A vehicular sensing and control system includes a sensor module having (i) a switch face, (ii) a force sensing sensor, (iii) a haptic feedback device, and (iv) a microcontroller. Responsive to a user applying a first finger force the switch face, a first signal generated by the force sensing sensor is provided to the microcontroller. The microcontroller, based on the first signal, causes the haptic feedback device to generate a first haptic feedback associated with a first function of the vehicle and controls the first function of the vehicle. Responsive to the driver applying a second finger force to the switch face, a second signal generated by the force sensing sensor is provided to the microcontroller. The microcontroller, based on the second signal, causes the haptic feedback device to generate a second haptic feedback associated with a second function of the vehicle and controls the second function of the vehicle.

There is described a motor vehicle control device (10) with a control unit (12), which includes a movable control element (14), and an electrode carrier (20) which comprises at least two electrodes (24) associated to the control element (14), which are contacted electrically and together with the control unit (12) form a common capacitor (38).

An electronic device has a keyboard with an internal membrane. The membrane has a set of strain gauges configured to respond to a key press, such as when a collapsible dome collapses into contact with the membrane. The strain gauges are connected in a half Wheatstone bridge configuration and are positioned on the membrane in order to limit effects of temperature and subtle flexure of the membrane. The strain gauges are also configured to magnify detection of a resistance differential when a keycap is pressed with sufficient force.

The present application generally relates to antennas embedded in or on glass structures. More specifically, the application teaches a wideband conformal antenna employing thin film constructions facilitating attachment to external automotive surfaces with capacitive feedback and integrated lighting to enable a conformal activation switch.

An electronic device such as a fabric item or other item may have control circuitry. Buttons such as fabric-based buttons may be mounted within the device. A user may depress the buttons when it is desired to control operation of the device. Each button may have sensor circuitry such as capacitive sensor circuitry or resistive sensor circuitry. A control circuit can monitor conductive structures in the button to detect changes in electrical button characteristics such as capacitance and resistance and thereby gather information on button press events. Fabric buttons may have fabric movable button structures that are coupled to fabric support structures by fabric biasing structures. The fabric biasing structures may contain strands of material that are configured to form bistable fabric springs and/or hinges. The biasing structures and other fabric structures in a fabric button may be formed from knit fabric or other intertwined strands of material.

An input device includes: a substrate; a first detection electrode that detects input to the input device; a light emitter that emits light when the input is performed; a body plate disposed on the front surface side of the substrate and through which the light is transmitted; and a light guide including an incident surface from which the light enters and a light exit surface from which the light entered from the incident surface exits. A design portion that is light transmissive is disposed on an opposite side of the body plate to the substrate. A penetration hole penetrates through the substrate at a position opposite the design portion. The light guide is disposed in the penetration hole with the incident surface oriented facing a light emitting surface of the light emitter and the light exit surface oriented facing the design portion with the body plate interposed therebetween.

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.

Provided is a smart garnish installed on an automobile interior material (a door trim, an instrument panel, a console, or the like), and to a smart garnish for an automobile which is driven when a capacitance change is sensed by a pressed deformation of an upper case through a capacitive touch sensor pad formed of a ground (GND) and capacitive touch sensors corresponding to symbols and capacitive force sensors distributed corresponding to the ground and thus the touch and force of the desired symbol are sensed without noise.

A laminated light guide and component carrier includes a polymeric material body having a first face. A light emitting diode is positioned on the first face. A connector is positioned on the first face. A through aperture is created in the body positioned proximate to the light emitting diode. A light guide of a light transmissive polymeric material is overmolded onto the light emitting diode and fills the through aperture and covers substantially all of the first face positioned outside of the space envelope containing the connector.

An electronic device such as a fabric item or other item may have control circuitry. Buttons such as fabric-based buttons may be mounted within the device. A user may depress the buttons when it is desired to control operation of the device. Each button may have sensor circuitry such as capacitive sensor circuitry or resistive sensor circuitry. A control circuit can monitor conductive structures in the button to detect changes in electrical button characteristics such as capacitance and resistance and thereby gather information on button press events. Fabric buttons may have fabric movable button structures that are coupled to fabric support structures by fabric biasing structures. The fabric biasing structures may contain strands of material that are configured to form bistable fabric springs and/or hinges. The biasing structures and other fabric structures in a fabric button may be formed from knit fabric or other intertwined strands of material.