Abstract: A switching device, in particular in a motor vehicle, includes a control element (12) having an operating interface (14) which may include a plurality of control panels (16). A haptics actuator which is seated in the interior of the switching device provides a haptic response by displacing the control element (12) in a lateral direction as soon as a switching signal is generated. The haptics actuator has a force-travel characteristic with a second force maximum which is remote from the end stop and in the range of which the working travel is placed.

Abstract: In an actuating assembly (16) for a control element in a vehicle, in particular for a steering column stalk (10), having an actuating element (18) that is adapted to be shifted in an actuating direction (B), and a seat (20) in which the actuating element (18) is supported for being shifted hi the actuating direction (B) between a basic position and at least one actuation position, at least one separate spring element (28) is provided between the seat (20) and the actuating element (18) and presses on the actuating element (18) by a spring force (F) acting substantially transversely to the actuating direction (B).

Abstract: A proximity sensor (12) is provided which comprises a magnet (16) and a sensor (18). The sensor (18) is aligned relative to the magnet (16) in such a manner that the direction (E) of maximum sensitivity of the sensor (18) is formed so as to be substantially parallel to the magnet axis (M) extending through the poles (20, 22) of the magnet (16). Further, an assembly unit (10) is provided.

Abstract: In a lens plate (18) for an optical sensor device in a vehicle, in particular for a rain sensor, with a transmitter-side lens structure (26) and a receiver-side lens structure (32), the transmitter-side lens structure (26) partially is provided with anti-transmission features which in individual regions of the lens plate (18) partially or completely prevent the passage of the light emitted by a light transmitter (14).

Abstract: A symbol display element for a vehicle interior is proposed, which comprises a front cover formed by a diffusing lens. A shadow mask is arranged in the optical path between the diffusing lens and a plurality of point light sources which can be activated separately, and includes for each point light source an associated symbol which is projected in an enlarged manner onto the rear side of the diffusing lens upon activation of the corresponding point light source. With this easily realizable configuration of the display element, the different symbols share a common display surface on the diffusing lens which acts as a rear projection screen.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor (20) includes a capacitive sensor field (2), the capacitive sensor field (2) having a plurality of discrete electrodes (4) which are coupled to discrete leads (8). The leads (8) of a first electrode (41) are guided such that they are capacitively coupled with at least one second electrode (42). A first signal (Cm1) is detected at a first lead (8) which is coupled with the first electrode (41), and a second signal (Cm2) is detected at a second lead (8) which is coupled with a second electrode (42). The capacity (Cf1, Cf2) of the first electrode (41) or of the second electrode (42) is determined using a predetermined calculation formula which takes the first signal (Cm1), the second signal (Cm2) and the capacitive coupling between the second electrode (4) and the first lead (8) coupled with the first electrode (41) into account.

Abstract: A switching device, in particular in a motor vehicle, includes a control element (12) having an operating interface (14) which may include a plurality of control panels (16). A haptics actuator which is seated in the interior of the switching device provides a haptic response by displacing the control element (12) in a lateral direction as soon as a switching signal is generated. The haptics actuator has a force-travel characteristic with a second force maximum which is remote from the end stop and in the range of which the working travel is placed.

Abstract: In a method of controlling an interior lighting (25) in a vehicle (18), having a plurality of separately drivable lamps (26a-26g), provision is made that a motion light pattern, in particular a wave light pattern, is generated as a function of vehicle operating data by separately driving the individual lamps (26a-26g), all of the lamps (26a-28g) being driven with an identical or similar light pattern, and the lamps (26a-26g) being driven with the light pattern offset in time. The time offset with which the lamps (26a-26g) are driven is dependent on the driving speed of the vehicle.

Abstract: A control device for a vehicle steering wheel (10) has a closed, touch-sensitive, preferably three-dimensionally shaped sensor surface (20), at least two mechanical switching elements (22) which are arranged below the sensor surface (20) and can be actuated by deforming the sensor surface (20), the touch-sensitive sensor surface (20) being designed to be so flexible that the mechanical switching elements (22) can be actuated separately, and a change-over switch (24) which can activate and/or deactivate the mechanical switching elements (22) and/or the touch-sensitive sensor surface (20).

Abstract: A printed circuit board comprises an optically readable code with product information. The information is encoded in code locations which are distributed over the printed circuit board at different positions.

