A linear regulator (40) supplies a first drive current (I1) to a first light source (24) in a first period in which the first light source (24) is turned on and a second light source (25) is not turned on, and in a second period in which the first light source (24) and the second light source (25) are turned on, and stops the supply of the first drive current (I1) in a third period in which the first light source (24) and the second light source (25) are turned off. A switching regulator (41) supplies a second drive current (I2) to the second light source (25) in the second period, and stops the supply of the second drive current (I2) in the third period.

A linear regulator (40) supplies a first drive current (I1) to a first light source (24) in a first period in which the first light source (24) is turned on and a second light source (25) is not turned on, and in a second period in which the first light source (24) and the second light source (25) are turned on, and stops the supply of the first drive current (I1) in a third period in which the first light source (24) and the second light source (25) are turned off. A switching regulator (41) supplies a second drive current (I2) to the second light source (25) in the second period, and stops the supply of the second drive current (I2) in the third period.

In a turn signal cancelation system for a two-wheeled vehicle, a controller is adapted to automatically cancel the turn signal of the vehicle upon: (a) a determined distance traveled by the vehicle after an occurrence of the predetermined operation of the vehicle exceeding a first distance threshold and a determined yaw angle traversed by the vehicle after the occurrence of the predetermined operation of the vehicle exceeding a yaw angle threshold; and (b) the determined distance traveled by the vehicle after the occurrence of the predetermined operation of the vehicle exceeding a second distance threshold, different from the first distance threshold, independent of the determined yaw angle traversed by the vehicle after the occurrence of the predetermined operation of the vehicle.

A car door opening pre-detection system for a car includes a first detecting module, a second detecting module and a control module. The first detecting module is installed within the car. The first detecting module issues a motion detecting signal according to a result of detecting a motion of a palm. The second detecting module is installed outside the car. When the car is stopped, the second detecting module is enabled to selectively provide a first detection range or a second detection range. The control unit judges whether a car door of the car is about to be opened according to the motion detecting signal. When the car is stopped and the control module judges that the car door is about to be opened, the second detecting module provides the second detection range to detect whether there is a moving object behind the car.

Methods and systems are provided pertaining to a turn signal. AUTO CANCEL of a turn signal may be performed electrically, eliminating cancelling pawls and undesirable noise emanating from such pawls as they click against conventional structure in predominantly mechanical turn signal systems. An electromagnetic brake may dampen or prevent turn signal stalk movement if an object is in a blind spot of a vehicle. Such brake may be released or canceled electronically and quietly.

Methods and systems are provided pertaining to a turn signal. AUTO CANCEL of a turn signal may be performed electrically, eliminating cancelling pawls and undesirable noise emanating from such pawls as they click against conventional structure in predominantly mechanical turn signal systems. An electromagnetic brake may dampen or prevent turn signal stalk movement if an object is in a blind spot of a vehicle. Such brake may be released or canceled electronically and quietly.

A steering column switch for a vehicle includes a switching lever that operates by pivoting in relation to a housing. The lever has a locking pin which assumes a stable position on a switching gate when the lever is not operated and is guided into an unstable position by operation of the lever. The switching gate guides the pin back into the stable position when operation of the lever ceases. A permanent magnet on a body of the lever is brought against an electromagnet on the housing by pivoting the lever into the unstable position. The lever is held in the unstable position by magnetic attraction between the magnets for a time in which a function associated with the lever being actuated into the unstable position is active. Afterwards, the electromagnet produces a counter magnetic field which interrupts the magnetic attraction so that the lever returns to the stable position.

An automotive electronic control unit (4) configured to control operation of automotive direction indicators (2) based on motor vehicle-related data and by receiving current steering wheel angle (α) and motor vehicle speed (v), determining an initial steering wheel angle (α.sub.0) when a direction indicator (2) is activated, determining minimum and maximum steering wheel angles (α.sub.min, α.sub.max) reached during the period that the direction indicator is active, computing a steering wheel release angle (α.sub.r) based on the current motor vehicle speed (v), the steering wheel release angle (α.sub.r) representing the steering wheel angle (α) beyond which the motor vehicle's steering wheel is to be turned in the direction indicated by the active direction indicator to cause, when the steering wheel is turned in the opposite direction at the end of steering manoeuvre, the automatic deactivation of the active direction indicator (2), and determining if and when to deactivate the active direction indicator (2) based on the current steering wheel angle (α), the initial steering wheel angle (α.sub.0), the minimum and maximum steering wheel angles (α.sub.min, α.sub.max) and the steering wheel release angle (α.sub.r).

An automotive electronic control unit (4) configured to control operation of automotive direction indicators (2) based on motor vehicle-related data and by receiving current steering wheel angle (α) and motor vehicle speed (v), determining an initial steering wheel angle (α.sub.0) when a direction indicator (2) is activated, determining minimum and maximum steering wheel angles (α.sub.min, α.sub.max) reached during the period that the direction indicator is active, computing a steering wheel release angle (α.sub.r) based on the current motor vehicle speed (v), the steering wheel release angle (α.sub.r) representing the steering wheel angle (α) beyond which the motor vehicle's steering wheel is to be turned in the direction indicated by the active direction indicator to cause, when the steering wheel is turned in the opposite direction at the end of steering manoeuvre, the automatic deactivation of the active direction indicator (2), and determining if and when to deactivate the active direction indicator (2) based on the current steering wheel angle (α), the initial steering wheel angle (α.sub.0), the minimum and maximum steering wheel angles (α.sub.min, α.sub.max) and the steering wheel release angle (α.sub.r).

The vehicle control system includes a turning signal control unit configured to switch a turning signal of the vehicle between an off state and an on state according to the lane change control. The turning signal control unit maintains the turning signal in the on state until predetermined release conditions are satisfied when the lane change control in process is cancelled and the vehicle is switched to the manual driving mode.