U.S. patent application number 15/867926 was filed with the patent office on 2019-01-24 for clamping component for clamping a chip module.
The applicant listed for this patent is LOTES CO., LTD. Invention is credited to Gui Bin Lin, Ji Xiao Yu.
Application Number | 20190027418 15/867926 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60970728 |
Filed Date | 2019-01-24 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190027418 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin; Gui Bin ; et
al. |
January 24, 2019 |
CLAMPING COMPONENT FOR CLAMPING A CHIP MODULE
Abstract
A clamping component is provided to clamp a chip module, which
has a circuit board and a protruding portion protruding upward from
an upper surface thereof. In a left-right direction, a width of a
first region from a left side of the circuit board to a left side
of the protruding portion is greater than that of a second region
from a right side of the circuit board to a right side of the
protruding portion. Two abutting surfaces respectively abut the
left and the right sides of the circuit board. A stopping block is
located at a left side of an opening, and extends rightward to the
left side of the protruding portion and beyond the left side of the
circuit board. When the chip module is installed in the clamping
component and the circuit board abuts the abutting surfaces, the
stopping block is located above the first region.
Inventors: |
Lin; Gui Bin; (Keelung,
TW) ; Yu; Ji Xiao; (Keelung, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LOTES CO., LTD |
Keelung |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
60970728 |
Appl. No.: |
15/867926 |
Filed: |
January 11, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 12/7023 20130101;
H01R 13/64 20130101; H01L 23/32 20130101; H05K 7/10 20130101; H01L
23/36 20130101; H05K 7/103 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01L 23/32 20060101
H01L023/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 24, 2017 |
CN |
201710607360.1 |
Claims
1. A clamping component, configured to clamp a chip module, the
chip module having a circuit board and a protruding portion
protruding upward from an upper surface of the circuit board,
wherein a region from a left side of the circuit board to a left
side of the protruding portion is defined as a first region, a
region from a right side of the circuit board to a right side of
the protruding portion is defined as a second region, and a width
of the first region in a left-right direction is greater than a
width of the second region in the left-right direction, the
clamping component comprising: an opening, configured to
accommodate the chip module; a first abutting surface and a second
abutting surface, respectively located at a left side and a right
side of the opening, and configured to respectively abut the left
side and the right side of the circuit board to limit movement of
the circuit board in the left-right direction; and a stopping
block, located at the left side of the opening, and extending
rightward to the left side of the protruding portion and extending
beyond the left side of the circuit board, wherein when the chip
module is installed in the clamping component and the circuit board
abuts the first abutting surface and the second abutting surface,
the stopping block is located above the first region, and a
distance between a right side surface of the stopping block and the
first abutting surface in the left-right direction is greater than
the width of the second region in the left-right direction, and is
shorter than or equal to the width of the first region in the
left-right direction.
2. The clamping component according to claim 1, wherein the
stopping block abuts the first region.
3. The clamping component according to claim 2, wherein the
clamping component is provided with a limiting portion extending
rightward and beyond the left side of the protruding portion, the
limiting portion is located above an upper surface of the
protruding portion, and a distance between a bottom surface of the
limiting portion and a bottom surface of the stopping block is
greater than a distance between the upper surface of the protruding
portion and the upper surface of the circuit board, so that the
limiting portion is not in contact with the upper surface of the
protruding portion.
4. The clamping component according to claim 3, wherein the
stopping block is at least partially located right below the
limiting portion.
5. The clamping component according to claim 3, wherein a length of
the limiting portion in a front-rear direction is equal to a length
of the stopping block in the front-rear direction.
6. The clamping component according to claim 1, wherein a gap
between the right side surface of the stopping block and the left
side of the protruding portion is smaller than the width of the
second region in the left-right direction.
7. The clamping component according to claim 1, wherein two
stopping blocks are provided at the left side of the opening, the
first abutting surface is located between the two stopping blocks,
and gaps between the first abutting surface and the two stopping
blocks are not equal.
8. The clamping component according to claim 1, wherein the
clamping component is provided with at least one protruding block
at the right side of the opening, and the protruding block
downwardly abuts the second region.
9. The clamping component according to claim 1, wherein the left
side and the right side of the opening respectively extend downward
to form two elastic arms, side surfaces of the two elastic arms
opposite to each other respectively form the first abutting surface
and the second abutting surface, and an end of each of the two
elastic arms is bent to form a hook that hooks a lower surface of
the circuit board.
