MXPA99003329A - Low profile connector - Google Patents

Abstract

A low profile board-to-board connector system is disclosed. Retention areas in the respective mating connectors (20, 52) are utilized to receive portions of opposed mating contact terminals (28, 72). Utilization of centralized retention structures allow optimum placement of recessed areas (44, 46) to receive distal portions (82) of mating contact terminals (72). These centralized retention structures (48, 68) also allow maximization of contact beam length in the limited available space, so that favorable contact characteristics are achieved. Contact insertion/retention features are positioned at intermediate locations of the contact beams, for enhanced contact retention and improved beam performance. Terminal contacts may be retained in a passage by projections (48, 68) that engage openings (96) formed in the retention portion of the contact terminal.

Description

LOW PROFILE CONNECTOR CROSS REFERENCE RELATED APPLICATIONS This application corresponds to a continuation-in-part of the patent application of the U.S.A. Serial No. u8 / 77tí, 8ü6 presented on December 31 of 19yb and entitled "Stress Resistant Connector and Method for Reducing Stress in Housing Thereof" (Tension-resistant connector and method to reduce tension in its housing) and Patent application of the USA Serial No. 08 / 728,194, filed on October l9, 1996 with the title "High Density Connector." This application claims the priority of the US provisional patent application Serial No. 60 / 027,611 filed at October 10, 1996 with the title "Low Profile Connector." This application also relates to the application of US Patent Serial No. 08 / 737,579 entitled "High Density Connector". High Density), Serial No. 08 / 778,380 entitled "Method for Manufacturing High Density Connector", and US Patent Application Serial No. u8 / 778,398 entitled "Contact for use in an Electric Connector, all submitted on December 31, 1996. Descriptions of previously identified applications are incorporated herein by reference. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to electrical connectors and more particularly to high density I / O (i / O) connectors having a coupled low height. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PREVIOUS DEVELOPMENTS The tendency to reduce the size of electronic equipment particularly personal portable devices and by adding additional functions to said equipment, has resulted in a continuous effort for miniaturization of all components, especially electrical connectors. Efforts to miniaturize connectors have included reducing the distance between terminals in double or single row linear connectors, so that a relatively high number of I / O or other lines can be interconnected by connectors that fit tightly into areas circumscribed in the substrates of the circuit granted to receive connectors. The impetus for miniaturization is also accompanied by a shift in preference to surface mounting techniques (SMT = Surface Mount? Echniques) to mount components on circuit boards. The confluence of the increased use of sMT and the required fine spacing of linear connectors has resulted in focusing the SMT limits for low cost and high volume operations. Reducing the spacing of terminals increases the risk of bypassing adjacent or terminal welding pads during recirculation of the solder paste. To meet the need for increased I / O (I / O) density, connector assemblies have been proposed. These connectors have a two-dimensional structure of terminals mounted on an insulating substrate and can provide improved density. However, these connectors present certain difficulties with respect to the connection to the circuit substrates by SMT techniques, because the surface mounting tails of most, if not all, terminals must be below the body of the connector. As a result, the mounting techniques employed must be highly reliable because it is difficult to visually inspect the welding connections or repair them, if defective.

