DENSO Develops New Power Supply Management ECU for Lexus LS460

TOKYO, Sept. 25 -- DENSO Corporation has developed, together with Toyota Motor Corporation, a new power supply management electric control unit (ECU) for the Lexus LS460. The Lexus LS460 was launched in Japan this month.

"In recent years, vehicles have required more electric power due to various safety and information systems," said Mineo Hanai, senior managing director, responsible for Electric Systems Business Group. "In response to the growing need for more electric power, we developed the new power supply management ECU."

The ECU calculates the battery charge rate and internal resistance using battery voltage and current. When the battery charge rate is low, the ECU increases the alternator's adjustment voltage for generating electricity or raises the engine revolutions during idling to stimulate battery charging.

Based on the internal resistance of the battery and voltage information, the ECU also determines which system the electric power should be preferentially supplied to when the battery charge rate is low or when the alternator malfunctions. In these situations, the ECU will reduce electric power delivered to such components as the seat heater, for example, in order to ensure enough power for safety systems such as the pre-crash safety system.

DENSO Corporation, headquartered in Kariya, Aichi prefecture, Japan, is a leading global supplier of advanced technology, systems and components. Worldwide, the company employs approximately 106,000 people in 32 countries and regions, including Japan. Consolidated global sales for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006 totaled US$27.3 billion. DENSO common stock is traded on the Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya stock exchanges in Japan. For more information, go to http://www.globaldenso.com/ or visit our media website at http://www.densomediacenter.com/ .