Roof console for a vehicle including at least one touch-slide operating element for operating vehicle functions. A surface of at least one touch-slide operating element is recessed or raised in relation to the surrounding surface. The base area of the recess or raised portion may correspond to the touch-sensitive input region of the touch-slide operating element. Two touch-slide operating elements, of the same length, may be provided directly adjacent to one another in respective recesses or on respective raised portions, separated by a demarcation. The demarcation may be formed as a rib, between two touch-slide operating elements situated in a recess, and as a gap, between touch-slide operating elements situated on a raised portion.

A programmable or configurable non-contact solid state switch device and method are provided for emulating a high reliability switch. The switch device senses position information related to a switch and is calibrated using a learning operation to learn position information of mechanical features of the switch and to map the positions of these features. Electrical outputs or functions are assigned to the mapped positions and stored such that the switch device generates the outputs when their corresponding positions are sensed. A switch device is uniquely configured to the mechanical system in which it operates.

This disclosure is generally directed to a multi-value selection switch that includes an engagement surface with an integrated touch sensor. The integrated touch sensor includes a plurality of detectable positions that correspond to, for instance, a range of absolute or relative target input values between a predefined minimum and maximum. The engagement surface further defines a switch that actuates/activates based on detecting a user-supplied force and/or based on a user momentarily holding a finger/pointer position. A user can select a target input value by bringing a finger or other pointer within operable proximity of an associated detectable position and actuating the switch and/or momentarily pausing. In response, the selection switch outputs a control signal to an associated device to cause the same to adjust operation.

A control system for a vehicle interior comprising a control element for a user to interact with is provided. The control element may comprise a sensing electrode configured to provide one or more electrical signals and a non-conductive cover material provided on or over the sensing electrode. The sensing electrode may be formed of or comprise a conductive plastic. The non-conductive cover material may be formed of or comprise a non-conductive plastic. The non-conductive cover material may be or comprise an outer layer, over-layer or skin of the control element. The non-conductive cover material may provide one or more touch interactive surfaces of the control element.

A control device configured to control an amount of power delivered to an electrical load may provide feedback regarding the amount of power being delivered to the electrical load. The control device may include a visual indicator that is illuminated by a plurality of light sources. The control device may comprise a control circuit configured to determine the amount of power being delivered to the electrical load and control the light sources to illuminate a portion of the visual indicator to indicate the amount of power being delivered. Different sections of the illuminated portion of the visual indicator may be illuminated to different intensity levels and the intensity levels may be adjusted between different operational states.

A touch-based control device can include an exterior panel that includes a groove region and a surrounding region, one or more touch sensors for detecting touch inputs performed anywhere on a substantial portion of the exterior panel, and a sensing module comprising one or more processors to detect, via the one or more touch sensors, touch inputs performed by a user on the exterior panel. The sensing module can interpret the touch input based on at least one of (i) a region where the touch input occurred, or (ii) a type of the touch input, and control a connected device based on the interpreted touch input.

A control device having an exterior panel and a control module, where the control module includes a sensor layer, and the exterior panel overlays the sensor layer. The control module is configured to determine one or more characteristics of a touch input, and to select a scene based at least in part on the one or more determined characteristics of the touch input. The control module further controls an operational aspect of each device of the set in accordance with the selected scene.

Transparent displays with capacitive touch are disclosed herein. Some embodiments include a rear transparent layer having light emitting elements, an intermediate transparent structural layer disposed on the rear transparent layer, a top transparent layer having capacitive touch elements that receive touch input, and a microprocessor that receives the touch input from the capacitive touch elements and controls illumination of the light emitting elements in response to the touch input, the microprocessor being configured to use a pulse skipping scheme applied to control illumination of the light emitting elements.

An operating element to be installed in a center console of a motor vehicle includes at least two planar elements which are at least partially touch-sensitive such that an operator can trigger a function via a touch with a hand of the operator or at least one finger of the operator and a rotary element disposed between the at least two planar elements where a cylindrical surface of the rotary element is touch-sensitive.

A vehicle door control device includes a swipe operation portion provided on a vehicle interior side of a door, a detection unit provided at least in the swipe operation portion and configured to detect a swipe operation, a door lock device configured to hold the door in a closed state, and a controller configured to release a closed state of the door by the door lock device when it is determined that the swipe operation is detected based on a detection result of the detection unit.