In the assembly of an integrated circuit (IC = Integrated Circuit) in a plastic or ceramic substrate, the use of a ball grid structure (BGA = Bal! Gri Array) and other similar packages has become common. In a BGA package, the spherical welding ball connected to the IC package is placed on electrical contact pads of a circuit substrate to which a layer of solder paste has been applied, typically by use of a mask or by stenciling. The unit is then heated to a temperature at which the solder paste and at least a portion of the entire solder ball melts or fuses with an underlying conductive pad formed on the circuit substrate. The IC in this way is connected to the substrate unnecessarily by external terminals in the IC. While the use of BGA and similar systems to connect a substrate to a substrate has many advantages, a corresponding means to mount an electrical connector or similar components on a printed wiring board (PB = Printed Wiring Board) or other substrate has been convenient . It is important for most situations that surfaces that attach the substrate of the solder balls are copiers to form a substantially flat mounting surface, such that in the final application, the balls re-circulate and uniformly uniformly with a substrate. of piana printed circuit board. Any significant difference in welding copianarity in a given substrate can cause poor welding performance when the connector is recirculated on a printed circuit board. To achieve high welding reliability, users specify very strict coplanarity requirements, usually in the order of .1016 to .2032 mm (.004 to .008"). The coplanarity of the weld beads is influenced by the size of the weld. welding ball and its placement in the connector The final size of the ball depends on the total weld volume that is available initially in both the solder paste and the solder balls.Ai apply solder balls to a connector contact, this consideration presents particular challenges because variations in the contact volume of the connector received within the weld mass affects the potential variability of the weld mass size and therefore the copianarity of the weld balls in the weld on the weld. mounting surface.

Another problem presented in solder connectors to a substrate is that the connectors often have insulative housings having relatively complex shapes, for example ones having numerous cavities. Residual stresses in these thermoplastic housings can result from the molding process, from the accumulation of tension as a result of contact insertion or a co-operation of both. These housings can be wrapped or twisted either initially or by heating at temperatures required in SMT processes, such as temperatures necessary to recirculate the solder balls. This buckling or twisting of the housing can cause a dimensional doubling between the connector structure and PWB resulting in unreliable welding because the surface mounting elements such as welding beads are not sufficiently in contact with the welding paste or near of the PCB before welding. The main and related applications previously identified are aimed at solutions to these design challenges. The impulse to reduce the connector size is not only related to the footprint dimensions but also to the height of the coupled connector. As the electrical equipment shrinks in size, the need arises to stack circuit boards closer together. This invention relates to high density connectors, particularly to low profile connectors to reduce the spacing between stacked circuit boards and more particularly to connectors that use ball grid assembly techniques. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Electrical connectors according to the present invention provide high density I / O (1/0) and reduced stacking height. The height of the assembled connector is reduced by using recessed areas in the coupling interface of a connector body to receive the remote portion of a terminal associated with a coupling connector. Attached coupled connector height is also achieved by providing a relief area in the body of the connector, to allow flexing of the lower sections of the arms in contact with the contact ternator. The total contact length is reduced by extending cantilevered receptacle contact arms beyond a rope in the terminal towards a plug contact having a relatively short retainer base. Both the receptacle and plug contact terminals are received in a passage having a retaining feature that engages the contact terminal centrally, thereby allowing a beam length maximization and achievement of central performance characteristics. Contact terminal retention characteristics may be located at an intermediate location over the length of one or more of the contact arms. Thermal switches can be placed in the retention section of the contact terminal. The switches control the absorption of capillarity welding on the terminal from a mounting surface, where a body of fusible material is formed in the terminal. The contact terminals may be retained in the connector body by one or more projections in the terminal retention passage which engages the terminal retention section or an aperture formed in the terminal retention section. This terminal mounting structure minimizes the buildup of stress in the connector body, thereby reducing the tendency of the molded connector body to buckle or twist. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The method and connector of the present invention is further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a top plan view of a plug connector embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the area A of the plug shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross section of the area shown in Figure 2 taken in the direction of line 3-3; Figure 4 is a partially cut-away cross-sectional view of the plug member shown in Figures 1 to 3 coupled with the receptacle; Figure 5 is a partial cut-away cross-sectional view of the receptacle and plug shown in FIG.

