The invention provides an instrument control panel that is easily customized and reconfigured, and yet provides the familiar tactile sensation of physical knobs, sliders, and buttons. The instrument control panel comprises one or more interface components that are removably coupled to an interface display wherein the interface components communicate with one or more control components disposed behind the interface display. The present invention lends itself particularly well to an instrument panel.

A vehicle control system uses a touchscreen display to displaying a graphical HMI and detect a contact point where touched by a user's finger. A haptic texture system has an electrode disposed across the touchscreen display and a signal generator generating an oscillating signal to produce a potential difference between the finger and the electrode resulting in a corresponding perceived texture as the finger slides over the touchscreen. A control circuit is configured to set at least a frequency or amplitude of the oscillating signal to vary the perceived texture according to first and second modes while navigating the graphical HMI. The first mode uses a localized texture mapping defined by respective feature icon selection regions on the touchscreen display. The second mode uses a status texture mapping relating the perceived texture to each potential adjustment setting available for a feature icon that has been selected using the first mode.

An information entertainment system for a motor vehicle, includes a display unit for displaying at least one function, which can be activated or is activated by a user, and/or a piece of content of the information entertainment system to an occupant of the motor vehicle. The system also includes a control unit, for controlling the display unit and the function, having an interface for the information technological coupling a portable additional device to the control unit. The control unit supplements the function displayed on the display unit with a switching function after the coupling of the additional device and, upon activation of the switching function, to display a function of the additional device using the display unit. At least the switching function can be represented as a superordinate function covering other pieces of content displayed on the display unit to simplify integration of a third-party information entertainment system into a motor vehicle.

Systems and methods are provided herein to simplify the functional offerings of vehicle control settings to those most frequently used by drivers. A virtual image of the switch set is depicted in the large information display of a vehicle showing the appropriate, context-based control functions for the task at hand. With the function graphics/instruction shown in the display, the graphics may be removed from the switch itself allowing for the user to interact with multipurpose controls that are easily understood and not limited by hard graphics printed on a switch. The use of the display may help a driver stay focused on the road.

A vehicle display control device is provided for displaying an operation screen with a display device where operation buttons are arranged on the operation screen and it is predetermined for each operation button whether a function is to be validated or invalidated in accordance with how large a load on a driver is. The vehicle display control device includes a valid operation color acquisition unit and a first display unit. The valid operation color acquisition unit uses load level colors as gradually different colors predetermined to correspond to magnitudes of the load on the driver, and acquires valid operation colors as the load level colors that correspond to the loads on the driver when the operation buttons are to be validated. The first display unit displays colors of the operation buttons arranged on the operation screen based on the valid operation colors.

A method for controlling vehicle systems in a vehicle includes providing a steering wheel having a plurality of sensors configured to sense contact on the steering wheel. The steering wheel has a left zone and a right zone. The method includes determining a left contact value based on one or more signals received from at least one of the plurality of sensors. The left contact value indicates contact with the steering wheel within the left zone. The method includes determining a right contact value based on the one or more signals received from the at least one of the plurality of sensors. The right contact value indicates contact with the steering wheel within the right zone. The method includes determining a driver state index based on the left contact value and the right contact value and modifying control of the vehicle systems based on the driver state index.

A vehicular display apparatus includes a display section, a pointing device, and a display control section. The display control section is configured to display an operation screen on the display section. The display control section is configured to generate an image that includes one of an object and an object group across a specified area on the operation screen, and execute processing of setting a part of the one of the object and the object group in a different display mode from the other part of the one of the object and the object group when the operation finger is recognized by a recognition section.

A steering system for an autonomous vehicle includes an autonomous driving assist steering system for controlling steering of the autonomous vehicle in a primary steering mode. Also included is an alternate steering mechanism controlling steering of the autonomous vehicle in a secondary steering mode, wherein the alternate steering mechanism is not a steering wheel.

A device includes a control unit and a projection surface. The projection surface has at least one first subsection, which is associated with at least one of the functional elements and which covers the at least one functional element toward the interior of the vehicle, so that the at least one functional element is not visible. The control unit and the projection device project an image, a graphic, or an animation according to an item of information associated with the at least one functional element on the at least one first subsection. The projection surface also has at least one second subsection, which surrounds the at least one first subsection. The control unit and the projection device project an image, a graphic, or an animation according to an illumination scenario and/or according to items of information to be displayed on the at least one second subsection.

System including one or more touch-sensitive control surfaces on which control elements, which are arranged next to each other, are displayed. Using a control device with controller software, the control elements can determine amongst themselves via the controller software, when a respective control element should be active or deactivated when touched.