ALPS Develops “SPVQD Series” Waterproof Detector Switch with Internal Resistors

High Detection Reliability Ensured

Munich, Germany, September 24, 2015 – ALPS has developed the “SPVQD Series” Waterproof Detector Switch with Internal Resistors, suitable for detecting the opening and closing of automobile doors, trunks and hoods. Samples will be made available from September 2015. A growing number of vehicle models in today’s automobile market are equipped with idle stop (start–stop) systems that help to improve fuel efficiency. For safety reasons, the automatic engine restart function of an idle stop system is suspended while doors are opened and closed. Sometimes, however, when there is a technical fault such as a broken circuit, the idle stop system will not activate. To bring out a vehicle’s full fuel efficiency potential, a mechanism is required to both accurately detect open or closed status and quickly detect breaks, shorts or other abnormalities in surrounding circuits. Detection typically employs an open/closed detection switch combined with a resistor (or resistors). Circuit breaks or shorts are detected from abnormal output voltage values during on–off switching. Earlier switches have primarily used external lead-type resistors that are soldered to the open/closed detection circuit, but issues remained, such as the occurrence of soldering defects and faulty water resistance sealing. The SPVQD Series contributes to quality consistency and circuit downsizing by incorporating chip-type resistors actually inside the switch package while retaining the same dimensions (15.2 × 6.4 × 7.45mm) as the existing SPVQA Series. This also allows the customer to omit processes for affixing external resistors. As up to three resistors can be mounted, facilitating a wide range of resistance settings, the product also helps to improve design freedom. Furthermore, the detector employs a “clip” type double-sided sliding contact structure that clamps a fixed contact from both sides. This was achieved through application of ALPS proprietary precision processing technology. The configuration enables high contact reliability with strong particulate, vibration and impact resistance. The dust and water resistance rating of the SPVQD Series is IP67.* * An IP Code (or International Protection Rating) expresses levels of protection against the ingress of solid foreign objects and against the ingress of water. “IP67” indicates no ingress of dust and no effects from immersion in water at a depth of one meter for 30 minutes.

ALPS Electric Co., Ltd. ALPS Electric (Tokyo: 6770) is a leading global manufacturer of high-quality electronic components for mobile devices, home electronics, vehicles and industrial equipment. With the philosophy of “Perfecting the Art of Electronics” ALPS Electric supplies over 40,000 different components to about 2,000 companies all over the world. For more information, visit www.alps.com. ALPS ELECTRIC EUROPE GmbH, a subsidiary of ALPS Electric Co., Ltd., was established in 1979. Since 2013 the European Head Office has been located in Munich and as such co-ordinates the Sales, Marketing and Product Engineering activities of our branch offices in Munich, Düsseldorf, Paris, Milton Keynes, Gothenburg as well as our sales office in Milan.