Figure 4, in a normal orientation to that shown in ia Figure 4 and mounted between stacked circuit substrates; Figure 6 is an elevation view of the receptacle contact terminal shown in Figures 4 and 5; Figure 7 is a side view of the receptacle contact terminal shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a top view of the receptacle contact terminal shown in Figures 6 and 7; Figure 9 is an elevation view of a second embodiment of the receptacle contact terminal; and Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view on the line C-C of Figure 9 of the retaining section of the contact terminal retained in a passage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figure 1 shows a plug connector 20 having a connector body or housing, comprising a substantially planar base member 22 and a surrounding peripheral wall 24. At each end wall there are polarizing / alignment tabs 26 from the wall 24, to ensure proper coupling of the plug connector 20 with its accompanying receptacle connector 52, described later. Preferably, the connecting body is formed as an integral part in the molding of an insulating polymer. Preferably, the polymer is capable of withstanding reflow temperatures of surface mount technology (SMT), for example a liquid crystal polymer.

The plug connector 20 includes a set of plug contact terminals which are retained in a desired pattern, such as a two-dimensional array or the connector body. For simplicity of drawing purposes, only a few of the terminal sites are illustrated. With reference to Figure 3, each plug terminal 28 comprises a substantially planar contact terminal having a storage section 30, for storing with a receptacle contact terminal 72 which will be described later. The plug terminal 28 also includes a retaining section 32 adapted to be retained in the connector body 22 in a manner that will be described below. The retaining section 32 includes a pair of opposed shoulders 34 against which an insertion tool is applied, for inserting the terminal 28 to a terminal passage 38 formed in the connector body 22. Protuberances or tines may also be formed on the shoulders 34 to assist in retaining the terminal in passage 38. A welding tab 36 projects from the retaining section 32 through the slot-like opening 53 in the bottom of passage 38 and is adapted to have a body or mass of fusible substrate contact, such as a weld ball 35 there fused. Preferably, the leading edge of the welding tab is bevelled towards its tip on one or both sides of the terminal, such as by the chamfer or bevel 37. The solder balls 35 are fused onto the plug terminals 28 at the terminals of receptacle 72 (described later) by techniques described in the main applications Nos. of Series 08 / 778,806 and U8 / 72b, 194. As illustrated in Figure 3, the contact terminal 28 is retained in the assembly in the terminal passage 38 formed in the connector body 22. The passage 38 extends from the surface or coupling interface 40 to an assembly surface 42. A recess tai such as a cavity or well 50 is formed in the mounting surface 42, in alignment and communication with each passage 38 through the slot opening 53. The collecting contact section 30 extends from the coupling interface 40 and the welding tab 36 extends into the cavity 50. The terminal 28 it is placed substantially in alignment with an MP middle piano (Figure 2) of passage 3B. ii The terminal contacts 28 are held in the body 22 in a way to prevent the induction of tension in the molded plastic body, when inserting the terminals. This objective can be achieved in the preferred embodiment by use of the opposing projections 48. A drop surface 49 is formed at the top of each projection 48. The distance between the distal portions of the projections 48 is less than the thickness of the terminal. of metal 28, in this way creating an interference fit. In this way, the distal portion of each projection 48 is coupled and deformed by the contact terminal as the terminal 28 is inserted into the passage 38 and slot 53. Preferably, the distal portions of the projections 48 are spaced equidistant from the middle piano. MP, such that there are substantially equal amounts of deformation of each projection upon insertion of the terminal. As a result, the normal forces against the terminal holding section 32 are substantially balanced, thereby aiding in alignment on the median plane MP. The contact terminal is surely held in the passage 38 and slot 53 by the normal force exerted on the contact terminal by the deformed projections. The drop surfaces 49 and beveled tips 37 reduce the probability of thinning the projection 48 during insertion, thereby minimizing the removal of material from the projection 48. The distal portion of each projection deforms and develops into a retention shape but one located, in such a way that the accumulation of tensions in the housing is avoided. The