Precision instruments are equipment and devices used to generate and measure precision quantities, including observation, monitoring, measurement, verification, recording, transmission, transformation, display, analysis, processing and control of precision quantities. Precision instruments are an important branch of instrumentation.

Precision instrumentation usually includes the following research directions:

1. Precision machinery: design and manufacturing process of precision machine tools, watches, mechanical instruments, micro-machines and micro-motion devices;

2. Measurement technology: detection and measurement of various physical quantities and mechanical quantities; design and manufacturing process of various detection technologies and instruments;

3, electronic technology: a variety of precision amplifiers, precision measurement circuits;

4. Computer and automation technology: design and manufacturing process of various automated instrumentation; sensors and automatic control technology in automation equipment;

5, optical technology: a variety of optical instruments, optoelectronic technology, laser technology and so on.

Precision instruments come in a wide variety of structures and structures. For precision instruments used for measurement, the structure can be divided into eight functional components such as reference, sensing conversion, conversion amplification transmission, aiming/reading, data processing, display recording, drive control, and mechanical structure. However, it does not mean that a precision instrument must include the above eight functional components, but should be selected according to the requirements of the instrument function.