NEC Unveils High-Tech Highway Products/Advances in Child Safety

   CHICAGO, March 1 Maintaining its leadership as a safety
innovator, NEC Automotive Electronics will unveil its high tech highway
products at the 2001 Society of Automotive Electronics (SAE) World Congress,
March 5-8, 2001, Cobo Center, Booth 1137, Detroit, NEC announced today.

    SeatSentry Occupant Sensing System

    The world's first vehicle-installed smart side airbag system is now
available for front airbags.  NEC uses electric field (EF) sensing to shut off
the airbag if a child's presence is detected.  Because of NEC's strong safety
record for high quality electronics in the automotive industry, Honda chose
this system to install on their vehicles as an additional safeguard for their
smart side airbag system.  SeatSentry will also be installed on several other
major automotive lines in coming years.

    SeatSentry exceeds NHTSA's static suppression requirements for FMVSS208.
SeatSentry has solved many of the issues facing automakers: ease of
installation, functionality in difficult environmental conditions and comfort
to the rider.  NEC has partnered with 3M and seating suppliers to successfully
solve these problems.

    Adaptive Cruise Control

    Millimeter Wave Multi-beam Radar coupled with pattern recognition
technology from a high speed camera measures the distance and relative speed
of the car ahead, in curves and at night, to maintain a safe driving interval.

    Automatic Lane Correction

    Millimeter Wave Multi-beam Radar (with electronic scanning) coupled with
lane pattern recognition software re-steers the car back into its lane if it
detects a sleepy or distracted driver.

    Night Sight

    An infrared camera allows drivers to see better at night and in inclement
weather.  The camera, placed near the drivers' head, replicates their
point-of-view.  The system is calibrated to be especially sensitive to animals
and people.