provision of a pair of substantially identical, opposite projections 48, equidistant from the middle piano MP aids in positioning with close tolerance of the contact terminal 28 on the median plane MP. One of the advantages of the terminal retention surface illustrated in Figure 3 and described in the main applications noted above, is considered to arise from the situation that after reflow to connect the solder ball 35 to the terminal 28, the The terminal is clamped in housing 22 in a condition locked under conditions close to "zero spacing". This results from the following conditions. The terminal 28"sits" in the passage 38 until the terminal is inserted until the bottom shoulders 33 gather the bottom surfaces of the passage 39. This locates the terminal 28 in a vertical downward position, with respect to the view of Figure 3. After reflow to connect the welding mass 35 on the tongue 36 by techniques described, for example, in the main applications Ser. Nos. Ub / 77b, b06 and 0 «// 28, I94, the ball of Weld and / or solder paste disposed in the cavity 50 forms a mass that fills and conforms to the shape of the cavity 50. As a result, the welding mass 35 collects the bottom 51 of the well 50. In this way, the mass recirculated solder 35 serves to prevent movement of terminal 28 upwards (in the direction of Figure 3) out of passage 38. Terminal 28 is located side-by-side by engagement of side edges 43 of retaining section 32 , against the side walls 41 of passage 3 b. Preferably, the side walls 41 and the side edges 43 have a coupling taper as illustrated, to assist in actual location of the terminal 28. Turning to Figure 2, the terminal 28 remains centrally located within the passage 38 (in the directions from left to right of Figure 2) by opposite projections 48. This results in the location of terminal 28 in housing 22, under tolerance conaitions that approximate the tolerances achieved at the insert edges. The total achievable achievable tolerance levels result from minimization of spacings that are normally present when the metal terminals are post-inserted into a plastic housing. That is, position tolerances are reduced by leaving tolerance adjustments (the tolerances between coupling connectors) as the main tolerance to be adjusted in the parts. The terminal step is maintained during insertion as if the terminals were still mounted on a carrier strip. The closed-step tolerance that is achieved during terminal flanking operations, is substantially maintained after insertion of terminal ai employ the contact retention system described above. While the cross-sectional shape of the projections 48 illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 is preferred, projections or ribs of somewhat different shape and size may be employed. An explanation of the mechanism of this retention system is described in the main applications Nos. Of Series 08 / 728,194 and 0b / 778.60b. The deformation of the projections 48 by the terminals 28 creates additional forces sufficient to maintain the position of the terminals in the housing before reflux of the welding masses 35. Adjacent to each of the passages 38 are one or more recessed tip receivers 44, 46 which are adapted to receive the distal portions of the mating receptacle contact terminals 72. As illustrated, the recesses 44, 46 are formed with a side adjacent the passages 38. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 2. and 3 the recesses are on opposite sides of the MP middle piano. These recesses are also offset laterally to each other, that is, they are on opposite sides in a central plane C which is orthogonal to the median plane MP. Figures 4 and 5 show the distal portions of contact arms of the receptacle contact terminal 72 received in recesses 44, 46. Referring to Figures 4 and 5 there is illustrated a receptacle connector 52 for coupling with the receptacle connector. plug 20. The receptacle connector 52 includes a body 54 preferably formed of the same insulating molded polymer as the plug connector 20. Surrounding the body 54 is a peripheral wall 56 that includes cutting regions (not shown) for receiving the tabs of polarization / location 26 of the connector. The base member or body 54 includes passages to receptacles 62 for receiving receptacle terminals 72. When receptacle terminals of the type illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8 are used, the passages 72 preferably include opposing relief areas 64 to allow reception of the plug terminal 28 in the formed contact arms 76a, 78b (Figures 4 and 5). The relief areas 64 are preferably formed with extending landing surfaces 65 and include the upper portions of the projections 68. The passages 62 also include side walls 66. Opposite terminal retention projections 68 project from the side walls 66 towards the base sections 76 (Figures or and 7) of the receptacle terminals 72. The projections 68 