New TI products reduce energy use, increase auto safety
TI is a recognized leader in energy conservation and environmental stewardship in its worldwide operations, but the company also builds products that enhance power efficiency and increase safety.
For example, TI digital signal controllers are a key
component behind two significant advances in automotive
safety and efficiency. First, the controllers provide
critical processing in new tire-pressure monitoring
systems, reducing braking distances and the risk of
accidents caused by flawed or underinflated tires. Fuel
efficiency is enhanced by as much as 10 percent when
tires are properly inflated.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation,
as many as 27 percent of passenger cars and 33 percent
of light trucks operate with underinflated tires, resulting
in an estimated 23,000 crashes and 535 fatalities each
year. As part of the Transportation, Recall Enhancement,
Accountability and Documentation Act enacted in November
2000 – which affects all light motor vehicles
registered after September 1, 2007 – tire-pressure
monitoring systems (TPMS) must alert drivers of significant
tire underinflation.
Additionally, TI digital controllers are helping to reduce engine drag and increase efficiency through the elimination of the hydraulic pump in power steering systems.
By 2010, half of all the cars sold in Europe should be equipped with electronic power steering (EPS) systems that reduce both installation and production time for manufacturers and fuel and maintenance costs for consumers. A vital part of the EPS control system is a torque sensor that measures the driver steering input. These TI-enabled sensors provide direct torque measurement without the need to make expensive modifications to the steering column.
Switching from a hydraulic steering system to an electromechanical model eliminates constant drag on the engine, while the reduced weight contributes to overall fuel economy; estimates indicate that the presence of an EPS leads to a fuel economy improvement of approximately 3-4 percent. |
