Patent ID: 7589280

Claim:
A connector assembly for a planar sensing element of an exhaust gas sensor, comprising: an opposed pair of ceramic clamshells, each clamshell operable to mechanically retain and electrically isolate a plurality of terminals; at least one of the clamshells including at least one hole extending through the clamshell, said hole defined by a contiguous boundary of the ceramic of said at least one clamshell, with one terminal passing through the hole; each terminal electrically conductively mating to one of a plurality of corresponding contact pads of the planar sensing element; each terminal electrically and mechanically connected to one of a plurality of electrically conductive lead wires; a spacer, positioned between the opposed pair of ceramic clamshells and a seal, each of the plurality of electrically conductive lead wires passing through the seal and the spacer; and, a retainer clip, operable to bind together the opposed pair of ceramic clamshells; wherein the opposed pair of ceramic clamshells, the spacer, the seal, and the retainer clip are contained within an upper shield.