A number of objects simultaneously touching a touch-sensitive operator control unit of an operator control apparatus are detected and a trigger position at which one of the number of objects detected touches the touch-sensitive operator control unit is determined. When more than one object touches the touch-sensitive operator control unit, a touch pressure with which the touch-sensitive operator control unit is acted on overall by the number of objects detected is compared to a predefined pressure threshold value. A function of the motor vehicle, assigned to the trigger position, is triggered if the touch pressure is higher than the predefined pressure threshold value. The predefined pressure threshold value is defined in a manner dependent on the number of objects detected.

A control device to control operations of a plurality of pieces of equipment used in a vehicle includes a search processing unit and an operation target guessing unit. The search processing unit searches, using a search term inputted by a user, for control contents associated with the search term among a plurality of control contents executable by the plurality of pieces of equipment used in the vehicle. The operation target guessing unit guesses, based on the state of the screen currently displayed on a display device, operation target equipment that the user intends to operate. The control device then sorts search results obtained by the searching processing unit in descending order of the degree of relevance to the operation target equipment and has the sorted search results displayed.

A display assembly includes a display console having an image plane spaced from a touch plane. The touch plane includes at least one touch sensitive area. A controller is operatively connected to the display console, and includes a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions for executing a method of dynamically adjusting at least one touch sensitive area in real-time. The controller may be programmed to determine respective correction shifts to each pixel in the touch sensitive area for multiple viewing positions of one or more users. The display console may be curved. The controller may be programmed to simultaneously a first correction shift to a first touch sensitive area for the viewing position of the first user and a second correction shift to a second touch sensitive area for the viewing position of the second user.

A determination is made as to whether a driver or a front-seat passenger of the motor vehicle would like to operate a display device. If it is detected that only the driver would like to operate the display device, the display device is put in a first operating mode in which a graphic user interface is displayed exclusively in a driver-side display region of the display device. If it is detected that only the front-seat passenger of the motor vehicle would like to operate the display device, the display device is put in a second operating mode in which the graphic user interface is displayed exclusively in a front-seat-passenger-side display region of the display device. If it is detected that the driver and the front-seat passenger of the motor vehicle both would like to operate the display device, the display device is put in a third operating mode in which the graphic user interface is displayed in the driver-side display region and at least part of the graphic user interface is additionally also displayed in the front-seat-passenger-side display region.

A system for amplifying haptic effects provided by a push-pull actuator includes a housing component, a push-pull actuator coupled to the housing component and configured to provide a force and a displacement, a lever component including a lever arm and a fulcrum, and a haptic touch surface coupled to the lever arm via an output interface. The push-pull actuator is via an actuator mount. The amount of displacement transferred to the haptic touch surface from the push-pull actuator is reduced by the lever component and the amount of force transferred to the haptic touch surface from the push-pull actuator is increased by the lever component. The system may include a material stop coupled to the housing component that when compressed by the haptic touch surface exhibits hysteresis to dampen the haptic touch surface.

A touch-sensitive vehicle display device is disclosed. The touch-sensitive vehicle display device comprises a body having a display including a touch panel on a surface thereof, whereby a screen operation is performed on the surface of the display by a touch-screen operation; an operation plate provided along the surface of the display; and a controller controlling information to be indicated on the display. The operation plate includes an opening section to indicate a switch provided to face the touch panel, and a plurality of touch-sensitive switch-confirmation portions provided on an end portion of the opening section for switch indication, and the controller controls a switch-indication portion to be inside the opening section to indicate switching in the display, and controls a plurality of selection-switches to be in the switch-indication portion to correspond to the plurality of switch-confirmation portions.

An operating system for a motor vehicle includes: a display device for displaying an operating area, and an operating unit which has a sensor device for detecting the approach and the position of at least one finger of a user to the operating unit. In this case, if the sensor device detects that two or more fingers are undershooting a specifiable minimum distance from the operating unit and are carrying out a first specifiable motion, an additional operating area is displayed in addition or alternatively to the operating area.

A mode controller for a vehicle, a method therefor, and a vehicle system are provided. The mode controller includes a screen configuration device that configures a touch input screen on a touch screen and a controller that detects a pattern of a touch input which is input through the touch input screen. A determination device compares the detected pattern of the touch input with a plurality of patterns which are previously defined for each mode to determine whether there is a pattern identical to the pattern of the touch input. A mode execution device executes a function of a mode defined in response to the pattern identical to the pattern of the touch input.

An alert system includes a vehicle that transmits predetermined verification information within a communication range and a portable terminal that performs a predetermined alert operation on receiving the verification information. The portable terminal includes a control part that stores reference status being status of the vehicle and needing no alert operation. The control part regularly receives the verification information within the communication range. The control part determines that an alert operation is necessary when the portable terminal is moved out of the communication range from inside of the communication range and when a result of comparison between the verification information received immediately before the portable terminal is moved out of the communication range and the reference status stored in advance indicates that the verification information and the reference status are different. The control part performs the alert operation when it is determined that the alert operation is necessary.

A method and system for providing absolute coordinate mapping using zone mapping input in a vehicle includes determining a touch input received on a touchpad located in the vehicle, presenting an absolute mapped position of the touch input on a display screen located in the vehicle, presenting one or more user interface objects on the display screen, and providing a plurality of display input zones corresponding to one or more user interface objects presented on the display screen. The method and system further include determining a user input to one of the one or more user interface objects presented on the display screen based on the absolute mapped position of the touch input on at least one of the one or more user interface objects presented on the display screen, and the plurality of display input zones on the display screen.