Mating interfaces for high speed high density electrical connector

An electrical connector comprising:

• a plurality of conductive members, each conductive member comprising a contact tail, a contact portion, and an intermediate portion joining the contact tail to the contact portion,
• wherein:
• the mating contact portions are arranged in a plurality of parallel columns;
• for each of the plurality of conductive members, the mating contact portion comprises a blade connected to the intermediate portion and a beam connected to the intermediate portion and a conductive, compliant member linking the blade to the beam.

A method of operating an electrical connector to mate with a mating electrical connector, the method comprising:

• for each of a plurality of conductive members in the connector, the conductive members each comprising a contact with a first elongated member and a second elongated member joined by a conductive strap:
• sliding the first elongated member with respect to a first mating contact member in the mating connector into a mating position with a first point of contact between the first elongated member and the first mating contact member;
• sliding the second elongated member with respect to a second mating contact member in the mating connector into a mating position with a second point of contact between the second elongated member and the second mating contact member,
• wherein the strap connects to the second elongated member at a location distal to the second point of contact.