TRW's Dedicated Safety Bus is a Production First
16 October 2000
TRW's Dedicated Safety Bus is a Production First
Business Editors & Automotive WritersDETROIT--Oct. 16, 2000--TRW will bring a new level of innovation and flexibility to vehicle safety systems next spring when its Distributed Systems Interface (DSI) architecture enters production on model year 2002 vehicles of a major automaker.
This is the first use of the new DSI standard and the first application of a dedicated safety bus in the market.
DSI is a two-wire serial bus that links safety-critical sensors and components on a dedicated high-speed communications circuit. DSI enables the use of the latest generation of fast and "intelligent" digital sensors and actuators for safety systems, which include dual-stage front air bags, weight sensors, electronic seatbelt pretensioners and side-impact protection systems.
The bus provides electrical power for the components linked by the system. The two-wire design greatly reduces the amount of wiring required by older designs, which means less weight as well as easier assembly and in-use maintenance.
The Distributed Systems Interface also speeds up vehicle development. With DSI, automakers can now bring new safety components to market far more quickly and easily than before. That's because DSI's open architecture has "plug-and-play" flexibility. Components designed to standard can be added in a modular fashion without redesigning or rewiring the entire system. In addition to reducing manufacturing and design complexity, this feature reduces the number of components or discrete part numbers that automakers and suppliers must track, thus cutting costs.
DSI was jointly developed by TRW and Motorola as an open architecture advanced network interface standard for the automotive industry. Other companies may design systems and components to the DSI standard without paying royalty or licensing fees.
"The DSI architecture represents several major advances in how complex safety systems -- such as the latest generation of occupant restraints -- are incorporated into vehicles," said Heinz Pfannschmidt, executive vice president and general manager, TRW Automotive Electronics.
"By using the DSI architecture, TRW customers gain an unprecedented advantage in configuring their systems," he said. "New sensors and actuators can be added in mid-development -- a feature that can dramatically reduce the time-to-market for new products. DSI is a perfect example of what TRW can offer the automotive industry -- better performance, lower cost, less manufacturing and design complexity, and lighter weight."
TRW Automotive Electronics, a unit of TRW Inc., is a leading producer of safety and security systems, body control systems, chassis and powertrain controls, and engineered fasteners for the global automotive industry.
TRW Inc. is among the world's largest original-equipment manufacturer suppliers. In addition to automotive electronics, the company is a leading producer of chassis systems and occupant safety systems. In 1999 TRW's automotive businesses recorded sales of more than $11 billion, approximately two-thirds of the company's total $17 billion in sales. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, TRW also provides advanced technology products and services for the aerospace and information technology markets worldwide. TRW news releases are available on the company's website (www.trw.com).
Note: A digital graphic for this release is available on TRW's website (www.trw.com/news/presskits/).