Systems and methods are provided for training a plurality of users of a vehicle to use gestures as a short-cut for controlling vehicle functions. The methods monitor a plurality of tasks related to controlling vehicle functions completed by a unique user. For each task, the method may determine whether the task has been completed by the unique user either using a predefined gesture associated with the task, or manually, without using the predefined gesture associated with the task. For each task, the method designates the predefined gesture as being either a learned gesture or an un-learned gesture. After a predetermined time period, the method may include determining that a gesture usage history associated with the unique user includes at least one un-learned gesture. User-customized instructions that at least one un-learned gesture is available for use as a short-cut for controlling a vehicle function may be presented to the unique user.

A method for operating an infotainment system of a motor vehicle in which at least one data set stored on at least one mobile terminal is transmitted wirelessly to the infotainment system and received by the infotainment system as soon as a swipe gesture has been detected on the mobile terminal wherein the at least one data set is stored first in a buffer memory of the infotainment system and only then transmitted to a further memory of the infotainment system and then processed by means of the infotainment system when a predetermined confirmation action has been detected on-board. The invention also relates to an infotainment system for a motor vehicle.

Disclosed is display apparatus for a vehicle including a display unit, a gesture sensing unit located around the display unit for sensing a 3D gesture made by an object, and a processor for generating a control signal based on the 3D gesture. The gesture sensing unit includes a first light-emitting unit for emitting a first group of rays along a first optical path, a second light-emitting unit for emitting a second group of rays along a second optical path, and a light-receiving unit for receiving a first group of reflected rays formed when the first group of rays is reflected by the object and a second group of reflected rays formed when the second group of rays is reflected by the object.

A vehicle may include a display displaying a character input user interface to select at least one character among a selected character type; a touch input sensor detecting a touch; and a controller changing the selected character type based on a distance between two touch positions detected at the same time.

A method may include detecting a position of a first probe based on a placement of the first probe relative to a first zone on a surface of a device, obtaining a first target position for the first probe in the first zone, comparing the position of the first probe to the first target position, and generating a first haptic response to guide the first probe toward the first target position when the position of the first probe is outside a first predetermined tolerance relative to the first target position. The first haptic response may vary with the position of the first probe.

A hand of a user may be detected in free space, where a plurality of surface points are determined and include a center area surface point and at least two surface points of the plurality of surface points located on a periphery of the surface of the hand. A curve extending through the plurality of surface points may be determined based on a position of a curvature. The plurality of surface points are processed to determine if the plurality of surface points of the detected hand are arranged in at least one of a substantially concave area relative to the sensor, and/or a substantially convex area relative to the sensor. The detected hand may be identified as a palm or back of the hand based on the processing of the plurality of surface points.

In one embodiment, a system for a vehicle control display device is provided. The system includes a vehicle steering wheel having spokes connected to a steering shaft, the wheel positioned in front of a dashboard having controls mounted therein. The system further includes a flexible display attached to the wheel or a spoke. The system further includes a sensor installed in the wheel to detect a driver's hand position on the wheel. The system further includes an overhead camera and micro cameras installed in the wheel to determine the driver's eye position. The system further includes a processor attached to the flexible display, the sensor, and the cameras to determine which controls are obscured by the wheel and the spokes and for displaying pre-specified ones of the obscured controls on the flexible display.

A control system and method in a vehicle are disclosed for controlling an autonomous drive related operation of the vehicle. The method may include detecting a pre-determined foot arrangement of an occupant in a front seat of the vehicle and controlling a state of the autonomous drive related operation, based on the detected pre-determined foot arrangement. The system may include at least one sensor configured to detect a pre-determined foot arrangement of an occupant in a front seat of the vehicle, and a control unit configured to control a state of the autonomous drive related operation, based on the detected pre-determined foot arrangement.

It is determined whether a driver is gazing at a gaze target object in the eye gaze direction, and the eye gaze of the driver is guided by changing a display mode of the gaze target object determined to be gazed at by the driver. Calibration of eye gaze direction detection information is accurately and promptly executed.

A method for controlling a vehicle system by a user is provided. A series of sensor data is received, where a series of positions is generated and the position of a body part is determined from each element of the series of sensor data. A first position, a second position, and a third position are selected from the series of positions, and a first circumferential angle is determined, the angle being defined by the first, second, and third positions. A first circular direction in the clockwise direction is detected if the first circumferential angle lies between a first lower threshold value and a first upper threshold value, and a first circular direction in the counter clockwise direction is detected if the first circumferential angle lies between a second lower threshold value and a second upper threshold value. The vehicle system is controlled depending on the first circular direction detected.