According to exemplary embodiments, a tapered surface interconnect is formed on a printed circuit board (PCB). A compliant pin of an electrical connector may be coupled to the tapered surface interconnect and soldered thereto. The surface interconnect may be formed by drilling through one or more layers of the PCB. The depth of the surface interconnect may be shorter than a height or a thickness of the PCB. The surface interconnect may have a tapered side wall to allow for a better fit with a tapered compliant pin. The inclination of the side wall of the surface interconnect may be linear or concave. The intersection between the tapered sidewall and the bottom of the surface interconnect may be rounded to minimize pin insertion issues and may allow for easier solder flux evacuation from the surface interconnect during the soldering process. The compliant pin may be soldered into place upon being coupled to the tapered surface interconnect.

An RF connector includes a conductive pin for carrying an RF signal. The conductive pin has a first longitudinal end that serves to interface with a male RF connector to receive the RF signal. The pin also includes a second longitudinal end for connecting with a printed circuit board (PCB). The second longitudinal end may be tapered, and the pin may have a groove formed above the tapered end. A housing encircles the conductive pin. The housing is shaped and sized to accept the male RF connector. A grounding element may be positioned on the bottom of the housing. The grounding element is to contact the PCB when the connector is connected to the PCB. The grounding element may be ring-shaped and soldered to the housing or epoxied to the housing.

The invention provides a spacer for soldering comprising an elongate body having one end provided with a tapped hole and an opposite end provided with a transverse bearing surface having a smooth centering peg projecting therefrom, the peg has a longitudinal outer passage extending over at least a fraction of its length as far as the transverse bearing surface to enable molten solder to penetrate by capillarity as far as the transverse bearing surface. The invention also provides a module including such a spacer.

A flexible printed circuit board, in particular for connecting electrical and/or electronic components, includes a fuse conductor track (10). The fuse conductor track has a conductor width (B1) formed on the flexible printed circuit board (1). The fuse conductor track (10) has a taper (12) in a fuse area (11) of the fuse conductor track (10), at which the fuse conductor track (10) has a fuse width (B2) which is smaller than the conductor width (B1) of the fuse conductor track (10) outside the fuse area (11).