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TRW's Universal Home Access System with Two-way Communication

21 October 1998

TRW's Universal Home Access System with Two-way Communication Offers Consumers Convenience and Peace of Mind

    DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 21 -- Imagine having the ability to
detect if your home or vehicle has been broken into ... or to check if you
closed your garage door or turned off your house lights.  With the development
of TRW's Universal Home Access System, this security and convenience
technology could soon be at your fingertips.
    TRW's two-way communication technology -- as well as many of its other
advanced systems -- are being demonstrated at the Convergence '98
International Congress on Transportation Electronics at the Hyatt Regency here
this week.
    "The two-way communication capability of TRW's Universal Home Access
System enables automakers to offer consumers future vehicles with a broad
range of remote-control safety and convenience functions," said Ronald
Muckley, vice president, product engineering, North America, for TRW
Automotive Electronics Group.  "Using a single remote keyless entry (RKE) fob,
consumers will be able to confirm the status of their vehicle doors, home
lighting, home-entry door and garage door.  They also will be able to locate
their vehicle in a parking lot, start the engine, open and close windows, and
adjust seats, mirrors and climate controls."
    According to Muckley, the two-way capability of the Universal Home Access
System provides consumers functionality and peace of mind -- by answering
those nagging security concerns people have when they leave their home or
vehicle unattended.  When combined with TRW intrusion sensing, the system can
help protect the valuables left in a vehicle, such as a laptop computer, cell
phone or CD player, by sending a message through the key fob to the driver.
In addition, the system can protect the driver by alerting him or her of a
break-in from a safe distance away -- 100 yards or more.
    The RKE fob can be programmed in three simple steps.  Ergonomically
designed, it features separate icon buttons for "auto" and "home" functions
and can accommodate up to eight programmable transmitters.  When the driver
queries the unit, a liquid crystal display (LCD) window indicates the latest
status of each button (i.e., garage door open, entry door locked, lights off).
In addition, the fob can be programmed to interact with home security systems
and can be configured to meet customer appearance preferences.
    For maximum security, TRW's Universal Home Access System features rolling
code encryption, so a different code is sent each time the key fob is pressed.
With more than 4.5 billion different user combinations, the system makes code-
grabbing by thieves virtually impossible and current garage door openers more
secure.
    According to Muckley, TRW-manufactured garage and home-entry door RKE
units are already available through home and hardware retail outlets.  The
system is distributed by Kwikset, a Black and Decker company.
    By model year 2001, TRW will offer to vehicle manufacturers a single key
fob that will operate both automotive and home features.  The two-way
communication feature could be available on new vehicles in model year 2002.
    The leading manufacturer of original equipment RKE systems using radio-
frequency technology, TRW Automotive Electronics Group is a major producer of
electronic safety, security and convenience systems for the global automotive
market.  In addition to RKE systems, its major product lines include air bag
crash sensors, smart restraint electronics, switch and control systems,
advanced theft-deterrent and security systems, driver information systems,
body controllers, tire monitoring systems and electrically assisted steering
control units, as well as engineered fastening systems.
    TRW Inc. is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, and has sales of
nearly $12 billion.  The company is one of the largest independent automotive
components suppliers in the world with $7 billion in worldwide automotive
sales.  The company also provides advanced technology products and services
for the space, defense and information technology markets worldwide.