Mitsubishi Electric Corp. (TYO:6503) announced on Oct. 5 that it has developed an in-vehicle driver monitoring system with a wide-angle camera capable of simultaneously detecting the driver and front passenger. This monitoring promises to be useful in enhancing driving comfort and safety, and Mitsubishi Electric is targeting a commercial launch for the system in 2018...
new product
Nidec Integrates Motor and ECU in New EPS System
Nidec Corp. (TYO:6594) recently announced that it has developed an electric power steering (EPS) powerpack system that integrates a motor and electronic control unit (ECU). The product combines Nidec’s motor technology with Kawasaki-based Nidec Elesys Corp.’s ECU technology. Production is already underway. The EPS powerpack system has been reduced in size and weight through the...
Littelfuse Japan Announces Three New Series of Resettable PPTC Devices
Japanese arm of U.S.-based Littelfuse Inc., Littelfuse Japan GK, has announced three new series of PolySwitch, a Polymeric Positive Temperature Coefficient (PPTC) device for automobiles that is surface mount resettable. Applications for the products are expected in in-vehicle infotainment, security and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Resettable PPTCs are designed to protect automotive circuits from...
U-Shin Electrifies Rear Door Opening and Closing in SUVs
U-Shin Ltd. (TYO:6985) has developed a system to electronically open the rear door of SUVs and other large vehicles. Instead of using a mounted damper, with which the rear door opens and closes manually, the structure developed by U-Shin incorporates a rod-like electrically powered unit that expands and contracts to open and close the rear...
Honda Announces Launch of New Accord for North America
Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (TYO:7267) announced on July 17 that it will launch the new Accord in North America this autumn. The new model marks the 10th generation of the Accord and has been completely redesigned to offer new features. With a sporty design that has an increased width to keep total height low, the...
Sumitomo Riko to Launch New Lightweight Rubber Hose
Sumitomo Riko Co. Ltd. (TYO:5191) has completed development of a lightweight rubber hose weighing 20 percent less than conventional models. While the hose uses conventional ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) as a base, Sumitomo Riko has added a newly developed reinforcing material to the hose and revised its synthetic-rubber formulation, enabling a substantial reduction in...
ZF Develops Seat-Integrated Center Airbag System
Germany-based ZF Friedrichshafen AG, commonly referred to as ZF, announced that it has developed a seat-integrated center airbag system, which deploys from the center section of the car’s interior to prevent lateral head movement and occupant interaction when far side collisions occur. The system is the first safety related technology ZF has developed since entering...
NTN Develops New Pulley Bearing Capable of Handling 20,000 RPM
NTN Corp. (TYO:6472) announced that it has developed a pulley bearing capable of handling up to 20,000 rotations per minute (RPM), which is a 30-percent increase in the number of rotations compared to conventional pulley bearings. The design of the retainer and seal for the newly developed pulley bearing have been modified to handle rotational...
Mabuchi Develops Lightweight High-Torque Door Closer Motor
Mabuchi Motor Co. Ltd. (TYO:6592) announced on May 18 its development of the RS-446VA, a compact and lightweight automotive door closer motor. Achieving high torque and low vibration, the new motor offers increased flexibility in design for door closers while also contributing to improved quietness within the vehicle cabin. The RS-446VA is also expected to...
