Ironwood Electronics has introduced a BGA socket addressing high performance requirements for testing BGA devices – SBT-BGA-7051. The contactor is a stamped spring pin with 31 gram actuation force per ball and cycle life of 125,000 insertions. The self inductance of the contactor is 0.88 nH, insertion loss < 1 dB at 15.7 GHz and capacitance 0.097pF. The current capacity of each contactor is 4 amps at 30C temperature rise. Socket temperature range is -55C to +180C. Socket also features a floating guide for precise ball to pin alignment.

The specific configuration of the package to be tested in the SBT-BGA-7051 is Low Power DDR4 memory chip (BGA, 10×14.5mm, 0.8mm pitch, 200 position, 12×18 ball array). The socket is mounted using supplied hardware on the target PCB with no soldering. To use, place the BGA device into the socket base and swivel socket lid on to the base using the shoulder screws. The socket uses a compression screw to apply downward pressure enabling the device be interconnected to the target PCB. This socket can be used for hand test and characterization applications with the most stringent requirements.