Patents Assigned to Wells Electronics, Inc.
  • Patent number: 5584717
    Abstract: An IC package mounting device that includes a plurality of independently operative sliding latches or clips to secure the IC package to the device. The sliding latches are housed in guide slots that prevent the latches from becoming disengaged from the carrier assembly, with the guide slots being oriented at an angle relative to the lateral peripheral dimensions of the IC package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Wells Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mechelle L. Radde, Donald E. Ralstin, Craig J. Reske
  • Patent number: 5409392
    Abstract: A socket for carrying an integrated circuit (IC) package. The socket, which is particularly useful for burn-in testing, includes a base 18 which houses a plurality of conductive contacts 46 and a movable top 108 which is shiftably connected to the base. A table 32 is connected to the base 18 and supports the IC package after insertion. The socket also includes a contact actuation plate 72 which is operably connected to the movable top 108 and is shiftable with the top. Latches 96 are shiftably connected to the base 18 and shift with the top 108 between latched and unlatched positions to secure the IC atop the table during testing. The actuator plate 72 may also include retractable location pins 82 to insure proper IC alignment in the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Wells Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Marks, Thomas E. Marone
  • Patent number: 5387120
    Abstract: A connector for an integrated circuit (IC) chip to secure the IC chip during testing. The connector includes a unique latching system with a pivotal contact pad carried beneath a latch plate for self-adjusting alignment prior to engaging the leads of the IC chip. The latching system also includes an actuator and hook member pivotally connected to the latch plate in an over center movement fashion to increase the clamping force uniformly across IC leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Wells Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Marks, Donald W. Milbrand, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5290192
    Abstract: A socket for securing an integrated circuit (IC) during burn-in or test procedures. The socket includes a base which carries a plurality of electrically conductive contacts. Opposed hold down rollers are shiftably journaled in the base. The socket also includes a movable top connected to the base and a contact with the rollers. Movement of the top shifts the rollers between secured and open positions. A rotatable lever housed in the base is connected to an actuating arm which is also shiftable by movement of the top. The lever is operably associated with the contacts and shifts the contacts between an operative position in contact with the IC chip leads and a standby position spaced from the IC chip leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Wells Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard K. Espenshade, Richard L. Marks, Donald W. Milbrand, Jr., Mark J. Zitto
  • Patent number: 5240429
    Abstract: A socket for carrying an integrated circuit (IC) chip. The socket includes a plurality of opposed contacts which have upper and lower integral beams. The socket also includes a spring-biased movable top with inclined inner side walls to urge the contacts into a latched position with the upper beam contacting a lead or a pod on the IC to establish electrical contact. As the top is pushed down, the resilient nature of the contacts allows the lower beam to ride up the inclined side wall into an unlatched position wherein the IC may be removed from the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Wells Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce B. Myers
  • Patent number: 5228866
    Abstract: A socket for securing an integrated circuit (IC) during burn-in or test procedures. The socket includes a base which carries a plurality of electrically conductive contacts. Opposed hold down latches are shiftably connected to the base and include outer cams. The socket also includes a movable top which has an integral nib for contacting the latch cams to effect shifting of the latches. A rotatable lever housed in the base is connected to an actuating arm which is shiftable by movement of the top. The lever is operably associated with the contacts and shifts the contacts between an operative position in contact with the IC leads and a standby position spaced from the leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Wells Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard K. Espenshade, Richard L. Marks, Donald W. Milbrand, Mark J. Zitto
  • Patent number: 5205756
    Abstract: An IC carrier socket having a top with integrally molded guide pins for initially engaging and maintaining an IC carrier in the proper orientation and position during seating the carrier within the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Wells Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce B. Myers
  • Patent number: 5120238
    Abstract: A connector for an integrated circuit (IC) to secure the IC during testing. The connector includes a unique latching system which includes an actuator and a hook which are pivotally connected in an over-center movement fashion to significantly increase the clamping force from the force applied to latch the actuator or a connected latch plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: Wells Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Marks, Donald W. Milbrand, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5114358
