A device for controlling a vehicle function of a vehicle includes a steering device for manual lateral control of the vehicle, wherein the steering device has at least one touch sensor, which is designed to detect sensor data relating to a touching of the steering device by a driver of the vehicle. The device is designed to determine sensor data of the touch sensor and to carry out a hands-on detection for the steering device based on the sensor data of the touch sensor. As well as the hands-on detection, the device is also designed to operate a vehicle function of the vehicle according to the sensor data.

An electrode structure disposed on the outer circumference of a core metal of a steering wheel provided in a vehicle includes an insulator and a first electrode disposed on a first surface of the insulator that is on an opposite side of the insulator relative to a surface of the insulator that faces the core metal of the steering wheel. The insulator includes an engagement portion that engages a first engagement-target portion included in the core metal.

This detection device includes a sensor electrode, a shield electrode, which has a parasitic capacitance between the sensor electrode and the shield electrode and is driven by an AC voltage, a detection circuit, which is electrically connected to the sensor electrode and the shield electrode and detects the electrostatic capacitance of the sensor electrode, a capacitor, which is connected in series between the sensor electrode and the detection circuit, and a bias unit, which biases the potential of the sensor electrode via a resistor.

In a steering wheel, a decorative member is assembled to a steering wheel main body. A sensor of the decorative member senses contact of a hand of a vehicle occupant with the decorative member. The sensor is arranged at the decorative member independently from a steering wheel main body side. Therefore, the sensor may sense contact of the hand with the decorative member independently from the steering wheel main body side.

A switch cap for a switch device that can reduce a pressing error of a switch is provided. A three-dimensional first cap main body moves by a force applied to a first abutting portion from a finger which is an operator. A first sensor is disposed in the first cap main body, and detects abutting or approach of the finger to the first abutting portion. A first transmission member is fixed to the inside of the first cap main body, and moves together with the first cap main body for first switching to transmit movement of the first cap main body to a push button which is a predetermined location of a switch device. A first sensor is formed in a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) disposed in the first cap main body, and the FPC is fixed by the first transmission member and the first cap main body.

A steering column with a switch module at least partially surrounding the steering column. The switch module includes at least one actuating lever for activating at least one function. A mechanical interface for attaching at least one bracket for an object is provided in the area of the switch module. The interface is configured as a separate component mounted on the switch module.

A steering wheel and a heat-conducting device are provided. The steering wheel includes a body, a handle, a heating device, an electronic control unit, a heat-conducting member and a base. The handle is adjacent to the body, and the heating device is disposed in the handle and receives a driving signal to generate heat accordingly. The electronic control unit is electrically connected to the heating device through a driving wire, and provides the driving signal to the heating device. The heat-conducting member forms a waste heat path, and the heat-conducting member and the heating device are located at different locations in the handle. The base is connected to the electronic control unit, collects waste heat from the electronic control unit, and is connected to the heat-conducting member through a heat dissipation wire to transfer the waste heat to the heat-conducting member.

A vehicle interior component configured to present a user interface for a vehicle occupant with vehicle systems may comprise a housing, cover structure and user interface system to present the user interface at a cover surface. The user interface may comprise a light display to transmit light from a light source and/or an input device comprising a mechanical coupling to interface with a sensor arrangement. The user interface may comprise output from the light display and/or input by interaction with the input device at the cover surface. The component may comprise a module comprising the light display and the input device. The module may comprise an absorber. The light display may comprise a light guide and/or display panel. The light guide may comprise a projection and/or icon to transmit light through an aperture and/or recess of the cover structure.

A sensing system and method of recognizing a hand gesture established by a sequence of hand touch positionings on an object. The method includes at least steps of: providing to a signal line a time-dependent measurement signal; receiving the measurement signal after being at least partially reflected by at least one portion of the signal line; determining positions on the object of the portions of the signal line that have reflected the measurement signal; comparing an obtained plurality of stored successively determined positions on the object with at least one predefined pattern of successive positions to derive a measure of similarity; and providing an output signal that is indicative of the predefined pattern of successive positions if the derived measure of similarity is lower than a predefined threshold value.

A device for providing external communication by a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a steering wheel having one or more light-emitting elements in a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The device is configured to ascertain external information that needs to be communicated to a user of the vehicle who is arranged outside of the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The device is furthermore configured to prompt the one or more light-emitting elements to generate a light signal in order to display the external information.