Tough Hella Non-Contact Sensors Move Under the Hood

LIPPSTADT, Germany, Jan. 23, 2004 -- Inductive position sensors developed by electronics specialists at Hella KG Hueck & Co. are being used for the first time for throttle-valve control in the new Volkswagen Golf V.

Hella is the first supplier to produce a non-contact position sensor solution for throttle valves in a production vehicle. The fifth-generation Golf, now on sale in Europe, also features the first production application of non-contact linear sensor technology in an upright accelerator pedal.

"Hella's robust inductive non-contact sensors provide a highly accurate measurement of path and angle in a wide variety of applications ranging from steering angle, automatic headlamp leveling and fuel delivery," noted Joe Borruso, president of Hella North America. "This development is a critical component in the advancement of automotive by-wire technology."

Hella has developed proprietary inductive-measurement technology for use in sensors that is especially suited for applications that must withstand high mechanical loads or resist extreme temperatures found in vehicle engine compartments.

Hella's path-and-angle sensor with stator and rotor is made up of standard polycarbonates and electronics. Its rugged design also makes it resistant to magnetic or electrical interference. Its versatility and expanded use make it an affordable solution for a wide variety of future applications.

Since 1999, Hella has used this type of sensor in a turbocharger actuator as well as in vehicle level sensors in automatic headlamp leveling systems. Since 2001, inductive sensors have been at the heart of full-production steering-angle sensors and the world's first electronic accelerator pedal sensors.

Hella engineers also are using proprietary inductive-measurement technology in emerging bend-lighting systems, which are becoming more widespread and are in full production at Hella. An integrated sensor in Hella's bend-lighting system records the position of the swiveling projection module, allowing the system to "aim" a vehicle's headlamps to improve driver visibility. Hella development engineers also are working on advanced steering sensors as well as gear sensors for advanced electronic automotive transmissions.

Lighting, electronics, complete vehicle modules, air conditioning systems, vehicle wiring systems and signal processing for the automobile industry, as well as parts suppliers to the aftermarket, are the core competence fields of automotive supplier Hella KG Hueck & Co. Sales for the Hella Group are approximately $3.8 billion, placing Hella among the top 100 German industrial companies.

With its corporate headquarters in Lippstadt, Germany, the company employs more than 22,800 people at 61 manufacturing facilities, production subsidiaries and joint-venture companies in 18 countries. Over 1,800 engineers and technicians work in research and development. All of the world's leading automobile and systems manufacturers are Hella customers as well as the automotive components aftermarket.

Additional information is available on the Internet at www.hella.com .