The present disclosure relates to a steering wheel input device and, in particular, a gear shift device for a steering assembly. Aspects of the present disclosure are particularly relevant to automotive paddle shifters and automotive input devices for a steering wheel group. A steering wheel input device includes an input actuator for location adjacent to a steering wheel and includes a one or two input regions, each being moveable around an axis of the steering wheel and being pressable by one of the driver's hands on the steering wheel for registering inputs. A tracking input receives tracking data, and a controller moves the input regions based on this. The tracking data may include hand tracking data for determining the location of the driver's hands on the steering wheel, where the controller is operable to move the input regions in line with movement of the driver's hands around the steering wheel.

An apparatus for controlling a vehicle includes a vehicle state detector for detecting a vehicle state, a function unit that performs at least one vehicle function, an operation unit that enables a transmission operation to allow selection of a transmission stage from among a plurality of transmission stages, and a position adjusting unit to switch the operation unit between a first position where the transmission operation is disabled and a second position where the transmission operation is enabled, by rotating the operation unit with respect to the functional unit, based on the detected vehicle state.

A medical device drive system can include a rotational input, a coupling member engaged with the rotational input, a first gear having an engagement feature sized and shaped to engage with the coupling member, and a second gear coupled with the first gear, the second gear coupled to a movable element. The system can have a first system state and a second system state. In the first system state the coupling member is not engaged with the engagement feature and the first gear rotates without moving the coupling member. In the second system state the coupling member is engaged with the engagement feature of the first gear and rotation of the rotational input turns the coupling member, the first gear, and the second gear to move the movable element.

A medical device drive system can include a rotational input, a coupling member engaged with the rotational input, a first gear having an engagement feature sized and shaped to engage with the coupling member, and a second gear coupled with the first gear, the second gear coupled to a movable element. The system can have a first system state and a second system state. In the first system state the coupling member is not engaged with the engagement feature and the first gear rotates without moving the coupling member. In the second system state the coupling member is engaged with the engagement feature of the first gear and rotation of the rotational input turns the coupling member, the first gear, and the second gear to move the movable element.

A position detection device includes two detection systems that are respectively fed from power supply systems different from each other, and displace together with a shift lever. Each detection system can output detection patterns with four digits. A detection pattern when being located at a given position is different from a detection pattern when being located at another position. In any detection pattern, outputs of certain two digits among the four digits are set so as to be identical to each other, and to be different from outputs of two other digits. Alternatively, outputs of certain three digits among the four digits are set to be identical to each other, and to be different from an output of another digit.

A position detection device includes two detection systems that are respectively fed from power supply systems different from each other, and displace together with a shift lever. Each detection system can output detection patterns with four digits. A detection pattern when being located at a given position is different from a detection pattern when being located at another position. In any detection pattern, outputs of certain two digits among the four digits are set so as to be identical to each other, and to be different from outputs of two other digits. Alternatively, outputs of certain three digits among the four digits are set to be identical to each other, and to be different from an output of another digit.

A controller drives a shifting actuator to move a first engagement member from an original position of a first engagement portion in one direction along a relative motion path and acquires first position information representing a first position, the first position being a position where the first engagement portion moved in the one direction contacts a second engagement portion. The controller drives the shifting actuator to move the first engagement member from the original position in the other direction along the relative motion path and acquires second position information representing a second position where the first engagement portion moved in the other direction contacts the second engagement portion. The controller calculates a center position of the first engagement portion on the relative motion path from the acquired first position information and the acquired second position information, compares the calculated center position to the original position.

A gear seeking shifter having a housing containing a shift lever with a depressible inner push rod. A CAM component is rotatably supported to a base of the shift lever and is driven by a gear seeking motor. An upwardly biased gate pawl is secured to the inner push rod into contact with any of a PRND shifter position gates configured along an opposing underside of said housing. At least one detent pawl is supported within the housing in biasing contact with a detent plate configured upon an opposing inside surface of the housing. The CAM component, upon being rotated by the motor, includes each of a first profile for retracting the gate pawl and a second profile for engaging and inwardly displacing the detent pawl away from contact with the detent plate to permit the CAM component to rotate the shift lever to a desired gear position.

A motor vehicle has a control element for selecting a vehicle operating mode from a plurality of defined vehicle operating modes. Furthermore, the motor vehicle has at least one drive motor and an electronically controllable, automated transmission, which is operable in at least one automatic program and in at least one manual program. The motor vehicle also has an electric control arrangement and at least one button for triggering a changeover from an automatic program to a manual program. The electronic control arrangement is configured such that, upon activation of the button for triggering a manual program for a predefined minimum duration by the driver, an operating mode, which is not selectable via the control element based on dynamics, independent of the activation of the control element, is automatically activatable and displayable on the display instead of a selectable operating mode.

An equipment control apparatus for a vehicle has: a motor for vibrating that imparts, via a shift knob that contacts a vehicle occupant, vibrations as a stimulus that the vehicle occupant can feel by a somatic sensation; an electrostatic capacity sensor that detects electrostatic capacity as a state of contact of the vehicle occupant with the shift knob; and a control section that controls driving of the motor for vibrating so as to impart, to the vehicle occupant, vibrations of a strength that is determined in advance in accordance with the electrostatic capacity detected by the electrostatic capacity sensor.