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Technical
aspect in Techno-Frontier 2003
2003.6.20
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"Techno-Frontier 2003 , a technology show sponsored by
Japan Management Association, was held at Makuhari Convention
Center from 16th to 18th of April, 2003. We attended the technology
show by invitation of one of our clients "Densei-Lambda
K.K." The show covered many technical fields of mecha-tronics,
such as power supply systems, motor technologies, EMC and
noise solutions, thermal solutions, board computers, Blue-tooth,
and car-electronics components, and etc. I would like to make
a brief report mainly on the car-electronics and related technologies,
along with my impression of the show. |
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(1) Vehicle Control Technologies
There are two big issues in the recent road traffic. One is
the reduction of traffic accidents, and the other is the reduction
of air pollution. In order to reduce the traffic accidents,
an ASV (Advanced Safe Vehicle) project has been carried out
on the initiative of MLIT (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure
and Transport). What attracted particular attention in this
show was the technologies of making the atmosphere clean.
The problems caused by exhaust gas of vehicles are not only
pollution from NOx, CO and diesel exhaust particles but CO2
that is the cause to warm the earth. To solve these problems,
the most adaptive engine control is required for the most
effective cleaning of the exhaust gas by catalytic conversion
and the improvement of fuel consumption. EVs (Electric Vehicles),
as a ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle), have been developed so that
some of them have already been put to practice use, and are
available in the market. However, various types of HEVs (Hybrid
Electric Vehicles) rather than EVs have been developed and
commercialized, because of lack of infrastructure and the
short cruising distances of EVs. A number of potential patents
are conceivable in this field. For example, the re-generation
of electric power using a driving motor for retardation, a
system for distributing motors to respective wheels for traction
control, and etc.
As next-generation car, research and development of fuel cell
vehicles emitting no CO2 are being carried out. Many potential
patents are conceivable in this filed also, such as those
relating to the use of heat generated in the fuel cell, liquid
fuel materials and the reformulation technology of the fuel
for cell, fuel storage technique and fuel supply control technique,
and so on.
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Above
pictures by
Densei-Lambda K.K.
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(2)
Motor Control and Power Supply
Small
size and low cost inverter technologies using IGBT, power
MOS-FET and micro-computer is expected to make it possible
to use a variety of motors not only for EVs/HEVs, but also
for throttle actuators for drive by wire, brake actuators
and steering actuators.
As for power supply modules as well, they have higher efficiencies
and smaller sizes day by day. Therefore, their installing
locations as well as the noise environment in vehicle will
be improved through the decentralization of required power
source. It is expected that much more types of sensors,
communication equipments and motors will be installed in
future vehicles. The needs for better environments that
allow those components and systems to work effectively without
noise interference will be increased.
By
Dr. Y. Kajiwara,
Technical Consultant of Ushiki, Somekawa & Associates
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