Lear Corporation has signed a license agreement with Transense Technologies to integrate Transense’s battery-less tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) technology with Lear’s remote keyless entry receiver (RKE) technology.
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Financial terms were not disclosed and Lear’s agreement with Transense does not affect an existing joint development agreement Lear has with Beru for TPMS.
Under the terms of the agreement, Lear and Transense will work together to integrate Transense’s batteryless surface acoustic wave (SAW) TPMS technology with Lear’s RKE receiver technology. The two companies have recently worked together on the development of two functional North American vehicle prototypes equipped with the battery-less Transense systems.
“Lear is a world leader in RKE technology as well as a significant provider of TPM systems to the automotive market,” said Mike Fawaz, vice president, electronics design & development at Lear. “Transense’s SAW-based sensor technology is a game changer and will advance the next generation system to meet government regulations in a more environmentally friendly manner, satisfying customer and consumer needs.”
The Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation (TREAD) Act mandates the use of a suitable TPM technology in all passenger vehicles sold in the US in order to alert drivers of severe under-inflation condition of their tyres. This regulation affects all light motor vehicles registered after 1 September, 2007, with phase-in commencing in October 2005 at 20% and ramping up to 70% after September of this year.
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By GlobalDataAdditionally, European and Asian regulators are also expected to rule on the subject even if no signs of legislative activity are forecast in the near future, Lear said.
A typical TPM system employs four or five transmitter-sensors, an RF receiver and other satellite hardware which can identify the position of the tyre that is improperly inflated. Current systems have a lithium battery in the tyre to power the sensor which has a limited lifespan of 10 years and requires special handling related to disposal of the batteries.
“The new TPM system will provide several benefits including battery elimination, lower weight and superior functional performance at a competitive price,” said Jim Perry, chief executive officer of Transense. “By combining our leading technologies we can create an industry standard for TPMS that improves product functionality and ‘recyclability’.”
