Abstract: A motor vehicle steering wheel assembly may include a ring-shaped member comprising a slot and an internal recess, wherein the slot and internal recess extend circumferentially about the ring-shaped member, the slot being provided in a surface of the ring-shaped member and forming an aperture into the internal recess; a support portion configured to be coupled to a vehicle support structure, the support portion extending through the slot; and a guide portion coupled to the support portion, the guide portion being slidably disposed in the internal recess such that the ring-shaped member is rotatable.

Abstract: A method for a display system of a motor vehicle is provided. The motor vehicle comprises one or more seats for occupants of the vehicle, the position and/or orientation of the seats within an interior of the motor vehicle being variable. The method comprises: determining a position and/or orientation of the seats; determining an orientation at least a first portion of an image to be displayed by the display system according to the position and/or orientation of the seats; and displaying the image such that at least the first portion of the image is in the determined orientation. A display system for a motor vehicle is also provided.

Abstract: A stowable table assembly, for a vehicle, includes a cavity providable beneath a floor of the vehicle, an elongate carrier coupled to the cavity, and a table top coupled to the carrier. A first end of the table top is configured to translate and rotate relative to the carrier between an aligned position, in which the table top is aligned with the carrier, and an extended position, in which the table top is at an angle relative to the carrier. The stowable table assembly is in a deployed configuration when the carrier is in the upright position and the table top is in the extended position. The stowable table assembly is in a stowed configuration when the table top is in the aligned position and the carrier is in the stowed position.

Abstract: A vehicle door system having an upper door configured to cover a top portion of an opening in the body of a vehicle and to open in an upward direction, and a lower door configured to cover a bottom portion of the opening and to open in a sideways direction. The upper door includes a deployable portion configured to form at least a portion of a canopy extending away from the body of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle assembly is provided. The vehicle assembly comprises: one or more body frame components configured to define an interior of the vehicle; and one or more windows provided within apertures formed in the body frame components, each window comprising one or more first electrically conductive elements, wherein the first electrically conductive elements are configured to selectively limit transmission of electromagnetic waves within the interior of the vehicle.

Abstract: An expandable seat for a vehicle comprising a support structure movable between an expanded state and a contracted state, the support structure forming a seating region that is greater in size when the support structure is in the expanded state than when the support structure is in the contracted state, and a flexible covering movably coupled to the support structure. The support structure and the flexible covering cooperate to ensure that the flexible covering covers the seating region of the support structure when the support structure is in the expanded state and when the support structure is in the contracted state.

Abstract: A stowable table includes a table portion movable between a horizontal deployed position and a non-horizontal stowed position. The table portion may be configured to be stowed in a receiving structure. A holder may be configured to receive a liquid receptacle and rotatably coupled to the table portion about a pivot axis. The holder may also be slidably coupled to the table portion and slidable between a setback position in which the pivot axis is set back from an end of the table portion when the table portion is in the deployed position, and an aligned position in which the pivot axis is substantially aligned with the table portion end when in the stowed position.

Abstract: An ultrasonic haptic control system for a motor vehicle is provided. The system includes a steering wheel assembly comprising a ring-shaped member configured to be held by an occupant of the vehicle, and rotated about a central axis in order to steer the vehicle; and a plurality of ultrasound emitters associated with the steering wheel. The ultrasound emitters are configured to focus ultrasound waves within a central region about which the ring-shaped member circumferentially extends and/or radially outside of and adjacent to the ring-shaped member. The focused ultrasound waves are configured to form one or more haptic control surfaces. A method of operating a haptic control system is also provided.

Abstract: A deployable footrest assembly for a seat is provided. The deployable footrest assembly comprises a footrest movable between a stowed position and a deployed position in which the footrest presents a first surface for an occupant of the seat to rest their feet upon, wherein the footrest is bendable about an upstanding structural support for the seat such that the footrest is bent about the structural support in the stowed position.

Abstract: A stowable table assembly, for a vehicle, includes a cavity providable beneath a floor of the vehicle, an elongate carrier coupled to the cavity, and a table top coupled to the carrier. A first end of the table top is configured to translate and rotate relative to the carrier between an aligned position, in which the table top is aligned with the carrier, and an extended position, in which the table top is at an angle relative to the carrier. The stowable table assembly is in a deployed configuration when the carrier is in the upright position and the table top is in the extended position. The stowable table assembly is in a stowed configuration when the table top is in the aligned position and the carrier is in the stowed position.

Abstract: A method for controlling a display system of a motor vehicle via a controller is provided. An image is generated on a surface of the motor vehicle, and an object placed on the surface is detected. The image is adjusted such that at least a portion of the image is moved from a first area of the surface in which the object has been detected to a second area of the surface. A display system for a motor vehicle configured to perform the method is also provided.

Abstract: A motor vehicle ventilation system configured to ventilate a cabin of the vehicle. The ventilation system comprises a duct extending about a perimeter of the vehicle cabin, at least one air flow inducer configured to induce a flow of air through the duct, the duct comprising an air inlet to receive a bulk flow of air from the flow inducer, and a first opening that extends about the perimeter of the vehicle cabin and that receives air from the duct. The first opening is configured to expel air into the vehicle cabin. The ventilation system further comprises a second opening that extends about the perimeter of the vehicle cabin and that draws air in from the vehicle cabin into a passage extending about the perimeter of the vehicle cabin, wherein a flow through the first opening entrains a flow from the second opening.

Abstract: A vehicle human interface assembly has an interior trim portion of a vehicle, a flexible membrane, and a frame defining an opening. The flexible membrane extends over the opening such that the flexible membrane is in tension and is capable of being depressed by a user to form a depression in the membrane in a range of locations within the opening. One or more flexible membrane sensors are configured to determine the location at which the flexible membrane has been depressed by the user and provide a signal indicating the location at which the flexible membrane has been depressed. A controller is configured to control one or more systems of the vehicle based on the signal from the one or more flexible membrane sensors. The frame is provided in the interior trim portion such that the flexible membrane and a surrounding surface of the interior trim portion are substantially flush.

Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle sound system to enhance the driving experience of vehicle occupants. A vehicle-mounted sensor (such as a LIDAR or RADAR system) is used to identify an object in the vehicle environment. A database that may be stored on a remote server is queried, the database containing, in electronic form, a sound stored therein associated with the object. The sound may be a desirable or pleasant sound. The sound is download to the vehicle sound system and the sound system generates the sound in a vehicle cabin for enjoyment by the occupants. Other ambient sounds may be detected by an exterior microphone of the vehicle, characteristics and locations of the sound added to the database. A vehicle noise reduction system may be activated as the vehicle approaches the location when it is determined that the characteristic indicates that the ambient sound is undesirable.

Abstract: A vehicle furniture system having an article of furniture and a carriage configured to carry the article of furniture between first and second positions within a body portion of a vehicle when the carriage is coupled to the body portion of the vehicle, the vehicle furniture system comprising a first actuator configured to deploy the article of furniture from the carriage when the carriage is in at least one of the first and second positions.

Abstract: A vehicle door system having an upper door configured to cover a top portion of an opening in the body of a vehicle and to open in an upward direction, and a lower door configured to cover a bottom portion of the opening and to open in a sideways direction. The upper door includes a deployable portion configured to form at least a portion of a canopy extending away from the body of the vehicle.