an anti-rotation bar 46 therebetween extend from one side of the pressing plate 41 for engaging with corresponding side walls 32 of the stiffener 3, and an extending portion 44 extends from the opposite side of the pressing plate 41 for being pressed by the lever 5. A pair of clasping portions 410 bends toward the housing 2 in a middle of the pressing plate 41 for pressing the LGP 8.

[0022] The lever 5 comprises a operation lever 51 and a pressing lever 52 perpendicular to the operation lever 51. The pressing lever 52 defines a middle pressing portion 520 for pressing onto the extending portion 44 of the clip 4, therefore fastening the LPG between the stiffener 3 the clip 4.

[0023] In assembly, the housing 2 is mounted in the receiving room formed by the bottom plate 31 and side walls 32 of the stiffener 3, and then the clip 4 and the lever is engaged at two opposite side walls 32 of the stiffener 3, respectively. Another two opposite side walls 32 and corresponding side surfaces of the housing 2 each define a gap therebetween.

[0024] In use of the connector 1, the LGP 8 is disposed onto the housing 2. The clip 4 is then rotated downwardly to a horizontal closed position, and the free ends of the side plates 42 enter corresponding slots 34 of the stiffener 3 with the slant sides of the side plates 42 abutting against the inner side of the slots respectively. When the lever 5 is actuated to press the extending portion 44 of the clip 4, the clasping portions 410 of the clip 4 press the LGP 8 down at a predetermined position of at the LGP 8, therefore the LGP 8 is surely sandwiched in the connector 1.

[0025] Because the slots 34 are defined in the bottom plate 31 and are aligned with the side plates 42 of the clip 4, when the clip 4 is pressed down by the lever 5, the free ends of the side plates 42 will enter said slots 34 with the slant sides of the side plates 42 abutting against the inner side of the slots 34 respectively, the clip 4 can no longer move freely on the stiffener in the horizontal direction, that will promise that the clasping portions 410 of the clip 4 press the LGP at a predetermined proper position of the LGP, therefore ensuring a reliability electrical connection performance between the LGP and the LGA connector 1.

[0026] While 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.