IC Sockets

What are IC Sockets?

Electrical equipment has embedded integrated circuits that are configured with a printed circuit board for easy communication among communicating nodes throughout the organization. Integrated circuits are connectors that are designed to be installed and removed easily without having to have a technician fulfill them for you. The bottom line is that you, as the end user, can do anything as per your needs, so customization has been made easy. The integrated circuit is mounted on the printed circuit boards and resides in the chip. Unlike soldering, which is permanent.

As mentioned above, integrated circuit sockets are significant because they make life easy for us; whenever we want to make changes in our system, we can do it easily with no need for an expert to do all the customization for us. Instead, we can do it on our own due to automation and the advent of emerging technology. Microcontrollers and programmable chips are excellent examples of IC socket applications. They make it simple to remove them for replacement, testing, or programming. This makes it possible for you to select and test the appropriate chip for the application, swap out any circuitry that fails, or upgrade a device as necessary.

Typical types of IC Socket

• DIMM Sockets (Dual In-line Memory Module). Using DIMM sockets, random access memory (RAM) can be quickly installed on PCs or laptops. These are crucial elements that support dependable connectivity. On either side, there are two distinct rows of electrical contacts or pins. The general rule is that the higher the RAM it supports, the more pins it has. Different pin sizes are available.
• DIL Sockets (Dual-in-line) are often relatively affordable, have two parallel rows of pins, and are available in different quantities to fit the appropriate IC. By putting two smaller sockets end to end, a bigger one can be made. For example, two 8-pin sockets can be put together to form a 16-pin socket.
• SIMM Sockets (Single In-line Memory Module). These connect memory modules to circuit boards using a single row of pins. Memory modules take up less room and can be placed with positive polarization at specified angles to prevent memory modules from being inserted improperly. Most older computers from the 1980s to the late 1990s used them. available in a range of sizes and pin counts.
• SIL Sockets (Single in-line) are typically used in smaller applications like resistor arrays or boards with short lead pins, such as a desktop computer, and have a single line of pins. There are numerous shapes and sizes to choose from.

What are SMD and Through Hole Mount? 

Surface mount (SMD) or through-hole mounting are both options for putting IC sockets on PCBs. This describes the socket's pins and how they connect to the board. Through holes, sockets are pushed through holes in the PCB, whereas SMD sockets are affixed to the PCB's surface.

What are the package types?

IC sockets are designed for a specific package type. This refers to the package of the IC, which is an industry-standard size, and its pins. Examples of package types include:

Integrated circuit sockets are manufactured for many different types of packages. In particular, the packages of the integrated circuits that are marketed in the industry's standard sizes, shapes, and relative pins are as follows:

• QFP
  
• BGA
• LGA
• SONIC
• DIP