ZEELAND, Mich., Oct. 31 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Backing up cars, trucks
and SUVs can be a dangerous task. Blind spots directly behind the vehicle
can lead to accidents that result in property damage, or even injury or death
to small children. To help reduce these risks, Gentex Corporation, the
Zeeland, Michigan-based manufacturer of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors
and commercial fire protection products, has developed a backup video display
in an automatic-dimming rearview mirror.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061030/DEM003 )
Gentex's video display mirror consists of a proprietary liquid crystal
display (LCD) device that shows a panoramic video view of objects behind the
vehicle in real time. When the vehicle is put in "reverse," the display
illuminates and automatically appears through the rearview mirror's
reflective surface to give a high resolution, bright-colored image. The
image is generated by a camera or cameras placed in a protected area at the
rear of the vehicle. When the vehicle is put in "drive," the display in the
mirror automatically disappears. The ability to automatically have the
display appear through the automatic-dimming mirror's surface is made
possible by utilizing proprietary "transflective" coatings developed by
Gentex Corporation.
Many of the popular high volume vehicles today have high back windows
which may also be tinted.
"We're excited about this product from a safety perspective, as it should
help reduce the risk of backup accidents for any vehicle, many of which
involve small children playing directly behind the vehicle," said Gentex
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Fred Bauer. "It also may help to
prevent vehicular damage from backing up into objects that otherwise would go
undetected by the driver."
Bauer said that the Company also is excited by the convenience of the
feature for attaching towable trailers for boats or RVs and utility trailers,
since lining up the hitch ball to the trailer can be a challenge for even the
most experienced driver.
"This makes it a piece of cake," said Bauer. "Adding to the impact is
the 'WOW effect' where the image magically appears and disappears at just the
right time. It's just plain cool and high tech!"
Gentex already has development programs in progress for its video display
mirror with several automakers. Toyota plans to show the mirror on a Tacoma
this week at the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) automotive
show in Las Vegas, Nevada.
"The rearview mirror is the ideal location for a backup display because
it allows the driver to view the display and the mirror at the same time,"
said Bauer. "In addition, automakers like the display in the mirror because
it's quick-to-market, easy to install and service, and relatively low cost
because it doesn't require them to retool dashboards or center consoles, or
make the additional significant investment in another LCD or other type of
display."
Gentex is best known for its automatic-dimming mirrors that sense glare
from rearward approaching vehicles and automatically dim to protect driver
vision. The mirrors often come with additional electronic features such as
compass displays, map lights, hands-free microphones -- even miniature
cameras that control your high beams.
Bauer said that the video display mirror is intended to be used as a
supplemental device for drivers and does not eliminate the need to check
rearview mirrors or walk around the vehicle, should conditions warrant.
"When it comes to backing up safely, nothing beats walking around the
vehicle prior to moving it," added Bauer. "But the video display mirror
delivers peace of mind while backing up because it provides a view directly
behind the vehicle and helps you identify potential hazards in your rearward
path."
Safe Harbor Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act, as amended, that are based on management's
belief, assumptions, current expectations, estimates and projections about
the global automotive industry, the economy, the impact of stock option
expenses on earnings, the ability to leverage fixed manufacturing overhead
costs, unit shipment growth rates and the Company itself. Words
like "anticipates," "believes," "confident," "estimates," "expects," "forecast
," "likely," "plans," "projects," and "should," and variations of such words
and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These
statements do not guarantee future performance and involve certain risks,
uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict with regard to
timing, expense, likelihood and degree of occurrence. These risks include,
without limitation, employment and general economic conditions, the pace of
economic recovery in the U.S. and in international markets, the pace of
automotive production worldwide, the types of products purchased by
customers, competitive pricing pressures, currency fluctuations, the
financial strength of the Company's customers, the mix of products purchased
by customers, the ability to continue to make product innovations, the
success of newly introduced products (e.g. Video Display Mirror), and other
risks identified in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Therefore actual results and outcomes may materially differ from
what is expressed or forecasted. Furthermore, the Company undertakes no
obligation to update, amend, or clarify forward-looking statements, whether
as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
About the Company
Founded in 1974, Gentex Corporation (Nasdaq Global Market: GNTX) is an
international company that provides high-quality products to the worldwide
automotive industry and North American fire protection market. Based in
Zeeland, Michigan, the Company develops, manufactures and markets interior
and exterior automatic-dimming automotive rearview mirrors that utilize
proprietary electrochromic technology to dim in proportion to the amount of
headlight glare from trailing vehicle headlamps. Many of the mirrors are sold
with advanced electronic features, and approximately 95 percent of the
Company's revenues are derived from the sales of auto-dimming mirrors to
nearly every major automaker in the world.
