A vehicle shifter interface including a protruding contoured member including an outer surface having a first contour with a round shape and a second contour; a first set of capacitive touch sensor pads disposed on an inner surface of the protruding contoured member in an area underlying the first contour, the first set of capacitive touch sensor pads arranged to provide output signals in response to a rotary movement of a driver's fingers about the round shape of the first contour thereby indicating a change in gear selection; and a second set of capacitive touch sensor pads disposed on the inner surface in an area underlying the second contour, the second set of capacitive touch sensor pads arranged and configured to provide output signals in response to at least one of a position of a driver's finger on the second contour and a change of position of a driver's finger.

A vehicle console includes a trim ring disposed over a periphery of a housing. The trim ring includes a polymeric material and is electrically conductive and grounded. A proximity switch assembly is retained in the housing. The proximity switch assembly includes a proximity sensor proximate a sensing pad for generating an activation field. The sensing pad is proximate the trim ring.

A display system includes a display for the graphic representation of changeable information, an operating unit for the control of the displayed information by a user, a proximity sensor which is arranged to detect an approach of the user to the operating unit, and a control unit. The control unit is coupled to the display, the operating unit and the proximity sensor. The control unit is arranged such that, as a function of an approach of the user to the operating unit, it alters the representation of the changeable information, such that a time rate of display change of the graphic representation of the changeable information is reduced.

A displaying and operating device having a display unit and at least one proximity sensor, wherein a penetration of an object into at least one monitoring space can be detected by the proximity sensor, wherein at least one representation on the display unit is changed as a function of a penetrating object, wherein the displaying and operating device has a unit wherein a chronological sequence of receive signals from the proximity sensor is evaluated by the unit, wherein a constant receive signal is detected and stored within a predetermined time interval and, for subsequent operating, is ignored as a static receive signal of the display unit, wherein a change in the representation is carried out only if a subsequent receive signal exceeds the static receive signal by a predetermined value. Also disclosed is a method for operating a displaying and operating device.

A motor vehicle includes a display screen having a plurality of light emitting diodes emitting visible light and at least one infra-red energy-emitting element. An infra-red photo detector receives infra-red energy emitted by the infra-red energy-emitting element and reflected by a person within a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. An electronic processor is communicatively coupled to the infra-red photo detector. The electronic processor receives signals from the infra-red photo detector. The electronic processor determines, based on the signals, a position of a body part of the person within the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.

The invention relates to a control interface with haptic feedback (1), especially for a motor vehicle, designed to take into account an action of a user by providing the user with a haptic feedback, comprising a magnetorheological fluid module (5), said module comprising: an element (7) which rotates about an axis (Z) of the module (5), said rotary element (7) being in contact with the magnetorheological fluid and designed to be coupled to a grip element (3), a unit (9) for applying a magnetic field to the magnetorheological fluid, designed to modify the strength of the magnetic field,
wherein said interface (1) comprises a processing unit (10) designed to receive a signal emitted by an environmental sensor (25, 26, 27, 29) and to control the unit (9) for applying a magnetic field according to the signal received.

The present invention relates to a control device for controlling at least one function of a motor vehicle unit. Said control device includes a capacitive sensing surface (2) configured so as to detect a manual command from a user. Said control device is characterized in that it also comprises a device for detecting objects having ferromagnetic properties, said detection device including:at least one magnetic field generation device (3) configured so as to generate a magnetic field on the capacitive sensing surface (2);at least one device (4) for measuring the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation device (3); anda device for monitoring the control (5), that is connected to the measurement device (4) and to the capacitive sensing surface (2), and is configured so as to monitor the control signal emitted by the capacitive sensing surface (2) on the basis of the magnetic field measured by the measurement device (4) during detection of the command. The present invention also relates to a method for controlling such a device.

A vehicle defining an opening with a closure panel adapted to cover the opening generally includes a window in the closure panel. Furthermore, a rear window defrosting wire is often mounted to the window. A user interface system is disclosed to include a capacitive switch wire having a portion mounted to the window proximate to, and overlapping with, the rear window defrosting wire, and a capacitive switch control unit connected to the capacitive switch wire and adapted to interpret a change a capacitance near the terminus of the capacitive switch wire as a command request. The system includes a projector and a controller adapted to control the projector to project an image onto the window proximate to the terminus of the capacitive switch wire, receive an indication of receipt of the command request and transmit a command to cause a state change in an element of the vehicle.

An input display device includes a display configured to display an image, a capacitive touch panel attached on the display, a keyboard-shaped/protruding switch attached on the touch panel, a touch sensing unit configured to sense a position of an operation target when the operation target approaches the touch panel, and an operation determination unit configured to determine presence or absence of a touch operation on the keyboard-shaped/protruding switch based on a variation in positions of the operation target sensed by the touch sensing unit.

The invention is an apparatus used for providing control of functions of a vehicle in response to touch commands of an authorized passenger. The functions for which the authorized passenger is provided control are disallowed to the driver when the vehicle is moving. The passenger is authorized with two-factor authentication. The first of the two factors is the fingerprint of the passenger which is enrolled before vehicle movement. The second factor is the location of the passenger. The first factor is used when an occupant attempts to control disallowed functions. The second factor is used when an occupant attempts to enroll a fingerprint. A display panel displays a prompt to enroll a fingerprint before vehicle movement, uses a fingerprint interface to enroll an original fingerprint, and instantaneously captures fingerprints of those attempting to control disallowed functions and compares them to enrolled fingerprints.