Patent ID: 8278568

Claim:
A Z-directed component for mounting in a printed circuit board (PCB) having a mounting hole having a depth D therein and a plurality of conductive traces, the Z-directed component comprising: an insulative body of a length L comprising: a top surface; a bottom surface; a side surface between the top and bottom surfaces; a cross-sectional shape that is insertable into the mounting hole in the PCB; and a first and a second electrically conductive channel on the side surface with the first channel and the second channel each extending from one of the top and bottom surfaces; a plateable strip disposed on the side surface intermediate the top and bottom surfaces and outside of the electrically conductive portions of the first and second channels, the plateable strip being comprised of a material different than the insulative material of the body; and a first and a second conductor disposed within the body, the first conductor electrically connected to the first channel and one end of the plateable strip and the second conductor electrically connected to the second channel and the other end of the plateable strip.