IC sockets play a crucial role in the performance of electronic products. The development and production of integrated circuits ICs have contributed to the miniaturization of electronic devices. The IC socket offers a form of protection to ICs as it prevents them from getting damaged due to direct soldering to the circuit board.

What is an IC Socket?

Integrated Circuit socket is widely used in devices that comprise an integrated circuit (IC). The integrated circuit which is also known as a microchip is an electronic circuit that comprises several electronic components like inductors, transistors, capacitors, and resistors. These components are interconnected by metallization on a crystal silicone piece.

Heat can easily damage a chip due to soldering. Therefore, an IC socket prevents such from happening. Also known as a dual-in-line (DIL) socket, an IC socket serves two main purposes. It prevents ICs from getting damaged due to direct soldering to the circuit board. Therefore, electronic manufacturers solder more durable IC to the board and insert the chip into the socket.

Furthermore, IC sockets enable integrated circuits to be easily inserted and removed. This means you can easily replace damaged IC chips without causing any damage to the PCB. IC sockets are available in a wide range of styles. However, the dual-in-line (DIL) is the most common style.  Dual-in-line sockets have two rows of sockets in which a rectangular thermoplastic insulator separates them. There are other IC configurations. These include right angle mount IC sockets and press-fit IC sockets.

How to Choose High Performance IC Socket

There is an unending demand for more reliable and faster IC (integrated circuit) sockets. In contrast to a permanent connection like a soldered connection, an IC socket protect the contacts points and offer mechanical support for an interchangeable connection between circuit boards and components.

It is important to get performance data before the large scale production commences for field use. This helps to predict the success of new components in end-use. Also, high-performance sockets enhance product iterations more quickly for bringing products to market within just three weeks and as well simplify designs.

Manufacturers and end-users experience good progression when a socket is placed on a PCB with no soldering.

Great signal Integrity

IC sockets serve as a form of a quick replacement in the field. However, they have their limitations too. Sockets give additional interface and enhance the chances of bottlenecks. Also, it increases the degradation of signal when electromechanical signals go through it.

Typically, socket adapters with lesser performing socket introduce delay, noise, and heat to the signal path. On the other hand, socket adapters with high performance enhance signal integrity and protect connections from interference. When temporary field use or laboratory prototyping is require by ICs, lackluster signal integrity minimizes speed and may even result in device failure.

Conductive elastomer materials designs enhance electrical connection stability with heat dissipation and superior insulation. Therefore, these designs reveal the performance of high-I/O applications.

Small Footprint

One of the crucial factors that determine the demand and usability for an IC socket is the miniaturization of electronic device. IC sockets help in minimizing the use of space. With smaller components, manufacturers and designers can have more design freedom which  helps them to meet the ever-rising demands for more compact and powerful devices. Furthermore, the demand for compact devices increases the demand for smaller footprints which makes it easy to place capacitors, inductors, and resistors, with impedance tuning.

Bandwidth

Bandwidth is an essential factor to put into consideration when choosing a high-performance IC socket. High bandwidth, compliance across varying temperatures, and low resistance are the features of the IC sockets for prototype test applications. With the recent developments, there has been production of sockets capable of 75GHz with below 1dB of insertion loss.

The majority of network analyzers are only capable of 40GHz and as such, there is a need for a software to simulate electrical functions when testing these sockets. Also, with higher bandwidth, there increased signal transfer and this helps to improve operation. It is also crucial to verify the performance of the device at a particular frequency. This is usually a critical process for test engineers.

The signal loss needs to be very low since ICs usually need to carry out some specific functions at a particular speed. Also, the introduction of extra socket interface in the signal loop indicates the socket needs to meet the bandwidth for signal transfer without any insertion/return losses.

Top IC Socket Manufacturers

TE Connectivity

TE connectivity is an IC socket manufacturer that designs connectors to offer an interconnect between printed circuit boards and component leads. Their integrated circuit (IC) sockets are specially designed to offer good interconnection between a board and component leads. Also, these IC sockets are manufactured in such a way that they simplify the board design. Therefore, they allow easy repair and replacement, simple reprogramming, and expansion. Also, their IC socket design provides a cost-effective solution.

