Electrical connector assembly for an electronic module

1. An electrical connector assembly for a motor vehicle comprising:

a plug element having a body including a first terminal receiving section including a first locking tab element defined by a first rigid projection and a second terminal receiving section including a second locking tab element defined by a second rigid projection;

a first rigid bus bar terminal mounted in the first terminal receiving section, the first rigid bus bar extending from a first end to a second end through a substantially rigid intermediate portion, the first end including a first locking tab member inter-engaging with the first locking tab element and the second end including a first module connector member; and

a second rigid bus bar terminal extending from a first end to a second end through a substantially rigid intermediate portion, the first end including a second locking tab member inter-engaging with the second locking tab element and the second end including a second module connector member, wherein the first rigid bus bar terminal is spaced and electrically isolated from the second rigid bus bar terminal by a fixed distance.

2. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one locking tab member comprises an opening formed in the at least one rigid bus bar terminal.

3. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the second end of the at least one rigid bus bar terminal constitutes a ring connector.

4. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the plug element includes a peripheral flange having at least one passage configured and disposed to receive a mechanical fastener for securing the module connector assembly to a module.

5. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first rigid bus bar terminal is spaced and electrically isolated from the second rigid bus bar terminal by a fixed distance.

6. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the fixed distance is substantially constant from each of the first ends to each of the second ends.

7. A method of connecting an electrical connector assembly to an electronic module, the method comprising:

snap-fittingly inserting a first end of a first rigid bus bar terminal into a first terminal receiving section of a plug element;

inter-engaging a locking tab member on the first end of the first rigid bus bar terminal with a locking tab element defined by a rigid projection integrally formed on an internal surface of the first terminal receiving section;

inserting the a second end of the first rigid bus bar terminal into a housing; and

securing the second end of the first rigid bus bar terminal to an electronic component in the housing;

snap-fittingly inserting a first end of a second rigid bus bar terminal, spaced and electrically isolated from the first rigid bus bar terminal into a second terminal receiving section of the plug element;

inter-engaging a locking tab member on the first end of the second rigid bus bar terminal with a locking tab element defined by a rigid projection integrally formed on an internal surface of the second terminal receiving section;

inserting a second end of the second rigid bus bar terminal into a housing; and

securing the second end of the at least one rigid bus bar terminal to an electronic component in the housing.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein inter-engaging the locking tab member with the locking tab element includes establishing an electrical connection between the at least one rigid bus bar terminal and a terminal member provided in the terminal receiving section.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein securing the second end of the at least one rigid bus bar terminal to the electronic component in the module housing includes passing a mechanical fastener through an opening formed in the second end of the at least one rigid bus bar terminal.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein inserting the second ends of the first and second rigid bus bar terminals into the housing includes maintaining a desired fixed distance between the first and second rigid bus bar terminals.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein maintaining the desired fixed distance between the first and second rigid bus bar terminals includes maintaining a constant fixed distance between the first and second rigid bus bar terminals.