An operation input device includes a detection unit configured to sense a detection value changing according to a distance to a detection target object and a controller configured to detect input operation in a case where the detection value is equal to or greater than a first threshold. The controller stands by in a sleep mode in which a power consumption is reduced as compared to a normal standby mode in a case where the detection value is less than a second threshold, which is smaller than the first threshold, as a threshold indicating that the distance between the detection target object and the detection unit is equal to or shorter than a second distance longer than the first distance, and stands by in the normal standby mode in a case where the detection value is equal to or greater than the second threshold.

A switching device for actuating drive elements includes first switching elements situated on a housing surface to be actuatable by fingers of a person and a second switching element situated on a housing surface to be actuatable by a palm, a palm heel, or a thumb of the person. The first and second switching elements are formed by touch surface sensors without switching contacts. In one variation, actuation of one of the first switching elements causes actuation of a corresponding one of the drive elements only when the second switching element is actuated during the actuation of the one of the first switching elements. In another variation, simultaneous actuation of one of the first switching elements and the second switching element causes a drive element corresponding to the one of the first switching elements to be actuated according to a function corresponding to the second switching element.

Steering wheel assembly intended for being built into a vehicle dashboard and including a steering wheel and a mounting element which is stationary relative to the dashboard and the steering wheel being movable in rotation with respect to the dashboard. The steering wheel includes a plurality of light-emitting sources spaced apart so that at least one of the light sources cannot be concealed by a hand or by a portion of a hand of a driver of the vehicle. The steering wheel assembly includes a first plurality of sensors capable of picking up the light emitted by at least one light-emitting source, the light-emitting sources and the sensors being configured to form a continuous communication channel between the steering wheel and an instrument panel mounted on the dashboard.

A display control device for a vehicle includes a memory, and at least one processor connected to the memory. The processor displays, on a display portion provided at a front side of a driver's seat, plural icons corresponding to a steering switch group that has a touch-sensor-type first switch and a non-touch-sensor-type second switch. The plural icons include a first icon corresponding to the first switch and a second icon corresponding to the second switch. In a case in which a touch operation of the first switch is sensed, the processor displays both the first icon and the second icon, and, in a case in which a non-touch operation of the second switch is sensed, the processor sets both the first icon and the second icon in non-displayed states.

A touch-sensitive control device for a motor vehicle, with a control surface; a detection unit which is configured to detect a space-resolved deflection of the control surface; a control unit which is configured to distinguish a characteristic of a deflection of the control surface due to a force exerted on the control surface purely with at least one finger from a characteristic of a deflection of the control surface due to an acceleration acting on the entire control surface. On the basis of this, the force exerted on the control surface purely with the finger, as well as to trigger a function as a function of the determined force exerted purely with the finger is determined.

A method for operating a display arrangement of a motor vehicle, which includes at least two display devices each with a display surface. A visible display content can be shifted here three-dimensionally between two display planes. A detection and evaluation device of an operator control device carries out: acquisition of an operator control action by a touch-sensitive operator control surface, preferably a pulling and/or shifting gesture, and of its extension direction, and, on the basis of the determined extension direction, determination of a data set which describes the display content, as well as determination of a predetermined shift of a virtual image of the display content from one of the display planes to the other of the display planes.

Provided is a fixing apparatus which enables, when a large display is used in front of a console, easy and smooth detachment of the display itself, including touch sensor groups which respectively detect a contact with or a close approach to a display unit which is supported by a casing and which includes a display surface, from the display surface F side, and detect a contact with or a close approach to the display unit from the back surface side; and a control unit which enables detachment of the display unit from a joining arm which couples the casing and the display unit, in the case where the display unit is fixed to the joining arm, and when the contact with or the close approach from the display surface side is detected and the contact with or the close approach from the back surface side is detected.

The invention relates to a vehicle (2) comprising: a chassis (4) which is supported on wheels (6, 8) such that it can be driven in a direction of travel (5) for carrying a driver, a steering element (16) for the driver to specify the direction of travel (6), a reproduction element (48) which is arranged in the field of view of the driver in front of said driver when viewed in the direction of travel, and which is designed to display a menu (50) containing a number of menu elements (52) which are arranged to form a grid, and an input interface (36) comprising a pressure plate (40) which is arranged on the steering element (16) comprising a top side (42) and a bottom side which is situated opposite the top side (42), wherein a number of segments (44) which are arranged to form the grid (46) and can be detected in a haptic manner are formed on the top side (42) of the pressure plate (40), and wherein the number of the menu elements (52) corresponds to the number of segments (44) which can be detected in a haptic manner, so that one segment (44), which can be detected in a haptic manner, on the pressure plate (40) is assigned to each menu element (52) of the menu (50).

Disclosed herein is a control apparatus using a dial. The control apparatus includes a sensor panel installed to be rotatable and movable up and down. A plurality of first electrodes is disposed in a surface of the sensor panel. The plurality of first electrodes is spaced apart at a predetermined distance in a circumferential direction. A first sensing electrode faces the sensor panel. The first sensing electrode is configured to be capacitively coupled with the plurality of first electrodes to sense a change in capacitance.

Systems and methods are provided for detecting an object in front of a vehicle. In one implementation, an object detecting system includes an image capture device configured to acquire a plurality of images of an area, a data interface, and a processing device programmed to compare a first image to a second image to determine displacement vectors between pixels. The processing device is also programmed to search for a region of coherent expansion that is a set of pixels in at least one of the first image and the second image, for which there exists a common focus of expansion and a common scale magnitude such that the set of pixels satisfy a relationship between pixel positions, displacement vectors, the common focus of expansion, and the common scale magnitude. The processing device is further programmed to identify presence of a substantially upright object based on the set of pixels.