TOKYO, September 5, 2018 – Alps Electric Co., Ltd. (TOKYO: 6770; President: Toshihiro Kuriyama), a manufacturer of high-quality electronic components, has developed the “RD1030211” Dual Output Brake Pedal Position Sensor, enabling voltage output to both a vehicle’s brake lights and its regenerative braking system.

According to research conducted by LMC Automotive, the share of electric, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell vehicles on the road is expected to rise to about 50% by 2030, as these vehicles continue to spread, particularly in markets such as China, where development is progressing at a rapid pace.

These next-generation automobiles employ regenerative braking systems that convert the turning of the wheels as they slow down into electrical energy to be used to propel the vehicle. For regenerative braking to be efficient, the system requires information about how far the brake pedal is pushed in, but conventional single-output sensors have been unable to provide the data simultaneously with output used to switch on brake lights, placing restraints on design carried out by end-product manufacturers.

In light of these circumstances, Alps Electric developed RD1030211, operating within a temperature range from -40°C to +85°C, with a detection angle of 80° and offering an operating life of 1,000,000 cycles. Analog sensing is retained for the dual-output product, having been popular with earlier single-output models.

As can be seen in the picture below, installation is less work as any positional deviation is electronically calibrated, eliminating the need for the kind of physical adjustments required with switch sensing and therefore contributing to labor saving in customer production lines. The sensor is ideal for regenerative braking systems, brake light activation and cruise control deactivation, thereby contributing to compact design of next-generation vehicles.

source：http://www.alps.com/