February 2010

Detroit Auto Show Attracts Home Builders

The North American International Auto Show has always been a showcase for future design trends from major manufacturers testing public reaction to new approaches and technologies. This year was no exception with the 'Electric Avenue' exhibit featuring new electric and hybrid vehicles from auto companies like Fiat/ Chrysler, Ford and Toyota.

More notable at this years show was the number of representatives from electric utilities and new home builders who will be building the infrastructure to support these vehicles. Using electricity to power cars comes with a new set of electrical requirements that traditional gas stations will be unable to meet. For example, because battery recharging requires access to 220v outlets and takes hours, not minutes to refuel, the necessity of incorporating these stations into home designs becomes paramount.

Home builders are already working with Schneider Electric to plan for the future and put recharging stations in new garages across the country. They are even marketing the feature as another environmentally friendly aspect of their home design. For more information on how Schneider Electric is helping lead the energy management revolution, contact us at auto@us.schneider-electric.com.

Product Focus
Improving Safety, Security in Industrial Settings with the New Harmony Biometric Push Button

The Harmony Biometric Push Button is the first fingerprint reading device designed for industrial environments, where customers need extra protection from harsh conditions. Biometric technology is a more effective and less costly tool for safety and security than passwords or swipe cards that can be lost, shared or stolen. As the technology has proven to be reliable, products using it have grown more popular.

This new push button is fully stand-alone – there’s no need for a supplementary interface – and it’s compact and easy to install. It fits in a standard 22mm push button mounting hole and comes with an optional protective cover and guard. And it can remember up to 200 fingerprints for additional flexibility and precision.

The Biometric Push button is protected against EMC noise and UV light, and meets IP65 and NEMA 12 standards. It’s similar to a key operated selector switch because it has two operating modes. It can be left in on-off mode, or pulse mode for momentary action. Authentication takes less than one second, and the false acceptance rate is less than 0.1 percent.

Click here to learn more about the Biometric push button.