Patents by Inventor Wayne K. Pfaff

Wayne K. Pfaff has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6367763
    Abstract: A simple, inexpensive burn-in and test mounting for high terminal density grid array packages is formed by a support base which carries a plurality of C-shaped spring finger contacts. One end of each spring finger contact is attached to the first face of the support base at the edge of a hole corresponding to the outline of the LGA package and extends through the hole. The contacts are curved so that the second end of each contact is supported above and spaced from the opposite side of the support base. Each spring finger is curved to define a knee which lies in a plane parallel with the faces of the support base. The spring fingers are arranged so that the knees are in register with lands on an LGA package. When the LGA package is moved toward the support base, the knees contact the lands on the LGA package. Electrical communication may be established with either end of the finger, thus permitting spreading of input/output terminal connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Inventor: Wayne K. Pfaff
  • Patent number: 6294920
    Abstract: A test mounting for LGA packages uses curved contact fingers to make electrical contact between lands on the LGA package and surface mount circuitry on a circuit board or the like. The mounting includes a guide member with guide apertures therein spaced from a support base with corresponding guide apertures. A bending plate positioned between the guide plate and the support base is moved laterally with respect thereto to increase or decrease the distance between the ends of each contact finger and thereby connect or disconnect the ends of the contact fingers with an LGA package mounted adjacent the guide plate and circuit pads on a circuit board on which the test mounting is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Inventor: Wayne K. Pfaff
  • Patent number: 6270357
    Abstract: Test and/or burn-in sockets for high frequency electronic device packages are formed using contact pins having parallel ends joined by a support beam supported so that one end of the pin extends through a guide into a cavity in the socket and the other end extends through a second guide displaced from the first guide. The outer ends of the contact pins are arranged to contact input/output lands of a external circuitry such as a burn-in board or the like and the inner ends arranged to contact input/output leads or lands on an electronic LGA package. The end portions of the contact pins are constrained in parallel guides which are arranged to precisely align the ends of the pins with the terminal lands and the length and size of the contact pins are minimized to minimize signal distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Inventor: Wayne K. Pfaff
  • Patent number: 6124720
    Abstract: Surface mount test and/or burn-in sockets for electronic device packages are formed using contact pins supported between the top of a circuit board and the lower surface of the terminal lead. The central portion of each contact pin is secured in the socket base so that one end of the pin extends into a cavity in the socket and the other end extends from the lower surface of the socket. The ends of the contact pins are supported on curved beams which are designed to control the pressure exerted on the terminal leads and on the contact pads independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Plastronics Socket Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne K. Pfaff, Richard C. Muehling
  • Patent number: 6016254
    Abstract: Grid array device packages are mounted on a circuit board or other substrate with a socket having a base member, a retaining member and an array of bent contact pins. The ends of the contact pins are displaced by insertion of a device package and then respond with a small spring force to hold the device package in place against ledges on the retaining member. The contact ends of the pins make electrical connection with terminals on the device package. A sufficient portion of each pin is implanted within the base member to prevent stress from passing through the base member. The retaining member leaves a significant portion of the upper surface of the device package exposed so that packages with attached heat sinks may be mounted therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Inventor: Wayne K. Pfaff
  • Patent number: 5611705
    Abstract: Ball grid array devices are mounted in a burn-in and test socket which has a top surface with windows for the ball terminals depending from the ball grad array device. Contact fingers mounted on the base of the socket extend through a bending plate and into the windows from the opposite side of the top surface. When the bending plate is moved laterally with respect to the top surface, the ends of the contact members are moved into contact with the ball terminals. The ends of the contact members are urged into contact with the ball terminals between the center of the ball terminal and the surface of the ball grid array device, thus retaining the device in the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Inventor: Wayne K. Pfaff
  • Patent number: 5556293
    Abstract: Ball grid array devices are mounted in a burn-in and test socket which has a top surface with windows for the ball terminals depending from the ball grad array device. Contact fingers mounted on the base of the socket extend through a cam plate and into the windows from the opposite side of the top surface. When the cam plate is moved laterally with respect to the top surface, the ends of the contact members are moved into contact with the ball terminals. The ends of the contact members are curved to contact the ball terminals between the center of the ball terminal and the surface of the ball grid array device, thus retaining the device in the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Inventor: Wayne K. Pfaff
  • Patent number: 5508628
    Abstract: A pivoting beam or lever is used to open and close burn-in and test sockets which employ laterally moving cammed plates to form electrical contact between electrical contact fingers within the socket and terminals depending from an electronic device package. The pivoting beam is oriented and adapted for operation by vertically applied forces so that opening and closing the socket is easily automatible using the pick and place equipment conventionally used to insert and remove electronic device packages from open top sockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Inventor: Wayne K. Pfaff
  • Patent number: RE39418
    Abstract: Ball grid array devices are mounted in a burn-in and test socket which has a top surface sockets which have top surfaces with windows for the ball terminals terminal balls depending from the ball grad grid array device. Contact fingers mounted on the base of the socket extend through a bending plate and into the windows from the opposite side of the top surface. When the bending plate is moved laterally with respect to the top surface, the ends of the contact members are moved into contact with the ball terminals terminal balls. The ends of the contact members are urged into contact with the ball terminals terminal balls between the center of the ball terminal ball and the surface of the ball grid array device, thus retaining the device in the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Plastronics Socket Partners, L.P.
    Inventor: Wayne K. Pfaff
  • Patent number: D672829
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Plastronics Socket Partners, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wayne K. Pfaff, David W. Pfaff
  • Patent number: D672831
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Plastronics Socket Partners, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wayne K. Pfaff, David W. Pfaff
  • Patent number: D681145
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Plastronics Socket Partners, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wayne K. Pfaff, David W. Pfaff
  • Patent number: D681760
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Plastronics Socket Partners, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wayne K. Pfaff, David W. Pfaff
  • Patent number: D715387
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Plastronics Socket Partners, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wayne K Pfaff, David W Pfaff
  • Patent number: D716394
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Plastronics Socket Partners, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wayne K Pfaff, David W Pfaff
  • Patent number: D717898
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Plastronics Socket Partners, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wayne K Pfaff, David W Pfaff
  • Patent number: D719225
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Plastronics Socket Partners, Ltd
    Inventor: Wayne K Pfaff
  • Patent number: D728716
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Plastronics Socket Partners, Ltd.
    Inventor: Wayne K Pfaff
  • Patent number: D778987
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Plastronics Socket Partners, Ltd.
    Inventor: Wayne K Pfaff
  • Patent number: D785116
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Inventor: Wayne K Pfaff