TRW Automotive has signed a deal with two undisclosed North American vehicle makers to provide its new electric park brake (EPB) technology, featuring new technology which includes Gen 5 Electronic Control Unit (ECU).
EPB system will operate as a conventional hydraulic brake for standard service brake applications, and as an electric brake for vehicle parking and during emergency braking.
TRW North America EPB systems chief engineer Seth Ravndal said the fifth generation EPB ECU utilises dual microcontroller safety architecture with an application-specific integrated circuit.
"The memory size is scalable up to 1MB with the option of incorporating (external) customer software modules," Ravndal said.
"For greater packaging and performance flexibility there is an option to integrate longitudinal, lateral and yaw rate sensors within the ECU."
The EPB system uses electrical cables and a control switch to simplify routing and facilitates for more choice of design for vehicle interiors, while reducing the weight of the vehicle.
TRW said that the device also offers an auto-apply option- if the driver were to exit the vehicle and by mistake leave the vehicle in gear - the option will facilitate to activate EPB system automatically when the driver opens the door or release the seatbelt.
The system will also offer a drive away assist function which will hold the vehicle in a stopped mode without the need to depress the brake pedal, which can be implemented during traffic jam.
TRW expects that the vehicles incorporated with EPB sold in North America will reach 10% by 2015.
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