The world of sockets

The many options depend on the application

COMPILED BY RALPH RAIOLA

While the basic technology behind sockets has not changed much over the years, there are still many choices available to the designer depending on the particular needs and requirements of the application. Some devices connect chips to a motherboard, some secure ICs memory in a laptop, while others enable board stacking or IC testing. Here are a number of recently introduced products representing some recent developments.

Memory

Offered in through-hole, vertical, press-fit, and 28.5° styles, the FB DIMM fully buffered 240-circuit memory socket from Molex (Lisle, IL) sports a 1.00-mm pitch. The socket features built-in end keys, a central alignment key, and a dual ejector latch.

The FB DIMM memory socket from Molex

The SV1 Series memory card socket from JAE Electronics (Irvine, CA) is compatible with the Reduced Size Multimedia Card standard to suit a variety of small portable devices. Contacts feature insertion removal and detection capabilities, and power contacts have dual points to ensure constant connection.

Processors

BGA socket adapters from Advanced Interconnections (Warwick, RI) enable the soldering of Pb-free packages on existing boards using high-temperature reflow profiles.

Designed for 1.0-mm-pitch BGA chips, such as the Renesas 256 PBGA and the Cypress 256 FBGA, the SS-BGA256E-01 BGA socket from Ironwood Electronics (Burnsville, MN) operates at bandwidths of up to 10 GHz with less than 1 dB insertion loss.

With a profile of less than 2 mm, an the HiLo interconnect system from Emulation Technology (Santa Clara, CA) is offered in pitches from 0.8 mm, provides more than 2,000 I/Os, and features a 1 dB cut-off at 9.3 GHz. The interconnect provides an insertion force of 1 oz per contact and comes in both pin and socket arrays.

Emulation Technology’s HiLo interconnect system

Burn-in testing

Offered in DIP ZIF, PGA ZIF, PLCC ZIF, and SOIC ZIF versions, a line of universal RoHS-compliant ZIF test sockets from Aries Electronics (Frenchtown, NJ) can be soldered into PCBs or plugged into any socket. Normally closed contacts eliminate dependence on plastic, which helps to sustain contact. The sockets are rated for 25,000 to 50,000 cycles.

The Quick Lock socket from Emulation Technology (Santa Clara, CA) targets IC or system development applications where the IC will be changed frequently. The sockets operate at up to 3 GHz at up to 1 dB, with an inductance of less than 2 nH and a capacitance of less than 1 pF.

Related products/accessories

A family of SPDIP mating pin headers from Mill-Max (Oyster Bay, NY) mates with the company’s line of SPDIP sockets. SPDIP (Shrink Plastic) packaging reduces device lead spacing between pins down to a pitch of 1.778 mm. The headers are precision-machined using brass alloy 360 and are configured with pluggable tails. ■