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(11) | EP 1 049 218 A3 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Electrical connector having reduced width |
| (57) An electrical connector having an conductive terminals with solder tabs arranged
in an insulative in a manner to enable miniaturization without risking defective soldering
during manufacture. The connector includes an insulative housing having a terminating
portion for supporting the solder tabs, the terminating portion having first and second
sides. The housing includes recessed trenches within which the solder tabs respectively
reside. In an embodiment, some of the solder tabs are located at the first side of
the terminating portion, and the remainder of the solder tabs are located at the second
side of the terminating portion in an alternating, staggered height manner. The staggered
arrangement provides a suitable distance between adjacent terminal solder tabs on
the same side of the terminating portion, thereby preventing soldering errors. Also,
in an embodiment, the solder tab portions are disposed at acute angles, supported
by the housing within V-shaped trenches. Such an embodiment further enhances soldering
joint integrity by permitting contact of a soldering tool directly against both the
slant-mounted soldering tab and the wire to be soldered thereto. |