10. The clamping component according to claim 9, wherein each of
the elastic arms is provided with a protruding post, the protruding
post of each of the elastic arms is provided with an arc surface,
the left side of the circuit board is provided with a notch
matching the arc surface, and the stopping block is closer to the
left side of the protruding portion than the protruding post of
each of the elastic arms.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of,
pursuant to 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(a), patent application Serial No.
CN201710607360.1 filed in China on Jul. 24, 2017. The disclosure of
the above application is incorporated herein in its entirety by
reference.
[0002] Some references, which may include patents, patent
applications and various publications, are cited and discussed in
the description of this disclosure. The citation and/or discussion
of such references is provided merely to clarify the description of
the present disclosure and is not an admission that any such
reference is "prior art" to the disclosure described herein. All
references cited and discussed in this specification are
incorporated herein by reference in their entireties and to the
same extent as if each reference were individually incorporated by
reference.
FIELD
[0003] The present invention relates to a clamping component, and
in particular, to a clamping component configured to clamp a chip
module.
BACKGROUND
[0004] The background description provided herein is for the
purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work
of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in
this background section, as well as aspects of the description that
may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are
neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the
present disclosure.
[0005] In Chinese Patent No. 201620664775.3, an electrical
connector assembly is disclosed. The electrical connector assembly
includes: an electrical connector that is provided with a plurality
of terminals configured to electrically connect to a chip module;
and a carrier, configured to carry the chip module to be assembled
in the electrical connector, to avoid that when a user manually
assembles the chip module in the electrical connector, the chip
module falls and breaks the terminals due to an improper operation.
The carrier is provided with a plurality of clamping portions for
clamping the chip module. Each clamping portion is provided with a
protruding post. The protruding post enters a corresponding notch
at the edge of the chip module to limit the chip module. By
matching the protruding post and the notch, the chip module is
prevented from being mistakenly assembled in the carrier, thereby
ensuring desirable electrical conduction between the chip module
and the terminals.
[0006] Nevertheless, to reduce the resisting force during assembly
of the chip module in the carrier, the clamping potion generally
has good elasticity. However, the protruding post is disposed on
the clamping portion, and even if the chip is mistakenly assembled,
that is, the notch and the protruding post are misplaced, another
position of the edge of the chip module may extrude the protruding
post, so that the clamping portion springs to make space for the
chip module. Therefore, the chip module may be forcibly misplaced
and assembled in the clamping component, and it is not easy for an
operator to perceive the mistaken operation.
[0007] Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need to design an
improved clamping component exists in the art to address the
aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.
SUMMARY
[0008] In view of the problem addressed in the background
technology, an objective of the present invention is to provide a
clamping component that prevents a chip module from being
mistakenly assembled.
[0009] To achieve the foregoing objective, the following technical
solutions are used in the present invention. A clamping component
is provided, configured to clamp a chip module. The chip module has
a circuit board and a protruding portion protruding upward from an
upper surface of the circuit board, wherein a region from a left
side of the circuit board to a left side of the protruding portion
is defined as a first region, a region from a right side of the
circuit board to a right side of the protruding portion is defined
as a second region, and a width of the first region in a left-right
direction is greater than a width of the second region in the
left-right direction. The clamping component includes: an opening,
configured to accommodate the chip module; a first abutting surface
and a second abutting surface, respectively located at a left side
and a right side of the opening, and configured to respectively
abut the left side and the right side of the circuit board to limit
movement of the circuit board in the left-right direction; and a
stopping block, located at the left side of the opening, and
extending rightward to the left side of the protruding portion and
extending beyond the left side of the circuit board, wherein when
the chip module is installed in the clamping component and the
circuit board abuts the first abutting surface and the second
abutting surface, the stopping block is located above the first
region, and a distance between a right side surface of the stopping
block and the first abutting surface in the left-right direction is
greater than the width of the second region in the left-right
direction, and is shorter than or equal to the width of the first
region in the left-right direction.
[0010] In certain embodiments, the stopping block abuts the first
region.
[0011] In certain embodiments, the clamping component is provided
with a limiting portion extending rightward and beyond the left
side of the protruding portion, the limiting portion is located
above an upper surface of the protruding portion, and a distance
between a bottom surface of the limiting portion and a bottom
surface of the stopping block is greater than a distance between
the upper surface of the protruding portion and the upper surface
of the circuit board, so that the limiting portion is not in
contact with the upper surface of the protruding portion.
[0012] In certain embodiments, the stopping block is at least
partially located right below the limiting portion.
[0013] In certain embodiments, a length of the limiting portion in
a front-rear direction is equal to a length of the stopping block
in the front-rear direction.