are deformed upon inserting the receptacle terminals 72 in the same manner as previously written with respect to the projections 48 in the plug connector. The chamfer 87 of the tips 88 and the drop surfaces 65 help in achieving deformation rather than removal of the distal portions of the projections 68, as previously described in connection with Figure 3. Each passage of the receptacle 62 projects from the coupling interface 58 to the body 54 to a cavity or well 70 formed in the surface or mounting interface 60. As illustrated in Figure 4, the cavity 70 is adapted to receive a substrate contact mass, such as welding edges 74 which are fused to the terminals 72 and substantially fill and adapt to the shape of the cavity 70. In this way they are retained The receptacle and receptacle terminals locate substantially in the same manner as the plug terminals 28. As illustrated in Figure 5, the configurations of the plug and connector bodies 22 and 54 and the configurations of the plug contact terminals 28 and receptacle contact terminals 72, allow minimization of the height of the coupled connectors. This in turn allows the stacking height T between the stacked circuit substrates S, to be minimized after a second reflow of the welding edges 35a and 74a. Turning now to Figures 6-8, a preferred form of a receptacle terminal 72 is described in greater detail. Each receptacle contact terminal includes a base portion 76 and a pair of cantilevered spring contact arms 76a, 76b. As illustrated in Figure 7, the base portion 76 is substantially pianar and can be considered to define a longitudinally extending center plane P of the contact. As illustrated in Figure 7, each of the contact arms 78a, 78b diverges opposite the plane P in the central region of the contact arms to form between them a cape 79, which is spaced from the bottom 86 of the localized space between the two contact arms. The distal portions of the arms 78a, 78b then converge towards the plane P to form contact sections 60 for coupling the plug terminals. The connection portions 62 are formed at the ends of the arms 78a, 78b to assist in collecting with the plug contact 26. A sharp shoulder 64 is formed intermediate the ends of each of the arms 78a, 76b. The sharp shoulder acts as a prong to assist in retaining the terminal inside the passage 62. These shoulders as well as the shoulders 34 of the plug contacts 28 are assembled by tooling to insert the metal contacts into respective plastic bodies. The sharp corners help in retaining the terminals in the respective passages. The use of laterally displaced contact arms 78a, 76b provides numerous advantages including minimization of the front-to-back dimension of the terminal, even when deviating to the dotted line position shown in Figure 7 by plug contact input. 28 between the two arms 78a, 78b. In addition, the use of the terminal retention projections 66 as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, allows a maximization of the length of contact arms 7ba, 78GJ thus allowing the development of substantial amounts of deviation to generate forces of appropriate normal contact and sufficient contact sweep. As illustrated in FIG. 6, a welding tab 88 projects from the base section 76. In a preferred form, the welding tab 68 is adapted to have a weld ball fused. As previously discussed in connection with the plug terminal 26, the leading edge of the terminal 72 is provided with an appropriate drop structure such as the chamfered surfaces 67. The base section can be provided with a thermal switch structure to minimize absorption by capiiarity in welding from the cavity 70 towards the terminal. As illustrated in Figure 6, the thermal switch structure may comprise a pair of openings 89. This structure can be used in conjunction with the formation of a passivated surface in the base section 76 with the application of other absorption coatings by capillary action. Suitable anti-welding agents such as organo-fluoro polymers known in the art. Thermal interruptions with or without passivation and / or capillarity anti-absorption coatings retard the weld flow on the contact, when the solder paste in the cavity 70 is recirculated to hold the solder ball 74 in the solder tab 88 The plug terminal 28 can also include said welding capillaries anti-absorption auxiliaries such as thermal switches, passivation, coatings or combination thereof. With reference to Figures 5 and 10, an alternate structure for retaining the terminals, such as the receptacle contact terminals 90 in a connector housing, is illustrated. In this embodiment, the passages 90 are formed to receive the terminals 90. Within each of the passages 91, one or more projections 94 are formed to extend from the side walls of the passage. Each termination has an opening 96 that is dimensioned and configured to receive at least a portion of one or both of the projections 54.

