Delphi's Battery Disconnect Safety Device is Becoming Standard Equipment for Technology Leaders

Technology enhances safety, prevents damage to automobiles and could do the same for industrial machinery

WUPPERTAL, Germany, Nov. 10 -- Delphi Corporation's Battery Disconnect Safety Device (BDSD) is becoming standard equipment on vehicles produced by many German automakers known for their leadership in technology. This technology could also be used in hybrids, trains, boats and commercial vehicles.

Featuring the pyrotechnic safety switch technology on display at the 2006 Electronica show in Munich Nov. 14-17, BDSD could also be applied to industrial machines and high-voltage switches to protect both equipment operators and the machinery, and to high-voltage harnesses used in hybrid vehicles.

Delphi's BDSD pyrotechnically disconnects high currents or voltages in less than one millisecond after an electric signal is triggered.

In automobiles, an electric signal from the airbag control unit triggers activation, severing the current that flows through the cable connecting the battery with the starter and alternator. High currents that flow through this cable while starting the vehicle prohibit the use of fuses. If this cable, the largest electrical cable in an automobile, is not protected, current that continues to flow through it following a vehicle crash poses the threat of high-temperature short circuits and arcing, which could lead to a fire.

In non-automotive applications, electric devices exclusive of airbag sensors trigger activation of the BDSD, severing high-voltage electrical connections and protecting against damage to equipment and injuries to workers caused by unchecked electrical currents and power surges.

While severing power between the battery and the starter and alternator in passenger vehicles following collisions is not new, Delphi's BDSD is far more reliable than the systems involving electro mechanic relays and standard fuses that they replace. In many instances, Delphi's BDSD is also less expensive, costing up to 20 percent less than competitors' products, including mosfets, relays and battery safety clamps.

Delphi's BDSD is also available with a safe engine restart option, an industry first that allows drivers to restart their vehicles following a collision if there are no electrical hazards. This feature enhances safety by enabling drivers to move their vehicles off the road, preventing the occurrence of a possible second collision.

The safe engine restart option incorporates a standard fuse that is mounted parallel to the BDSD. After the BDSD is triggered, severing the current, this fuse allows for a warm-engine restart providing the event that triggered the BDSD did not cause a short circuit. If the crash did result in a short circuit, this fuse blows immediately, preventing an unsafe restart.

While Delphi's BDSD disconnects power from the vehicle battery to unfused cables, it does not sever power to safety functions such as door locks, hazard lights, interior lighting and automatic emergency call systems.

Delphi's first BDSD was suitable for placement in low-temperature environments. The current version incorporates a sealed connector system and a high-temperature pyrotechnic load, which allows it to be mounted directly under the hood near the battery, in most cases using only two bolts. This makes for quick and easy replacement of a deployed BDSD.

Delphi's BDSD is comprised of a small number of parts, all enclosed in a high-strength fiber-reinforced plastic. Because all moving parts are enclosed in the plastic housing, and because electrostatic discharge protection is built in, it is unlikely that an installer could trigger deployment of the pyrotechnic device. Even if activation occurs during installation, it would not cause injury or damage.

Delphi's BDSD meets all common specifications in the automotive industry, is free of heavy metals and is available for immediate production.

Delphi's next generation BDSD will likely be even smaller than the current version and is expected to be even more cost-effective.

For more information about Delphi Corp. (Pink Sheets: DPHIQ), visit http://www.delphi.com/