Abstract:
A user input activation method comprising operating in a deactivated mode in which a controller refrains from accepting input from a user input device, detecting a first presence condition at a first predetermined location, and detecting a second presence condition at a second predetermined location. The method further comprises changing, when the first presence condition and the second presence condition simultaneously exist, from operating in the deactivated mode to operating in an activated mode in which input from the user input device is accepted by the controller, and refraining from changing while the first presence condition and the second presence condition fail to simultaneously exist, and remaining in the activated mode while the first presence condition continues to exist.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/498,797, filed on Sep. 26, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     Related subject matter is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/498,747, which was filed concurrently with U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/498,797 on Sep. 26, 2014, and the entire contents of are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a user input activation system and method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a user input activation system and method for selectively activating a user input device based on presence conditions detected at locations within the vehicle passenger compartment. 
     2. Background Information 
     Most vehicles today include a human machine interface (HMI) system that enables occupants to provide input to different vehicle components, such as the entertainment system, temperature control system and so on. For example, various types of HMI controls, such as conventional push buttons and rocker switches, thumb wheels, joysticks, touchpads, and combinations of these devices, can be disposed at desired locations within the passenger compartment for access by the occupants. These components can be placed on the vehicle steering wheel, on the vehicle console, on the dashboard, and at any other suitable locations. Gesture input controls, similar to those employed in smartphone capacitive touch displays, can also be used as HMI controls. 
     SUMMARY 
     Recently, vehicles can be equipped with touch sensors, such as capacitive-field type touch sensors. These touch sensors can be embedded within generally fixed surfaces, such as the vehicle steering wheel, the shifter, the center console, the dashboard and so on. These devices can sense the presence of a hand or finger, and can control designated functions pertaining to the vehicle in response to the detected presence. Furthermore, multi-point gestures can also be detected by these touch sensors. Since the available space on a central portion of a vehicle steering wheel is generally limited, it is possible to place these types of touch sensors on or around the circular wheel portion of the vehicle steering to allow for ease of access by the driver. However, measures should be taken to avoid inadvertent activation of the designated functions due to inadvertent contact of the sensors by, for example, the driver or other occupants. 
     In view of the state of the known technology, one aspect of the present invention provides a user input activation method comprising operating in a deactivated mode in which a controller refrains from accepting input from a user input device, detecting a first presence condition at a first predetermined location, and detecting a second presence condition at a second predetermined location. The method further comprises changing, when the first presence condition and the second presence condition simultaneously exist, from operating in the deactivated mode to operating in an activated mode in which input from the user input device is accepted by the controller, and refraining from changing while the first presence condition and the second presence condition fail to simultaneously exist, and remaining in the activated mode while the first presence condition continues to exist. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating an example of components of a vehicle interface input control system according to a disclosed embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a forward facing view in a passenger compartment of a vehicle including the vehicle interface input control system; 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed perspective view of the vehicle steering wheel of the vehicle shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is another detailed perspective view of the steering wheel which further illustrates exemplary positions of a driver&#39;s hands in relation to the steering wheel; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate a flowchart illustrating exemplary embodiments performed by the vehicle interface input control system; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates another forward facing view in a passenger compartment of the vehicle including an exemplary illustration of the driver&#39;s hands; and 
         FIGS. 7-11  illustrate examples of gesture input operations that can be performed using the vehicle interface input control system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Selected embodiments will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , a vehicle  10 , such as an automobile, van, truck, SUV or any other type of vehicle, can be equipped with a vehicle interface input control system  12  according to a disclosed embodiment. As shown, the vehicle interface input control system  12  includes a controller  14  that preferably includes a microcomputer with a control program that controls the vehicle interface input control system  12  as discussed herein. The controller  14  can also include other conventional components such as an input interface circuit, an output interface circuit, and storage devices such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) device and a RAM (Random Access Memory) device. The RAM and ROM store processing results and control programs that are run by the controller  14 . The controller  14  is operatively coupled to the components of the vehicle interface input control system  12 , and to the components of the vehicle  10  as appropriate, in a conventional manner. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the precise structure and algorithms for the controller  14  can be any combination of hardware and software that will carry out the functions of the present invention. 
