Lighter interconnect solutions for test and measurement equipment design

Like other industries, digitalization is transforming the test and measurement field. Advances in technology such as 5G, the Industrial internet of things (IIoT), Industry 4.0, cloud computing, advanced analytics and more are driving this quickly growing trend. For example, 5G technology plays an important role in virtualization and automation — two long-term trends in test and measurement. Along with all these factors, increased adoption of modular equipment and consumer electronics make the test and measurement industry more important than ever.

As test and measurement products shift away from bulky and stationary to mobile, handheld and miniaturized, the increasing precision of electronics requires engineers to quickly and accurately measure current, voltage and other parameters to ensure quality along with reliability. Many applications require innovative solutions that can provide reliability such as latching features along with gold plating for more precision and accuracy. Low-profile connectors can give designers more space and flexibility to include far more technology into smaller devices.

Today’s engineering designs also often require high performance, signal integrity, EMC compliance, and high speed data transfer with power and signal connections. Connectors commonly have smaller profiles to use less space, lighter in weight and often have to withstand varying environmental conditions. The right interconnects can help design engineers adapt and be flexible to continually push the boundaries of design, allowing engineers to address tough design specs without compromising on connection reliability.

Low-profile flexible printed circuit (FPC) connectors, like our dual-contact FPC connector and others from TE, can give designers flexibility and space-saving capability to include more technology into smaller spaces. Our FPC connectors can be useful where small centerline spacing makes larger wire-to-board interconnects impractical. In addition, many applications require connectors that can provide reliability such as latching features along with gold plating for more precision and accuracy.

TE offers a comprehensive portfolio of interconnect solutions to address the needs of customers who are involved in test programs, product research, development, test and evaluation, especially those who prefer handheld and mobile test and measurement devices.