Nissan tech makes cars safer, fresher

Pedestrian detector and deodorant seat among new features

The Detroit News 11/19/2003

Author: Anita Lienert

(Copyright 2003)

As somebody who often travels with canine companions, I'm excited by one

of the new features offered by Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Co.

Nissan's "deodorant seat" uses special materials to absorb and break

down odors inside a vehicle. The new interior treatment is available on

the Nissan Presage in Japan and may be headed for the U.S. market soon.

Nissan is promoting the deodorant seat with a brochure that features a

large dog lounging on the vehicle's back seat. It's just one of several

interesting new ideas from the automaker.

Nissan is also set to debut an anti-bacterial air conditioner that

eliminates fungi, mold and bacteria from the air inside a car or truck.

The "Plasmacluster Ion" air conditioner is similar to technology

currently available on the 2004 Lexus LS 430 sedan.

The optional rear air conditioner on the Lexus has a fancy air purifier

that filters out particles and uses an ultraviolet light to kill

odor-causing mold and bacteria.

On the safety front, Nissan is working on what it calls a "far-infrared

imaging sensor."

This system helps the driver to detect pedestrians at night -- even

those out of the direct beam of the headlights. Once the sensor detects

a pedestrian on the periphery, the headlight's illumination pattern is

adjusted and widened to light up the pedestrian and alert the driver.

Nissan also uses this infrared sensor technology in a new "intruder

warning" system. An infrared sensor built into a car's interior detects

the presence of an intruder and sounds a warning.

Like the deodorant seat, the air conditioning enhancements and the

pedestrian and intruder warning technology should be available in the

U.S. market in the coming years.

Finally, Nissan is also working to prevent rear-end collisions with a

system called "intelligent brake assist," a laser radar sensor that

measures the distance to a vehicle in front of you and the relative

speed of both vehicles. Intelligent brake assist sounds a warning and

applies the brakes when the sensor determines that a crash may occur.

The technology, also not yet available in the United States, works with

Nissan's brake operated precrash seat belt system. In sudden braking,

the seat belts are retracted by motors, helping the driver to stay in

control of the vehicle.