[0014] In certain embodiments, a gap between the right side surface
of the stopping block and the left side of the protruding portion
is smaller than the width of the second region in the left-right
direction.
[0015] In certain embodiments, two stopping blocks are provided at
the left side of the opening, the first abutting surface is located
between the two stopping blocks, and gaps between the first
abutting surface and the two stopping blocks are not equal.
[0016] In certain embodiments, the clamping component is provided
with at least one protruding block at the right side of the
opening, and the protruding block downward abuts the second
region.
[0017] In certain embodiments, the left side and the right side of
the opening respectively extend downward to form two elastic arms,
side surfaces of the two elastic arms opposite to each other
respectively form the first abutting surface and the second
abutting surface, and an end of each of the two elastic arms is
bent to form a hook that hooks a lower surface of the circuit
board.
[0018] In certain embodiments, each of the elastic arms is provided
with a protruding post, the protruding post is provided with an arc
surface, the left side of the circuit board is provided with a
notch matching the arc surface, and the stopping block is closer to
the left side of the protruding portion than the protruding
post.
[0019] Compared with the related art, the present invention has the
following beneficial effects.
[0020] The distance between the right side surface of the stopping
block and the first abutting surface in the left-right direction is
greater than the width of the second region in the left-right
direction, and is shorter than or equal to the width of the first
region in the left-right direction. Thus, the stopping block can
enter only the first region and not the second region. Therefore,
when an operator installs the chip module in the clamping component
in an incorrect reverse left-right direction, the stopping block is
located above the second region, and the stopping block abuts the
protruding portion during a process in which the chip module moves
upward, so that the clamping component cannot clamp the chip
module, allowing the operator to find in time that the chip module
is installed in the incorrect direction, and thereby ensuring
correctness of the direction in which the clamping component clamps
the chip module.
[0021] These and other aspects of the present invention will become
apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment
taken in conjunction with the following drawings, although
variations and modifications therein may be effected without
departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the
disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The accompanying drawings illustrate one or more embodiments
of the disclosure and together with the written description, serve
to explain the principles of the disclosure. Wherever possible, the
same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to
the same or like elements of an embodiment.
[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a clamping
component and a chip module according to certain embodiments of the
present invention;
[0024] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of part H in FIG. 1;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view of a clamping
component and a chip module from another viewing angle according to
certain embodiments of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a perspective view after a clamping component
clamps a chip module according to certain embodiments of the
present invention;
[0027] FIG. 5 is a perspective view from another viewing angle
before a clamping component clamps a chip module according to
certain embodiments of the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 6 is a bottom view after a clamping component clamps a
chip module according to certain embodiments of the present
invention;
[0029] FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an assembly
process of a clamping component taken along line A-A according to
certain embodiments of the present invention; and
[0030] FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of interference
between a reversely installed chip module and a stopping block
taken along line A-A according to certain embodiments of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] The present invention is more particularly described in the
following examples that are intended as illustrative only since
numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to
those skilled in the art. Various embodiments of the invention are
now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers
indicate like components throughout the views. As used in the
description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the
meaning of "a", "an", and "the" includes plural reference unless
the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the
description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the
meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly
dictates otherwise. Moreover, titles or subtitles may be used in
the specification for the convenience of a reader, which shall have
no influence on the scope of the present invention.
[0032] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as
being "on" another element, it can be directly on the other element
or intervening elements may be present therebetween. In contrast,
when an element is referred to as being "directly on" another
element, there are no intervening elements present. As used herein,
the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more
of the associated listed items.
[0033] Furthermore, relative terms, such as "lower" or "bottom" and
"upper" or "top," may be used herein to describe one element's
relationship to another element as illustrated in the Figures. It
will be understood that relative terms are intended to encompass
different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation
depicted in the Figures. For example, if the device in one of the
figures is turned over, elements described as being on the "lower"
side of other elements would then be oriented on "upper" sides of
the other elements. The exemplary term "lower", can therefore,
encompasses both an orientation of "lower" and "upper," depending
of the particular orientation of the figure. Similarly, if the
device in one of the figures is turned over, elements described as
"below" or "beneath" other elements would then be oriented "above"
the other elements. The exemplary terms "below" or "beneath" can,
therefore, encompass both an orientation of above and below.
[0034] As used herein, "around", "about" or "approximately" shall
generally mean within 20 percent, preferably within 10 percent, and
more preferably within 5 percent of a given value or range.
