IP Library Granted Patent US 12,506,304
Granted Patent B2
US 12,506,304 · App. 18/109,199 · Granted Dec 23, 2025

Capacitor in socket

Inventor: Donald Eric Thompson (Fremont, CA)
Assignee: R&D Circuits
H01R13/6625G01R1/0483G01R1/07342H01R13/17
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,506,304
App. No.
18/109,199
Granted
Dec 23, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An improved method and structure for forming an electrical interconnects mechanism in a Power Distribution Network (PDN) by placing capacitors on the top of the pin array on the printed circuit board (PCB) of the structure to decouple the PDN and results in lower impedance benefitting the frequency range of the PDN effecting a significant performance improvement in the spring-pin inductance from the transmission line. This reduction in impedance reduces the power supply ripple.

Claims (37)

1 . A socket structure comprising:

a first surface including:

a first area configured to receive and to couple to a device and comprising a plurality of spring pins; and

a second area comprising a plurality of capacitors, wherein the first area and the second area do not overlap; and

a ground plane and a power plane disposed parallel to the first surface and coupled to the capacitors.

2 . The socket structure of claim 1 , wherein the first area comprises a plurality of plated through holes.

3 . The socket structure of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of spring pins are positioned in respective ones of the plurality of plated through holes.

4 . The socket structure of claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of plated through holes comprises a first portion adjacent the first surface and a second portion including a width greater than a width of the first portion.

5 . The socket structure of claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of spring pins includes a body comprising a first end and a second end and a plunger portion that protrudes from the first end and includes a smaller width than a body width of the body.

6 . The socket structure of claim 5 , wherein a first set of the plated through holes is coupled to the ground plane, and wherein a second set of the plated through holes is coupled to the power plane, wherein the body contacts a respective plated through hole, and wherein the plunger portion extends through a respective first portion of the respective plated through hole and extends through the first surface without contacting the respective plated through hole.

7 . The socket structure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of capacitors are configured to reduce a ripple of a power supply.

8 . A socket structure comprising:

a first surface including a first area and a second area comprising a plurality of capacitors, wherein the first area and the second area do not overlap; and

a ground plane and a power plane disposed parallel to the first surface and coupled to the capacitors, wherein the first area comprises a plurality of plated through holes and a plurality of spring pins each positioned in a respective one of the plurality of plated through holes.

9 . The socket structure of claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of plated through holes comprises a first portion adjacent the first surface and a second portion including a width greater than a width of the first portion.

10 . The socket structure of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of spring pins includes a body comprising a first end and a second end and a plunger portion that protrudes from the first end and includes a smaller width than a body width of the body.

11 . The socket structure of claim 10 , wherein a first set of the plated through holes is coupled to the ground plane, and wherein a second set of the plated through holes is coupled to the power plane, wherein the body contacts a respective plated through hole, and wherein the plunger portion extends through a respective first portion of the respective plated through hole and extends through the first surface without contacting the respective plated through hole.

12 . The socket structure of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of capacitors are configured to reduce a ripple of a power supply.

13 . The socket structure of claim 8 , wherein the first area is configured to receive and to couple to a device.

14 . The socket structure of claim 13 , wherein the device includes a pitch property of one of 0.35 mm or 0.4 mm.

15 . A socket structure comprising:

a top surface;

an opposite surface located opposite the top surface;

a ground plane and a power plane disposed parallel to the top surface;

a plurality of plated through holes extending between the top surface and the opposite surface,

wherein each of the plurality of plated through holes comprises a first portion adjacent the top surface and a second portion including a width greater than a width of the first portion,

wherein a first set of the plated through holes is coupled to the ground plane, and

wherein a second set of the plated through holes is coupled to the power plane; and

a plurality of spring pins each positioned in a respective one of the plurality of plated through holes,

wherein each of the plurality of spring pins includes a body comprising a first end and a second end and a plunger portion that protrudes from the first end and includes a smaller width than a body width of the body,

wherein the body contacts a respective plated through hole, and

wherein the plunger portion extends through a respective first portion of the respective plated through hole and extends through the top surface without contacting the respective plated through hole.

16 . The socket structure of claim 15 , further comprising a printed circuit board including the top surface, the ground plane, and the power plane.

17 . The socket structure of claim 15 , wherein the top surface comprises a first area including the plurality of plated through holes and a second area comprising a plurality of capacitors, wherein the first area and the second area do not overlap.

18 . The socket structure of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of capacitors are configured to reduce a ripple of a power supply.

19 . The socket structure of claim 18 , wherein the first area is configured to receive and to couple to a device.

20 . The socket structure of claim 19 , wherein the device includes a pitch property of one of 0.35 mm or 0.4 mm.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 28, 2026
From: R&D CIRCUITS
To: ADVANTEST INTERCONNECT SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 075545/0362 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 30, 2025
From: ADVANTEST AMERICA, INC.
To: R&D CIRCUITS
Reel/Frame 071569/0224 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 9, 2025
From: THOMPSON, DONALD
To: ADVANTEST AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 071364/0816 →
Continuity (2)
Division 16887640 · May 29, 2020
Related Publication 20230198209A1 · Jun 22, 2023
References Cited (4)
US 7129728B2 · Kinoshita · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7663387B2 · Yoshida et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20020195700A1 · Li · 2002 [cited by examiner]
US 20030111709A1 · Lin · 2003 [cited by examiner]