Universally programmable shorting plug for an integrated circuit socket

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In general, these and other objects of the invention are met by a universally programmable shorting plug for an integrated circuit socket, which shorting plug basically comprises a housing having a plurality of spaced, elongated channels extending therethrough and corresponding to the number and disposition of contacts of the integrated circuit socket.
A terminal pin assembly having a corresponding plurality of pins is disposed respectively in the housing channels, with each terminal pin having a terminal post extending from the underside of the housing to provide a connection to a corresponding contact of the integrated circuit socket, while an integral portion of each terminal pin extends from the opposite of the housing and is interconnected to adjacent integral portions of pins by strips of electrically conductive bridges.
Each bridge includes a removable portion that is off-set with respect to longitudinal axis of the strip forming the bridge.
The off-set portion of each bridge may be readily removed by mechanically shearing said off-set portion thereby eliminating the electrically conductive path between said adjacent pins.
By selective removal of the off-set portions of the bridges, the terminal pin assembly may be programmed to establish the desired electrical path or paths required for the electrical testing of the integrated circuit board assembly.
A suitable cover may be provided for cooperation with the housing to protect the integral portions of the terminal pin assembly after the shorting plug has been programmed.
From the construction of the subject invention, there is achieved the desirable attributes of a universally programmable shorting plug for selectively interconnecting contacts of an integrated circuit socket.