ABSTRACT
This chapter explains the involvement of power electronics in important safety devices individually. It describes a few of the well-known applications of power electronics as well as a few applications in the development phase. The controller area network (CAN) bus works as the universal backbone of all automobile power electronics systems. One is for vehicles manufactured without antitheft systems and the other one is integrated to the vehicle control system and communicates with the powertrain control module and body electronics module via the CAN bus. Usually the transceiver communicates directly with the body electronics module and thereafter communications with the powertrain control module is via the CAN bus. The application of power electronics in vehicle and passenger safety attracted increased interest with the advancement of technology and the public awareness in safety systems for vehicles. As driver assistance systems need to be integrated with the vehicle electrical system, power electronics must be used for the implementation.
