A vehicular driver monitoring system includes an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly and a camera disposed at the interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly behind and viewing through an electrochromic mirror reflective element into the interior cabin of the vehicle. Supplemental sources of near infrared illumination are integrated into the mirror assembly that, when powered to emit near infrared light, illuminate at least the driver-side front seating area within the interior cabin of the vehicle. Presence of the camera is not readily apparent to an occupant of the vehicle. The camera at least (a) views the driver-side front seating area of the equipped vehicle and (b) views a passenger-side front seating area of the equipped vehicle. The driver of the equipped vehicle is monitored via processing at the processor of image data captured by the camera.

A vehicle function control apparatus and method control various vehicle functions. A control method of an integrated manipulation unit may include: establishing a first data path with a first detachable knob attached to a first attachment position among at least one attachment position provided in an attachment unit; transmitting information on a first function to be controlled corresponding to the first attachment position to the first detachable knob through the first data path; establishing a second data path with a second detachable knob stacked on the first detachable knob; and transmitting information on a second function to be controlled corresponding to the first attachment position to the second detachable knob through the second data path.

A vehicle input knob assembly is provided that includes a stationary knob located in a vehicle and having an outer peripheral surface with a plurality of radial extending surfaces such as ribs and a plurality of proximity sensors located proximate to the knob to detect a user rotating a hand around the knob. The assembly also includes a controller generating a control signal based on the detected rotation of the hand. The knob may further include proximity sensors on a front surface for added user input.

A vehicle control system includes an automated driving controller configured to execute automated driving of a vehicle by automatically performing at least one of speed control and steering control of the vehicle, an operation reception section configured to receive an operation to switch a shift position of the vehicle, and an operation controller configured to limit reception, by the operation reception section, of the operation to switch the shift position while the automated driving is being executed by the automated driving controller.

An integrated manipulation apparatus for autonomous vehicles and a control method are provided. When a driving mode is switched from an autonomous driving mode to a manual driving mode, a user manipulates the integrated manipulation apparatus, which is portable, to perform chassis functions, such as steering, speed change, acceleration, and braking of a vehicle, and to perform general functions, such as lamp on/off, honking, and turn indication, as needed. A steering dial switch and a speed change slide switch are different in manipulation manner from an acceleration button switch and a braking button switch.

In a motor vehicle having motor vehicle exterior lighting devices and an operator control device, the following lighting modes of the motor vehicle exterior lighting devices can be set: deactivated, parking light, daytime running light, forwarding lighting, and automatic mode in which the motor vehicle exterior lighting devices are operated by an automatic forward light controller. The operator control device has a single monostable operator control element by which the lighting modes can be set; or the operator control device has a monostable operator control element by which the deactivated, parking light, daytime running light and forward lighting lighting modes can be set. The operator control device has a pushbutton key or a toggle lever by which the automatic mode can be set.

A visual display for an autonomous vehicle, comprising a first display section that displays an external view of the autonomous vehicle, a second display section that displays vehicle actions that the autonomous vehicle will take and a third display section that displays alternative vehicle actions that an authorized passenger of the autonomous vehicle may select to override the vehicle actions. A decision system for an autonomous vehicle, comprising an input sensor to collect information from passengers to determine if a passenger is an authorized passenger and a display section that displays alternative vehicle actions that an authorized passenger of the autonomous vehicle may select to override vehicle actions of the autonomous vehicle.

An operation device includes: a magnet; a coil; an operation unit; a holding body; a mobile body; and a coil-side yoke. The holding body holds the coil. The mobile body holds the magnet so as to provide a predetermined clearance between the coil and the magnet. The mobile body is in contact with the holding body and movable relatively with respect to the holding body due to the operation force input into the operation unit. The coil-side yoke is disposed on the coil opposite to the magnet so as to lead the magnetic line generated by the magnet to the coil. The coil-side yoke is held by the mobile body so as to be movable with the magnet.

A method for assigning control instructions in a vehicle includes reading in an occupant gaze datum via an interface to an occupant detection device of the vehicle, the occupant gaze datum representing a gaze of an occupant of the vehicle toward a device of the vehicle which is to be controlled; and assigning a control instruction of a first control device of the vehicle and/or a control instruction of a second control device of the vehicle to the device using the occupant gaze datum, in order to control the device with the first control device or the second control device.

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.