Abstract: In a method of controlling an interior lighting (25) in a vehicle (18), having a plurality of separately drivable lamps (26a-26g), provision is made that a motion light pattern, in particular a wave light pattern, is generated as a function of vehicle operating data by separately driving the individual lamps (26a-26g), the vehicle operating data including ambient data picked up by means of a light sensor.

Abstract: An optical display and control element comprises an at least partially transparent display screen, at least one light source for illuminating a rear side of the display screen, and at least one light sensor for detecting a temporal signal of the light scattered on the display screen. The light source is able to produce a time-variable light pattern while illuminating the rear side of the display screen. A control and processing unit is able to evaluate the temporal signal, detected by the light sensor, in combination with the time-variable light pattern and to determine a position of at least one object located on the display screen from this evaluation. The invention further relates to a method of optically determining the position of an object which is located on an at least partially transparent display screen of an optical display and control element.

Abstract: The switch housing for capacitive switches has an outer contact surface and flat electrode structures which are arranged on the inside and in a position opposite the contact surface and which are placed by two-component injection molding in recessed regions of the housing body injected from a first, electrically non-conductive plastic component by a second, electrically conductive plastic component. Preferably, both plastic components are a polycarbonate, the second plastic component containing carbon fibers.

Abstract: There is provided a radiation detection means (10) which includes a carrier (12) with at least one pivotable portion (16), a receiving unit (18), a drive (24) and an evaluation and control unit. The receiving unit (18) is arranged on the pivotable portion (16) which together with the receiving unit (18) is pivotable about at least one axis relative to the carrier (12). The evaluation and control unit is connected with the drive (24) and the receiving unit (18) and the drive (24) is associated to the pivotable portion (16).

Abstract: In a lens plate (18) for an optical sensor device in a vehicle, in particular for a rain sensor, with a transmitter-side lens structure (28) and a receiver-side lens structure (32), the transmitter-side lens structure (26) partially is provided with anti-transmission features which In individual regions of the lens plate (18) partially or completely prevent the passage of the light emitted by a light transmitter (14).

Abstract: An electrodynamic actuator (10), has a flat coil (24) formed by tracks (22, 23) on a face of a circuit board (16) and a permanent magnet (14) the magnetic field of which passes through turns of the flat coil (24).

Abstract: A pushbutton switch has a pressure switching function to recognize a key actuation and a capacitive sensor function to recognize a key touch. It has an at least partly electrically conductive key (12) and a printed circuit board (16) which includes at least one electrical contact (18) that is activated by depressing the key (12) via a switching mat (22) arranged between the key (12) and the printed circuit board (16). The printed circuit board (16) also has at least one capacitive sensor surface (20) located opposite to and at a distance from the key (12), with a capacitive coupling existing between the key (12) and the sensor surface (20).

Abstract: An optical sensor device for the detection of ambient light is adapted to be coupled to a pane (10), in particular to a windshield of a vehicle. The optical sensor device has a sensor unit which includes at least one light receiver (22) for ambient light and a lens plate (12) for directionally coupling an ambient light beam (26) out of the pane (10) onto the light receiver (22). The lens plate (12) has a surface (18) facing the light receiver (22) and oriented substantially parallel to the pane (10) in the coupled condition of the optical sensor device. The surface (18) includes a prism structure (20) having a plurality of single prisms (24) which are designed to direct the rays of a specific ambient light beam (26) defined by a principal direction (A) and an aperture angle onto the light receiver (22).

Abstract: The invention relates to a switching device (10), in particular in a motor vehicle, having an adjustable touch-sensitive switching element (12) which is switchable by a touch pressure exerted in a direction (s) of actuation. The switching element (12) is adapted to assume a first initial position, in which the switching element (12) bears on an abutment (14) in the direction (s) of actuation. The switching element (12) is adapted to assume a second initial position, in which, compared with the first initial position, the switching element (12) is adjusted by a predeterminable travel (x1) contrary to the direction (s) of actuation.

Abstract: An input device (10) has a contact plate (12) having a contact surface (14) and being least partially coated with an electrical resistive layer (16) on a surface opposite the contact surface (14). The electrical resistive layer (16) has at least two electrically conducting contacts (18). A measuring circuit (20) is provided for measuring a sensing capacitor (24) formed by the electrical resistive layer (16) and an electrostatically chargeable object (22) arranged at a contact position on the contact surface (14). Further, a processing unit is provided for determining coordinates (X, Y) of the contact position of the electrostatically chargeable object (22) on the contact surface (14) by means of a determination of the ohmic resistances (Rn) between the contact position of the electrostatically chargeable object (22) and the electrically conducting contacts.