Coaxial Series Test Sockets

The primary limiting factor to a Test Sockets Pogo Pin High Frequency performance is the Impedance mismatch between the 50 ohm test environment and the pin. The basic causes for these mismatches are usually the proximity and location of the return paths and bad fixturing to the test board.

Liberty Research’s Coaxial Test Sockets use well used and understood engineering principles and equations to design short 50 Ohm transmission line connections. Today's RF devices, particularly those targeted at consumer markets are converging the video, RF and mixed signal applications. Stacked die packages include entire receiver chains, dozens of RF ports, power amps and memory devices.

The implications for test are the needs for High Sensitivity, Low Noise, High Dynamic Range. The implications for the Test Sockets are the need for minimum Adjacent Channel Interference and Crosstalk by isolating the signals(S31-S41) from each other. Maximum Power transferred thru the socket is cleanly accomplished by minimum reflection losses by the socket (S11-S22).

Using a coaxial socket allows 0.8mm of pin travel, so it is useful in full production handlers and non-planar docking plates and interfaces.

For High Speed Digital Devices, utilizing Differential channels reduces crosstalk, but the mutual parasitics, introduce ground bounce and the inductance can cause voltage droop. The Coaxial socket reduces Ground Bounce and Voltage Droop by eliminating the mutual parasitics.

Coaxial Sockets are available for 0.5, 0.65 and
1.0mm pitch applications.

Liberty Coaxial Test Sockets are ideal for sensitive RF environments and for use in production handlers. The Pogo Pins are designed in a world class lab and exhibit very stable operation for at least 100k insertions. As with any contact technology, residue from the DUT pads or balls can impact measurement values. It is recommended to clean the pins with air every 5,000 insertions.