This connector has contact tip geometry which reduces the risk of contact damaged while packaging and handling. TE connectivity’s IC sockets offer no insertion force interface to the micro processor PGA package. Also, these sockets attach to the PCB with SMT soldering. Also, these sockets are suitable for use in higher performance CPU processors.

Mill-Max Mfg. Corp.

As a leading IC socket manufacturer in the U.S, Mill-Max Mfg. Corp produces high performance IC sockets. It has hundreds of sophisticated production machines, an advanced plating department, and highly automated facility houses. With all these, Mill-Max ships about 4 billion components every year.

Also, Mill-Max selects pre-tooled spring contacts to complement high speed-turning. They make female receptacles by press-fitting one of the spring contacts in a highly precision machined shell.

This IC socket manufacturing company was founded in 1971 by Roger Bahnik, who is now the current chairman of the board. Mill-Max produces various interconnect components. Some of their product line include IC sockets, PCB pins, precision-machined contact pins, spring-loaded contacts, and solder terminals among others.

Its customer driven policy distinguishes Mill-Max from other IC socket Manufacturers. Although this company provides a wide range of standard products on its website, it understands one size doesn’t fit all and as such, welcomes custom designs, irrespective of volume.

Mill-Max’s proprietary high-speed turning machines can be easily re-configured to produce machined contacts in a wide range of shapes and sizes.

Advanced Interconnections

Advanced Interconnections provides technologically advanced interconnect solutions for the development of semiconductor and high-performance electronic applications such as military, medical, telecommunications, and automotive. They offer products like  IC sockets, board to board connectors, and package conversion adapters.

This IC socket manufacturer offers products that meet customer-specific requirements from prototype to production volumes. Also, Advanced interconnections have a fully integrated manufacturing facility in the U.S, where they carry out complete process control from production to final inspection.

Since 1982 this IC socket manufacturer has been a leading manufacturer of innovative interconnect solutions. Their customer-focused quality system is ISO 9001:2015 standard certified. They have custom and standard designs which feature screw-machined terminals. Furthermore, advanced interconnections provide lead-free products in their effort towards the worldwide policy on environmentally- friendly manufacturing and compliance with the RoHS Directive.

Assmann WSW Components

Assmann WSW has great expertise in the production of IC sockets. This IC socket manufacturer offers a wide range of technically advanced IC products. This company is located in Ludenscheid, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.

ASSMANN WSW is a qualified partner for the production and procurement of connectors and customer designed cable assemblies. ASSMANN WSW Components which was founded in 1969 has become a world-wide specialist of thermal management products and electro- mechanical components.

ASSMANN has great expertise in component development and manufacturing as well. As a customer-centric IC socket manufacturing company, ASSMANN prioritizes the interest of its customers and as such, offers quality products. It offers continuous quality control in order to accomplish its aim.

All of its products are available across the worldwide as this company maintains an international base. The ASSMANN group of the ASSMANN WSW components group ventures into the Computer & Network market.

The Future and Trends of IC Socket Market

More functions are being integrated into ICs due to the growing demands of advanced applications. Also, these ICs offer great functions with size reduction; therefore, there is a rising demand for higher performance sockets to evaluate and test bigger BGA packages.

Furthermore, IC tests are becoming a major concern for the semiconductor manufacturers. Therefore, this puts more pressure on the testing supply chain. This will make manufacturers design  new test & burn-in strategies, such as  wafer-scale tests.

Furthermore, the use of integrated circuits in electronic products subjected to a harsh environment has increased the demand for burn-in test sockets. Also,  IC test sockets have been majorly used for the measurement of  electrical characteristics, but, its growing implementation in applications such as DRAM in data centers servers and Electric Vehicles have further increased the demand for testing the durability and reliability of ICs. This has continued to increase the demand for burn-in test sockets.

Conclusion

IC sockets enable integrated circuits to be easily inserted and removed. This means you can easily replace damaged IC chips without causing any damage to the PCB. IC sockets are available in a wide range of styles.