Patent ID: 7344059
Filing Date: 2008-03-18
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
1. An attachment system for soldering an electrical connector to a glass sheet comprising: a heating device, said heating device comprising an infrared radiative heat source positioned at least partially within a shaped reflector, said shaped reflector being shaped to direct infrared radiant energy from said infrared radiative heat source at a target region; a holding device for temporarily holding the electrical connector, said heating device and said holding device being arrangable relative to one another and relative to the glass sheet such that said holding device and the electrical connector are positionable generally at a surface of the glass sheet and said heating device is positionable generally at said holding device with a solder layer being generally at said target region, said holding device being configured to at least partially receive the electrical connector and limit movement of the electrical connector when said holding device and the electrical connector are positioned at the surface of the glass sheet; wherein said holding device comprises a base portion and a movable portion that is movable relative to said base portion, said base portion and said movable portion cooperating to establish a connector receiving space for at least partially receiving the electrical connector and limiting movement of the electrical connector when said movable portion is in a holding position; and said heating device being operable to generate and direct said infrared radiative energy at said target region to heat and melt the solder layer while said holding device holds the electrical connector and substantially limits directing of said infrared radiant energy to the glass sheet, said movable portion being movable to a releasing position, said holding device being removable from the surface of the glass sheet without moving the electrical connector soldered at the glass sheet when said movable portion is moved toward said releasing position.