Numerical quantities given herein are approximate, meaning that the
term "around", "about" or "approximately" can be inferred if not
expressly stated. As used herein, the terms "comprising",
"including", "carrying", "having", "containing", "involving", and
the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean
including but not limited to.
[0035] The description will be made as to the embodiments of the
present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in
FIGS. 1-8. In accordance with the purposes of this invention, as
embodied and broadly described herein, this invention, in one
aspect, relates to a method for manufacturing a clamping
component.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, a clamping component 1 in the
present invention is configured to clamp a chip module 2, so as to
connect the chip module 2 to an electrical connector (not shown in
the figures, similarly hereinafter). In this embodiment, to reduce
costs and lower the weight, the clamping component 1 is made of
plastic. In another embodiment, the clamping component 1 may be
made of metal or any other material, provided that the clamping
component 1 can stably clamp the chip module 2.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the chip module 2 includes a
circuit board 21 and a protruding portion 22 protruding upward from
an upper surface of the circuit board 21. In this embodiment, the
circuit board 21 is in a rectangular shape. For easy of description
below, a direction of a long side of the circuit board 21 is
defined as a left-right direction, and a direction of a short side
of the circuit board 21 is defined as a front-rear direction.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 7, a region from a left side of
the circuit board 21 to a left side of the protruding portion 22 is
defined as a first region 201, and a region from a right side of
the circuit board 21 to a right side of the protruding portion 22
is defined as a second region 202. A width W1 of the first region
201 in the left-right direction is greater than a width W2 of the
second region 202 in the left-right direction. Further, the
protruding portion 22 continues to protrude upward and forms a heat
dissipating portion 23. The heat dissipating portion 23 is attached
to a heat sink (not shown in the figures, similarly hereinafter),
so that heat generated in the operation of the chip module 2 can be
rapidly dissipated by the heat sink, thereby avoiding that the chip
module 2 crashes when operating in an excessively high temperature.
In addition, notches 211 are formed at the left side and the right
side of the circuit board 21.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 5, the clamping
component 1 has an opening 11. The protruding portion 22 and the
heat dissipating portion 23 run through the opening 11, so that the
heat sink is attached to the heat dissipating portion 23. The
clamping component 1 is provided with a first frame 101 and a
second frame 102 respectively at a left side and a right side of
the opening 11. The first frame 101 and the second frame 102
respectively extend downward to form two elastic arms 12. A first
abutting surface 121 and a second abutting surface 122 are formed
respectively at side surfaces of the two elastic arms 12 opposite
to each other. The first abutting surface 121 and the second
abutting surface 122 respectively abut the left side and the right
side of the circuit board 21 to limit movement of the circuit board
21 in the left-right direction. A hook 13 is formed at an end of
each elastic arm 12 and hooks a lower surface of the circuit board
21. Further, each elastic arm 12 is provided with a protruding post
14 corresponding to one of the notches 211. The protruding post 14
is provided with an arc surface 141. The protruding post 14 enters
the corresponding notch 211, so that the arc surface 141 matches
the notch 211 to limit movement of the circuit board 21 in the
front-rear direction. In this way, the first abutting surface 121
and the second abutting surface 122 abut the circuit board 21 in
the left-right direction, the arc surface 141 limits movement of
the circuit board 21 in the front-rear direction, and the hook 13
clamps upward the circuit board 21, so that the chip module 2 is
stably clamped by the clamping component 1, thereby avoiding that
the chip module 2 moves in the clamping component 1.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, the first frame 101 extends
rightward beyond the left side of the protruding portion 22,
forming two parallel limiting portions 16. The limiting portions 16
are located above an upper surface of the protruding portion 22.
The first frame 101 extends rightward beyond the left side of the
circuit board 21, forming two stopping blocks 15. The stopping
blocks 15 are located above the first region 201 and downward abut
the first region 201. A distance between a bottom surface of the
limiting portion 16 and a bottom surface of each stopping block 15
is greater than a distance between the upper surface of the
protruding portion 22 and the upper surface of the circuit board
21, so that the limiting portion 16 is not in contact with the
upper surface of the protruding portion 22. Each stopping block 15
is partially located right below the limiting portion 16, and a
remaining portion of each stopping block 15 is located below the
first frame 101. Each stopping block 15 is connected to the
limiting portion 16. In addition, a length of the limiting portion
16 in the front-rear direction is equal to a length of the stopping
block 15 in the front-rear direction, thereby increasing the
strength of the limiting portion 16. In another embodiment, the
stopping blocks 15 and the limiting portion 16 may be disposed in a
staggered manner. Further, the first abutting surface 121 is
located between the two stopping blocks 15, and gaps between the
first abutting surface 121 and the two stopping blocks 15 are not
equal. An upper surface of the limiting portion 16 and an upper
surface of the first frame 101 are located in a same plane.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 7, the clamping component 1 is provided
with two protruding blocks 17 at the right side of the opening 11,
and the protruding blocks 17 downward abuts the second region 202.
