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Press Release

GE Introduces New Pressure Sensor in Response to 2002 TREAD Act; NPX Sensor to Warn Drivers of Dangerously Low Tire Pressures

June 02, 2003

GE Introduces New Pressure Sensor in Response to

2002 TREAD Act; NPX Sensor to Warn Drivers of Dangerously Low Tire

Pressures

FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 2, 2003--GE NovaSensor, a

unit of GE Industrial Systems, and a leading provider of silicon

pressure sensors and microstructures, announced today that it has

developed a low-cost tire pressure sensor that uses non-proprietary,

field proven technology that meets the requirements of the U.S.

Congressional TREAD (Tire Recall Enhanced Accountability and

Documentation) Act.

GE is very excited to be introducing such an important new

safety-enhancing product into the automotive industry , said Kermit B.

Hoffman, president of GE Thermometrics and GE NovaSensor. The GE NPX

sensor is the next generation of tire pressure sensing technology.

After several years of fatal rollover accidents that were traced

to improper tire inflation, the U.S. Congress passed the TREAD Act to

protect the general public. One of the TREAD Act's provisions mandates

vehicle manufacturers develop technology for warning drivers of

dangerously low tire pressures. The Act requires automotive suppliers

to start offering remote tire pressure monitoring (RTPM) systems in

late 2003 with a four-year phase-in period, after which all

automobiles sold in the United States must incorporate such systems.

The GE NPX sensor is part of a next generation direct measurement

system that places a pressure sensor module in each of the car tires.

A radio frequency links the car tire sensors to a dashboard display.

This method of tire pressure measurement has been shown to be more

accurate than competing techniques. By combining a sensor and the

compensating electronics in a single package, the NPX is more compact,

with fewer redundant components than other sensors. In addition, an

internal program that can turn off the sensor to conserve power and

extend battery life controls the pressure sensor.

The GE NPX meets or exceeds the U.S. Congressional TREAD Act

specification for accuracy. The NPX is delivered as a fully calibrated

and programmed pressure transducer where the automotive supplier adds

their program, a battery and a transmitter chip. GE will incorporate

customer-specific software on board to provide programming that

controls the inputs, manages the operation, and specifies the data

output format. The vehicle manufacturer mounts the component in the

car tire and installs the base receiver unit. Sample units are

currently available with Product Validation (PV) units available in Q1

2004.

The GE NPX uses the same field-proven pressure-sensing element

that can be found in GE NovaSensor's NPP-301 sensor. The NPP-301

represents the first generation of RTPM sensors, which provided a

low-level millivolt output. The sensor's lightweight and small size

are ideal characteristics for a reliable device that will be rotating

with a car tire at the equivalent of 2000 g's. The NPP-301 uses a

QS-9000 quality system and over 10 million devices have been shipped

to date.

GE NovaSensor is an operating unit within GE's Measurement

business.

About GE Industrial Systems

GE Industrial Systems spans the globe as an industry leader in

integrated industrial equipment, systems and services. The business

brings to customers the latest technological products used to

distribute, protect and control electrical power and equipment, and

provides innovative product and service solutions for commercial,

industrial, residential and utility applications. For more information

visit the website at

http://www.geindustrial.com/presscenter/pressroom.htm.

About GE Measurement

GE Measurement, an operating unit within GE Industrial Systems, is

an industry leader in the design and manufacture of precision

temperature, humidity and pressure sensors, field calibrators and

measurement instrumentation. With operations around the world, GE

Measurement develops technologies and solutions using thermal

validation, dew point measurement, gas flow measurement, control

circuit protection, liquid level detection, and microstructure design

for products and services in applications such as environmental,

marine, meteorology, aerospace, defense, medical, pharmaceutical,

biotechnology, automotive, industrial, commercial, petrochemical,

power generation and transportation.

Note: A photo is available at URL

http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.060203/bb8

--30--KK/ny*

CONTACT: GE Measurement

Gary Pacilio, +1. 732.287.2870

Email: [email protected]


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