Vehicles with a sixth sense
This Product Family designs solutions to improve the driver’s control of the vehicle’s immediate environment. Valeo Interior Controls includes the HMI (Human-Machine Interface) activity, Top Column Modules, steering sensors and body controllers. Valeo Interior Controls also develops innovative, intuitive and user-friendly solutions designed to improve cabin comfort.
A few figures
- 892 million euros in sales*
- 11 plants, 8 Research centers and 7 Development centers in 11 countries
* at December 31, 2008
Global presence
> See the contact details of all Valeo Interior Controls sites
Products
Using ultrasonic sensors, cameras and radar, a range of assistance systems for low-speed maneuvers support the driver by monitoring the area around the vehicle and providing 360° vision. These systems include:
- Park4U™, which uses ultrasonic sensors to assist in parking. Once the lateral sensors have detected a parking space, the driver simply stops the car next to it, puts the car into reverse and releases the steering wheel. The system manages the maneuver, while the driver remains in control of braking and acceleration. It takes just a few seconds to carry out the maneuver;
- ParkVue™, which uses a rear-view camera and ultrasonic sensors to provide the driver with perfect visibility behind the vehicle and a precise indication of distances;
- 360Vue™, which uses a multi-camera system to provide 360° vision around the vehicle, making dangerous maneuvers with poor visibility, such as reversing or crossing a dangerous junction, much safer.
In addition to assisting low-speed maneuvers, this Product Family also develops innovative technologies designed to increase safety on the road, including:
- The blind spot detection system, for safer lane changes. Two multiple-beam radars warn the driver if there is a vehicle present in the blind spot on either side of the vehicle, via an icon displayed in the rear-view mirror. When the icon disappears, the driver can carry out the maneuver in complete safety;
- The lane departure warning system, LaneVue™, which alerts the driver to unintentional lane departures via an audible or vibrating signal when activated by a camera located in the upper part of the windshield;
Valeo Interior Controls develops and produces detection systems based on the following technologies:
- ultrasonic and infrared sensors;
- radars;
- cameras.
The control panel creates the consumer's first impression of perceived quality. It is a human-machine interface in constant evolution. Air-conditioning and multimedia systems are increasingly sophisticated and numerous, making the central area in the control panel cluttered and complex. In order to create intuitive and user-friendly systems that cover all functions, Valeo Interior Controls is developing several innovations:
- the control panel, which manages both air conditioning and all multimedia applications, using a complete range of innovative technologies that allow the driver to navigate easily between the various functions;
- the multicontrol joystick or touchpad, located between the front seats, which facilitates the management of the various applications;
- the e-media™ control console, which helps motorists adjust even the most sophisticated on-board comfort and communications devices quickly and in complete safety. e-media™, with three separate touch-sensitive joysticks, offers the ideal compromise between managing a large number of functions and ease of use;
- Senseative®, which offers touch-sensitive seat settings, has replaced the electric buttons with a system using four resistive sensors. After pressing the ON button, the user slides a finger over one of the segments to move the corresponding part of the seat.
Valeo Interior Controls also develops and produces the following product ranges:
- top column modules;
- cabin comfort controls and control panels;
- steering angle sensors (angle and torque sensors);
- electronic control units.
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