Test socket

Abstract

A test socket for an integrated circuit package having an upper housing and a lower housing secured to the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of a load board. The upper housing having a cavity for receipt of the integrated circuit package and including a hole in the base of the upper housing to allow a plurality of solid socket plungers to contact test sites on the integrated circuit package. The socket plungers are positioned within a plurality of channels formed in the lower housing and extend through a plurality of holes in the load board to contact the test sites. A plurality of springs are positioned in the channels of the lower housing below the socket plungers to provide a spring force to bias the socket plungers upwardly toward the integrated circuit package. A nonconductive pushrod is positioned between the spring and a beveled edge of the plunger and a nonconductive cap is positioned above the load board for high frequency test signals. For closely spaced test sites a thinner daughter board is electrically connected to the load board through a hole in the load board. The test socket is then positioned on the daughter board.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A test socket for an integrated circuit package having a plurality of test sites comprising: 
 an upper housing positioned on a circuit board having a cavity for receipt of the integrated circuit package;    a lower housing positioned below the circuit board having a plurality of channels for receipt of solid test pins;    compliant means positioned below the circuit board for urging the test pins through the circuit board and into electrical contact with the test sites on the integrated circuit package; and    means for insulating the test pins between the compliant means and the test sites.    
     
     
         2 . The test socket of    claim 1    wherein the circuit board includes a plurality of plated through holes for guiding the travel of the test pins through the circuit board and transferring test signals from the test sites to the circuit board.  
     
     
         3 . The test socket of    claim 1    wherein the compliant means is a spring positioned within each channel of the lower housing below the test pins.  
     
     
         4 . The test socket of    claim 3    wherein the means for insulating is a nonconductive pushrod positioned between the spring and the test pins.  
     
     
         5 . The test socket of    claim 1    wherein the means for insulating is a nonconductive cap positioned between the circuit board and the integrated circuit package.  
     
     
         6 . The test socket of    claim 4    wherein the test pins have a beveled edge for contacting the pushrod.  
     
     
         7 . The test socket of    claim 5    wherein the nonconductive cap includes means for retaining the test pins in the test socket.  
     
     
         8 . A test socket for an integrated circuit package having a plurality of test sites comprising: 
 an upper housing positioned on a first circuit board, the upper housing having a cavity for receipt of the integrated circuit package;    a second circuit board having a hole for receipt of the first circuit board;    a lower housing positioned below the first circuit board and extending through the hole in the second circuit board, the lower housing having a plurality of channels for receipt of solid test pins; and    compliant means positioned below the first circuit board for urging the test pins through the first circuit board and into electrical contact with the test sites on the integrated circuit package.    
     
     
         9 . The test socket of    claim 8    wherein the first circuit board includes a plurality of plated through holes for guiding the travel of the test pins through the first circuit board and transferring test signals from the test sites to the circuit board.  
     
     
         10 . The test socket of    claim 1    wherein the compliant means is a spring positioned within each channel of the lower housing below the test pins.  
     
     
         11 . The test socket of    claim 8    wherein the first circuit board is soldered to the second circuit board.  
     
     
         12 . The test socket of    claim 8    wherein the first circuit board is connected to the second circuit board by a shielded probe positioned between the first and second circuit boards.  
     
     
         13 . The test socket of    claim 8    wherein the first circuit board is connected to the second circuit board by a flexible circuit board.  
     
     
         14 . The test socket of    claim 13    wherein the lower housing is connected to the second circuit board by a bracket.