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ArvinMeritor plans Light Vehicle Systems spin-off
ArvinMeritor plans to spin off its Light Vehicle Systems (LVS) business, forming a new company to be named Arvin Innovation, Inc. Its Commercial Vehicle Systems (CVS) business will remain. ...
Microsoft and Hyundai-Kia partner for infotainment
Microsoft and Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group have entered into a long-term agreement to co-develop infotainment systems based on the Microsoft Auto software platform...
Nissan concept car features x-by-wire
Nissan said its Murano-based EA2 concept car features x-by-wire technology for steering, braking and transmission control....
PRBA proposes Li-ion testing changes
The Portable Rechargeable Battery Association wants the United Nations to eliminate disparities between testing "small" and large format batteries and include new definitions that clarify when battery components -- cells, batteries, battery modules, and battery assembles -- are subject to UN testing requirements....
ARM adds eXDI support to RealView ICE
ARM said it has developed Extended Debugging Interface (eXDI) drivers for its RealView ICE tool to enable enhanced hardware-assisted debug for Microsoft’s Visual Studio software development tool. ...
Suzuki selects Garmin navigation for sub-$16k SX4
Suzuki will include GPS navigation from Garmin International Inc. as standard equipment in the 2009 Suzuki SX4, marking the first time in America that a vehicle priced under $16,000 will include GPS navigation as a standard feature, the firms said....
Audi selects Hella lane change system
Audi (www.audi.com) has selected Hella’s (www.hella.com) 24-GHz radar-based lane-change warning system for the Audi A4, marking the sixth design win for the system. ...
FCI SD-card connectors
FCI (www.fci.com) has introduced an SD memory connector suitable for connecting removable storage devices into automotive multimedia systems. ...
National shrinks switching regulators
National Semiconductor Corp. (www.national.com) has introduced two step-down switching regulators for use in automotive power adapters as well as handheld devices.
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Solid-state devices perfect for high-current switching
For applications that require high current switching – 100A to 1,000A – Perfect Switch, LLC (www.perfectswitch.com) offers a POWER-GATE series of solid state DC relays and isolators. ...
Renesas adds 50 32-bit MCUs
By: By John Day
Renesas Technology America (www.america.renesas.com) added 50 devices to its R32C/100 series of 32-bit microcontrollers, which are built around the R32C/100 32-bit CPU core at the high end of Renesas’ M16C family of complex instruction set computer (CISC) MCUs.
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Melexis develops a 150 Mbps fiber-optic MOST transceiver
Melexis (www.melexis.com) has developed the MLX75605, a single package solution for a 150Mbps fiber optic transceiver dedicated to the MOST150 physical layer, the specification for which (MOST Specification 3.0) was published last month by the MOST (Media Oriented Systems Transport) Cooperation.
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Continental: Consumer trends impact
Also at SAE, Helmut Matschi, president of Continental's (www.conti-online.com) Interior Division, said that trends appearing in consumer culture are impacting the automotive industry and requiring suppliers to develop innovative, flexible and upgradeable in-vehicle electronic architectures. ...
Bosch: Safety is “next frontier”
Vehicle safety is “the next frontier” for automotive electronics, according to Jason Forcier, president North America, automotive electronics, Robert Bosch LLC (www.bosch.us). ...
ANSYS agrees to acquire Ansoft
Simulation software specialist ANSYS, Inc. (www.ansys.com) has agreed to acquire electronic design automation firm Ansoft Corp. (www.ansoft.com) for approximately $832 million. ...
NEC Electronics America promotes two executives
NEC Electronics America has promoted Jim Trent from associate vice president to vice president of the company’s automotive and general-purpose microcontroller (MCU) strategic business units (SBUs) and promoted Sam Trinch from sales director to general manager of the automotive SBU....
J.D. Power survey says 31% of car buyers want HD Radio
Consumer awareness of HD Radio currently stands at 77%, according to the HD Digital Radio Alliance, and a J.D. Power survey of current or likely auto buyers indicates that 31% want HD Radio in their next vehicle....
Multicore Association readies communications API spec
The Multicore Association said that version 1.0 of its multicore communications application programming interface (MCAPI) specification has been completed and will soon be made publicly available...
GM testing Li-Ion batteries
General Motors is reportedly placing lithium-ion batteries in Chevrolet Malibus fitted with internal systems being developed for the extended-range plug-in electric Volt. The Volt is expected to launch in November 2010....