     The vehicle interface input control system  12  further includes a plurality of sensors  16  as discussed herein. The sensors  16  can be, for example, a capacitive-field type sensor, a resistive sensor, a pressure sensor or any other suitable type of sensor having tactile sensing capabilities. The sensors  16  can also be a visual sensor or a proximity sensor which can sense the presence of an occupant&#39;s hand  18  or finger  20  (see  FIG. 4 ) proximate to the sensors  16 . The sensors  16  can further include proximity or range sensing features that can detect the proximity of one or more user wearable devices  22  or  23  (see  FIG. 4 ), such as smart watches, to a sensor  16  or sensors  16  as discussed herein. For instance, the sensors  16  can include field strength sensors to detect for the proximity of a user wearable device  22  that can have a watch or bracelet configuration and worn around the user&#39;s wrist, as well as a user wearable device  23  that can have a ring-like configuration, such as a smart ring, and worn on one of the user&#39;s fingers  20 . The user wearable device can also be configured as a key fob or any other suitable type of device or original equipment manufacturer (OEM) component. The vehicle interface input control system  12  can further detect the proximity of a user wearable device  22  or  23  or OEM component to the steering wheel based on, for example, accelerometer analysis relative to the sensors  16 , radio frequency (RF) detection, near field communication (NFC) detection, and through the use of any other suitable type of proximity detection technology as understood in the art. Also, the sensor  16  or any other component can perform inductive charging of the user wearable devices  22  and  23  as understood in the art. 
     The vehicle interface input control system  12  can further include any suitable types of HMI controls  24 , such as conventional push buttons and rocker switches, thumb wheels, joysticks, touchpads, a heads up display (HUD) and combinations of these devices, can be disposed at desired locations within the passenger compartment, such as on the steering wheel, on the shifter, on the center console, on the dashboard and so on, for access by the occupants. The vehicle interface input control system  12  can further include an imaging system  26  that can operate as an HMI control  24  as understood in the art. That is, the imaging system  26  can include any suitable type of cameras or detectors that are capable of capturing images of the passenger compartment  28  of the vehicle  10  and produce image signals that are received and acted upon by the controller  14  as discussed herein. Thus, the imaging system  26  can operate as a gesture recognition device that interprets gestures made by an occupant in the passenger compartment  28  as a particular input instructions. As understood in the art, popular gestures include a swipe gesture, a pinch gesture, a stretch gesture and a flick gesture as made by an occupant&#39;s hands. The imaging system  26  can also perform, for example, eye tracking operations to track the eye movement of an occupant and to control the input devices based on the eye movement in a manner as understood in the art. In addition, a touchpad, such as a capacitive touch screen as known in the art, can also be tuned to recognize such gestures without the need for an occupant&#39;s hand and/or finger to touch the surface of the screen to begin reacting to the hand and/or finger movement. Furthermore, components of the imaging system  26  such as cameras, detectors, touchpads and any combination of these components can be disposed at various locations about the passenger compartment, such as near or in front of the vehicle steering wheel or at or near the meter cluster displays, so that the driver could perform gestures around the steering wheel and in front of the meter cluster displays. Gesturing can also be captured by the imaging system  26  to control an HUD. Other known systems, such as Bluetooth® mobile device integration and voice recognition systems, as well as brainwave detection systems as are being developed in the art, can also be employed to provide user input. 
     The vehicle interface input control system  12  can further include an audio system  30  that can operate as an HMI control  24  as understood in the art. For example, the audio system  30  can be controlled by the controller  14  to receive audio commands from an occupant in the passenger compartment  28  and to provide audio feedback, messages and so on to the occupant as discussed herein. In addition, the vehicle interface input control system  12  includes a plurality of haptic devices  32  that are controlled by the controller  14  to provide haptic feedback to the occupant or occupants as discussed herein. 
