Interface considerations for MATE mobile testers

The military specification for the weight of mobile testers places limitations of 35 and 84 lbs. for one- and two-person carry capabilities, respectively. The present weight of a fully MATE-compliant single-tier interface connector assembly (ICA) is greater than 100 lbs. In addition to this excessive weight, the MATE patch panel is a dedicated interface, limiting the signal capabilities of the ICA. This excessive interface size and weight, together with the inefficient and inadequate signal routing, eliminates a fully MATE-compliant ICA design from consideration for use on a MATE mobile tester. It is, however, still possible to design a mobile tester interface which will take advantage of the attributes of the MATE ICA, while at the same time reducing the weight and miniaturizing the interface. Such an interface is described, along with design considerations and how they apply to MATE