A vehicle interior trim element with haptic feedback functionincludes an elastic base layer that gives the vehicle interior trim element a soft feel, and a flexible cover layer. The flexible cover layer includes an electrically insulating top layer disposed on the visible side of the vehicle interior trim element, an electrically conductive sensor layer disposed between the upper layer and the base layer, and a piezoelectric actuator layer disposed between the sensor layer and the base layer. The sensor layer is configured to detect contact with the upper layer without deformation and to localize a corresponding contact area. The actuator layer is configured to provide haptic feedback.

Disclosed is a method for automotive vehicle including a steering wheel, an instrument cluster, the steering wheel including sensors which are arranged on the rim and configured to detect the presence of fingers (5) of a hand (4) of the driver in contact with the rim (25), situated one after the other in the circumferential direction, the method including the following steps: a) defining first and second zones of activation on the rim of the steering wheel, b) defining first and second interaction entities in the digital display zone, which are situated in positional correspondence with the activation zones, c) detecting a movement of fingers including at least one closing or gripping of a hand on an activation zone, d) undertaking an action in conjunction with the first interaction entity.

An operating element of a motor vehicle provided with a contact surface. The contact surface is provided with an element, controllable via actuators, that responds to the sense of touch of an operator, through which a feedback is provided to the operator about the currently engaged gear of the transmission of the motor vehicle.

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.

A passenger communication lighting display on or adjacent a touch bar on a passenger door of a transit vehicle comprises a display that can be controlled to display multiple colors continuous or blinking, and a control means causing the display to be dark when the door is closed, the display to be a first color when the operator has authorized opening, the display to flash a second color when the passenger has requested the door be opened, the display to be blinking the second color when the door is opening, the display to be continuously the second color when the door is resting in the open position, and the display to be blinking a third color while the door is closing.

Disclosed is a system for detecting command gestures made by a finger of a driver of a motor vehicle, including an interface pad, a light source that emits an optical beam in the infrared band toward the interface pad, an imaging sensor, for capturing images steered by the interface pad away from the driver, with a base frame and a movable plate, an optical zone of interest seen by the imaging sensor being defined at the interface between the base frame and the movable plate, the interface pad including an elastic deformable seal interposed between the base frame and the movable plate, the deformable seal including a first inclined facet, so that an optical path passing via the first inclined facet is proportionally modified by the deformation of the seal under the effect of the movement of the movable pad.

An input device includes an operation part, an operation commencement trigger part, and a detection circuit. The operation part includes an electrostatic capacity-type slider. The operation commencement trigger part is provided at a predetermined location on the slider. The operation commencement trigger part is provided to commence a first operation including a flick operation on the slider. When the detection circuit detects that the operation commencement trigger part has been touched, the detection circuit enables detection of a first operation on the slider.

An operating device having an optical finger navigation module for installation in a steering wheel of a motor vehicle, which allows for secure operation and can be produced at low cost, is disclosed. The operating device has a mounting frame, in which a first light guiding element and the optical finger navigation module is held by a light sealing element. The light sealing element is mounted by a snap connection on the mounting frame. The mounting frame has at least one guide element with which a movement of the mounting frame can be guided.

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); and—a 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.

An impact feedback operation device includes a base member, an operation member having an operation part equipped with a touch sensor, an actuator having a shape memory alloy wire, a temperature sensor, a voltage sensor, and a processing unit. The processing unit determines an energization condition required for the shape memory alloy wire, depending on a detected temperature and a detected voltage. The operation part is fixed to the base member through an elastically deformable elastic portion.