A method and system are provided for detecting a driver and passenger in a vehicle. The vehicle processor stores first and second sensitive information for the driver and passenger, respectively. In response to detecting the second presence of the passenger, provides a user interface for the passenger to enter the second sensitive information, receives and associates the second sensitive information with the vehicle and, while the vehicle is in motion, communicates with an external third party positioned along a selected route of the vehicle to perform a transaction on behalf of the passenger using the second sensitive information.

A vehicle control device incorporating at least one vehicle control element and a vehicle terminal is disclosed, the at least one vehicle control element being adapted to control a functionality of a vehicle implement or tool, the vehicle terminal incorporating a terminal display, the terminal display being adapted to alter the functionality of the vehicle implement or tool associated with the vehicle control element, the terminal display also indicating the functionality associated with the vehicle control element, wherein the vehicle control element incorporates a vehicle control display element, the vehicle control display element indicating whether the functionality of the vehicle control element has been altered. This enables a driver when looking at the vehicle control element easily to see from the vehicle control display element whether the functionality of the vehicle control element has been altered.

A display device for installation in a vehicle can include a first display configured to output first light forming first visual information; and a light synthesizing unit configured to pass the first light through the light synthesizing unit, and reflect second light and third light generated by different light sources, in which the light synthesizing unit includes a first light synthesizing portion disposed with a first surface of the first light synthesizing portion facing a first direction, and the first light synthesizing portion is configured to pass the first light through the first light synthesizing portion and reflect the second light; and a second light synthesizing portion disposed with a second surface of the second light synthesizing portion facing a second direction different from the first direction, and the second light synthesizing portion is configured to pass the first light through the second light synthesizing portion and reflect the third light.

An electronic device attachable to a vehicle may include an interface, an input device is provided. The electronic device includes a display, and a processor configured to detect that a context related to the vehicle corresponds to a first context based on first information received via the interface, in response to the detection that the context related to the vehicle corresponds to the first context, display a first indication indicating a first function corresponding to the first context from among a plurality of functions of the vehicle, which are controllable by the input device, while displaying the first indication, detect that the context related to the vehicle changed from the first context to a second context based on second information received via the interface, and based on the detection, display a second indication which is changed from the first indication and indicates a second function corresponding to the second context.

The invention relates to a steering module (8) for a motor vehicle (1), the steering module (8) comprising an optical signaling unit (14), which optically indicates an operating state of the motor vehicle (1), wherein the optical signaling unit (14) comprises at least one light source (15) and a light guide (16), by which the light emitted by the light source (15) with a main radiation direction (20) is capable of being deflected in an exit direction which is different from the main radiation direction (20) and the light exits in this exit direction (19) from an emission surface (18) from the light guide (16), wherein the light guide (16) is shaped in such a way that light rays of the coupled-in light are reflected therein at least twice so that the exit direction (19) is opposite to the main radiation direction (20).

A rotary switch device for a vehicle includes a rotary dial module including a plurality of sensors, a material configured to react to a magnetic force, and a base module that generates a magnetic force greater than or equal to a threshold value to enable the rotary dial module to be attached to the base module and transmits detection results from the plurality of sensors included in the rotary dial module to an electronic device inside the vehicle when the rotary dial module is attached to the base module.

An input display device includes a display capable of displaying an image, a touch panel including at least one transparent three-dimensional UI unit on a front face thereof, a touch sensing unit configured to sense a touch operation on the touch panel based on a change in electrostatic capacitance of the touch panel, and a display control unit capable of displaying an image related to the operation in a region where the three-dimensional UI unit of the display is present. The three-dimensional UI unit includes an upper face and a side face connected to the upper face, and a function of reflecting an image related to an operation is imparted to the side face.

A vehicle is provided that comprises two or more radio frequency (RF) antennas and two or more RF transceivers to communicate wirelessly sensitive information associated with a user of the vehicle (the two or more RF antennas being at different physical locations on an exterior of the vehicle). The vehicle determines which one of the two or more RF antennas is receiving a strongest signal from a common signal source, selects a first RF transceiver associated with the RF antenna with the strongest signal to send the sensitive information associated with the user to the common signal source, and sends the sensitive information associated with the user to the first RF transceiver for transmission to the common signal source.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for suggestion of under-utilized features. A vehicle comprises sensors, a processor, and a display interface. The processor is in communication with the sensors and is to: receive inputs from the sensors, select one of multiple driving situations using the inputs, select a convenience feature corresponding to the selected driving situation, determine usage of the convenience feature using the inputs, and generate a message regarding use of the convenience feature. The display interface is in communication with the processor and is to display the message.

A display device for installation in a vehicle can include a first display configured to output first light forming first visual information; and a light synthesizing unit configured to pass the first light through the light synthesizing unit, and reflect second light and third light generated by different light sources, in which the light synthesizing unit includes a first light synthesizing portion disposed with a first surface of the first light synthesizing portion facing a first direction, and the first light synthesizing portion is configured to pass the first light through the first light synthesizing portion and reflect the second light; and a second light synthesizing portion disposed with a second surface of the second light synthesizing portion facing a second direction different from the first direction, and the second light synthesizing portion is configured to pass the first light through the second light synthesizing portion and reflect the third light.