Abstract: A land grid array connector assembly (1) comprises a socket (11) and a fastening device (10) surrounding the socket. The fastening device includes an insulative frame (13), a lever (12) and a metal clip (14) respectively assembled to a first and a second side of the frame. The lever is pivotally assembled to the first side of the frame, the clip is movably mounted to the second side of the frame, and the clip has a pair of acting portions (141) respectively received in a pair of locating grooves (15) of the frame. Each locating groove has a horizontal portion (151) and an arced portion (152) connected with the horizontal portion. The acting portion rotates in the arced portions of the locating grooves and slides in horizontal portions of the locating grooves.

Abstract: A ZIF socket assembly used with a chip (6) comprises a ZIF socket (5), an external actuating tool (8) and a protector (7). The socket comprises a base (51) and a sliding cover (53). The base comprises a recess (514) on an end thereof. The sliding cover is movably assembled on the base for receiving the chip and comprises a slot (514) in alignment with the recess. The protector is placed upon the chip and comprises a number of legs (71) extending downwardly for pressing against edges of the chip. A contacting portion (73) extends upwardly from an end of the protector for dispersing a force exerting on the chip. The actuating tool is inserted into the recess through the slot and drives the cover, the chip and the protector to move with respect to the base, thereby achieving an electrical connection between the chip and the socket.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes: an insulative housing comprising opposite side walls and an interior space formed there between for receiving a flexible circuit, a spring arm and a inner spacer formed near each other on each side wall, a slot formed in each spring arm, a slit formed between each spring arm and inner spacer, a projection extending forward from a back surface of the slit, and a recess formed under each projection; a plurality of contacts being secured in the housing, each contact having a contact portion extending into the interior space of the housing; and an actuator comprising an elongate bar and two arms extending from opposite ends of the elongate bar, each arm having a pivot pin inserted into the sloton the side wall and a pitch pin received into the recess for maintaining the actuator at an open position.

Abstract: An electrical connector (10) for a flexible printed circuit (5) comprises an insulative housing (1), a plurality of terminals (2) received in the housing, a stuffer (4), and a shield (3) enclosing the housing. The housing comprises a receiving slot (13) for receiving the flexible printed circuit. The shield comprises a top wall (31), a bottom wall (32) opposite to the top wall, a pressing plate (34) positioned between and parallel to the top and bottom walls, and at least one linker (33). The pressing plate and bottom wall define a receiving slot for receiving the stuffer. The linker comprises a link plate (332) connecting the pressing plate and the bottom wall, and a block plate (334) extending laterally from a side edge of the link plate for supporting the stuffer and for preventing the stuffer from swaying when the stuffer is pulled out from the housing.

Abstract: A ZIF socket assembly used with an integrated circuit package (6) comprises a ZIF socket (5) and a protector (7). The socket comprises a base (51) and a sliding cover (53). The base comprises a recess (514) at an end thereof. The sliding cover is moveably assembled on the base for mounting the package and comprises a slot (533) in alignment with the recess. The protector is placed upon the package and comprises a number of legs (71) extending downwardly for pressing against edges of the package. A contacting portion (73) extends outwardly from an edge of the protector. An actuating tool is inserted into the recess through the slot and drives the cover, the package and the protector to move with respect to the base, thereby achieving an electrical connection between the package and the socket.

Abstract: An electrical connector (1) includes an insulative housing (4), a number of electrical contacts (3) and a dielectric stuffer (2). The insulative housing includes a top wall (40), a bottom wall (42) opposite to the top wall and a pair of side walls (41) defining a receiving cavity (43) therebetween. The electrical contacts are received in the receiving cavity of the insulative housing. The dielectric stuffer is both linearly and pivotally movable with respect to the insulative housing to depress an FPC to the electrical contacts.

Abstract: A method of making an electrical connector includes the steps of: a. stamping and forming a contact strip (10) and a number of contacts (12) on the contact strip; b. defining a recess (16) in a tail (14) of each contact; c. applying a first finish of nickel material on portions of the contact having the recesses followed by a second finish of tin-lead alloy material; d. injection molding an insulative housing (20) to the contacts; e. bending the tails outwardly; f. severing the contact strip from the contacts at the recesses.