A distance L between a right side surface of the stopping block 15
to the first abutting surface 121 in the left-right direction is
greater than the width W2 of the second region 202 in the
left-right direction, and is shorter than the width W1 of the first
region 201 in the left-right direction. Therefore, when the chip
module 2 is correctly installed in the clamping component 1, the
stopping block 15 is located above the first region 201, and the
right side surface of the stopping block 15 does not interfere with
a left side of the protruding blocks 17, thereby reducing
resistance of installing the chip module 2 in the clamping
component 1. As shown in FIG. 8, during a process in which the chip
module 2 is installed in the clamping component 1 in an incorrect
reverse left-right direction, the stopping block 15 abuts against
and interferes with the protruding portion 22, and the stopping
block 15 cannot abut against the second region 202, so that it is
convenient for an operator to find and correct the mistake in time.
In this embodiment, a gap between the right side surface of the
stopping block 15 and the left side of the protruding portion 22 is
smaller than the width of the second region 202 in the left-right
direction, thereby increasing the area of the stopping block 15
that abuts the first region 201 as large as possible while
preventing the right side surface of the stopping block 15 from
interfering with the left side the protruding portion 22.
Preferably, a distance L from the right side surface of the
stopping block 15 to the first abutting surface 121 in the
left-right direction is 2 mm. In another embodiment, the distance L
from the right side surface of the stopping block 15 to the first
abutting surface 121 in the left-right direction may be equal to
the width W1 of the first region 201 in the left-right direction,
provided that the stopping block 15 can abut the first region 201.
This is not limited herein.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, the second frame 102 extends
leftward to form two protruding blocks 17. The two protruding
blocks 17 and the two stopping blocks 15 are disposed in two rows
in the front-rear direction, and the protruding blocks 17 downward
abut the second region 202. The upper surface of the first frame
101 is provided with a slugged groove 18 right at the left side of
each limiting portion 16 and right above the stopping block 15, so
that it is convenient for injection molding of the clamping
component 1.
[0043] In conclusion, the clamping component 1 according to certain
embodiments of the present invention has the following beneficial
effects:
[0044] 1. The distance between the right side face of the stopping
block 15 and the first abutting surface 121 in the left-right
direction is greater than the width of the second region 202 in the
left-right direction, and is shorter than or equal to the width of
the first region 201 in the left-right direction. Thus, the
stopping block 15 can abut only the first region and not the second
region 202. Therefore, when an operator installs the chip module 2
in the clamping component 1 in an incorrect reverse left-right
direction, the stopping block 15 is located above the second region
202, and the stopping block 15 abuts the protruding portion 22
during a process in which the chip module 2 moves upward, so that
the clamping component 1 cannot clamp the chip module 2, allowing
the operator to find in time that the chip module 2 is installed in
the incorrect direction, and thereby ensuring correctness of the
direction in which the clamping component 1 clamps the chip module
2.
[0045] 2. The gap between the right side surface of the stopping
block 15 and the left side of the protruding portion 22 is smaller
than the width of the second region 202 in the left-right
direction, thereby increasing the area of the stopping block 15
that abuts the first region 201 as large as possible while
preventing the right side surface of the stopping block 15 from
interfering with the left side the protruding portion 22.
[0046] 3. On the premise that the stopping block 15 abuts against
the first region 201, the limiting portion 16 is not in contact
with the upper surface of the protruding portion 22, thereby
avoiding that the height and the size of the stopping block 15 and
the limiting portion 16 needs to be strictly controlled to ensure
that the limiting portion 16 is in contact with the upper surface
of the protruding portion 22, and lowering difficulty of processing
the clamping component 1.
[0047] The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of
the invention has been presented only for the purposes of
illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive
or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many
modifications and variations are possible in light of the above
teaching.
[0048] The embodiments were chosen and described in order to
explain the principles of the invention and their practical
application so as to activate others skilled in the art to utilize
the invention and various embodiments and with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in
the art to which the present invention pertains without departing
from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present
invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the
foregoing description and the exemplary embodiments described
therein.
* * * * *