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TRW AUTOMOTIVE IS CREATING MULTI-SENSOR PACKAGES THAT ENHANCE DRIVER COMFORT AND VISIBILITY.

Article Excerpt
Drivers increasingly encounter multiple distractions, due to higher traffic levels and to the greater amount of information entering the vehicle's environment. The problem of driver distraction can be significantly addressed and mitigated by automating systems that previously required the driver's attention, thereby freeing the driver to more fully focus on driving, note Brian Luebke and Rich Achtenburg in their article, Sensing Technology Advances (TRW Advances, First Quarter 2004, Issue 23).

An example of an automated system that has helped reduce distractions is the rain sensor-based system, which provides, for example, automated windshield wiper activation and adjustment. Other sensor-based systems that increase convenience and reduce the need of the driver to monitor and manage multiple systems in the vehicle include automatic headlamp control (via light sensors) and automatic cabin comfort control (via a dual sunload sensor or an infrared thermal sensor (thermopile). The integration of these systems further enhances the driver's convenience and freedom from distractions.

An advancement in the automation of systems for automatically controlling wipers, headlight activation, and cabin comfort is the multi-sensor system, which integrates such functions into a single, less cumbersome, and more cost-effective package.

TRW Automotive (Livonia, MI, 734-266-2600)(www.trwauto.com) released...

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