Resolderable electrical connector

Abstract

The invention is an electrical connector assembly particularly suited for coupling or interfacing external wiring to the back plane of a circuit board housing. In detail, the invention comprises a first connector half having a first set of electrical contacts and a second connector half having a second set of electrical contacts. At least one of the first and second sets of electrical contacts is coated or tinned with solder. An integral heater is coupled to the first electrical connector for heating the solder to a temperature wherein the solder can be melted. Thus, the connector halves can be connected such that the first and second sets of electrical contacts are in contact. Thereafter, the contacts can be heated by applying electrical current to the heater so that the solder is reflowed. When the electrical power is terminated the solder solidifies, thus forming a continuous and air tight path between the first and second sets of contacts. To separate the connector halves, electrical power is again applied to the heater to reflow the solder and thereafter, the connector halves can be manually separated.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.