Printed plastic circuits and contracts and method for making same

An electrical connector comprising:

• a unitary, molded thermoplastic circuit board, said circuit board including a base portion having a planar circuitized area having conductive traces adhered to a first side of the circuit board and a first edge having a plurality of contacts spaced along the first edge wherein the contacts have at least one contact surface defined thereon adjacent the first edge, the contact surface having an electrically conductive region thereon defined by a firmly-adherent, electrically conductive coating formed of a first layer of a conductive coating and a second layer of a protective material;
• a housing having a first end and a second end and a cavity formed therebetween and a shroud protruding at the first end wherein the circuit board is mounted within the cavity and the first edge protrudes from the first end of the housing and is surrounded by the shroud and the contacts at the first edge provide a male connector member;
• and
• the circuit board includes a second edge also having a plurality of contacts spaced along the second edge and the contacts at the first and second edge are electrically connected via the conductive traces of the circuitized area.