GHz Elastomer Sockets

Ironwood’s GHz BGA & QFN/MLF sockets are ideal for prototyping and testing almost any BGA or QFN device application. These ZIF sockets provide excellent signal integrity yet remain cost effective. Innovative elastomer interconnect technology that delivers low signal loss up to >40GHz and supports BGA or QFN/MLF pitches down to 0.3mm was utilized in these sockets. GHz BGA sockets are mechanically mounted over a target system’s BGA lands using mounting and alignment holes at proper locations (page 2 of the individual socket drawing shows recommended PCB layout information). These low-profile sockets are only 2.5 mm per side larger than actual IC packages (industry’s smallest footprint). They support IC devices with body sizes ranging from 55mm down to 1mm. Larger body sizes may require a backing plate. If the backside of the target PCB contains capacitors and resistors, a custom insulation plate with cavities cut for those components can be designed. This insulation plate sandwiches between the backing plate and target PCB.

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Sockets

Ironwood Electronics

Ironwood Electronics Sockets – Embedded gold plated wire elastomer (SG) – Stamped & Etched spring pins (SBT) – Embedded silver ball elastomer matrix (SM/SMP)– Compressible silver button in polyimide (GT/GTP)– Surface mount adapters for sockets (SF)

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Stamped Spring Pin Sockets

Ironwood Electronics

Ironwood Electronics SBT sockets are small footprint sockets that are compatible with other product lines such as GHz elastomer sockets, Giga-Spring sockets, etc. The socket needs about 2.5mm extra space around the chip than the actual chip size utilizing only very small PCB real estate. A heat sink screw on the top provides the compression force as well as thermal relief and can be customized to dissipate more power. SBT socket uses SBT contact technology for high endurance and wide temperature applications. SBT Contact is a stamped contact with outside spring as well as inside leaf spring that provides a robust solution for Burn-in & Test applications. Solutions are available for 0.3mm to 1.27mm LGA, BGA, QFN, QFP, SOIC and other packages. Contact technology has 3 part system which includes top plunger, bottom plunger and a spring. The Beryllium Copper plungers are stamped and assembled to a stainless steel spring in an automated system to enable fast turnaround time, low cost and zero defects.

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Socket Accessories (Thru-Hole Options)

Ironwood Electronics

The male pin adapter consists of standard high temperature FR4 with pressed in terminal pins and threaded inserts for mounting the socket. The top side of adapter has gold plated pads to receive socket interconnect and the bottom side has 0.006″ to 0.018″ diameter pin tails. These pins can be soldered to the plated thru holes in the target board. Then socket can be mounted to the threaded insert.

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Socket Accessories (SMT Options)

Ironwood Electronics

The SMT adapter consists of standard high temperature FR4 with plugged via technology, eutectic SN63PB37 solder balls or SAC lead free solder balls and threaded inserts for mounting the socket. The top side of adapter has SMT pads to receive socket interconnect and the bottom side has appropriate solder balls for corresponding pitch. This FR4 adapter with balls can be soldered to the SMT pads in the target board. Then socket can be mounted to the threaded insert on the FR4 adapter.

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Socket Accessories (Lid Options)

Ironwood Electronics

GHz elastomer, spring pin and other socket technologies can accommodate different lid options depending upon the application requirement. Typical choices are swivel-lid, clamshell, double-latch, integral heatsink, etc. Custom lid solutions are also available.

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Silver Button Sockets

Ironwood Electronics

For BGA, QFN, or LGA applications, GTP contact technology provides >94 GHz signal speed and can additionally be used in high cycle life applications such as ATE. These sockets support pitches from 0.2 mm to 1.27 mm. Ironwood's GT sockets are ideal for prototyping and testing almost any BGA device application. These IC sockets provide excellent signal integrity yet remain cost effective. Innovative elastomer interconnect technology that delivers low signal loss (1dB at 94GHz) and supports BGA packages with pitches down to 0.2mm was utilized in these sockets. GT BGA sockets are mechanically mounted over a target system's BGA lands using mounting and alignment holes at proper locations (page 2 of the individual socket drawing shows recommended PCB layout information). These low-profile sockets are only 2.5 mm per side larger than actual IC packages (industry's smallest footprint).

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Silver Ball Matrix Sockets

Ironwood Electronics

SM Contact is a unique contact that has precise silver balls held together by a proprietary conductive formulation. These conductive columns (diameter optimized for 50 ohm impedance) are suspended in a non-conductive flexible elastomer substrate with a patented solid core for enhanced durability and reliable performance over time, temperature and cycles. This flexible substrate is very compliant and resilient and enables the conductive columns to revert back to original shape when the force is removed. Solutions are available for 0.25mm to 1.27mm LGA, BGA, QFN, CSP, POP, WLP and other packages. The silver ball matrix contact technology is also available with a protective plunger matrix (a gold plated copper cylinder) that sits on top of the conductive columns. This plunger matrix protects the conductive column from contamination from various solder ball interfaces. A quickly replaceable plunger matrix enables minimal downtime during final production test. The product family code for this line of sockets is SMP.

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QFN/QFP35 Sockets

Ironwood Electronics

Test sockets are designed for testing today’s high-performance QFN, QFP, DFN and SOIC devices. For development, characterization, at speed burn-in, and low volume production manual testing.

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Open Top BGA Sockets

Ironwood Electronics

Ironwood has the most comprehensive collection of open top BGA and QFN sockets that can be used for qualification application, silicon FIB testing, system development, thermal characterization, burn-in application, etc. IC socket can be defined as an electromechanical device, which provides removable interface between IC package and system circuit board with minimal effect on signal integrity. Typical packages include BGA, LGA, QFN, QFP, WLCSP, etc. Open top allows access to the top side of IC. Below is an example BGA socket that uses low cost elastomer contact technology.

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BGA Sockets

Ironwood Electronics

Ironwood has the most comprehensive collection of BGA (Ball Grid Array) sockets that can be used for prototype application, silicon validation, system development, thermal characterization, burn-in application, functional production test, etc. BGA socket can be defined as an electromechanical device, which provides removable interface between IC package and system circuit board with minimal effect on signal integrity. BGA sockets for prototype applications, silicon validations, system development applications uses low cost elastomer contact technology.

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Aspen Sockets

Ironwood Electronics

Ironwood Electronics’ Aspen line of sockets are designed in standardized stepped footprint configurations, incorporating industry standard high performance spring pins. Sockets can be designed to work with any type of IC package; BGA – LGA – QFN – DFN and even leaded devices where you have minimal space to fit a socket in place of your device to allow fast, easy testing and development.

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Smart Sockets

Ironwood Electronics

Ironwood Electronics extended its high performance socket product line with smart features. Sockets are typically rated for 2K to 500K cycles. How do we know if the sockets are used for 100K or 200K insertions? Solution is electronic chip insertion counter. Our sockets can be integrated with electronics counter into the compression mechanism of the socket lid. A push button is exposed on the compression plate. Every time a chip is compressed, push button is actuated which in turn activates the electronic circuitry inside the lid. These activations are counted by the counter IC and displayed in LCD. Let’s say a contact element is rated for 2K insertions. After 2K insertions, this contact element will be replaced by new contact element. Now, the counter has to start the counting from the beginning. To achieve this function, a reset option is included in the electronics circuitry. When reset is actuated, LCD display will go to “0”.

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