Gentex: Rear camera for safer backing
Gentex has created a video display that appears through the mirror glass for rear-vision camera pictures from blind-spot areas. The display appears only when the driver shifts into reverse. A special mirror coating was developed to enable the technology. When the display is on, high-brightness light-emitting diodes illuminate through the coating. When the display is off, the mirror surface reflects normally. First used in 2007 on the Mazda CX-9 crossover.
Timken: Chip-based sensor
From antilock brakes to electric power-assisted steering, more systems on autos require sensors to measure how fast a shaft may be spinning or what position it may be in. Timken has created a rugged, high-resolution magnetic-field speed and position sensor system on a computer chip. The sensor’s small size and durability mean it can fit close to bearings and in harsh environments. First used in 2007 by Korean car makers.
Siemens: PLM Software
Siemens has created a way to share computer-aided design 3-D visual data between suppliers and automakers that are not tied to any specific CAD system or software. The large number of such systems and software has forced suppliers to maintain as many as 50 CAD systems and to support those with customer-specific design teams. Now suppliers can use a CAD system of their choosing and share data with automakers. First used in 2007 by Ford.