     As can be appreciated from the description herein, a user, such as a vehicle occupant, can operate the controller  14  to select at least one of a plurality of possible contact locations as at least one of the first predetermined locations PL 1 , at least one of the second predetermined locations PL 2 , or at least one first predetermined location PL 1  and second predetermined location PL 2 , in response to a user instruction that can be input via, for example, any of a plurality of the HMI controls  24 . In addition, the controller  14  can set at least one of the first and second predetermined locations PL 1  and PL 2  based on a vehicle component characteristic which can include, for example, a driver seat position, a steering wheel position, an occupant detection and any combination of these conditions. 
     The vehicle  10  further includes a vehicle entertainment system  34 , a navigation system  36 , a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system  38  and other conventional types of systems typically found in vehicles. The vehicle  10  also includes one or more visual displays  40  that display information provided from the vehicle entertainment system  34 , the navigation system  36 , the controller  14  and so on as discussed herein. Any or all of the visual displays  40  can also operate as an input device for the vehicle interface input control system  12 , as well as a feedback device to provide visual feedback to the occupants as discussed herein. Thus, the audio system  30 , the haptic devices  32 , and the visual displays  40 , and any combination of these components, can operate as an indicator which selectively provides an indication of an activated state or a deactivated state of the HMI controls  24  under the control of the controller  14  as discussed herein. 
     In addition, the vehicle  10  includes an on-board communication system  42  that is operable, for example, by the controller  14 . The vehicle entertainment system  34 , the navigation system  36  and so on communicates with a communication device  44 , such as a transceiver, that is external to the vehicle  10 . Accordingly, the communication system  42  can receive, for example, GPS or navigation information, entertainment information, information from other vehicles, and any other suitable type of information as understood in the art. The vehicle  10  further includes a memory  46  than can be accessed by the controller  14  and can store information such as driver-related information, vehicle-related information, traffic-related information, navigation information and any other suitable information as understood in the art. 
       FIGS. 2 through 4  further illustrate details of the sensors  16  and haptic devices  32  employed in the vehicle interface input control system  12  according to the embodiments described herein. As shown, a plurality of sensors  16  can be disposed about the steering wheel  50  of the vehicle  10 . The sensors  16  can be uniformly or non-uniformly spaced about the vehicle steering wheel  50  as appropriate. For instance, the vehicle steering wheel  50  can include individual sensors  16  that are spaced  30  degrees from each other. Alternatively, a sensor  16  can be configured a single continuous sensor that extends about a portion of the circumference of the steering wheel  50  or about the entire circumference of the steering wheel  50  as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 2 through 4 . Naturally, the steering wheel  50  need not be circular but can be oval-shaped, multi-sided, symmetrically or asymmetrically shaped, configured as a handle or stick type control, or have any other suitable shape. The sensors  16  and the haptic devices  32  can therefore be placed about the steering wheel  50  in any suitable manner based on the shape of the steering wheel  50 . Also, the sensors  16 , the haptic devices  32  or any other component in the steering wheel  50  or proximate to the steering wheel  50  can include coils or other suitable components that perform inductive charging of the user wearable devices  22  and  23  as understood in the art. The controller  14  receives signals from the respective sensors  16  indicating the presence or absence of contact at the respective sensors  16 . Similarly, if the sensor  16  is configured as a single continuous sensor, the controller  14  receives signals from the sensor  16  indicating the presence or absence of contact at respective locations along the sensor  16  as understood in the art. The sensors  16  or single sensor  16  can therefore collectively be referred to herein as a contact sensor system. In addition, as discussed above, the sensors  16  can be disposed at other suitable locations within the passenger compartment  28 . For instance, one or more sensors  16  can be disposed at the shifter  52 , on the control puck  54 , on the center console  56 , on the dashboard  58 , or at any other location that is accessible by a driver or passenger of the vehicle  10 . 
