A system for detecting command gestures made by a finger of a motor vehicle driver, including at least one interface pad, a light source that emits an infrared optical beam toward the interface pad, an imaging sensor, in order to capture images steered by the interface pad away from the driver, the interface pad including a base frame and a movable plate that is movable between a rest position and at least one activation position, the base frame including a first inclined edge and the movable plate including a second inclined edge, the first and second inclined edges forming a zone of contrasts of interest as seen by the imaging sensor, and being separated by a space or brought closer together depending on the position of the movable plate, and generating a contrast effect in the images of the interface pad that are captured by the imaging sensor.

It is provided a steering wheel for a motor vehicle having a steering-wheel frame and at least one element for setting the vibration frequency and/or the inertia of the steering wheel. The at least one element is electrically conductive and is part of a sensor element.

In a vehicle steering switch system, an operation switch is disposed in a vehicle steering wheel. A displays a display image. An operation detector detects operation of a user on the operation switch. A process corresponding to a function assigned to the operation switch at a detected time is executed. The display image displayed on the display is associated to the function assigned to the operation switch and switching of the display image or the function is performed.

A multi-dimensional track pad is described that acts as human-machine interface (HMI). Inputs to the HMI can be made not only using the tradition two-dimensional (X-Y) inputs of a track pad, but also a third dimension, force, and even a fourth dimension, time. Tactile or audible feedback to the inputs can be provided. Methods of using the HMI to control a system are described as well as a track pad system that utilizes the HMI in communication with a processor.

A driver station of a vehicle including a support structure and a module that has a central part, a steering wheel and an electronic communication interface element. The central part is connected to the support structure. The steering wheel and the electronic communication interface element are arranged on either side of the central part along a main direction. The module is able to be moved relative to the support structure between a first position, in which the steering wheel is provided to be across from a driver, and a second position, in which the electronic communication interface element is provided to be across from the driver.

Systems and methods for dynamically limiting the road speed of a vehicle are provided herein. The method includes limiting the speed of the vehicle to a predetermined first speed under normal operating conditions. The method further includes selectively engaging an override condition for an activation interval responsive to an operator generated input. The override condition may be limited to a determined number of times in an activation assessment interval. During an activation interval of the override condition, the vehicle can exceed the predetermined first speed by a specified offset that defines a second speed greater than the first speed. The activation interval may be a period of time or a distance. The override condition is not available when the number of activations in the activation assessment interval exceeds a threshold value. The activation assessment interval may be defined by a period of time, a distance, an event or action, etc.

A steering apparatus includes a steering wheel, a support frame, a frame fixation part, and a steering transmission part. The support frame rotatably supports the steering wheel. The frame fixation part fixes the support frame to a vehicle body. The steering transmission part transmits a rotation of the steering wheel relative to the support frame to a steering mechanism of a wheel. The support frame and the frame fixation part are arranged at a position that does not overlap with a rotation center axis line of the steering wheel in a front view of the steering wheel.

A smart controller for vehicles disposed around a steering column of a vehicle to control various functions of the vehicle is provided. The smart controller includes a support unit protruding from the steering column in a first direction, a connection unit extending from the support unit in a second direction, and a manipulation unit mounted to the connection unit and disposed in a third direction. The manipulation unit includes a plurality of manipulators each configured to receive user input necessary to execute a specific function of a vehicle while mounted to the connection unit or being separated from the connection unit. The support unit protrudes in the X-axis direction, the connection unit extends in the Z-axis direction, and the manipulation unit is disposed in the Y-axis direction.

The invention relates to a vehicle control panel (15) that comprises:at least one clickable key (20) to which is assigned at least one function, said key (20) being configured to move at least between an inactive position and an active position in which said function is activated;a screen (25) for displaying the current function of the key (20). The function is automatically assigned to the key (20) depending on a current parameter of the vehicle equipped with said control panel (15) or on a current context-related parameter.

A control system at a vehicle for managing of a safety feature of the vehicle by a vehicle occupant, the control system includes an input interface configured to receive input by the vehicle occupant in order to control a safety feature of a vehicle, a safety switch configured to be activated via input by the vehicle occupant for controlling operation of the input interface, a processing circuitry operatively connected to the safety switch and the input interface, the processing circuitry is configured to detect activation of the safety switch via input by the vehicle occupant, enable operation of the input interface, detect input by the vehicle occupant via the input interface, and control operation of the safety feature of the vehicle.