초록 ▼

In a socket used to house semiconductor die during testing, a recessed socket contact is provided that avoids pinching the die's contacts. Also provided are socket contacts that allow for smaller socket holes and, therefore, denser arrays of socket contacts. In one embodiment, the body of the socket

In a socket used to house semiconductor die during testing, a recessed socket contact is provided that avoids pinching the die's contacts. Also provided are socket contacts that allow for smaller socket holes and, therefore, denser arrays of socket contacts. In one embodiment, the body of the socket contact comprises a head, a spring coupled to the head, and a shaft coupled to the spring; no outer shell is needed for the spring, as the non-conductive sides of the socket hole serve that function. In another embodiment, the body of the socket contact comprises a metal shaft having an aperture. Compression causes the shaft to close around the slit, thereby decreasing the amount of lateral buckling. In yet another embodiment, semiconductor fabrication techniques are used to construct a dense array of contacts.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for enabling electrical communication between an IC chip and a printed circuit board having an aperture therethrough, comprising:providing a metal tube, said metal tube having a sidewall extending the length of said metal tube, said sidewall having one of at least one aperture therein an

1. A method for enabling electrical communication between an IC chip and a printed circuit board having an aperture therethrough, comprising:providing a metal tube, said metal tube having a sidewall extending the length of said metal tube, said sidewall having one of at least one aperture therein and at least one deformation therein placing said metal tube in at least a portion of said aperture of said printed circuit board for interposing said metal tube between at least a portion of said IC chip and said printed circuit board; and applying a compression force to said metal tube for deforming the portion of said metal tube having one of said aperture and said deformation for substantially longitudinally collapsing a portion of said metal tube in response to the compression force applied to said metal tube.