TRW Multi-Graphic Projection Display Transforms Traditional Control Systems

Published on Thursday, 05 January 2012 14:35 Written by TradersHuddle Staff

LIVONIA, Mich., Jan. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (NYSE: TRW), through its Body Control Systems business, is transforming traditional technologies such as keypad entry systems to offer control of a variety of options at the touch of a fingertip. 

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120105/DE30719 )

"Just as today's remarkable smart phones offer consumers the opportunity to quickly switch from one type of control function to another, TRW is using multi-graphic rear projection display and capacitive touch sensing to allow vehicle owners to control a variety of vehicle functions quickly and easily," said Vic Peltola, director of sales for TRW North America Body Control Systems.

TRW's patented multi-graphic rear projection display is a low cost solution that allows different symbols to appear on a surface in the same physical space at different times. The display does not require an expensive graphics processor. It can easily be configured for non-rectangular and/or curved surface applications.

A primary example is keypad entry systems that allow a vehicle owner access to a vehicle through a security code even if they do not have their car keys. This previously one-dimensional keypad only featured numbers for punching in the code – but with multi-graphic display options the keypad can instantly offer the choice to control other functions such as trunk access, interior lights, power windows and more.

The symbols for these various functions automatically appear when a user touches the control panel surface and disappear after a few moments of inactivity. The panel surface is extremely sleek and is only a few millimeters thick, allowing for easy packaging. Its temperature independent response makes it well suited for automotive applications and the mutual capacitance touch sensing is capable of accurately detecting touch in high-humidity environments such as rain or snow.

TRW anticipates that the new multi-graphic display technology will be ready for production in 2012.

About TRW

With 2010 sales of $14.4 billion, TRW Automotive ranks among the world's leading automotive suppliers. Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, USA, the Company, through its subsidiaries, operates in 26 countries and employs over 60,000 people worldwide.  TRW Automotive products include integrated vehicle control and driver assist systems, braking systems, steering systems, suspension systems, occupant safety systems (seat belts and airbags), electronics, engine components, fastening systems and aftermarket replacement parts and services.  All references to "TRW Automotive", "TRW" or the "Company" in this press release refer to TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. and its subsidiaries, unless otherwise indicated.  TRW Automotive news is available on the internet at www.trw.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains statements that are not statements of historical fact, but instead are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.  All forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements, including those set forth in our Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 (our "Form 10-K"), and our reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended April 1, July 1 and September 30, 2011, such as: any developments related to antitrust investigations adversely affecting our results, cash flows, financial condition or reputation; tighter financial markets adversely impacting the availability and cost of credit negatively affecting our business; a material contraction in automotive sales and production adversely affecting our results or the viability of our supply base; commodity inflationary pressures adversely affecting our profitability or supply base; strengthening of the U.S. dollar and other foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations impacting our results; pricing pressures from our customers adversely affecting our profitability; any shortage of supplies causing a production disruption; increasing costs negatively impacting our profitability; the loss of any of our largest customers materially adversely affecting us; costs of product liability, warranty and recall claims and efforts by customers to adversely alter contract terms and conditions concerning warranty and recall participation; costs or liabilities relating to environmental, health and safety regulations adversely affecting our results; risks associated with non-U.S. operations, including economic and political uncertainty in some regions, adversely affecting our business, results or financial condition; any inability to protect our intellectual property rights adversely affecting our business or our competitive position; any increase in the expense of our pension and other postretirement benefits or the funding requirements of our pension plans reducing our profitability; work stoppages or other labor issues at our facilities or at the facilities of our customers or suppliers adversely affecting our operations; volatility in our annual effective tax rate resulting from a change in our valuation allowances position or other factors;   and other risks and uncertainties set forth in our Form 10-K and in our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any update or revision to any of the forward-looking statements.

SOURCE TRW Automotive Holdings Corp.