Ideally, the shape of the aperture 96 corresponds to the shape of the projections 94, so that the terminal is constrained by the projections against longitudinal movement and to the sides, as well as front-backward movement. The distal portions of the projections 94 are spaced a distance less than the thickness of the material from which the terminal 9u is formed and preferably equidistant from the middle piano MP. By inserting the terminal 50 into the passage 51, the projections 54 are deformed or slightly dispersed by the terminal tip or welding tab 98. The beveled or chamfered surface 55 reduces the tendency of the welding tab 98 to thin the distal portions of the projections 94. When the terminals are in a fully inserted position, the projections 94 are aligned with the opening 56 and their distal portions enter the opening 56. As a result, any stress imparted on the connector body is located in the distant regions of the projections 94. Because a significant portion of the tension is relieved when the projections 94 enter the opening 96, stress buildup that can cause buckling or twisting of the connector body is prevented. Preferably, the longitudinal cross-section of the retaining section 52 is substantially symmetric with respect to a central longitudinal plane, so that there is a self-centering action imparted to the contact terminal 50 as the Dase 2 is inserted in the passage 51. opening 56 may also function as a thermal switch to delay absorption by capillarity of welding, in the same manner as openings 89 in the embodiment of Figure 6. Terminal 90 may also include passivation or anti-absorption coatings, for avoid the welding flow towards the contact sections. While the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments of the various Figures, it will be understood that other similar embodiments may be employed or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiment to perform the same functions of the present invention, without deviating of itself. In addition, the structures described can be used with respect to components other than connectors, comprising housings formed of insulating materials that convey elements to be fused in a PWB or other electrical substrate. Therefore, the present invention will not be limited to any simple form, but rather considered in scope and scope, according to the wording of the appended claims.

Claims (36)

1. CLAIMS i.- An electrical connector, characterized in that it comprises: an insulating connector body having a coupling interface, to define an area for receiving a connection connector; a terminal having a retainer portion received in the connector body for retaining the terminal in the connector body from the connector and having a collection portion projecting from the retainer portion and adapted to engage a connector fitting terminal coupling; and a first recess in a region of the connector body adjacent to the retention portion for receiving a distal portion of the terminal of the reattachment connector.
2. 2. An electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises a second recess in a region of the connector body adjacent to the retention portion.
3. 3. An electrical connector according to claim 2, characterized in that the first recess is located on one side of the retaining portion opposite the location of the second recess.
4. 4. - An electrical connector according to claim 3, characterized in that the first recess is displaced laterally from the second recess.
5. 5. An electrical connector, characterized in that it comprises: a connector body; a terminal passage in the body; a conducting terminal having a mounting portion located in the terminal passage, the terminal has a base and two cantilevered contact arms projecting from the base; and the terminal passage includes relief areas formed in the body to receive portions of the contact arms.
6. 6. An electrical connector according to claim 5, characterized in that the connecting body defines a coupling interface and a mounting surface, the relief areas are located adjacent to the collection interface and distant portions and the arms are projected further. beyond the relief areas.
7. 7. An electrical connector according to claim 5, characterized in that a first of the relief areas is located adjacent to one side of the terminal and a second of the relief areas is located adjacent to an opposite side of the terminal.
8. ¿Ó You. - An electrical connector according to claim 7, characterized in that the relief areas are located on opposite sides of a middle piano of the passage.
9. 9. An electrical connector according to claim 7, characterized in that the relief areas are on opposite sides of an orthogonal plane and parallel to the middle plane of the passage.
10. 10. An electrical connector according to claim 7, characterized in that the relief areas are located on opposite sides of a middle piano of the passage and on opposite sides of a plane orthogonal and parallel to the middle plane of the passage.
11. 11. An electrical connector, characterized in that it comprises: a connector body having a coupling interface and a mounting surface; a passage in the body to receive a contact terminal on a middle piano; and the passage extends from the collection interface to the mounting surface and includes a retaining section for receiving a portion of the contact terminal to be retained in the body and a relief area disposed adjacent to the collection interface.
