The present invention relates to automotive interface systems and methods. In one embodiment, an automotive interface system includes a steering wheel and an integrated interpolated variable impedance array that comprises a grid of sensing elements. The sensing elements are configured to power on simultaneously and to simultaneously generate multiple currents along multiple current paths in response to sensing a touch wherein the amount of current generated by a sensing element of the grid is directly proportional to the force applied by the touch. The automotive interface system also includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a processor communicatively coupled to the interpolated variable impedance array that are configured to receive the multiple currents along multiple current paths and determine a location, a duration, an area, and a force of the touch from the multiple currents along multiple current paths.

A vehicle U-turn signal indicating system for alerting on-coming and trailing vehicles to an operator's intention to make a U-turn is disclosed herein. The vehicle U-turn signal indicating system comprises a first lighting system provided at a front of a vehicle. Additionally, the vehicle U-turn signal indicating system also comprises a second lighting system provided at a rear of the vehicle. Furthermore, the vehicle U-turn signal indicating system includes a first U-turn signal activator and a second U-turn signal activator provided in the vehicle. The first U-turn signal activator is activated to flash the first lighting system and the second lighting system. The second U-turn signal activator is activated to flash the first lighting system and the third lighting system to alert the on-coming and the following vehicles to an operator's intention to make a U-turn.

The present invention provides a capacitive switch device comprising: a touch sensing unit (100) including a sensing electrode (110) and a transmission electrode (120), which are disposed on a substrate (2); and a touch control module (200) disposed on a substrate (2), and configured to confirm a manipulator's contact manipulation state based on a sensing signal from the touch sensing unit (100) and output a touch output signal, wherein the transmission electrode (120) outputs a transmission signal in response to a transmission control signal from the touch control module (200), and the sensing electrode (110) detects a signal in response to a sensing control signal from the touch control module (200) for application to the touch control module (200), and wherein the touch control module (200) activates the sensing electrode (110) and the transmission electrode (120) according to a preset mode, and a method for controlling the same.

Disclosed is a touchpad system forming a human-machine interface, intended for a vehicle steering wheel. The touchpad system includes a light source illuminating the touchpad and a camera capturing light coming from the touchpad. The touchpad includes a first marker able to reflect the light coming from the light source, and the touchpad, with the exception of the first marker, being transparent to the light emitted by the light source. The system is notable in particular in that pressure on the touchpad causes the touchpad to move and in that, when the touchpad is in a first position, the first marker is not visible to the camera and, when the touchpad is in a second position, the first marker is visible to the camera.

The present invention relates to automotive interface systems and methods. In one embodiment, an automotive interface system includes a steering wheel and an integrated interpolated variable impedance array that comprises a grid of sensing elements. The sensing elements are configured to power on simultaneously and to simultaneously generate multiple currents along multiple current paths in response to sensing a touch wherein the amount of current generated by a sensing element of the grid is directly proportional to the force applied by the touch. The automotive interface system also includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a processor communicatively coupled to the interpolated variable impedance array that are configured to receive the multiple currents along multiple current paths and determine a location, a duration, an area, and a force of the touch from the multiple currents along multiple current paths.

A vehicle control device includes a driving controller controls one of or both steering and acceleration/deceleration of the vehicle, and a mode determinator determines any of a plurality of driving modes including a first driving mode and a second driving mode as a driving mode of the vehicle, in which tasks imposed on a driver in the second driving mode are less significant than in the first driving mode and one of or both steering and acceleration/deceleration of the vehicle are controlled by the driving controller, the driving controller controls the vehicle in the second driving mode, and the driving mode is changed to the first driving mode when an abnormality occurs in a combination switch, combination switch related equipment which is connected between the driving controller and the combination switch via a communication line, or communication which is performed by the combination switch and the driving controller.

A vehicle control device includes a driving controller controls one of or both steering and acceleration/deceleration of the vehicle, and a mode determinator determines any of a plurality of driving modes including a first driving mode and a second driving mode as a driving mode of the vehicle, in which tasks imposed on a driver in the second driving mode are less significant than in the first driving mode and one of or both steering and acceleration/deceleration of the vehicle are controlled by the driving controller, the driving controller controls the vehicle in the second driving mode, and the driving mode is changed to the first driving mode when an abnormality occurs in a combination switch, combination switch related equipment which is connected between the driving controller and the combination switch via a communication line, or communication which is performed by the combination switch and the driving controller.

A lever operation device includes an operation lever which rotates integrally with a steering wheel of a vehicle and receives operations at least in upward and downward directions and around which a predetermined region is set so as to prevent the operation lever from contacting with a leg of a user seated in a driver's seat when the steering wheel is rotated to a maximum steering angle, and an operation portion that is arranged on the operation lever so as not to be located out of the region and includes plural operating positions each assigned an executable function.

A steering switch device, which is mounted on a steering wheel, includes a linear switch that includes a hollow insulator having restorability and two electrode wires arranged spirally along an inner surface of a hollow part in the hollow insulator while being kept not in contact with each other, wherein a winding pitch coiling spirally the electrode wires is at least not more than 10 mm, and a detecting device that detects a press of the linear switch by sensing a contact of the electrode wires. The linear switch is arranged so as to be along at least part of a surface of the steering wheel.

Disclosed is a touchpad system forming a human-machine interface, intended for a vehicle steering wheel. The touchpad system includes a light source illuminating the touchpad and a camera capturing light coming from the touchpad. The touchpad includes a first marker able to reflect the light coming from the light source, and the touchpad, with the exception of the first marker, being transparent to the light emitted by the light source. The system is notable in particular in that pressure on the touchpad causes the touchpad to move and in that, when the touchpad is in a first position, the first marker is not visible to the camera and, when the touchpad is in a second position, the first marker is visible to the camera.