A steering device includes: a sensor drive unit configured to drive a sensor element provided in a steering to detect a gripped state of the steering; and a heater drive unit configured to drive a heater provided in the steering, in which the sensor drive unit executes driving of the sensor element periodically at an interval, the heater drive unit executes heater driving alternately with sensor driving by the sensor drive unit, and the interval of sensor driving is expanded in a state where the steering is gripped, compared with a state where the steering is not gripped.

A vehicle control system includes a steering operation element configured to receive a steering operation of a vehicle by a driver, a grip detector configured to detect a gripping state of the steering operation element by the driver of the vehicle, a traveling controller configured to perform traveling control related to steering and acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle, and a determiner configured to determine on the presence or absence of execution of the traveling control or the degree of execution of the traveling control based on the gripping state.

A vehicle control system includes a steering operation element configured to receive a steering operation of a vehicle by a driver, a grip detector configured to detect a gripping state of the steering operation element by the driver of the vehicle, and a display processor configured to cause a display device to display a notification image indicating at least the gripping state. The notification image includes a first graphic deformable based on a circle within an entire image area. The display processor causes the display device to display the notification image including the first graphic deformed to expand a location corresponding to a part where the driver is gripping the steering operation element.

A vehicle shifter assembly having a housing rotatably supporting a monostable toggle knob accessible to a vehicle operator. A processor enabled printed circuit board is incorporated into the housing and, upon actuation of the knob, instructs a gear shift condition to a display component. The housing can be incorporated into any of a variety of locations accessible to the vehicle operator, including being integrated into the steering wheel so that, and upon rotation of the wheel, the housing or display is continuously reoriented so as to maintain an upright position as viewed by the operator.

A vehicle gesture control system for a host vehicle, the host vehicle including an adaptive cruise control or autonomous drive arrangement, the system including a sensor to detect gestures performed by a driver on the surface of a steering wheel grip in the host vehicle, the steering wheel grip including a circular tube surrounding a steering wheel that rotates about a steering column, and a processor receiving outputs from the sensor and connected to a memory unit storing instructions for the processor to activate a plurality of features of the adaptive cruise control or autonomous drive arrangement in response to a respective plurality of different gestures detected by the sensor, wherein two of the gestures represent “up” and “down” commands and include movement of the driver's thumb in opposite directions, respectively, around a lateral section of the steering wheel grip that faces the driver.

This steering device of a vehicle includes: a steering wheel with a rim portion connected to a spoke portion extending from a hub portion; and a capacitance type of contact sensor that detects a grip of the steering wheel by a driver on the basis of a change in capacitance, wherein the contact sensor includes a detection electrode which is installed in the rim portion to sense a change in capacitance of the rim portion, and a conductive member which is disposed in a region of the spoke portion on a side facing the driver and one end portion of which is in contact with the detection electrode of the rim portion.

An operator control device for a vehicle may have a rotatable base body, an electronic unit, and a rotary unit. The rotatable base body may have a first operator control section for setting at least one first vehicle function which is assigned to the first operator control section, and a second operator control section for setting at least one second vehicle function which is assigned to the second operator control section. The electronic unit may be designed to make available a first contact signal which represents manual contact with or approaching of the first operator control section, and a second contact signal which represents manual contact with or approaching of the second operator control section. The rotary unit may permit a rotational movement of the base body.

provided is an automotive key device connected, in the form of a holder, to a mechanism of opening or shutting an automotive door or merged with the mechanism of opening or shutting the automotive door. The automotive key device includes an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor having a first body signal electrode and a second body signal electrode and a contact terminal electrically connected to the ECG sensor. The contact terminal is configured to serve as a passage for electrical connection with devices within a vehicle. A steering wheel docking station and a system configured to include the steering wheel docking station and the automotive key device are also provided.

A highly safe vehicle control device is provided. The vehicle control device includes an operation unit, a light-emitting and light-receiving unit, and a control unit. The operation unit includes a steering wheel including a rim, a hub, and a spoke. The rim is connected to the hub through the spoke. The light-emitting and light-receiving unit is provided along a surface of the rim. The light-emitting and light-receiving unit includes a first light-emitting element and a first light-receiving element. The first light-emitting element has a function of emitting light with a first wavelength range. The first light-receiving element has a function of receiving the light with the first wavelength range and converting it into an electrical signal. The first light-emitting element and the first light-receiving element are arranged on the same plane. The light-emitting and light-receiving unit has a function of sequentially outputting received-light data to the control unit. The control unit has a function of obtaining biological information of a driver from a plurality of received-light data and executing processing corresponding to the biological information.

A system for detecting hands-on or off of a steering wheel and a method thereof, include a direct sensor configured for detecting a hands-on sense value depending on a grip area of the steering wheel; an indirect sensor configured for detecting a hands-on sense value depending on a magnitude of a torque for rotating the steering wheel; and a controller connected to the first sensor and the second sensor and combining a direct hands-on sense value detected by the direct sensor and an indirect hands-on sense value detected by the indirect sensor to each other to determine a grip state of the steering wheel depending on a combined hands-on sense condition, and then to display and warn a result of determining the grip state of the steering wheel through an output unit.