Abstract: Method and apparatus for installing a processor into electronic communication with a socket. The land grid array socket connector includes a socket housing secured to a circuit board and an array of upwardly extending pins for electronic communication with contact pads on the processor. The socket connector provides a carriage configured to receiving the processor through a lateral opening and support a perimeter edge of the processor. A mechanical linkage couples the carriage and the socket housing for substantially vertically translating the processor relative to the socket. A plurality of alignment features upwardly extends from the socket housing along the perimeter of the array of pins. Each of the alignment features has an inwardly-facing tapered surface for registering the edge of the processor and biasing the processor into a position where the array of contact pads are aligned with the array of pins as the processor is lowered.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for installing a processor into electronic communication with a socket. The land grid array socket connector includes a socket housing secured to a circuit board and an array of upwardly extending pins for electronic communication with contact pads on the processor. The socket connector provides a carriage configured to receiving the processor through a lateral opening and support a perimeter edge of the processor. A mechanical linkage couples the carriage and the socket housing for substantially vertically translating the processor relative to the socket. A plurality of alignment features upwardly extends from the socket housing along the perimeter of the array of pins. Each of the alignment features has an inwardly-facing tapered surface for registering the edge of the processor and biasing the processor into a position where the array of contact pads are aligned with the array of pins as the processor is lowered.