Adapter apparatus with conductive elements mounted using curable material and methods regarding same

Abstract

An adapter apparatus and methods for using in providing such adapter apparatus include providing a substrate having a plurality of openings defined therethrough. A plurality of conductive elements are mounted within corresponding openings thereof using a curable material.

1 . An adapter apparatus comprising: 
 a substrate, wherein a plurality of openings are defined through the substrate; and    a plurality of conductive elements, wherein each conductive element is mounted within a corresponding opening of the plurality of openings using a curable material, wherein one or more of the conductive elements comprise at least a first end configured to receive solder material thereon.    
   
   
       2 . The adapter apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive elements comprises a female socket pin, a male terminal pin, or a conductive element comprising two ends configured to receive solder material on at least one of the ends.  
   
   
       3 . The adapter apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive elements comprises a female socket pin.  
   
   
       4 . The adapter apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adapter apparatus further comprises a plurality of solder balls, wherein each solder ball is attached to the first end of a corresponding conductive element of the plurality of conductive elements.  
   
   
       5 . The adapter apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive elements comprises: 
 an outer surface, wherein a portion of the outer surface interfaces with the curable material when the conductive element is mounted in a corresponding opening; and    a positioning element extending from the outer surface to maintain spacing between the outer surface of the conductive element and one or more opening surfaces defining the corresponding opening.    
   
   
       6 . The adapter apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive elements comprises: 
 an outer surface, wherein a portion of the outer surface interfaces with the curable material when the conductive element is mounted in a corresponding opening; and    a curable material blocking element extending from the outer surface to prevent curable material used to mount the conductive element from passing between a first portion of the corresponding opening to a second portion of the corresponding opening when the conductive element is mounted therein.    
   
   
       7 . The adapter apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductive elements are mounted in the plurality of openings configured to correspond to a contact element pattern of a surface mount device.  
   
   
       8 . The adapter apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive elements comprises a body member extending between the first end that is configured for receiving solder material and a second end, wherein the first end is accessible at a first surface of the substrate for receiving solder material and the second end of the conductive element is accessible at a second surface of the substrate when the at least one conductive element is mounted in the corresponding opening, wherein a curable material receiving region is provided between the body member and one or more surfaces defining the corresponding opening, and further wherein curable material in a least a portion of the curable material receiving region proximate the first surface of the substrate blocks entry of other material into the corresponding opening.  
   
   
       9 . A method for use in forming an adapter apparatus, wherein the method comprises: 
 providing a substrate including a plurality of openings defined therethrough, wherein each of the plurality of openings is defined by at least one opening surface, wherein each of the plurality of the openings is configured to receive one of a plurality of conductive elements;    inserting each of the plurality of conductive elements into a corresponding opening of the plurality of the openings such that a curable material receiving region is provided in each opening between at least a portion of the at least one opening surface defining the opening and the conductive element inserted therein; and    mounting each of the plurality of conductive elements in the corresponding opening using a curable material provided to the curable material receiving regions.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein one or more of the plurality of conductive elements comprises at least a first end for receiving solder material thereon, and wherein the method further comprises positioning solder material on the first end of one or more of the plurality of conductive elements mounted in the plurality of openings.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein mounting each of the plurality of conductive elements in the corresponding opening using a curable material provided to the curable material receiving region comprises: 
 providing curable material to the curable material receiving region;    curing the curable material to mount the conductive element in the corresponding opening; and    removing excess cured material to expose the first end of the conductive element.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises: 
 thermal treating the curable material to decrease the viscosity of the curable material; and    removing excess curable material having the decreased viscosity prior to further thermal treatment to cure the curable material.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of conductive elements comprises a body member extending between a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is accessible at a first surface of the substrate when the conductive element is mounted in the corresponding opening, and further wherein mounting each of the plurality of conductive elements in the corresponding opening using the curable material comprises completely blocking entry of material into the corresponding opening after the curable material proximate the first surface of the substrate is cured.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein mounting each of the plurality of conductive elements in the corresponding opening using a curable material comprises filling the curable material receiving region entirely or at least partially to hold the conductive element in position within the corresponding opening.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive elements comprises a female socket pin, a male terminal pin, or a conductive plug element.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive elements comprises a female socket pin.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein inserting each of the plurality of conductive elements into a corresponding opening of the plurality of the openings comprises positioning each of the plurality of conductive elements in the corresponding opening such that spacing between an outer surface of the conductive element and one or more opening surfaces defining the corresponding opening is maintained as the conductive element is mounted in the corresponding opening.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises preventing curable material used to mount the conductive element from passing between a first portion of the corresponding opening to a second portion of the corresponding opening when the conductive element is mounted therein.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of conductive elements are mounted in the plurality of openings configured to correspond to a contact element pattern of a surface mount device.  
   
   
       20 . An adapter apparatus comprising: 
 a substrate, wherein a plurality of openings are defined through the substrate; and    a plurality of conductive elements, wherein each conductive element is mounted within a corresponding opening of the plurality of openings using a curable material, wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive elements comprises a body member extending between a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the at least one conductive element is accessible at a first surface of the substrate and the second end of the at least one conductive element is accessible at a second surface of the substrate when the at least one conductive element is mounted in the corresponding opening, and further wherein a curable material receiving region is provided between the body member and one or more surfaces defining the corresponding opening to receive the curable material in at least a portion thereof to mount the at least one conductive element.    
   
   
       21 . The adapter apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein adapter apparatus further comprises solder material positioned on the first end of one or more of the plurality of conductive elements.  
   
   
       22 . The adapter apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive elements comprises a female socket pin, a male terminal pin, or a conductive plug element.  
   
   
       23 . The adapter apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive elements comprises: 
 an outer surface, wherein a portion of the outer surface interfaces with the curable material when the conductive element is mounted in a corresponding opening; and    a positioning element extending from the outer surface to maintain spacing between the outer surface of the conductive element and one or more opening surfaces defining the corresponding opening.    
   
   
       24 . The adapter apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive elements comprises: 
 an outer surface, wherein a portion of the outer surface interfaces with the curable material when the conductive element is mounted in a corresponding opening; and    a curable material blocking element extending from the outer surface to prevent curable material used to mount the conductive element from passing between a first portion of the corresponding opening to a second portion of the corresponding opening when the conductive element is mounted therein.    
   
   
       25 . The adapter apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of conductive elements are mounted in the plurality of openings configured to correspond to a contact element pattern of a surface mount device.