A shifter module is provided for a vehicle. The shifter module includes: a substrate adapted for mounting to the vehicle; a shifter knob provided on top of the substrate for enabling a driver to select a gear of the transmission; and a pop-up storage compartment for storing a portable electronic device. The pop-up storage compartment includes: a storage drawer movable between a stowed position and an accessible position within an aperture in the substrate, the storage drawer including a forward support adapted to receive a rear surface of the portable electronic device, the forward support supports the portable electronic device so that a front surface of the portable device is visible to the driver when the storage drawer is in the accessible position; and a rail system extending below the aperture of the substrate for receiving and guiding the storage drawer between the stowed position and the accessible position.

Various implementations relate to an operator monitoring system (OMS). Certain implementations include an OMS coupled to a rotatable portion of a steering wheel assembly of a vehicle. For example, the OMS may include an imaging unit, such as a camera, that is coupled to a central hub portion of the steering wheel assembly. The imaging unit has a field of view directed toward one or more occupants in the vehicle and is configured to capture an image signal corresponding to an imaging area in the field of view. The imaging area can be configured to encapsulate an expected position of one or more vehicle occupants. The OMS also includes one or more processing units in electrical communication with the imaging unit that receives and processes the image signal from the imaging unit to determine an occupant state and, in some implementations, provide feedback based on the determined occupant state.

An acoustic device to be mounted in a vehicle, the acoustic device including at least two speakers arranged before a front face of an occupant sitting in a seat to sandwich a center line of the seat and a control unit that controls characteristics of sound output from each of the speakers such that a stereophonic sound image produced by sounds output from the at least two speakers is maintained. The at least two speakers are installed on a steering wheel of the vehicle.

A method of playing a video game on a smartphone using a snow bike is provided. A holder is mounted to the front frame of a snow bike in a manner where the holder is positioned at a central portion of the front frame, and a smartphone is positioned in the holder. Two conductive button assemblies are provided, each having a conductive button, a conductive suction cup, and a connecting wire that connects the conductive button to the conductive suction cup. Each conductive button is clipped onto a separate handlebar, and each conductive suction cup is attached to the touchscreen of the smartphone. The user then actuates a video game on the smartphone and manipulates the steering assembly to play the video game.

A multi-function input apparatus of a steering wheel that includes an outer dial having a planar surface and a center dial having a capacitive surface such that the center dial is responsive to capacitive touch along the capacitive surface. The center dial being disposed within the outer dial and the outer dial is rotatable about a rotation axis independent of the center dial such that the center dial is rotatably fixed when the outer dial rotates. The outer dial including a recessed portion positioned along the planar surface such that the recessed portion is rotatable about the center dial. The recessed portion of the outer dial is translatable along the rotation axis.

This invention is constructed of strong lightweight durable material like synthetic thermoplastic resin 5 mm thick or another material with similar characteristics. The material is cut into panels of a specific shape and dimension and bonded together with a proprietary adhesive process. The worktable surface is rectangular. Underneath the work table are two rectangular panels, each attached vertically at a 50 opposing angle, apart 6 at the top and 15.5 at the bottom. These are referred as the angled gravity studs. Underneath and 14 from the top is a rectangular panel, which is attached horizontally from side to side. This is the stabilizing bar. At the bottom top side of the worktable is a rectangular panel, attached horizontally and from side to side. This is the shelf panel. The work table is grasped by two hands and lifted up and over the crown of the steering wheel. As the work table is directed toward the windshield and then down until the angled gravity studs each come in contact with the steering wheel on either side at approximately 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock thereby securing the table from side to side movement and preventing downward movement. The stabilizing bar contacts the steering wheel at two points on either side of the lower semicircle at approximately 5 o'clock and 7 o'clock. This bar prevents its work table from rocking and in addition serves to lift up the bottom of the work table causing the angled panels to tilt upward creating an angle at the point of contact with the steering wheel which serves to provide a more secure grip on the steering wheel. The work table is now very stable and secure on the steering wheel. The shelf panel or bar serves as a lip or shelf to hold work supplies and work tools. The rectangular tab located underneath at top of the work table between the gravity studs facilitates transport.

A multi-function input apparatus of a steering wheel that includes an outer dial having a planar surface and a center dial having a capacitive surface such that the center dial is responsive to capacitive touch along the capacitive surface. The center dial being disposed within the outer dial and the outer dial is rotatable about a rotation axis independent of the center dial such that the center dial is rotatably fixed when the outer dial rotates. The outer dial including a recessed portion positioned along the planar surface such that the recessed portion is rotatable about the center dial. The recessed portion of the outer dial is translatable along the rotation axis.

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle user interface system allowing for plug and play customizations of vehicle electronics. These customizations are permitted by the use of vehicle electronics modules that can be moved as desired without requiring additional programming from the user to map a desired function to a specific switch of the vehicle electronics system.

Systems and methods for selecting a control mode to launch an application in a vehicle are described. For one embodiment, a system for selecting control modes for launching applications in a vehicle with a dashboard screen can include a computing device embedded in the vehicle, the computing device connected to the dashboard screen and a control display; and an operating system installed on the computing device, the operating system running a multi-display controller and one or more applications. The multi-display controller is to receive a request from the control display for launching an application, determine a control mode used to launch the application based on an integration level indicator of the application, and launch the application in the determined control mode. A metabar and a global widget can be created on top of the dashboard screen. The metabar is permanently displayed across the dashboard screen, and can contain environmental and driving-related information. The global widget appears contextually in response to a state change of a system component in the vehicle.

A steering wheel control interface module that can automatically detect the type of vehicle it is installed in and automatically detect the type of aftermarket radio it is sending messages to. In addition, the interface module can retain certain user pre-selects and use those to properly set the state of an aftermarket radio.