Johnson Controls and Yazaki's First Technological Development
7 March 2000
Johnson Controls Announces First Technological Development Resulting from its Strategic Relationship with Yazaki North America
Leading automotive suppliers team up
to develop 42-volt technology
PLYMOUTH, Mich., March 6 As part of its commitment
announced at this year's North American International Auto Show to co-develop
advanced electronics for integration into vehicle interiors, Johnson Controls,
Inc. and Yazaki North America, Inc. today announced the creation
of a total systems approach to powering and enabling a 42-volt vehicle
architecture -- that will ultimately satisfy increasing vehicle power needs.
"Johnson Controls has successfully provided automotive interior
electronics integration and innovation for many years," said Jim Geschke, vice
president of electronics integration for Johnson Controls. "With developments
such as the 42-volt architecture, we are leveraging our experience in design,
development and integration of interior electronics, and expanding upon that
through our co-development with such industry leaders as Yazaki."
According to Geschke, Johnson Controls' understanding of how consumers
interact with vehicle interiors, coupled with the electronics expertise of its
strategic relationships, adds value that is not obtainable through the
traditional buyer/seller model. As a result, Johnson Controls is able to
leverage the expertise that each strategic relationship brings to the
portfolio, so that each company is no longer constrained by its individual
resources.
"This relationship -- and the resulting products and systems -- will have
a far reaching impact on the further integration of high-end electronic and
data applications in tomorrow's vehicles," said Nigel Thompson, executive vice
president of Yazaki North America. "This will be the foundation upon which we
can build not only better vehicles, but also smarter vehicles."
The 42-volt vehicle architecture is focused on how to provide power to
such low-voltage loads as lights, while at the same time providing for the
energy needs of such heavy-duty applications as electric breaking systems,
engine management systems and electrically heated catalytic converters.
Supplying its expertise in load management, Yazaki is utilizing its new
Smart Load Control Center (SmartLCC(TM)) component -- which is key to a more
efficiently distributed network that enables 42-volt power to be distributed
throughout the vehicle. Current industry thinking regarding 42-volt
architectures includes both 42-volt and 14-volt circuits and a substantial
DC/DC converter.
By driving the vehicle lighting system with the SmartLCC component, the
14-volt battery and the DC/DC converter power can be reduced by 500 watts to
achieve a cost reduction of up to 40 percent.
Johnson Controls' revolutionary 42-volt Inspira(TM) battery system is the
energy storage foundation of the system and is housed in a 42-volt Advanced
Power Systems (APS) unit. The APS unit also contains a small DC/DC converter,
a power disconnect relay and a "jump-aid" connection terminal and Johnson
Controls' smart charge management system iQ(TM) control -- which dramatically
increases the life of the batteries.
All of these components are incorporated into an integrated electrical
connection assembly made by Yazaki. This efficient assembly contains such
power components as the primary fuse circuit, relays, a charging DC/DC system
and connection technologies. The entire system is thermally protected in a
streamlined enclosure.
As a global leader in the development and manufacturing of vehicle power
and data solutions, Yazaki Corp. is continually researching and developing
advanced electronic technologies for vehicles. Yazaki produces many components
associated with electrical distribution systems, including instrumentation,
junction blocks, connector systems, electronics and advanced technology.
Yazaki employs more than 100,000 people in 30 countries, 1,400 of whom are
based in the company's new North American corporate headquarters and research
center in Canton, Mich.
The Plymouth, Michigan (U.S.A.)-based automotive business of Johnson
Controls -- which employs more than 65,000 people at 275 facilities worldwide
-- achieved US$12.1 billion in sales for the 1999 fiscal year. In model-year
2000, it will supply interior products for more than 23 million vehicles.
Johnson Controls, Inc. is a global market leader in automotive systems and
facility management and control. In the automotive market, it is a major
supplier of seating and interior systems, and batteries. For non-residential
facilities, Johnson Controls provides building control systems and services,
energy management and integrated facility management. Johnson Controls,
founded in 1885, has headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, (U.S.A.). Its sales
for 1999 totaled US$16.1 billion.
NOTE TO EDITORS: For access to other Johnson Controls news releases and
additional company information, visit the company's site on the World Wide Web
at http://www.johnsoncontrols.com
CONTACT: David Roznowski of Johnson Controls, Inc., 734-254-5632.
Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/473547.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 473547.