ALPS Commences Mass Production of Batteryless Tire Pressure Monitoring System

TOKYO--Oct. 30, 2003--ALPS Electric (incorporated in Japan/President: Masataka Kataoka) and IQ-mobil GmbH (incorporated in Germany/President: Anton Mangold) in May 20, 200303 entered into an exclusive worldwide licensing contract involving technology and patents owned by IQ-mobil. Under the terms of this contract, ALPS will undertake to develop processes for mass producing a batteryless tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) developed by IQ-mobil, then to mass produce and market this system.

ALPS will forge ahead with development aimed at the mass production of batteryless TPMS systems, and it is expected that the product will be ready for market and shipment of samples will commence by June 2004. IQ-mobil has been engaged in research and development of the batteryless mechanism since 1996, gaining knowledge and experience through working with Formula 1 and rally cars, and taking out a number of basic patents. This contract gives ALPS Electric access to that technology and those patents. As an electronic component manufacturer and worldwide supplier of the automotive industry, ALPS will bring its long years of experience in radio technology and mass production to bear in launching this product into series mass production.

Conventional TPMS systems were composed of air-pressure sensors and temperature sensors inside each tire, data transmitters attached to each wheel, and a central receiver mounted on the vehicle body. The transmitters were battery powered. Batteries, of course, have a limited life, and severe drops in temperature reduce battery capacity, making reliability a problem. In addition, the chemical substances used in batteries raise environmental issues. The weight of the battery itself rendered it difficult to make the transmitter lighter, and special wheels had to be used. In addition, centrifugal force causes distortion of a tire's shape when driving at high speeds, which can also cause a loss of air pressure.

The batteryless TPMS replaces the central receiver with a transceiver. The central unit thus transmits signals as well as receives, and a transponder (which replaces the transmitter) uses the energy of the signals received from the central transceiver to send a return signal to the central transceiver. This allows transmission of the data from the tire-pressure monitors inside the tires without the need for batteries, eliminating the lifespan, temperature, environmental, and weight issues mentioned above. The introduction of the batteryless TPMS is expected to spur greater utilization of these systems. As ALPS moves forward with the development of the batteryless TPMS, the Company will also be working with the world's leading tire and valve manufacturers to design a system that automobile manufacturers can easily incorporate into new cars.

Features

-- Development of the world's first unlimited lifespan, 
   environmentally friendly TPMS

    1. Use of transponder eliminates need for batteries and therefore
       lifespan limitations.
    2. Simple design results in air-pressure monitor and transponder
       weight of 6 grams (excluding the valve), a significant 
       reduction from previous systems.
    3. Transponder operating temperature range of -40 degrees C to
       +150 degrees C.
    4. Because the system uses the 2.45GHz Industrial, Scientific and
       Medical (ISM) radio band, it can be used anywhere in the world.
    5. Frequency hopping prevents interference and realizes high
       reliability.
    6. The maximum operating speed is 330Km/h.

(IQ-mobil GmbH)

Corporate name: IQ-mobil GmbH

Headquarters: Hans-Urmiller-Ring 46c, 82515 Wolfratshausen, Federal Republic of Germany

Established: 1997

President: Anton Mangold

Scope of business: Specializes in radio frequency technology

Web page: www.iqmobil.com

*This press release is located at http://www.alps.co.jp/e/press/new2003/1030_e.htm.