Low profile board-to-board electrical connector having terminal tails arranged in middle of side wall

An electrical connector for mating with a mating connector comprising:

• an insulating housing defining sidewalls and a mating face on the sidewalls;
• a plurality of contacts retained on the sidewalls, the contact comprising a retaining portion abutting against an outer side of the sidewall, a tail portion extending from the retaining portion and a soldering portion extending from the tail portion;
• wherein
• the tail portion extends toward the mating face but not beyond the mating face;
• wherein the tail portion bend toward the mating face from one end of the retaining portion, said one end of the retaining portion is far from the mating face;
• wherein the tail portion is separated from the retaining portion with a gap therebetween;
• wherein the soldering portion is parallel to the mating face;
• wherein the retaining portion is of a reverse U-shape and ride on the sidewall.

A board-to-board connector assembly comprising:

• a first connector having a low profile generally rectangular dielectric housing including a mating face and a mounting face for mounting the connector on a first circuit board, the housing defining a receiving space by a pair of longitudinal sidewalls, and transversal end walls;
• at least one contact including a retention sandwiched onto one of the sidewalls from atop and including a contact engaging portion extending into the receiving space, and a tail portion spaced from an outer surface of the sidewall, said tail portion including a soldering portion located below a top end of the sidewall and substantially perpendicular to the sidewall;
• and
• a printed circuit board defining a cutout into which said first connector is received, wherein the tail portion is essentially located in said cutout and extends upwardly with at a tip thereof the corresponding soldering portion which is seated upon a mounting surface of said printed circuit board.