12. 12. - An electrical connector according to claim 11, characterized in that the retaining section includes a terminal assembly member adapted to be coupled by a terminal in the passage.
13. 13. An electrical connector according to claim 12, characterized in that the relief area is located on one side of the median plane of the passage opposite the terminal coupling member.
14. 14. An electrical connector according to claim 11, characterized in that the contact terminal coupling member is deformable.
15. 15. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 11, characterized in that the retention section of the passage includes a terminal coupling member disposed on each side of the middle plane of the passage.
16. 16. An electrical connector according to claim 15, characterized in that each of the terminal coupling members is deformable by a contact terminal inserted in the passage.
17. 17. An electrical connector according to claim 15, characterized in that the passage includes a first pair of relief areas formed therein, the first relief areas are each arranged on opposite sides of a median plane of passage.
18. 18. An electrical connector according to claim 17, characterized in that the terminal coupling members are located adjacent to a central axis of the passageway and the relief areas are located on opposite sides of an orthogonal plane and parallel to a median plane of passage.
19. 19. An electrical interconnection, characterized in that it comprises: a first connector that includes a connector body that has a coupling interface; a terminal receiver passage in the body; a contact terminal having a retention surface in the passage; a recessed area in the connector body adjacent to the passage retention section; a second connector having a body for coupling with the first connector at the collection interface; and the second connector body includes a contact terminal for collecting with the contact terminal of the first connector, with a distal portion of the contact terminal of the second connector disposed in the recessed area in the body of the first connector.

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20. 20. An interconnection according to claim 19, characterized in that a portion of the recessed area is contiguous with the terminal receiver passage.
21. 21. An interconnection according to claim 19, characterized in that the contact terminal of the second connector comprises a pair of spaced contact arms, each adapted to couple the contact terminal of the first connector and the recessed area comprises a pair of recesses, each adapted to receive one of the arms.
22. 22 - An interconnection according to claim 21, characterized in that each recess is on an opposite side of a middle plane of the passage.
23. 23. An interconnection according to claim 22, characterized in that each recess is on an opposite side of a piano orthogonal and parallel to the middle plane.
24. 24. An interconnection according to claim 23, characterized in that the passage includes a terminal retention projection, the projection is located laterally between the recesses.
25. 25. - An electrical contact terminal for an electrical connector, characterized in that it comprises a base section adapted to be held in the body of the connector; a pair of deviating cantilever contact arms extending in a substantially common direction from the base section; and retaining structures at least one of the contact arms for retaining the terminal in the connector body, the retaining structure is longitudinally separated from the base.
26. 26. A terminal according to claim 25, characterized in that the retaining structure is located in the middle region of the arm length.
27. 27. A terminal according to claim 25, characterized in that the retaining structure is located on an outer edge of the arm.
28. 28. A terminal according to claim 27, characterized in that the retaining structure comprises a prong.
29. 29. An electrical contact terminal for an electrical connector, characterized in that it comprises: a base section adapted to be held in a connector body and having a substantially substantial plane; a pair of cantilevered contact arms projecting in a substantially common direction away from the base section; the cantilevered arms diverge in opposite directions away from the piano of the base section, to form a longitudinally spaced end of the base, a contact portion near a distant region of each arm, each contact portion extending toward the plane for coupling a coupling terminal.
30. 30. A terminal according to claim 25, characterized in that the contact arms are laterally offset.
31. 31.- A terminal according to claim 29, characterized in that each contact arm has an outer edge and a retaining structure is located on the outer edge of each arm.
32. 32. A terminal according to claim 31, characterized in that the retaining structures are located intermediate therein in the contact portions.
33. 33.- A terminal according to claim 32, characterized in that the retaining structure comprises a retaining tine.