Abstract: An electrical connector (100) includes an insulative housing (102), a number of contacts (104) received in the housing and an actuator (106) pivotably engaging with the housing for driving a flexible printed circuit (FPC) received in a mating port (116) of the connector to electrically contact the contacts. The housing has a top wall (108), a bottom wall (110) and two opposite side walls (112) and defines a chamber (114) between the top, the bottom and the side walls. The side walls each define a guiding slot(120) near the mating port for slidably receiving pivots (130) of the actuator therein. The guiding slot has an upper segment (123) and a lower segment (125) separated by a rib (117) therebetween. When the pivots of the actuator slide along the guiding slot from the upper segment to the lower segment, the actuator downwardly moves to securely press conductive trails of the FPC to contact the electrical contacts of the housing, thereby establishing electrical connection therebetween.

Abstract: A flexible board electrical connector (100) comprises an insulative housing (102) defining an opening (118) for insertion of a flexible board (F), a number of conductive contacts (104) and a pressure member (106) both assembled with the housing. The pressure member comprises a pair of shaft portions (126) forming a pair of first positioning bars(130) projecting from opposite outside surfaces (1262) thereof for insertion into elongated holes (120) defined in the housing. A second positioning bar (123) is further formed on one shaft portion for insertion into a recess (117) defined in one side wall (121) of the housing, and, together with the first positioning bars, retains the pressure member to the housing when the flexible board is inserted into the opening.

Abstract: An assembly tool (1) for use with a retainer (2) comprises a handle section (11) having a curved surface for facilitating handling thereof, an operation section (12) having a cam shape, and an intermediate joint section (13) perpendicular to the operation section. In assembly, one end of the retainer is first mounted to an electrical connector (3). The operation section of the tool is then inserted into a pair of clamping walls (25) formed in the other end of the connector. The handle section of the tool is rotated to urge the operation section to simultaneously rotate thereby expanding the clamping walls of the connector. The retainer is thereby assembled to the connector from a top surface thereof. Similarly, disassembly of the retainer from the connector is also easily and quickly implemented by the assembly tool.

Abstract: A card edge connector comprises an insulative housing defining an elongate slot for receiving a daughter board therein, an engaging arm extending from a longitudinal end of the housing with a receiving hole defined therein, a locking member for locking into the receiving hole of the arm, and a number of contacts received in passageways defined in the housing for connecting with conductive pads of the inserted daughter board. The locking member extends through a notch defined in a longitudinal edge of the inserted daughter board and the receiving hole of the engaging arm. The locking member is locked into the receiving hole of the arm and abuts against a lower edge of the notch of the daughter board to prevent an upward movement thereof thereby retaining the inserted daughter board in position.

Abstract: A retention mechanism for retaining a CPU module includes a base having two ends to which two retention arms are mounted thereby forming a U-shaped configuration for accommodating the CPU module therein. Each retention arm has a bottom wall and two side walls thereby defining a channel therebetween for receiving an edge of the CPU module. The bottom wall has a cantilevered beam extending therefrom which is deflected when the CPU module is inserted into the retention mechanism. An opening is defined in the bottom wall for partially receiving the deflected beam and the beam is dimensioned to refrain from protruding beyond the bottom wall when the CPU module is inserted into the retention mechanism.

Abstract: A retainer for a card edge connector comprises a dielectric body comprising an elongate cavity defined therein for receiving a daughter board, and an L-shaped actuator arm outwardly extending from the dielectric body. A pair of pressing plates upwardly extends from the side walls proximate one end of the body. Two pairs of locking latches downwardly extend from the side walls proximate opposite ends of the body. A slot is formed in each side wall for providing additional resiliency to the side walls thereby obviating the possibility of damaging of the body during assembly. When the pressing plates are actuated by a manual external force, each pair of locking latches are outwardly displaced away from each other to downwardly assemble the retainer to the connector. A cylindrical post is formed on the actuator arm for engaging with a notch formed in a daughter board inserted in the connector thereby retaining the daughter board in position.

Abstract: A retention mechanism for retaining a CPU module includes a base with two spaced side walls formed on each end thereof and trunnions transversely extending therefrom. A pair of retention arms each forming a channel for receiving an edge of the CPU module has two lateral walls fit over the side walls at opposite ends of the base. Each lateral wall of the retention arm defines a pivot hole for pivotally receiving the corresponding trunnion therein thereby rendering the retention arm pivotal with respect to the base between an expanded position wherein the retention mechanism forms a U-shaped configuration for accommodating the CPU module and a folded position wherein the retention arm substantially overlaps the base for conserving space. Each end of the base forms at least one projection for selectively engaging with a first recess and a second recess defined in the corresponding lateral wall of the retention arm for releasably fixing the retention arm at the expanded position and the folded position.