Patent ID: 7019387

Claim:
A circuit module, comprising: at least one integrated circuit for providing an electronic function of the circuit module; a lead-frame carrier for providing electrical connection to the at least one integrated circuit within the circuit module, the lead-frame carrier including leads having connector pins formed at an end thereof for providing an electrical interface to the at least one integrated circuit; and an encapsulation containing the at least one integrated circuit and the lead-frame carrier on both a top and a bottom side, wherein the connector pins are each recessed within a corresponding one of a plurality of recesses terminating on a single side of an outline volume defined by the exterior surfaces of the encapsulation so that the connector pins do not protrude beyond the outline volume and are isolated from each other by walls of the encapsulation between adjacent ones of the recesses, and wherein the connector pins provide a detachable connection to interface the circuit module to an external connector of opposite gender.