A sensor electrode and an insulating body are coupled together by a hot melt member in a sensor of a steering wheel. The sensor electrode makes contact with the insulating body at first protrusions so as to form through holes in the hot melt member. The hot melt member is accordingly able to stretch easily due to the through holes, enabling a high extensibility for the sensor to be achieved.

A sensor electrode and an insulating body are coupled together by a hot melt member in a sensor of a steering wheel. The sensor electrode makes contact with the insulating body at first protrusions so as to form through holes in the hot melt member. The hot melt member is accordingly able to stretch easily due to the through holes, enabling a high extensibility for the sensor to be achieved.

In a vehicle contact avoidance assist system (1) for providing assistance in avoiding an obstacle located ahead of a vehicle including a contact avoidance control unit (15) configured to perform an obstacle avoidance operation upon detecting an obstacle located ahead of the vehicle, the obstacle avoidance operation including a steering of the steerable wheel via the steering actuator so as to avoid the obstacle, the contact avoidance control unit is configured to apply a restriction on the obstacle avoidance operation depending on a detected gripping state detected by a steering wheel gripping state detection unit (8).

In a vehicle contact avoidance assist system (1) for providing assistance in avoiding an obstacle located ahead of a vehicle including a contact avoidance control unit (15) configured to perform an obstacle avoidance operation upon detecting an obstacle located ahead of the vehicle, the obstacle avoidance operation including a steering of the steerable wheel via the steering actuator so as to avoid the obstacle, the contact avoidance control unit is configured to apply a restriction on the obstacle avoidance operation depending on a detected gripping state detected by a steering wheel gripping state detection unit (8).

A system for communicating with components on a steering member has a first electrically conductive coil affixed to a stationary component around a steering shaft of the vehicle. A second electrically conductive coil is coupled to and rotating with the steering member. The second transceiver is wirelessly operatively coupled the first transceiver. The first transceiver coupled to the first electrically conductive coil. A second transceiver is coupled to the second electrically conductive coil. The first electrically conductive coil induces current in the second electrically conductive coil to power a first component of the components. The first electrically conductive coil is spaced apart from the second electrically conductive coil. The first transceiver and the second transceiver bi-directionally wirelessly communicate through the first electrically conductive coil and the second electrically conductive coil.

A system for communicating with components on a steering member has a first electrically conductive coil affixed to a stationary component around a steering shaft of the vehicle. A second electrically conductive coil is coupled to and rotating with the steering member. The second transceiver is wirelessly operatively coupled the first transceiver. The first transceiver coupled to the first electrically conductive coil. A second transceiver is coupled to the second electrically conductive coil. The first electrically conductive coil induces current in the second electrically conductive coil to power a first component of the components. The first electrically conductive coil is spaced apart from the second electrically conductive coil. The first transceiver and the second transceiver bi-directionally wirelessly communicate through the first electrically conductive coil and the second electrically conductive coil.

A device for assisting a driver of a vehicle with at least partially automated longitudinal and/or lateral control. The device is designed to determine automation information with respect to the level of automation of the longitudinal and/or lateral control that is being used to operate the vehicle. The device is also designed to adjust the dimensions of a light signal, produced by a lighting element of the vehicle, according to the automation information.

A device for assisting a driver of a vehicle with at least partially automated longitudinal and/or lateral control. The device is designed to determine automation information with respect to the level of automation of the longitudinal and/or lateral control that is being used to operate the vehicle. The device is also designed to adjust the dimensions of a light signal, produced by a lighting element of the vehicle, according to the automation information.

A circuit structure and a method for carrying out an alternating heating and capacitive measuring mode by a common heating wire is presented. The method includes carrying out a heating mode, during which from a switching by a control circuit switching elements are in a conducting state, the switching elements are connected in series, so that the heating wire is supplied with a heating current from two different heating potentials; triggering a change into a detecting mode by the control circuit, so that the switching elements switch from the heating mode into a measuring mode, during which the switching elements are in a blocking state, so that the two different heating potentials are each interrupted several times; carrying out the measuring mode, in which the capacitance of the heating wire relative to a reference potential is determined by a detecting circuit by applying to the heating wire an alternating voltage.

A circuit structure and a method for carrying out an alternating heating and capacitive measuring mode by a common heating wire is presented. The method includes carrying out a heating mode, during which from a switching by a control circuit switching elements are in a conducting state, the switching elements are connected in series, so that the heating wire is supplied with a heating current from two different heating potentials; triggering a change into a detecting mode by the control circuit, so that the switching elements switch from the heating mode into a measuring mode, during which the switching elements are in a blocking state, so that the two different heating potentials are each interrupted several times; carrying out the measuring mode, in which the capacitance of the heating wire relative to a reference potential is determined by a detecting circuit by applying to the heating wire an alternating voltage.