[CEATEC] Panasonic Employs Suction Disk for PNDs

Oct 9, 2009 09:55 Hideyoshi Kume, Nikkei Electronics

Panasonic Corp exhibited new models of its "Strada Pocket" personal navigation device (PND).

This time, map data is stored on an 8-Gbyte microSDHC card instead of a 4-Gbyte microSDHC card, which is used for the company's previous products. But the new models have the "Mayoima Sensor," which enhances the accuracy of location estimation by using an acceleration sensor and an angular velocity sensor and is equipped in the previous products.

Panasonic will release six models including the ones featuring the "FM-VICS" tuner, which provides traffic information, and supporting 1seg digital TV reception Oct 9, 2009, in Japan.

The most prominent feature of the new PNDs is the suction disk used for its stand (cradle) that comes with the products. The cradle of the previous models is fixed by a double-sided tape. To enhance the stability of the cradle, the company newly developed a highly adhesive gel.

"We conducted thorough safety tests and confirmed enough stability," Panasonic said.

Sony employed a suction disk for the cradle of its PND in 2007 and gained attention. Users were attracted by the PND that is easy to install. Then, Pioneer Corp followed it.

Panasonic had not employed a suction disk until this time, citing safety reasons. But the company started to develop the new gel in response to user demands, it said.

Moreover, Sanyo Electric Co Ltd will release PNDs using a suction disk in November 2009, making suction disk-type PNDs mainstream for Japanese manufacturers.

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