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 user control with haptic feedback on a 3-dimensional touch surface is provided. The control includes a 3-dimensional touch surface to be touched by a user with an electrode structure arranged at least partly on it. The electrode structure is configured to provide the haptic feedback to the user based on electro-adhesion between the user and the control. The user control with haptic feedback on a 3-dimensional touch surface is electrically contacted using a contacting surface, on which an anisotropic conducting film layer and a flexible printed circuit are arranged.

An operation input device including: a first detection section including a first detection surface that detects a position at which a detection target is touching or within a predetermined distance, the first detection section outputting a first signal representing the position; an operation control section that controls a first operation target based on the first signal; an operation determination section that outputs a second signal only when it has determined that the detection target has moved along the first detection surface; and a switching control section that switches the operation control section between an operation enabled state in which control of the first operation target is enabled, and an operation prevented state in which control of the first operation target is prevented, the switching control section switching from the operation prevented state to the operation enabled state in a case in which the second signal has been received.

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.

An input device includes an electrostatic sensor having a plurality of detection units, and an operation body having a contact operation surface. The contact operation surface is an assembly of a plurality of contact points that all the contact points are arranged with a distance from the detection surface in a direction perpendicular to the detection surface, and the contact operation surface is divided into at least two regions where the distance between the detection surface and the contact point becomes nonuniform. The detection unit includes one first electrode unit and one second electrode unit. In the electrostatic sensor, an overlapping area of the first electrode unit and the second electrode unit decreases as the detection unit is disposed in such a way that a distance with the contact point on the detection surface becomes narrower.

Example systems and methods for a driver detection steering wheel are disclosed. An example disclosed vehicle includes a steering wheel, a driver, a detector, and an enabling module. The example steering wheel includes a plurality of capacitive sensors. The example driver is to change voltage levels on the plurality of capacitive sensors. The example detector is to measure time delays corresponding to the plurality of capacitive sensors, and determine a number of hands on the steering wheel based on the time delays. The example enabling module is to, in response to the detector detecting two hands on the steering wheel, grant access to an infotainment system.

An onboard operation apparatus includes an operation panel having an operation face touch-operated on by a fingertip of a user, an output part outputting an operation signal that corresponds to an operation element touch-operated, a vibration instrument causing the user to feel vibration, a position sensor detecting the touch position by a fingertip, and a vibration control part controlling the actuation of the vibration instrument. The onboard operation apparatus further includes a trace calculation part calculating the movement trace of a touch position, and a prediction part predicting whether the touch position reaches a second operation element within a predetermined time. The vibration control part has an entering vibration control part and a holding control part.

A vehicle human interface assembly has an interior trim portion of a vehicle, a flexible membrane, and a frame defining an opening. The flexible membrane extends over the opening such that the flexible membrane is in tension and is capable of being depressed by a user to form a depression in the membrane in a range of locations within the opening. One or more flexible membrane sensors are configured to determine the location at which the flexible membrane has been depressed by the user and provide a signal indicating the location at which the flexible membrane has been depressed. A controller is configured to control one or more systems of the vehicle based on the signal from the one or more flexible membrane sensors. The frame is provided in the interior trim portion such that the flexible membrane and a surrounding surface of the interior trim portion are substantially flush.

A vehicle includes a display unit for displaying a first character input User Interface (UI) in which a plurality of characters are arranged to surround a predetermined reference point, a touch input apparatus having a concave area for detecting a touch gesture of selecting one character of the plurality of characters, and a controller for controlling the display unit to display, wherein if the number of pre-stored completed character combinations corresponding to an input character combination configured with at least one character sequentially selected according to the touch gesture detected by the touch input apparatus is smaller than or equal to a threshold value, a second character input UI in which the completed character combinations corresponding to the input character combination are arranged to surround the reference point.

A vehicle-mounted equipment operating device includes a display and a touch sensor, which are provided in a ring-shaped area of a steering wheel, and when detecting a driver's motion on a detection target range which is defined with reference to a holding position at which the steering wheel is being held by the driver, in accordance with information detected by the touch sensor, a vehicle-mounted equipment operating device generates a video in which an operation screen for vehicle-mounted equipment is arranged in a display area of the display which is defined with reference to the position of the motion, and displays the video on the display.