34. 34. - A terminal according to claim 31, characterized in that the contact portion is formed by portions of the contact arms converging towards the piano. 35.- A contact terminal for an electrical connector, characterized in that it comprises: a base section adapted to be held in a connector body and having a substantially substantial plane; a pair of cantilevered contact arms projecting in a substantially common direction away from the base section; at least one of the cantilevered arms diverges in a direction away from the piano of the base section to form a rope with the other arm longitudinally spaced from the base, a contact portion near the distant region of each arm, the contact portion of the at least one arm projects towards the plane to couple a coupling terminal. 36.- A terminal according to claim 35, characterized in that the contact arms are laterally displaced. 37. A terminal according to claim 35, characterized in that at least one of the contact arms has an outer edge and a retaining structure is located on the outer edge of that arm. 36. A terminal according to claim 37, characterized in that the retaining structure is located intermediate to and the contact portion.
35. 35. A terminal according to claim 38, characterized in that the retaining structure comprises a retaining pin. 40. A terminal according to claim 35, characterized in that the contact portion is formed by a portion of at least one contact arm that converges towards the piano. 41.- An electrical connector, characterized in that it comprises: a connector body that has a coupling interface and a mounting surface; a passage projecting from the coupling interface towards the mounting surface; a conducting terminal having a base section fastened in the passage, with a welding tongue projecting towards the mounting surface; and thermal switch means in the terminal comprising an opening in the base section to retard the flow of liquid solder onto the terminal.

    42. - An electrical connector according to claim 41, characterized in that the passage includes a terminal retention projection that collects the base section and the thermal interruption means comprise two openings spaced in the base section in flanking relation to the projection. 43. An electrical connector according to claim 41, characterized in that a dimension of the terminal base is less than a corresponding dimension of the passage, thus forming a space between the terminal base section and the passage. 44.- An electrical connector, characterized in that it comprises: a connector body having a coupling interface and a mounting surface; a contact terminal having a coupling portion and a retaining portion; a passage in the body for receiving the contact terminal, the passage extends from the coupling interface towards the mounting surface and includes a retaining section for receiving the retaining portion of the contact terminal; a retention projection that extends into the passageway; and a structure receiving projection formed in the contact terminal to receive at least a portion of the projection. 45.- an electrical connector according to claim 44, characterized in that the projection is elongated in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the passage. 46. An electrical connector according to claim 44, characterized in that the structure receiving the projection comprises an opening projecting through the retention portion of the contact terminal. 47. An electrical connector according to claim 45, characterized in that the passage includes a second retaining projection projecting inwardly of the passageway in a direction generally opposite the first retaining projection and positioned to enter the opening in the passageway. holding portion of the contact terminal from an opposite side to the side of which the first projection enters the opening. 48. An electrical connector according to claim 46, characterized in that the projections are generally opposite to and spaced from each other.
36. 36 45. An electrical connector, characterized in that it comprises: an insulating body having a coupling interface and a mounting surface; a terminal receiving passage formed in the body and placed between the coupling interface and the mounting surface; a cavity formed in the body with respect to the end of the passage adjacent to the mounting surface; an electrically conductive terminal mounted on the body, the terminal comprises a coupling section positioned at the coupling interface of the body, a retaining section positioned in the passage and a tongue section disposed in the cavity; and a body of fusible material secured to the tongue section and projecting into engagement with the cavity. 50. An electrical connector according to claim 45, characterized in that a projection of the body shape of fusible material adjacent to the tongue section is substantially adapted to the shape of the cavity. 51. An electrical connector according to claim 45, characterized in that the cavity has a bottom wall having portions projecting laterally out of the passage and the fusiPie material collects at least a portion of the bottom wall. 52.- Method for producing an electrical connector, comprising forming a body with a terminal receiver passage; forming a caviar adjacent to the end of the passage; inserting a conductive terminal member in the passage with a portion of the terminal member disposed in communication with the recess; and forming a body of fusible conductive material in the recess fixed to the terminal and which engages the recess to hold the terminal with respect to the body.