Siemens Automotive's Anti-pinch Technology - It's Not Just for Windows Anymore ...

    DETROIT, March 5 Siemens Automotive has expanded the
application of its patented anti-pinch electric motor technology to include
all potentially automated vehicle closures.
    Referred to by the company as Closing Force Limitation (CFL) technology,
the Siemens anti-pinch system is one of the first to be independently
certified to meet the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration's
(NHTSA) standard for window closure safety, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 118, Section 5.
    "Our CFL anti-pinch technology first entered the North American market on
the 2000 1/2 Ford Explorer Sportrac's retracting rear window," said Siemens
Automotive Director of Body Electronics Pat Banas.  "It powers the window into
three fixed one-touch up and down positions -- open, closed and vent."
    "Our Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) customers have gained some
real-world experience with CFL technology and are beginning to see the
possibilities for improved vehicle safety and convenience beyond one-touch up
windows," said Banas.
    One expanded application for CFL is on the power sliding doors of
minivans.  The Siemens Automotive anti-pinch technology will be featured on
the power sliding door of a 2004 North American minivan application and be
able to automatically reverse upon detection of obstructions in the door path.
    "From minivan sliding doors to rear lift gates and retractable running
boards on sport utility vehicles (SUV) and trucks, Siemens CFL allows all
power-assisted vehicle closures to operate in relative pinch-free safety,"
said Banas.  "Our anti-pinch technology caters to the need for a higher level
of safety compliance and the integration of more safety precautions as vehicle
entry and exit becomes more passive.  CFL brings our customers closer to
offering a fully remote global vehicle opening and closing system."
    The Siemens CFL anti-pinch technology utilizes a closed loop, position and
speed-based system to retract at a low trapping force.  It consists of two
major elements -- its motor and electronics.
    However, it is CFL's self-learning feature of its electronics that makes
it truly unique and state of the art in the industry.
    The Electronic Control Unit (ECU) is programmed with fuzzy logic, allowing
it to sense and memorize constantly changing variables allowing it to adapt to
changes in temperature, closing resistance and car battery voltage.  These
factors are continually processed to determine the level of resistance
required to reverse the direction of the automated closure.
    Siemens Automotive is a tier-one supplier of automotive and electrical-
electronic systems and components with applications covering gasoline and
diesel powertrain systems, safety and chassis systems, body electronics,
electric motor drives and driver information systems.  Worldwide sales in
fiscal year 1999/2000 totaled $3.7 billion.  Siemens Automotive is a wholly
owned company of Siemens AG.
    Siemens AG, headquartered in Berlin and Munich, is a leading global
electronics and engineering company, employing over 447,000 people in 193
countries, with worldwide sales in excess of $74 billion in fiscal 2000
(10/1/99 - 9/30/00).
    The United States is Siemens' largest market, where it employs over 73,000
and recorded sales of more than $17 billion in fiscal 2000.  Siemens leads the
information and communications, medical, power, automation and control,
transportation and lighting sectors with unparalleled technological heritage
for its customers around the world.