Flexible printed circuit connector and connector assembly including the same

Flexible printed circuit (FPC) connector includes a flex circuit having first and second side surfaces and a thickness extending between the first and second side surfaces. The flex circuit includes a plurality of stacked substrate layers. The FPC connector also includes a conductive pathway extending through the flex circuit and a substrate protrusion coupled to the second side surface and projecting a distance away from the second side surface. The substrate protrusion is formed from at least one dielectric layer. The FPC connector also includes a contact pad that is directly coupled to at least one of the substrate protrusion or the second side surface of the flex circuit. The contact pad is electrically coupled to the conductive pathway.