    Abstract: A chip carrier socket which includes conductive contacts each having an outwardly extending upwardly directed cantilevered projection which engages a moveable top forming a part of the socket. The top, when moved downwardly, relative to the base of the socket which carries the contacts forces the contacts outwardly to allow the insertion or removal of the chip carrier. The top includes a multiple-angled camming surface which engages the upwardly extending cantilevered projection of each contact to apply a more generally even force against the contact during depression or downward movement of the top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: Wells Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce B. Myers
  • Patent number: 5074798
    Abstract: A modular socket for an integrated circuit package, wherein a single base is adapted to receive a plurality of replaceable contact modules having a variety of conductive lead counts. The modularity permits tooling of a single base to accommodate a variety of integrated circuit packages.The socket includes a lid pivotally connected to the base by a hinge and hinge pin. The hinge pin defines a pivot axis which is in a plane with the bottom surface of the lid to limit lateral movement on the contacts carried by the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: Wells Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Clyde T. Carter
  • Patent number: 4836798
    Abstract: A zero insertion force socket using normally closed contacts and three adjacently overlying plates. Upon lifting the activating arm, a cammed cylinder is rotated which pushes the middle plate and pulls the top plate to thereby open the prongs of the contact for component lead insertion therebetween. Upon the activating arm being moved back into its original position the cammed cylinder rotates and the middle plate shifts back to its original position under the influence of a contact prong closing about the component lead as the top plate shifts back to its original position under the influence of the cammed cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Wells Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Clyde T. Carter
  • Patent number: 4789345
    Abstract: A socket device for an integrated circuit package having fine pitch or closely spaced leads or contact pads. The socket device includes a base having a platform for supporting the IC package. Opposed actuating latches are pivotally carried upon the base at opposite sides of the platform to accommodate receipt and retention of the integrated package. The socket device includes a plurality staggered contacts in multiple ranks at opposite sides of the platform adjacent the actuator latches. The contacts engage the actuator latches so as to be moved between open and closed positions upon pivotal movement of the latches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Assignee: Wells Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Clyde T. Carter
  • Patent number: 4678255
    Abstract: A chip connector 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 connector top to allow insertion or removal of the chip. The connector base includes a wall positioning part which biases the contacts into a preloaded or clamped position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Assignee: Wells Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Clyde T. Carter
  • Patent number: 4669796
    Abstract: A connector for a leadless chip carrier. The connector includes a base which has opposed latches and a spring biased camming actuator which shifts the latches into a clamped position to secure the chip carrier within the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: Wells Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Clyde T. Carter
  • Patent number: 4623208
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Assignee: Wells Electronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Kerul, Donald E. Ralstin
  • Patent number: 4461525
    Abstract: A test socket which is for an integrated circuit device and which includes clamp wings pivotally mounted to the socket frame side faces. Each clamp wing includes conductive biased leads terminating in contacts which overlie and contact the leads of the integrated circuit device, serving to retain the device within the socket frame while completing an electrical circuit between a printed circuit board and the integrated circuit device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1984
    Assignee: Wells Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Wendell L. Griffin
  • Patent number: 4435724
    Abstract: A single piece carrier which is for an integrated circuit device having oppositely extending leads and which utilizes opposed marginal tabs connected to torsional bar parts to hold the integrated circuit device within the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1984
    Assignee: Wells Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Ralstin
  • Patent number: 4378139
    Abstract: An electrical connector which is for accommodating integrated circuit carriers and which includes opposed latches used to secure the carrier to the connector frame by individual over-center securement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1983
    Assignee: Wells Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell L. Griffin, Donald E. Ralstin
  • Patent number: 4375309
    Abstract: A zero insertion force connector block including a base with side walls, a row of terminals extending along each side wall, a pair of free-floating follower members positioned in the base between the rows of terminals and a rotary cam having cam lobes in the interface between the followers, radial arms extending from the lobes and a handle extending along the block joining the ends of the arms such that rotation of the handle forces the followers apart to stress the terminals and form electrical connections between the terminals and leads inserted into the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1983
    Assignee: Wells Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Wendell L. Griffin
  • Patent number: RE35693
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Wells Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Kerul, Donald E. Ralstin