A system comprising an interface module (IM) for receiving input and generating outputs, the IM being associated with processor (17) and memory (19); a controller module (18) (CM) that is operable independently of and communicatively connected to the IM and that is associated with processor (20) and memory (22) and that receives inputs and generates outputs to control accessories wherein each memory stores a copy of a parameter list (38) and rules governing generation of the outputs, wherein each of the IM and CM is configured such that responsive to each input, the processor of the respective module IM, CM defines a state in the associated copy of the list and communicates with the other module IM, CM to cause the state to be defined in the other copy, wherein each rule requires a state to be present in the list for generation of an associated output by each module.

The invention relates to an operating device for a vehicle, comprising a display with a touch-sensor system for inputting a command and additionally a retaining device which retains the display. The retaining device has a base face and a free area which is defined by support elements protruding from the base face. The operating device is additionally provided with at least one actuation sensor for detecting a bend of the display upon being manually actuated and an analysis unit which is connected to the touch sensor system and the at least one actuation sensor for analyzing the signals of the touch sensor system and the at least one actuation sensor.

The invention relates to a rotary control device (1) for steering a vehicle comprising a user interface surface (3), in particular a knob, that is embodied to rotate with respect to a housing (5) of the device (1) around a rotational axis (7) of the device (1), further comprising a sensor unit (9) for monitoring the orientation and/or rotational movement of the user interface surface (3) with respect to the housing (5), a processing unit (11), and a communications interface (13) for transmitting control signals (Ts) according to an output (Op) from the processing unit (11), said output (Op) being generated by the processing unit (11) on the basis of sensor data (Ds) from the sensor unit (9).

A steering apparatus for a vehicle that utilizes steer-by-wire controls and may selectively be operated in an autonomous mode comprises a body mounted sliding steering column. The body mounted sliding steering column includes an arm that slides between a stowed position and a use position on at least one rail attached to a frame of the vehicle. The arm supports a steering column that may also be adjustable between a retracted position and an extended position. The arm also houses a force feedback motor in force-transmitting communication with the steering column.

A display device for an interior of a motor vehicle has an opaque decorative layer with a display side and a rear side. The opaque decorative layer has at least one opening which extends through the opaque decorative layer from the rear side as far as the display side and which is filled with a light-guiding filling material. At least one illumination source is arranged in the region of the rear side of the opaque decorative layer in such a way that the illumination source emits light through the opening with the light-guiding filling material from the display side of the opaque decorative layer into the interior.

An improved structure and tactile sensation providing apparatus are provided. A structure is configured to provide a tactile sensation. The structure comprises an abutment configured to abut an actuator that causes the structure to vibrate according to expansion and contraction displacement of a piezoelectric element. The abutment is non-adherent to the actuator.

A vehicle smart garnish is provided. The vehicle smart garnish includes an upper casing formed with a plurality of symbols to which light is emitted, a capacitive touch sensor pad corresponding to at least one of the plurality of symbols and recognizing a touch, a holder casing in which the capacitive touch sensor pad is mounted and coupled from a rear of the upper casing, and a circuit board positioned behind the holder casing and on which a light emitting element emitting light is mounted and configured to detect a touch signal of the capacitive touch sensor pad, wherein the holder casing includes a light guide path for guiding the light emitted from the light emitting element to the plurality of symbols, and a light reflection layer is formed on a partition of the light guide path.

A trailer sideswipe avoidance system for a vehicle towing a trailer is disclosed. The trailer sideswipe avoidance system includes a sensor system configured to detect objects in an operating environment of the vehicle. The trailer sideswipe avoidance system may include a controller that processes information received from the sensor system to determine whether the object detected in the operating environment of the vehicle is in the travel path of the towed trailer. A visual display displays a trailer collision alert zone and a trailer collision avoidance zone. The position of the trailer collision avoidance zone on the visual display relative to the position of the trailer collision alert zone on the visual display directionally corresponds with a collision avoidance steering angle of the vehicle relative to a current steering angle of the vehicle when the controller determines that the object is in the travel path of the towed trailer.

An operating unit for operating a plurality of functional units of a motor vehicle includes a screen display unit and an input unit. The input unit has at least two selection elements for selecting one of the functional units and has a setting element for making a setting on a selected functional unit. Furthermore, the operating unit is configured to display a setting state of a selected functional unit as a pop-up on the screen display unit. A method of setting a parameter of a functional unit of a motor vehicle is also provided.

A switch cap for a switch device that can reduce a pressing error of a switch is provided. A three-dimensional first cap main body moves by a force applied to a first abutting portion from a finger which is an operator. A first sensor is disposed in the first cap main body, and detects abutting or approach of the finger to the first abutting portion. A first transmission member is fixed to the inside of the first cap main body, and moves together with the first cap main body for first switching to transmit movement of the first cap main body to a push button which is a predetermined location of a switch device. A first sensor is formed in a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) disposed in the first cap main body, and the FPC is fixed by the first transmission member and the first cap main body.