A panel intended for the cockpit of a vehicle is conductive so that a large number of electrical and electronic devices can be installed inside the cockpit. The panel has a structure consisting of a plurality of layers of substantially equal shape and size, superimposed and firmly coupled to one another. One of the layers consists of a flexible printed circuit board that extends substantially over the entire surface of the panel, or at least over a substantial portion thereof, and that is provided with electrical connectors arranged at positions where the electrical and electronic devices associated with the dashboard are to be subsequently installed. Wired connections of electrical and electronic devices associated with the dashboard are eliminated. This entails a considerable simplification when making electrical connections to these electrical and electronic devices, as well as in the case of subsequent maintenance and/or repair work.

A bodywork panel (13,28) for a vehicle such as a racing car (1,2) or a racing motor cycle (27) is fitted with one or more optically clear panels (16), which are profiled to follow the aerodynamic form of the bodywork panel (13,28). A flexible reflective display screen (17), for examples based on e-paper, is mounted to an inner face of each optically clear panel (16) such that an image on the display screen (17) is visible outside the vehicle through the optically clear panel (16). A paint finish on the bodywork panel (13,28) continues over a peripheral region of each optically clear panel (16), concealing a join between it and the bodywork panel (13,28). Images displayed on the display screens (17) via a display controller (25) can thus appear like painted graphics on the bodywork panel (13,28), except that they may be changed as desired. Thus, graphics on the vehicle, such as advertising and sponsorship logos, can be changed at will during a race. Leathers (30,40) worn by racing motor cyclists can be fitted with similar display screens (17) mounted behind optically clear flexible plastic panels (42) sewn to the leathers (30,40).

A traffic light information providing apparatus, a vehicle system including the same, and a method thereof may include: a storage configured to accumulate and store intersection traffic light information; and a processor configured to convert turn-on information of a traffic light of an intersection in front of a vehicle into a database in the storage during driving of the vehicle, and configured to pre-provide a user with traffic light information at the intersection or traffic light information at a crosswalk in a turning direction before or while passing through the intersection based on the converted database of the turn-on information of the intersection traffic light.

A vehicle is electrically connected to one or more accessories. The vehicle includes at least one controller that may be configured to identify the accessory based on accessory identification information. The controller may also be configured to provide one or more commands to control an operation of the accessory.

Alternative display options for vehicle telltales are disclosed. In one aspect, a fault condition in a telltale is detected, and the telltale is presented through a secondary display system in the vehicle, potentially bypassing any local control unit for the secondary display system. For example, a video telltale may be presented on an infotainment display after detection of a fault in the original telltale. By presenting the telltale in an alternate display, the operator remains informed of sensor conditions in the automobile and may take remedial action to fix the fault as well as any conditions which trigger a telltale.

A vehicle is electrically connected to one or more accessories. The vehicle includes at least one controller that may be configured to identify the accessory based on accessory identification information. The controller may also be configured to provide one or more commands to control an operation of the accessory.

A vehicle (100) comprises a docking port and a selectively demountable switch (10) having a body and a rotary knob (40) on the body, and an interface between the switch and the docking port to enable commands entered by operation of the rotary knob to be communicated to the vehicle (100). The vehicle (100) incorporates a tow-assist system to facilitate reversing of a trailer, the vehicle (100) being of the type having a positive power-assisted steering mechanism (350) for its steerable wheels (250). The system comprises computing means (310) and the demountable switch (10). The computing means (350) is arranged to interpret rotational movement of the knob (40) on the body as desired steering movements of the trailer when the vehicle (100) is being reversed and to effect steering commands for the positive power assisted steering mechanism (350) to achieve said desired steering movements of the trailer.

Embodiments are disclosed for systems and methods for operating a display actuator to provide user-configurable actions. An example device for a human-machine interface includes a display on a first surface of the device, an input interface adapted to detect one or more of touch input, rotation input, and push input directed to the device, a controller configured to generate control instructions based on input received from the input interface, the control instructions including display instructions for controlling output on the display, and an output interface configured to send at least a subset of the control instructions from the controller to a receiving device, the device being removably coupled to the receiving device.

A smartphone disposed in a passenger compartment includes a cable connecting to a USB receptacle provided in a vehicle. An instrument panel, which is an interior panel, includes a holding groove that receives and holds the cable of the smartphone. Movement of the cable can be restricted by holding the cable in the holding groove. A light emitting portion may be disposed along the holding groove to indicate the position of the holding groove in the dark.

A vehicle is electrically connected to one or more accessories. The vehicle includes at least one controller that may be configured to identify the accessory based on accessory identification information. The controller may also be configured to provide one or more commands to control an operation of the accessory.