Claims

1. A land grid array socket connector, comprising:a socket housing secured to a circuit board;an array of pins upwardly extending from the socket housing for electronic communication with an array of contact pads on a processor;a carriage including a channel configured for receiving the processor through a lateral opening for receiving the processor in an orientation that is within a plane substantially parallel to a plane defined by the socket and supporting the processor along a perimeter edge of the processor;a mechanical linkage coupled between the carriage and the socket housing for substantially vertically translating the processor relative to the socket; anda plurality of alignment features upwardly extending from the socket housing along the perimeter of the array of pins, each of the alignment features having an inwardly-facing tapered surface for registering the edge of the processor and biasing the processor into a position where the array of contact pads are aligned with the array of pins as the processor is lowered.

2. The socket connector of claim 1, wherein carriage channel includes a plurality of vertical openings along the perimeter of the channel, each vertical opening aligned for receiving an alignment feature.

3. The socket connector of claim 1, wherein the mechanical linkage biases the carriage to a position vertically spaced above the socket.

4. The socket connector of claim 1, wherein the mechanical linkage includes a pair of scissor arms pivotally coupled between the carriage and the socket along two opposing sides of the carriage.

5. The socket connector of claim 4, wherein each pair of scissor arms includes a sliding linkage that is biased against lowering the carriage toward the socket.

6. The socket connector of claim 5, further comprising:an actuator handle secured to at least one of the scissor arms for vertically lowering the carriage.

7. The socket connector of claim 6, further comprising:a latch secured to the socket for securing the actuator handle when the carriage is in a lowered position.

8. The socket connector of claim 1, wherein the carriage channel includes a key member for preventing the channel from fully receiving the processor unless the processor is received in the proper orientation.

9. The socket connector of claim 1, further comprising:a latch for securing the mechanical linkage when the carriage is in a lowered position, wherein the latched mechanical linkage applies a hold-down force to the processor.

10. The socket connector of claim 1, wherein the plurality of alignment features includes at least one alignment feature on each of four lateral edges of the processor.

11. A method for installing a processor into electronic communication with a socket, comprising:horizontally receiving a processor into a channel of a carriage through a lateral opening and in an orientation that is within a plane substantially parallel to a plane defined by the socket and supporting the processor along a perimeter edge of the processor;translating the carriage substantially vertically downward toward the socket;causing the processor to self-align with the socket as the processor moves downward;moving an array of contact pads on the self-aligned processor further downward into contact with an array of pins on the socket; andsecuring the self-aligned processor in position with the array of contact pads in contact with the array of pins.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of causing the processor to self-align with the socket includes engaging an edge of the processor against an inwardly-facing tapered surface of an alignment feature.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of causing the processor to self-align with the socket includes registering the processor with a plurality of alignment features.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:biasing the carriage to resist downward movement of the carriage.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:applying a hold-down force to the processor while the self-aligned processor is secured in position with the array of contact pads in contact with the array of pins.

16. The land grid array socket connector of claim 1, further comprising:the mechanical linkage including a first arm having a first end pivotally secured to the socket housing and a second end pivotally secured to the carriage; andthe mechanical linkage including a second arm having a first end pivotally secured to a slider mechanism on the socket housing, a second end forming a handle, and a portion between the first and second ends pivotally secured to the carriage; anda latch secured to the socket housing, the slider mechanism permitting horizontal movement of the second arm when the carriage is in a lowered position, to selectively engage the handle with the latch.