An input apparatus for a vehicle is provided with a plurality of sensor electrodes; and a controller is configured to determine a capacitance reference value of the input apparatus based on information about sensor values collected from a subset of sensor electrodes, which is randomly selected from the plurality of sensor electrodes.

A working machine includes a steering, a steering post supporting the steering, and a steering column covering the steering post. The steering column has a switch panel arranged below the steering on an upper surface of the steering column, and the switch panel has a first switch group including a plurality of switches arranged to have an inclining configuration in plan view where the switches align in a machine outward direction as shifting forward, the first switch group being arranged on both sides of the steering post in a machine width direction.

A steering device for a vehicle having a steering wheel, a steering wheel hub or steering wheel spokes which are connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the steering wheel for transmission of a steering motion, a central part which is disposed in a stationary position with respect to the steering wheel in a central region defined by the steering wheel and which has a visible surface area in the central region formed predominantly by a screen display and wherein the screen display is an input/output device and is configured for control of at least one functionality of the vehicle.

A method and a device for operating a multi-channel device wherein common control of an adjustment parameter is carried out in different zones in a synchronization mode. In another operating mode, the zones are controlled separately according to the individually adjusted adjustment parameters. There are at least a first parameter adjuster and a second parameter adjuster for setting the parameters for the at least two zones. The individual operating mode, on further actuating the second parameter adjuster so the selected parameter is brought into agreement with the parameter value selected by the first parameter adjuster, the second operating mode is exited and the at least two different zones are again controlled in common in the first operating mode.

A control panel comprising a proximal wall, a pair of opposing sidewalls attached at a proximal edge thereof to and extending distally from the proximal wall, a distal wall attached to a distal edge of the pair of opposing sidewalls, and a panel wall attached to an upper portion of and carried by at least one of the proximal wall, one of the opposing sidewalls, and the distal wall. The panel wall comprises at least one aperture formed therein configured to receive a control device.

A system and method for identifying content relevant to a vehicle occupant using a rotatably-mounted sensor in a field of view of the vehicle occupant. The rotatably-mounted sensor collects information and data from its surroundings. The information and data is processes to identify relevant content to be presented to the vehicle occupant. The rotatably-mounted sensor is configured to rotate in a manner that directs the occupants gaze in a direction of the relevant content being presented. The relevant content may be selected based on information that is known about the vehicle occupant, the vehicle location, the vehicle destination, the vehicle surroundings associated with the location and/or destination, and vendor relationships.

A keypad system uses capacitive touch switches in combination with one or more mechanical switches for ultra-low-power operation and/or increased functionality. A Capacitive switches are activated by touching different regions of a housing. A microcontroller detects the activation of the touch switches and communicate a code to a remote device in response to switch activation. The microcontroller preferably has a fully operational active state and a reduced functionality sleep state. Activation of at least one mechanical switch causes the microcontroller to awaken from the reduced functionality sleep state to the fully operational active state, thereby enabling the microcontroller to determine if one or more of the capacitive switches has been activated to communicate a corresponding code to the remote device. While ideally suited to vehicle-mounted keyless entry systems, the apparatus and methods find wider applicability in diverse fields of use.

An operation device includes a switch row in which operation switches are disposed, an electrostatic detection sensor disposed on an upper side or a lower side of the switch row and configured to detect two-dimensional coordinate values of an object to be detected coming close to the switch row, and a controller including a determination unit configured to determine which of the operation switches of the switch row is close to the object to be detected, based on a detection result of the electrostatic detection sensor.

An operating device includes a casing, an operating button arranged at the casing for the manual actuation of the operating device, and a printed circuit board that is arranged in the casing. A switching element is mechanically coupled to the operating button and arranged on the printed circuit board. The switching element produces a pronounced sound when the operating button is actuated. To this end, next to the switching element, the printed circuit board is mechanically connected to the casing by at least one support element and each support element is designed to stabilize the printed circuit board against a tremor that is produced by the switching element when producing the sound.

A method is for operating a vehicle operating device. The vehicle operating device is for influencing a longitudinal and/or lateral movement of a vehicle. The vehicle operating device includes at least one operating unit, which can be manually actuated for controlling multiple vehicle functions. In at least one actuation state, in which one of the vehicle functions is actively controlled by the operating unit, at least one control variable of a non-actively controlled vehicle function is modified, such that an unintentional actuation and/or activation of the non-actively controlled vehicle function is impeded and/or prevented.