The invention relates to a touch surface comprising: a carrier substrate (510, 610) comprising 2 opposite faces (511, 512) one (511) of the faces being exposed to touch; and comprising on the face (512) opposite the face (511) exposed to touch, a combined proximity and force sensor (300) comprising: an insulating substrate (210); —conductive tracks (221, 222) deposited on said substrate (210) and configured to produce a capacitive sensor; a force sensor (230) consisting of an assembly of conductive nanoparticles in colloidal suspension in an electrically insulating ligand; a protective layer (310) covering the conductive tracks and the nanoparticle assembly.

The invention also relates to a method for detecting and measuring the force applied by a touch against such a touch surface.

A display device for a vehicle includes: a first transparent or translucent layer comprising a pictogram, a second transparent or translucent layer, covering the pictogram, a liquid crystal display, arranged in line with the pictogram, and a light source configured to emit light to illuminate the pictogram by passing through the liquid crystal display and the second layer. The liquid crystal display at least partially covers the second layer, and an assembly formed by the first layer and the second layer is rigid.

The invention is a robust lensless instrument cluster configured for installation in a vehicle. The instrument cluster comprises an outer case, a PCB and lighting structure, an inner frame, an optical bonding assembly, halo lighting portions, a seamless display comprising tell-tale indicators and gauges, and an outer visor. The instrument cluster further comprises a plurality of LEDs for compartmentalized and indirect lighting of the tell-tale indicators on the seamless display and the halo lighting portions around the edges of the seamless display. Because the instrument cluster is lensless and otherwise exposed to the environment, it comprises a seal system to prevent the ingress of water and dust into the interior components. The seal system can also eliminate the risk of mura in the optical bonding assembly.

The invention relates to a function display (1) for selectively displaying several symbols representing one switching function, respectively, and/or at least two switching states, respectively, comprising: a light guide stack which, given an attachment of the function display (1) as intended, forms a display surface (8) facing towards the observer (B); wherein the light guide stack is formed from at least two transparent or translucent, planar light guides (2, 3) arranged in an overlaid manner in a stacking direction, which are arranged so as to be spaced apart by a transparent or translucent layer consisting of a material that is optically thinner compared to the adjacent light guides (2, 3), preferably an air gap (14), so that the light guides (2, 3) each have a main surface (H) facing towards the observer (B) and a main surface (H′) facing away from the observer (B), and, in at least one light guide (2), the main surface (H′) facing away from the observer (B) faces towards a light guide (3) which is most closely adjacent in the opposite direction to the stacking direction;

at least one light source (5, 5′) per light guide (2, 3), which is arranged such that in each case, its light (L, L′), via an end face (11) of an associated light guide (2, 3) facing towards the light source (5, 5′), is coupled into the respective light guide (2, 3); wherein, further, at least one microstructured symbol area (12a, 12b) provided in or on the light guide (2, 3) is provided for each light guide (2, 3), which is configured, if the light source (5, 5′) is respectively activated, to be visible, illuminated by the light (L, L′) coupled into the light guide (2, 3), to the observer (B); a circuit board (7) on which the several light sources (5, 5′) are arranged and fixed; a panel (6) fixed to the light guide stack by substance-to-substance connection and/or non-positively and/or positively, to which the circuit board (7) is fixed while resting against a mounting surface (15), wherein two light sources (5′) of the circuit board serve as an alignment aid in attaching the circuit board (7) and the panel (6); and an associated assembly method.

A vehicle rearview mirror assembly is provided, including: a casing including a first shell body and a mounting board having an attachment portion with an aperture; a mirror attached to the mounting board and including a light-penetrable patterned portion spatially corresponding to the aperture; a light emitting module mounted to the attachment portion and including a second shell body, a light guide and a light source, the second shell body including an insertion slot therethrough, the light source being inserted through the insertion slot and engaged within the second shell body, and a binding member securing the light emitting module to the second shell body and sealing the insertion slot.

An embedded light source in a composite panel. A first electrode and a second electrode are associated with a first layer of material. A light source is positioned in electrical communication with the first electrode and the second electrode. An assembly comprising the first layer of material, the first electrode, the second electrode, and the light source is processed to form a multilayer panel with an embedded light source.

A steering column assembly module having an operating device for setting an operating parameter of a motor vehicle comprises a static central element that annularly surrounds a steering axis, and a recess, and has an elongated rotary element with a longitudinal axis, and comprises a grip section, and a bearing section that is fixedly connected to the grip section. In this context, the bearing section of the rotary element is disposed in the recess of the central element at least sectionally, and is mounted in the central element rotatably about the longitudinal axis, wherein a rotation sensor is configured to detect a rotational position of the rotary element, and in dependence upon the detected rotational position, to generate a control signal for setting the operating parameter.

A collision avoidance and/or pedestrian detection system for a large passenger vehicle such as commuter bus, which includes one or more exterior and/or interior sensing devices positioned strategically around the exterior and interior of the vehicle for recording data, method for avoiding collisions and/or detecting pedestrians, and features/articles of manufacture for improving same, is described herein in various embodiments. The sensing devices may be responsive to one or more situational sensors, and may be connected to one or more interior and/or exterior warning systems configured to alert a driver inside the vehicle and/or a pedestrian outside the vehicle that a collision may be possible and/or imminent based on a path of the vehicle and/or a position of the pedestrian as detected by one or more sensing devices and/or situational sensors.

The skin (1) comprises at least a translucent elastomeric layer (5) composed of a pigmented plastic material and comprising at least one first portion (8) which is configured to be placed in front of a light source (9). The light of this light source (9) produces an image on this first portion (8) of the translucent layer due to the presence of a surface relief (17, 18) on the surface of the translucent layer (5). A clearly visible image can be obtained by providing even small differences in thickness of the translucent layer (5) when the pigmented plastic material thereof has an average spectral attenuation coefficient (α.sub.av) of between 1.0 and 25 mm.sup.−1. The difference in layer thickness (d.sub.2-d.sub.1) and the average spectral attenuation coefficient (α.sub.av) should moreover be large enough to meet the formula: α.sub.av(d .sub.2−d.sub.1)>-In a, wherein a is equal to 0.50. Since the surface relief (18an automatically be produced when moulding the translucent layer (5) against a mould surface, the image can easily be obtained in the correct position on the skin (1).

A vehicle interior component comprising a cover with a surface providing a display region is disclosed. The component may comprise a composite layer/structure and light source to provide light at a first and a second visible color/wavelength. The composite layer may comprise light-transmissive segments with color and light-transmissive transparent/translucent segments; light at the first wavelength is transmitted through a first segment and transparent/translucent segment to present a first image/visual effect at the display region; light at the second wavelength is transmitted through a second segment and transparent/translucent segment to present a second image/visual effect at the display region; light at the first wavelength is obstructed by the second segment; light at the second wavelength is obstructed by the first segment; transparent/translucent segments transmit light at first and second wavelengths. The composite layer may comprise a multi-layer form on the cover.