Compliant pressure lid for processor socket hardware
Compliant lids for processor socket assemblies are described. The compliant lids described herein ensure uniform compression across the contact field notwithstanding the recent trend to continue to increase the physical dimension of the socket and the density of contacts. Compression uniformity can be enhanced by relocating the pressure exerted on the package away from the corners of the package. This can be accomplished by designing the compliant lids to have openings shaped to interrupt the continuous material that would otherwise extend from the corner of the lid to the region where the lid engages the processor. This void of material is shaped so that continual presence of material exists primarily in the region where the force delivery is preferred. Use of such compliant lids can enhance compression uniformity without having to rely on complex curved plates and stepped insulators.
1 . A processor socket assembly, comprising:
a compliant lid configured to press a processor against a socket along a vertical direction, wherein the lid comprises:
first, second, third and fourth segments surrounding a central opening so that the first segment is opposite the third segment and the second segment is opposite the fourth segment, wherein the central opening is configured to expose at least a portion of the processor, wherein:
the first segment defines an inner portion proximal the central opening, an outer portion distal the central opening, and a bridge portion joining the inner portion to the outer portion, and
the inner portion has a first thickness with respect to the vertical direction, and the outer portion has a second thickness with respect to the vertical direction, wherein the second thickness is larger than the first thickness; and
a first opening defined through a first portion of the first segment and a first portion of the second segment.
2 . The processor socket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lid further comprises:
a second opening defined through a second portion of the second segment and a first portion of the third segment;
a third opening defined through a second portion of the third segment and a first portion of the fourth segment; and
a fourth opening defined through a second portion of the fourth segment and a second portion of the first segment.
3 . The processor socket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the compliant lid comprises a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, wherein the bottom surface of the compliant lid is configured to apply force on the processor at the first, second, third and fourth segments along the vertical direction when the compliant lid is pressed from the top surface.
4 . The processor socket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, third and fourth segments are compliant with respect to the vertical direction.
5 . The processor socket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first opening is L-shaped.
6 . The processor socket assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the first segment joins a first corner of the compliant lid to a second corner of the compliant lid,
the second segment joins the first corner of the compliant lid to a third corner of the compliant lid, the second and third corners being diagonally opposite to each other, and
the first opening is adjacent to the first corner and has a first region extending towards the second corner and a second region extending towards the third corner.
7 . The processor socket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the compliant lid further comprises a fastener opening in a region where the first segment joins the second segment, the fastener opening being shaped to permit passage of a fastener therethrough.
8 . The processor socket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bridge portion has a sloped surface facing the processor when the lid presses the processor against the socket.
9 . The processor socket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lid further comprises a lip extending towards the processor when the lid presses the processor against the socket.
10 . The processor socket assembly of claim 9 , wherein the lip surrounds the central opening.
11 . A processor socket assembly, comprising:
a compliant lid configured to press a processor against a socket along a vertical direction, wherein the lid comprises:
a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, wherein the top surface is planar and is configured to face away from the processor, and wherein the bottom surface is configured to face the processor; and
first, second, third and fourth segments surrounding a central opening so that the first segment is opposite the third segment and the second segment is opposite the fourth segment, wherein the central opening is configured to expose at least a portion of the processor and wherein the first segment joins a first corner of the compliant lid to a second corner of the compliant lid, wherein the first, second, third and fourth segments define a continuous outer perimeter of the compliant lid, and wherein the compliant lid defines a first enclosed opening positioned in part in the first segment and in part in the second segment.
12 . The processor socket assembly of claim 11 , wherein the compliant lid defines a second enclosed opening positioned in part in the second segment and in part in the third segment.
13 . The processor socket assembly of claim 12 , wherein the compliant lid defines a third enclosed opening positioned in part in the third segment and in part in the fourth segment.
14 . The processor socket assembly of claim 13 , wherein the compliant lid defines a fourth enclosed opening positioned in part in the fourth segment and in part in the first segment.
15 . The processor socket assembly of claim 11 , wherein the top surface defines a plane, and wherein the first, second, third and fourth segments define the continuous outer perimeter in the plane.
16 . The processor socket assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first corner joins the first segment to the second segment.
17 . The processor socket assembly of claim 11 , wherein the compliant lid further comprises a fastener opening defined in the first corner, the fastener opening being shaped to permit passage of a fastener therethrough.
18 . A method for engaging a processor to a socket using a compliant lid comprising top and bottom surfaces, first, second, third and fourth corners, and first, second, third and fourth segments surrounding a central opening, the first segment joining the first corner to the second corner, the second segment joining the second corner to the third corner, the third segment joining the third corner to the fourth corner and the fourth segment joining the fourth corner to the first corner, the method comprising:
placing the processor on the socket;
placing the compliant lid on the processor so that:
the processor is sandwiched between the socket and the compliant lid,
the bottom surface of the compliant lid faces the processor, and
the top surface of the compliant lid faces away from the processor, wherein the top surface defines a plane;
causing the bottom surface of the compliant lid to press against the processor so that force applied at a midpoint of the first segment is larger than force applied at the first corner, wherein causing the bottom surface of the compliant lid to press against the processor comprises applying force on the top surface of the compliant lid, wherein the first, second, third and fourth segments define a continuous outer perimeter of the compliant lid in the plane.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the force applied at the midpoint of the first segment is larger than the force applied at the first corner by at least 75%.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the force applied at the midpoint of the first segment is at least twice the force applied at the first corner.
21 . The method of claim 18 , wherein applying force on the top surface of the compliant lid comprises pressing a heat sink on the top surface of the compliant lid.
22 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising securing the compliant lid to a printed circuit board (PCB) on which the socket is mounted using a plurality of fasteners.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein securing the compliant lid to the PCB comprises engaging the fasteners with the first, second, third and fourth corners of the compliant lid.
24 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the compliant lid defines a first enclosed opening positioned in part in the first segment and in part in the second segment.
25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the compliant lid defines a second enclosed opening positioned in part in the second segment and in part in the third segment.