A display control unit includes: a first display control unit and a second display control unit that display operation buttons in a first display area and a second display area, respectively; and a third display control unit that displays, in the second display area, a first button for instructing a moving operation of the operation buttons in the second display area and a second button for instructing a moving operation of the operation buttons between the first display area and the second display area.

An operation panel provided on a vehicle is provided with: a panel member exposed to an interior of a vehicle cabin of the vehicle; an operation part provided on the panel member; and a load sensor provided so as to face a back surface of the panel member, the a load sensor being configured to detect that the operation part has been operated based on a load caused by a displacement of the panel member, wherein the load sensor is provided at a position where the displacement of the panel member is greater than a displaced amount of the operation part when the operation part is operated, the panel member has a projected portion projecting out from the back surface such that a tip end portion faces the load sensor, and the projected portion is formed of divided projected portions, the divided projected portions being provided by being divided into a plurality of parts.

A virtual 3D display for a motor vehicle includes a substrate and a flexible display positioned on the substrate. The flexible display is rollable and bendable within a cabin of the motor vehicle.

An electronic device includes a storage unit storing adjustment information whereby the amount of change in a predetermined direction, when an adjustment portion was moved to adjust a setting for a predetermined system by the user performing a touch operation, has been associated with an amount of adjustment for adjusting the setting for the predetermined system. A control unit determines whether or not the user's touch operation has passed through a region in a predetermined amount of time, and calculates the amount of change in the predetermined direction based on the touch operation when it has been determined that the touch operation has passed through the region within the predetermined amount of time, determines the amount of adjustment corresponding to the calculated amount of change based on the adjustment information, and issues an instruction to the predetermined system to set a setting value based on the determined amount of adjustment.

A method for activating a cleaning mode of a touch-operable button of a motor vehicle involves switching the button to at least partially inactive in the cleaning mode to avoid an unintentional actuation. A camera monitors the button and detection of an actuation activating the cleaning mode is carried out by recognizing a cleaning implement guided by a hand of a user on the button.

Methods, devices, and processor-readable media for hand-on-wheel gesture controls are described. A steering wheel is virtually segmented into a plurality of radial segments. Each segment is assigned a semantic meaning. Control commands related to control functions are mapped to different virtual segments of the steering wheel. When a user performs a gesture on the steering wheel, the system recognizes the gesture and selects a control function based on the location of the hand relative to the steering wheel. In various embodiments, on-wheel hand gestures, on-wheel hand location, and voice commands may be used in various combinations to enable a user to perform a wide selection of functions using a small number of unique commands.

A system for controlling a vehicle includes: an occupant gaze recognition unit to recognize a gaze of an occupant in the vehicle; a point of interest determination unit to determine the point of interest among an external object visible through a side window of the vehicle based on the gaze of the occupant; and a seat position control unit to change a seat position of the occupant to enable a continuous stare at the point of interest according to a movement of the vehicle.

Disclosed herein is a control apparatus included in a vehicle in automated vehicle and highway systems, the control apparatus including: a steering wheel having at least one touch screen on which a screen for manipulating at least one of the functions of the vehicle is output In addition, a control unit determines an intention of the user related to a selection of any one of the functions of the vehicle and controls a screen for manipulating a function according to the determined intention of the user to be output.

The control system for a vehicle includes processing circuit, and memory and a touchscreen. The processing circuit detects the characteristics of contact (e.g., touch) between the user's hand and/or an object and the touch-sensitive surface of the touchscreen. Responsive to the touch, the control system may present touch controls of a particular class on the touchscreen, establish sub-areas of the touchscreen, and/or control the operation of a system of the vehicle. The touch controls displayed on the touchscreen may perform the function of a dynamic touch control in that the graphic of the icon of the touch control may change to provide status regarding the operation of the system related to the touch control.

Electrostatic friction textures on a touchscreen panel are used to create the sensation of block icons in a contextual menu adapted to an automotive environment. In particular, a center stack touchscreen friction display in a passenger vehicle provides one set of touch controls and HMI data to the driver while simultaneously providing either the same control options and HMI or a completely different set of information and menu structure to the passenger in invisible texture form. The invisible texture is in the form of block icons, and coincidence between a finger of a passenger and a block icon results in an audio announcement of the block icon to guide a visually impaired passenger through the contextual menu.