Issue link: https://te.mouser.com/i/1528939
Foreword ABOUT TE CONNECTIVITY TE Connectivity is a global industrial technology leader creating a safer, sustainable, productive, and connected future. Our broad range of connectivity and sensor solutions, proven in the harshest environments, enable advancements in transportation, industrial applications, medical technology, energy, data communications, and the home. With more than 85,000 employees, including over 8,000 engineers, working alongside customers in approximately 140 countries, TE ensures that EVERY CONNECTION COUNTS. Learn more at www.te.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, WeChat and Twitter. Consumer and societal demands for greater safety, electrification, digital-life integration and connectivity have been driving an increasing number of electronic functions within vehicles, leading to ever growing complexity in the electrical/electronic (E/E) architecture. This is causing vehicle OEMs to introduce "smarter" architecture designs whereby much of the physical complexity is transferred to the software that controls the vehicle - with traditional function-dedicated electronic control units (ECUs) being replaced by more powerful centralized control units organized in distinct zones. Often known as "zonal architectures" this approach not only streamlines the wiring harness, reducing weight and complexity, but also paves the way for more scalable and flexible vehicle designs. A key enabler of this transformation is connectivity. In a zonal architecture, robust and high-speed communication networks are essential to ensure seamless data exchange between zones. Moreover, connectivity technology will need to provide space saving solutions to the higher number of connections across a fewer number of high-power control units and with a greater level of modularity to support more automated assembly processes. TE Connectivity offers an extensive range of cutting-edge connectivity products and technologies developed for the needs of "Zonal" and next-generation E/E architectures. These include high-speed data, modular-hybrid, and miniaturized connector systems that are automation-ready and designed and manufactured according to high sustainability specifications. We hope this publication provides you with inspiration as you explore solutions for your next- generation E/E architecture connectivity. By Rüdiger Ostermann, CTO, TE Connectivity Automotive 5 Zonal Architecture: Delivering New Standards of Connectivity for Automotive and Beyond