The invention provides an instrument control panel that is easily customized and reconfigured, and yet provides the familiar tactile sensation of physical knobs, sliders, and buttons. The instrument control panel comprises one or more interface components that are removably coupled to an interface display wherein the interface components communicate with one or more control components disposed behind the interface display. The present invention lends itself particularly well to an instrument panel.

A processing device having a graphical user interface includes a touch screen display that receives touch gesture commands from a vehicle operator and a controller. In operation, computer code implements a set of widgets such that at least one widget is normally viewable on the touch screen display. The set of widgets are organized to include at least one home screen, such as a motion home screen that displays at least one travel related widget, a lift home screen that displays at least one lift related widget, etc. When a current operating state of a control module of the industrial vehicle indicates that a designated control is engaged, the controller causes the display to snap to the associated home screen position.

A touch sensitive screen is provided as a frame element for a component of a comfort system of a motor vehicle, to wholly or partly frame the component.

A display and operating device for a motor vehicle includes a display area, and an operating element that is disposed on the display area. The operating element for detecting an operating action is movable on the display area within a region of movement. The operating element is movable in a translatory manner on the display area.

The invention relates to a display and operating device (10) for at least one vehicle component, in particular a radio, a CD and/or DVD player or similar audio and/or video player, a navigation device, an infotainment device, a heating, ventilating or aid condition control unit, or a human-machine interface, which is provided with a mechanical control element (18) for setting an operational parameter of at least one first vehicle component and a touch screen (12) for outputting information, and control keys (14) and/or other operational parameters for the first vehicle component and/or at least one second vehicle component. The touch screen (12) comprises a recess (16) and the mechanical operating element (18) is arranged in the recess (16) of the touch screen (12).

Various implementations of a track pad system include an array of force sensors disposed between a base surface and a touch interface plate. The touch interface plate passes touch forces incident on an upper surface thereof to one or more of the force sensors in the array. At least one light source is disposed adjacent the touch interface plate such that the light from the light source is directed through the touch interface plate to illuminate at least a portion of the upper surface of the touch interface plate. One or more icons may be disposed adjacent the illuminated portion of the touch interface plate.

Vehicle system information is communicated to a vehicle occupant by thermal haptics. A heat transfer device, such as a Peltier device, is used to locally control the temperature of an interaction area along an outer surface of a vehicle interior panel. A temperature differential between the interaction area and an adjacent area indicates the current status and/or the location of a control for the system. Multiple heat transfer devices can be used to provide a temperature gradient along the outer surface of the panel to provide the occupant with a thermally perceptible indicator of an available range of temperatures and/or a temperature setpoint for the vehicle system.

A control-knob selection system includes a smartphone or electronic tablet having a front face equipped with a display and a video camera, a support equipped with a control-knob button, and a receiving area able to receive and retain the smartphone or electronic tablet, such that when the smartphone or electronic tablet is positioned in the receiving area, an optical path between a light source emitted by the display and the video camera is selectively established or interrupted depending on the angular position of the control-knob button about the axis A, with at least one reflection on an optical reflector, whereby the control-knob function uses the smartphone resources and can operate with just one software application.

A processing device having a graphical user interface includes a housing having a touch screen display that receives touch gesture commands from a vehicle operator. Still further, a set of controls is arranged on a front face of the housing. The set of controls include hardware control equivalents to the gesture commands recognized by the touch screen of the display. This allows industrial vehicle operators to wear gloves or other attire fitting for the task at hand, without undue interference interacting with the graphical user interface. Also, redundant control, e.g., via gesture commands recognized by the touch screen of the display and corresponding controls in the user control section, allow the vehicle operator to use which ever data input option is most convenient for speed, convenience, workflow, etc.

The invention provides an instrument control panel that is easily customized and reconfigured, and yet provides the familiar tactile sensation of physical knobs, sliders, and buttons. The instrument control panel comprises one or more interface components that are removably coupled to an interface display wherein the interface components communicate with one or more control components disposed behind the interface display. The present invention lends itself particularly well to an instrument panel.