Resolderable electrical connector

Abstract

The electrical connector comprises a first connector half having a heating element mounted therein. The heating element includes at least one non electrically conductive surface having a set of electrically conductive surface traces mounted on the at least one surface. Also included in the first connector half are a set of first contacts having one end joined to a first portion of the surface traces on the at least one surface. A second connector half is included for mating with the first connector half. The second connector half includes a set of second electrial contacts for contacting a second portion of the surface traces on the at least one surface of the heating element when the connector halves are joined. A coating of solder is applied to the second portion of the conductive surface traces on the heating element or the one end of the second electrical contacts or both. Thus, when the first and second connector halves are joined such that the one end of the second electrical contacts are in contact with the second portions of the surface traces on the heating element, the heating element can be activated, causing the solder to melt and thereafter deactivated causing the solder to cool solidify, joining the one end of the second electrical contacts to the second portions of the surface traces on the heating element.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.