Special Issue

Automobile Electronics

For the Special Issue of “Auto Electronics”
Norihide Sakai*
It is about 120 years ago that automobiles were invented.
Through this time, the demands for automobiles havebeen becoming diversified.
These demands are for: “comfort and convenience”
which looks for faster and more comfortable space, “safety” which has evolved from the safety of the passengers
in accidents to the prevention of the accidents, “the overcoming of environmental problems” including sustained
air pollution and recent global warming, “overcoming ofenergy problems” which are caused by oil depletion andescalation of oil prices, “overcoming of resource problems” namely rare metals.
To specifically address environmental and energy problems, various auto manufacturers have started to launchvehicles with high fuel-efficiency, hybrid vehicles andelectric vehicles.
On the other hand, in developing countries such as in
BRICS, the demands for lower-cost automobiles havebeen expanding. Therefore, current automobiles need tomeet demands for a low cost and the five demand
aspects which were stated above simultaneously.

What is needed for the next generation,
the technologies we can provide
Automobiles which reduce CO2 emission
significantly with using least fossil fuels.
Reflective board for in-vehicle lighting and instrument panels
Diffuser panel
Power Board, a large-current circuit board
Metal core circuit board
Thick copper foil

Furukawa Electric Group has been developing technologies and products based on a wide range of materials
since its foundation in 1884. The examples are: material
technologies focusing on copper alloys, aluminum alloys
and polymer materials, communication technologies
using electricity, radio transmission and light, heat solution technologies such as heat dissipation, heat transportand heat storage, electricity infrastructure technologies
which transmit, store and convert electricity.
The three-year middle term plan of Furukawa ElectricGroup for the fiscal year 2013-2015 contains the auto
market as one of the markets which need to be focusedon.
This special issue introduces the technology and theproduct developments of automobiles we have beenworking on.
We are confident to make a large contribution to theachievement of ideal automobiles by developing andcombining the technologies our group have.
We do hope you will give us further guidance andencouragement.

Improvement in fuel efficiency, reduction in CO2 emission
・Aluminum body・Resin foamed lightweight interior and exterior materials
・Aluminum wire

Performance upgrade in HVs and EVs
・Capacitor hybrid type・UltraBattery
・Magnet wire for alternators
・Magnet wire for motors
・Hybrid circuit board
・Copper foil for a negative electrode in lithium-ion batteries
・Heat dissipation by a heat pipe, etc.

Super tough wireThin rectangular enamel wire
Magnet wire for relays
Ultra wide band (UWB) radar

Safety and security
・Small and high-performance antenna・Ultra wide band (UWB) radar
・Halogen-free wire

Compact, high-performance antenna
High-strength, high-thermal conductivity aluminum alloy(for exterior and interior such as hoods and bodies)

Heat pipe
Peltier device
High-heat dissipation ECU box
LED headlamp chiller
Battery chiller component
Thermal design simulation technology

Highly-cohesive enamel wire for compact motors

Siloxane-free thermal conductive sheet

High-voltage connector for HEVs power source
Aluminum shield harness for HEVs
In-vehicle communication system
Automotive aluminum wire
Environmentally-friendly heat-resistance insulation material

Microcellular foamed interior finishing material
Water shielding sheet
Vibration suppression foam

Foamed air duct
UltraBattery
Battery state sensor
Copper foil for lithium-ion batteries
Cover for lithium-ion batteries* Genaral Manager, Automotive System & Device Laboratories,
Research & Development Division

Furukawa Review, No. 44

20131