System and method for minimizing connector pad open-circuit stubs

A method of providing a connector pad on a printed circuit board, the connector pad for mounting a rigid connector lead of a surface mount device, the method comprising:

• fabricating a circuit trace on the printed circuit board;
• and
• fabricating the connector pad on the printed circuit board, the connector pad having a connector pad length and configured to provide electrical and mechanical mounting of the connector lead of the surface mount device and to provide a circuit path between the surface mount device and the circuit trace, wherein in fabricating the connector pad, the method further comprises:
• fabricating a connector pad base having a first length, wherein the connector pad base is electrically coupled to the circuit trace, and wherein the connector pad base has a length that is substantially equal to a length of a contact portion of the connector lead;
• and
• fabricating a first connector pad island having a second length, wherein the first connector pad island is separated from the connector pad base by a first gap, and wherein the connector pad island is electrically isolated from the connector pad base, and wherein the second length is substantially shorter than the first length.

An information handling system, comprising:

• a surface mount device having a rigid connector lead, the connector lead including a contact portion;
• and
• a printed circuit board, including:
• a circuit trace;
• and
• a connector pad having a connector pad length and configured to provide electrical and mechanical mounting of the connector lead and to provide a circuit path between the surface mount device and the circuit trace, the connector pad including 1) a connector pad base having a first length and electrically coupled to the circuit trace, 2) a first connector pad island having a second length, wherein the first connector pad island is separated from the connector pad base by a first gap, and wherein the connector pad island is electrically isolated from the connector pad base, and 3) a second connector pad island having a third length, wherein the second connector pad island is separated from the first connector pad island by a second gap, wherein the second connector pad island is electrically isolated from the connector pad base and from the first connector pad island, wherein the connector pad base has a length that is substantially equal to a length of a contact portion of the connector lead, wherein the second length is substantially shorter than the first length, and wherein the third length is substantially equal to the second length.