Test socket boosts contact protection with plunger matrix

Ironwood Electronics has unveiled a QFN socket design for the 9.1 x 14-mm package size. The SMP-QFN-8019 socket employs high-performance elastomer that facilitates very low inductance, high endurance, and wide temperature range.

The test socket operates at bandwidths of up to 44 GHz with less than 1 dB of insertion loss. Next, the contact resistance is typically 15 mΩ per pin, and the socket connects all pins with 44-GHz bandwidth on all connections.

The SMP-QFN-8019 socket, mounted on the target PCB without soldering, uses mechanical hardware for the mounting operation. The socket is constructed using Torlon material with a cutout to accommodate RF traces on the top side of the PCB.

The socket comes with a protective plunger matrix — a gold-plated copper cylinder — which sits on top of the conductive silver columns. The plunger matrix protects the conductive silver columns from contamination due to various solder ball interfaces.

A quickly replaceable plunger matrix also enables minimal downtime during final production test. The silver column with plunger matrix contact is rated for more than 500K cycles.