Delphi Connection Systems Bring Connectivity to Consumer Products and Vehicles

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7 -- Delphi Connection Systems continues to keep lifestyles connected as the worlds of automotive and consumer products continue to merge, and will demonstrate its expertise in integrating fiber optics into automotive electronic devices at the International Consumer Electronics Show here, Jan. 8-11. Showcasing its IDB 1394 plastic optic fiber connection system as well as other products used in handheld devices, Delphi Connection Systems, a business segment of Delphi Automotive Systems , will participate at the IDB Forum(TM) (Intelligent Transportation System Data Bus) booth, focusing on automotive grade version of IEEE-1394. 1394 is also known as Apple's Firewire(R) and Sony's i.LINK,(R) and is a high-speed digital technology that helps enable a wide range of consumer electronics and computer products to easily interface with one another. Delphi, the leading global supplier of automotive connection systems, is a member of the IDB Forum, an independent, not-for-profit trade association. The IDB Forum actively promotes the global integration of intelligent transportation system data bus networking into vehicles, consumer and automotive electronics. 1394 has been available in the marketplace for several years, with products such as desktop computers, portable computers, audio equipment, and digital video cameras. Delphi has been participating in the development of 1394 connection system standards for vehicles with the Joint Automotive Working Group (AuWG), a partnership between the IDB Forum and the 1394 Trade Association. "The automobile has very stringent electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements, because electronic devices are packaged together tighter than consumer products in a typical home," said Larry Matola, Delphi senior project engineer. "The automotive industry favors the use of fiber optics for high speed data communications because there are minimal EMC issues." Delphi's plastic optic fiber connection system, available in 2002, is designed for the automotive environment and is compatible with IDB 1394 standards. This connection enhances the consumer's ability to blend the automobile with consumer products. When new vehicles are equipped with IDB- 1394, their state-of-the-art audio and video capabilities can be used with other 1394 enabled products -- such as laptop computers, video displays, MP3, DVD and CD players, Playstation II(TM) or other devices. Delphi's Specialty Electronics, also featured at the show, provides a wide range of electronic connector products and customized interconnect solutions for the telecommunications, computer, industrial electronics, medical and automotive markets. This is in addition to Delphi's high-speed interconnect products that are designed for consumer handheld electronics products such as cellular phones, Palm/PDAs, MP3 players, pagers, laptop computers and camcorders. With Delphi's complete systems capability, customers have the benefit of leading vehicle electrical/electronic (E/E) architecture and electronic integration capabilities, as well as Delphi's expertise in fiber optic assembly and processing. Add to this the ability to combine the IDB 1394 plastic optic connection system with Delphi's full range of automotive grade connection systems, and customers have a single stop for all their connection and automotive electrical system needs. "We're not just bringing connectivity to the vehicle," said Matola. "With Delphi's components for mobile electronics and our flex products, we're bringing connectivity to your lifestyle." To learn more about Delphi Connection Systems, log on http://www.delphiconnect.com . For more information about Delphi Automotive Systems, visit Delphi's Virtual Press Room at http://www.delphiauto.com/vpr .