Leadless chip carrier socket

Abstract

A leadless chip carrier socket which includes conductive contacts which electrically contact the carrier. The contacts include an outwardly extending cantilevered projection to allow the contacts to be shifted outwardly on downward engaging movement of the top of the socket to allow insertion or removal of the carrier.

We claim: 
     
       1. A socket for a leadless chip carrier, said socket including a base member having a central opening therein, a plurality of conductive resilient contacts for engaging conductive pads on said carrier, each contact anchored in said base member and including an upwardly extending part, said contacts positioned on at least two side edges of said base member opening, and constituting opposing clamp means for engaging said carrier within said socket, the improvement wherein each contact includes a cantilevered part projecting from its upwardly extending part outwardly of said base member opening, and a movable top overlying said base member, said top including an abutment means in contact with each said contact cantilevered part for moving and flexing said contacts in an outward direction relative to said base member opening upon movement of the top in a substantially straight line downward direction to space said contacts from said carrier to allow insertion thereof into the socket. 
     
     
       2. The socket of claim 1 wherein said leads are positioned at each side of said base support central opening. 
     
     
       3. The socket of claim 1 wherein said base support includes finger latches extending toward said top, each finger latch including a tab, said top including a shoulder for accepting said tabs and securing said finger latches whereby said top is secured to said base support. 
     
     
       4. The socket of claim 1 wherein each contact includes a lead anchored in said base member, said contact upwardly extending part including an integral curved neck extending from said contact lead, and a head integrally formed atop said neck having inner and outer edges, said cantilevered platform projecting outwardly from said head outer edge, said head inner edge being bevelled and terminating in a lower chin part offset from said contact neck. 
     
     
       5. The socket of claim 1 wherein said top is of a one-piece construction. 
     
     
       6. The socket of claim 5 wherein said abutment means is an abutment part extending from an outer peripheral edge of said top toward said base. .Iadd. 
     
     
       7.  A socket for a leadless chip carrier, said socket including a base member having a central opening therein, a plurality of conductive resilient contacts for engaging conductive pads on said carrier, each contact anchored in said base member and including an upwardly extending part and a head part, said contacts positioned on at least two side edges of said base member opening with the head parts thereof constituting means for engaging said carrier from opposite sides to compressively clamp the carrier between the head parts when within said socket, each contact including a cantilevered part projecting from its upwardly extending part outwardly of said base member opening, a movable top overlying said base member, said top including abutment means in contact with each said contact cantilevered part for moving and flexing said contacts in an outward direction relative to said base member opening upon movement of the top in a substantially straight line downward direction to space the contacts from said carrier to allow insertion of the carrier within the socket..Iaddend..Iadd.8. The socket of claim 7 wherein each head part includes a chin part for contacting said carrier, each cantilevered part 
     
     
        extending above the level of each chin part..Iaddend..Iadd.9.  The socket of claim 8 wherein said base member includes a table means for supporting said carrier within said socket..Iaddend..Iadd.10. A socket for a leadless chip carrier, said socket including a base member having a central opening therein, a plurality of conductive resilient contacts for engaging conductive pads on said carrier, each contact anchored in said base member and including an upwardly extending part and a head part, said contacts positioned on at least two side edges of said base member opening with the head parts thereof constituting opposing clamp means for engaging said carrier when within said socket, each contact including a cantilevered part projecting from its upwardly extending part outwardly of said base member opening, a movable top overlying said base member and including abutment means in contact with each contact cantilevered part for moving and flexing said contacts in an outward direction relative to said base member opening upon movement of the top in a substantially straight line downward direction to space said contacts from said carrier to allow insertion of the carrier within the socket, said top further including a plurality of grooves each accommodating the cantilevered part and at least a portion of the head part of each contact, each contact when moving in said outward direction further moving relative to said top within its said 
     
     
        accommodating groove..Iaddend..Iadd.11.  The socket of claim 10 wherein each head part includes a chin part for contacting said carrier, each cantilevered part extending above the level of each chin part..Iaddend..Iadd.12. A socket for a leadless chip carrier, said socket including a base member having a central opening therein, a plurality of conductive resilient contacts for engaging conductive pads on said carrier, each contact anchored in said base member and including an upwardly extending part and a head part, said contacts positioned on at least two side edges of said base member opening with the head parts thereof constituting means for engaging said carrier from opposite sides to compressively clamp the carrier between the head parts when within said socket, each contact including a cantilevered part projecting from its upwardly extending part outwardly of said base member opening, movable top overlying said base member, said top including abutment means for contacting each said contact cantilevered part to move and flex said contacts in an outward direction relative to said base member opening upon movement of the top in a substantially straight line downward direction to space the contacts from said carrier to allow insertion of the carrier 
     
     
        within the socket..Iaddend..Iadd.13.  The socket of claim 12 wherein each head part includes a chin part for contacting said carrier, each cantilevered part extending at least to the level of each chin part..Iaddend..Iadd.14. The socket of claim 13 wherein said base member includes a table means for supporting said carrier within said 
     
     
        socket..Iaddend..Iadd.15.  A socket for a leadless chip carrier, said socket including a base member constituting means for supporting said carrier and having a central opening therein, a plurality of conductive resilient contacts for engaging conductive pads on said carrier, each contact anchored in said base member and including an upwardly extending part, said contacts positioned on at least two side edges of said base member opening and constituting opposing clamp means for engaging said carrier within said socket, each contact including a cantilevered part projecting from its upwardly extending part outwardly of said base member opening, and a moveable top overlying said base member, said top including an abutment means in contact with each said contact cantilevered part for moving and flexing said contacts in an outward direction relative to said base member opening upon movement of the top in a substantially straight line downward direction to space said contacts from said carrier to allow insertion thereof into the socket and into supporting contact with said 
     
     
        base member..Iaddend..Iadd.16.  A socket for a leadless chip carrier, said socket including a base member having a central opening therein, a plurality of conductive resilient contacts for engaging conductive pads on said carrier, each contact anchored in said base member and including an upwardly extending part, said contacts positioned on at least two side edges of said base member opening and constituting opposing clamp means for engaging said carrier within said socket, each contact including a cantilevered part projecting from its upwardly extending part outwardly of said base member opening, and a moveable top overlying said base member, said top including an abutment means in contact with each said contact cantilevered part for moving and flexing said contacts in an outward direction relative to said base member opening upon movement of the top in a substantially straight line downward direction to space said contacts from said carrier to allow insertion thereof into the socket, said top thereafter being moveable relative to said carrier in an upward direction to allow said contacts to flex in an inward direction relative to said base member opening and engage said carrier..Iaddend.