ANNUAL REPORT 2004 - ELMOS Semiconductor AG

MANAGEMENT BOARD ELMOS – THE COMPANY THE ELMOS SHARE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
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The lane detection system in Citroën’s C4 and C5, advertised extensively by Citroën in
the media since the end of 2004, also belongs to this category. In the TV commercial,
the driver steers the car blindfold over a narrow bridge. This stunt is made possible
by an optical lane detection system based on ELMOS HALIOS® technology which
consists of six sensors inside the front bumper. It detects the road markings even if
concealed under a layer of snow.
MECHANICS COMBINED WITH ELECTRONICS
Another big element of tomorrow’s car is the increasing replacement of mechanics
and its combination with electronics. The combination of these elements opens up
entirely new possibilities for the reduction of fuel consumption and the increase of
safety. Electrical systems can be turned on and off as required, and therefore save
gasoline. This development started years ago with the electrically driven cooling fan.
The electro-hydraulic or fully electrical steering aid followed suit, providing servo as-
sistance when it was needed for maneuvering, turned off on the highway. Last year
an electrically driven water pump was put to serial use for the first time, by BMW.
Here as well ELMOS ASICs were the decisive components.
Electrical water pump/water pump control electronics in hybrid structure
Source: Kolbenschmidt Pierburg AG | AB Mikroelektronik GmbH