To provide a LED headlight structure that visually conveys a modern or stylish appearance to an observer, the LED headlight structure is characterized in that: a headlight PCB(260) low beam and high beam headlight LED structures on at least one side of the motorcycle are mounted to one plate or in one plane such that high beam illumination is emitted at the inside of the motorcycle and low beam illumination is emitted at the outside of the motorcycle; an extension member (120) is positioned forward of the reflector assembly (140) and between a headlight case (104) and a headlight lens (102); and a window structure (122) configured for selectively passing portions of the low and the high beam illumination reflected by the reflector assembly is formed at the extension member (120).

A control device for a vehicle steering wheel (10) has a closed, touch-sensitive, preferably three-dimensionally shaped sensor surface (20), at least two mechanical switching elements (22) which are arranged below the sensor surface (20) and can be actuated by deforming the sensor surface (20), the touch-sensitive sensor surface (20) being designed to be so flexible that the mechanical switching elements (22) can be actuated separately, and a change-over switch (24) which can activate and/or deactivate the mechanical switching elements (22) and/or the touch-sensitive sensor surface (20).

A vehicle-mounted equipment operation support system include: a vehicle-mounted equipment operating device including a contact operating surface allowing an operator to perform a contact operation with a finger when operating or stopping a vehicle-mounted equipment, and an operation mode detector detecting an operation mode of the operator with respect to an operation unit, and in which the contact operating surface is arranged at a position closer to a vehicle front side than a steering wheel and enables an operation of the operator without taking off a hand from the steering wheel and a plurality of contact operation modes are assigned to the contact operating surface; a display device capable of displaying operation-related information relating to the operation of the operator; and a controller capable of performing display control of the operation-related information on the display device based on an output signal of the operation mode detector.

An apparatus for manipulating in-vehicle devices using a steering wheel includes a reference signal input unit for inputting a reference signal to a driver through a charged plate, a touch sensor for receiving the reference signal through human body communication and for detecting a touch of the driver, and a controller for generating a control signal on the basis of the results detected by the touch sensor.

A steering wheel instrument assembly includes a button assembly having a microprocessor and a push-button switch. A function table has a unified format code associated with the push-button switch and indicates a desired vehicle operation. The assembly includes a vehicle protocol adapter module having another microprocessor with a second function table having the unified format code associated with an OEM format code. The microprocessor of the button assembly retrieves the unified format code when the push-button switch is activated and sends the unified format code to the vehicle protocol adapter module. The vehicle protocol adapter module retrieves the OEM format code from the second function table in response to receiving the unified format code and sends the OEM format code to an engine control unit.

A safety indicating apparatus is provided for a vehicle that includes a turn direction manual switch, a turn direction detector, two turn signal indicator lamps, and a turn signal control module. The turn signal control module is configured for operatively determining whether the desired turn direction indicated by the desired turn signal is corresponding to the actual turn direction indicated by the actual turn signal while the operator turns the vehicle. Accordingly, the turn signal control module can automatically turn on/off the turn signal indicator lamps in response to the actual turn direction of the vehicle to avoid a near miss or a traffic accident.

An apparatus and method for simultaneously operating the horn and light systems of a motorized vehicle is provided. The controller used to operate the systems can be a single controller that operates the horn when a certain range of pressure is applied to the controller and operates the horn and lights systems when a stronger pressure is applied. The system can include a dedicated horn operating system controller independent of the dual function controller to eliminate the need for differing pressures to operate the horn and light systems substantially simultaneously. Also disclosed are apparatuses and methods to coordinate a vehicle braking system with the vehicle horn and light systems to improve the reception of safety and/or emergency warnings.

An apparatus and method for controlling a vehicle light having an adjustable light output are provided. An apparatus includes a processor configured to receive sensor data from a sensor module having a number of sensors. The processor is further able to determine a light output mode for the vehicle light in accordance with the sensor data. The sensor data indicates a vehicle or environment condition. A method of using an apparatus for controlling a vehicle light with adjustable light output is provided that includes receiving sensor data from one or more sensors in a vehicle, determining a light output mode in accordance with the sensor data, and sending to the vehicle light appropriate commands for adjusting the light output in accordance with the determined light output mode.

An improved steering wheel mounted turn signal switch is disclosed. According to an embodiment, the turn signal switch may be mounted on steering wheel so that it may be activated by a driver without the driver removing their hands from the steering wheel. In an embodiment, the turn signal switch is mounted around a circumference of the steering wheel with a left half of the circumferential switch being capable of activating left turn signals and a right half of the circumferential switch being capable of activating right turn signals. In an embodiment, a pair of semi-circumferential switches is mounted to the steering wheel with the left switch being capable of activating the left turn signals and the right switch being capable of activating the right turn signals.

A safety indicating apparatus is provided for a vehicle that includes a turn direction manual switch, a turn direction detector, two turn signal indicator lamps, and a turn signal control module. The turn signal control module is configured for operatively determining whether the desired turn direction indicated by the desired turn signal is corresponding to the actual turn direction indicated by the actual turn signal while the operator turns the vehicle. Accordingly, the turn signal control module can automatically turn on/off the turn signal indicator lamps in response to the actual turn direction of the vehicle to avoid a near miss or a traffic accident.