An input system for a vehicle having a steering wheel includes an input unit with a plurality of buttons that are disposed in the steering wheel of the vehicle, and a processor configured to detect an event and to assign a function to at least one of the buttons that corresponds to the detected event. At least one of the plurality of buttons includes a display portion configured to display an image corresponding to the assigned function, and an operation portion disposed under the display portion, the operation portion including one or more protruding members that are activatable. The one or more protruding members are configured, based on the image displayed on the display portion being divided into a plurality of areas, to be activated so as to correspondingly constrain a movement of the display portion relative to the operation portion.

A steering wheel input device includes a first steering switch disposed on a front face of a steering wheel and a second steering switch disposed on a rear face of the steering wheel. When the second steering switch is operated, an icon corresponding to the second steering switch is displayed on the first steering switch. The steering wheel input device allows various operations to be implemented. Furthermore, an operator can intuitively operate the steering wheel input device.

A vehicle user interface system including an operation device, a display device, and a control device, is provided. The operation device is positioned at a position where a driver operates, and inputting multiple operations. The display device displays a display image with using a windshield. The control device controls the display device to display multiple icons, which are selectable by operating the operation device. In a case where a selected icon, which has been selected among the multiple icons displayed by the display device, is distinguishably displayed, the control device controls the display device to display an operation display image and the selected icon. The operation display image indicates one of the multiple operations to which a processing is assigned among the multiple operations.

A unit manipulation system includes: a master display device having a terminal function for manipulating a unit; and a slave display device that establishes data communication with the master display device, and calls the terminal function of the master display device, to enable manipulation of the unit from a manipulation section through the master display device. The slave display device includes: a call menu display section that displays a call menu for calling the terminal function; and a manipulation screen display section that, when the call menu displayed by the call menu display section is selected, calls the terminal function of the master display device, and causes a display section to display a manipulation screen corresponding to the call menu. The master display device and the slave display device are coordinated with each other to enable the slave display device to perform various manipulations through the master display device.

A center fascia and controlling method thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes receiving a user input from a user through an interface module and differently displaying a screen in accordance with at least one of a location of the interface module, a direction faced by a specific portion of the interface module and a touch input to the interface module.

A method generates and outputs an operating signal in a vehicle with a steering wheel. The method includes the steps of operating the vehicle at a standstill or in an autonomous driving mode. The method also includes detecting a steering wheel angle and generating and outputting the operating signal. The operating signal controls a vehicle component, or can be used for a menu navigation of an on-board computer based on the detected steering wheel angle.

The present disclosure provides a vehicular input device including: a capacitance sensor mounted to a vehicle providing a plurality of first conductors lined up in a vehicular front-back direction; and a control unit for estimating the separation distance between the capacitance sensor and a driver's finger based on the amount of an electrical charge in a part of the plurality of first conductors arranged at the back side of a vehicle and also estimating the front-back position of the driver's finger on the capacitance sensor based on the difference of an electrical charge respectively stored in each of the plurality of first conductors.

Devices and methods in a configurable human machine interface (HMI) for multiple vehicle display devices is disclosed. An example of the method includes, in the HMI control unit for a plurality of vehicular display devices, receiving action input data from a configurable application input module in a first operational mode. In the first operational mode a first vehicular display device operates as a master vehicular display device relative to a second vehicular display device. The second vehicular display is mirrored to the first vehicular display. When action input data indicates a transition from the first operational mode to a second operational mode, the method continues by generating a control message based on the action input data. The control message indicates that the second vehicular display device operates as the master vehicular display device and that the first vehicular display device provides mirrored feedback relating to a subsequent action input data affecting a corresponding graphic user element of the second vehicular display device.

A vehicular human-machine interface, a dashboard and a method of providing information to a driver of a vehicle. The interface includes a multi-information display that provides a driver icons that are representative of a vehicle systems such that the driver can view, and if necessary, control through the interface. Input is simplified through a reduced set of directional buttons on a steering wheel-mounted four-way switch. By eliminating a separate BACK button from the steering wheel, driver input operations to achieve navigational control between various vehicle system menus that correspond to the icons, as well as sub-menus within a particular vehicle system, is simplified. The simplified navigation that is either between various icons on the display or various menu-based levels that can be sequentially shown also permits, in addition to viewing various vehicle system operational parameters, the ability to change such parameters through adjustment through the human-machine interface.

A vehicular human-machine interface, an instrument cluster and a method of providing information to a driver of a vehicle. The interface includes a multi-information display that provides a driver numerous dynamically-adjustable icons that are representative of a vehicle systems such that the driver can view, and if necessary, control through the interface. During use by a driver to navigate among the various icons being displayed, the human-machine interface enhances a driver's visual acuity by providing notorious indicia of the status of a particular vehicle system that may be of interest to the driver. In addition, by having certain information be arranged in a dynamic presentation format for selective viewing rather than arranged statically, certain information not of immediate interest can be temporarily removed, thereby freeing up the display to show a larger number of the icons on any particular screen being viewed.