Abstract: An electrical contact includes a base and an eye-of-the needle (EON) pin extending a length outwardly from the base to a tip. The EON pin is configured to be received within an electrical via. The EON pin includes a neck segment that extends outwardly from the base, a tip segment that includes the tip, and a compliant segment that extends from the neck segment to the tip segment. The neck segment has opposite end walls and opposite side walls that extend between the end walls. The end walls are connected to the side walls at corresponding transitional walls that interconnect spaced-apart edges of the corresponding end and side walls.

Abstract: A socket contact has a generally tubular base defining a longitudinal axis and beams extending from the base at spaced-apart locations around the base. The beams converge to define a pin reception zone between the beams. At least one of the beams has a tapered portion which progressively narrows as the beam extends longitudinally from the base, and a non-tapered portion having a lateral dimension which remains constant as the beam extends longitudinally. The length of the tapered portion and the degree of taper can be selected to provide desirable spring characteristics for the beam.