Philips Semiconductors Launches Series of Rotational Speed Sensors

    New KMI20 Rotational Speed Sensors Increase Air Gap by Over 50 Percent

    SUNNYVALE, Calif., June 5 Philips Semiconductors, a
division of Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI), today introduced
a new generation of non-contact, rotational speed measurement sensors targeted
at the automotive industry. These new sensors increase air gap by over 50
percent, which is the highest air gap for automotive sensors that do not use
rare earth magnets. The new KMI20 sensors are designed for anti-lock braking
systems (ABS) and other applications.

    Air gap is the distance between the surface of the sensor and the upper
surface of the teeth of a trigger wheel or the surface of a magnetized wheel.
By increasing the air gap, customers gain higher tolerances in their assembly
without lessening accuracy. It also reduces their design costs.

    "This new series of sensors offers the most advanced, contactless speed
measurement in the market, while achieving better performance," said Andreas
Ogrzewalla, international product marketing manager, Sensor Devices, Philips
Semiconductors.  "By increasing the air gap by over 50 percent, Philips
Semiconductors continues to lead the automotive market as the number one
supplier of MR sensors."

    Other new KMI20 features include offset cancellation, automatic gain
control, and insensitivity to vibrations, which makes it a self-calibrating
sensor system. Additional distinguishing factors of the KMI20 sensors include
the moldable SOT453 packages and magneto resistive (MR) technology.  This
combination saves the customer a printed circuit board and offers advantages
such as small offset drift and high temperature capability.  These
capabilities are ideal for the harsh environment of the automotive industry
because they provide proper electrical real-time images of the gear wheel.

    Pricing and Availability

    Sample products of the KMI20 series are now available worldwide.  Full
production sensors will be available in August 2001 at USD $1.47 per 100,000.
For more information on the KMI120 or pricing in different countries, please
visit http://www.philips.semiconductors.com.