     Examples of the operations of the vehicle interface input control system  12  according to the disclosed embodiments will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 4 through 11 . These operations can be performed, for example, by the controller  14  according to the flowchart shown in  FIG. 4 . That is, as the processing begins, the controller  14  is controlling the vehicle interface input control system  12  to be in a deactivated state in step S 10 . In the deactivated state, the controller  14  refrains from receiving input information via, for example, the HMI controls  24 . Also, the controller  14  can control one or more of the indicators as discussed above to provide an indication of the deactivated state in step S 10 . 
     In step S 20 , the processing determines whether the controller  24  is to enter a user input device controlling mode or to refrain from entering the user input device controlling mode. As discussed in detail below, during the user input device controlling mode, the controller  24  determines whether to control the user input devices, such as any of the HMI controls  24 , to enter an activated state based on the sensed presence of contact conditions (e.g., first and second contact conditions) at predetermined locations (e.g., first and second predetermined locations PL 1  and PL 2 ) in the passenger compartment  28 . However, in a mode other than the user input device controlling mode, the controller  24  can control the user input devices to enter the activated state regardless of the presence or absence of the contact conditions. 
     It should be further noted that the term “contact condition” is not limited to physical contact, such as the physical touching of the first and second predetermined locations PL 1  and PL 2  by a user&#39;s hands  18 . That is, as discussed above, the proximity of the user&#39;s hand  18  or finger  20  to the first and second predetermined locations PL 1  and PL 2 , or the presence of an object such as a user wearable device  22  or  23 , a key fob and so on, can be determined to be a contact condition. Furthermore, the presence of a user&#39;s hand  18  or finger  20  at a predetermined location in space within, for example, the passenger compartment  28  of the vehicle  10  can indicate the presence of the contact condition at that location. For instance, the second predetermined location PL 2  can be a particular location in space within the passenger compartment  28 , such as a location near one of the visual displays  40 . Thus, a user gesture by the user&#39;s hand  18  or finger  20  at that second predetermined location PL 2  in space can be detected by the imaging system  26  and interpreted by the controller  14  as an indication of a presence of a contact condition at the second predetermined location PL 2 . Also, the detection of a visual gaze by the user can be an indication of the presence of a contact condition at a location. For example, the imaging system  26  can detect a user&#39;s gaze toward a particular location within the passenger compartment, such as a particular location on one of the visual displays  40 , and that particular location can be interpreted as a predetermined location, such as a second predetermined location PL 2 . Thus, when the imaging system  26  detects a user&#39;s gaze toward that second predetermined location PL 2 , the controller  14  can interpret the presence of this gaze as a presence of the contact condition at the second predetermined location PL 2 . Naturally, the vehicle input interface control system  12  can detect the presence of other types of stimuli, such as the detection of brainwave stimuli as being developed in the art, and audio stimuli at a microphone of the audio system  30 , as the presence of a contact condition at a predetermined location, with the microphone being the predetermined location such as the second predetermined location PL 2  for the detection of audio stimuli. In any event, the types of predetermined locations PL 1  and PL 2  and the locations of those predetermined locations PL 1  and PL 2 , as well as the types of contact conditions, can be set by the user as desired via, for example, the controller  14  and HMI controls  24 . Also, the locations of the predetermined locations PL 1  and PL 2 , and the types of contact conditions, can be dynamically adjusted such as during driving while the user adjusts their hand positions on the steering wheel  50 , the gripping pressure applied to the steering wheel  50  and so on. 
     Accordingly, if an occupant, such as the driver, wants to continue to use, for example, the HMI controls  24  to provide input to the controller  14  without necessarily using the vehicle interface input control system  12 , the occupant can input an instruction via an HMI control  24  or in any suitable manner to control the controller  14  to refrain from entering the user input device controlling mode. For instance, the user can physically enter such an instruction by manipulating an HMI control  24 . The user can also enter an instruction via the imaging system  26  using, for example, eye tracking or gazing, or via brainwave detection as is being developed in the art. Naturally, the user can enter visual or audio commands via the imaging system  26  and the audio system  30  to activate the input devices. Thus, the processing continues to step S 30  during which the controller  14  activates at least one of the input devices, such as at least one of the HMI controls  24 , to provide input to the controller  14  regardless of the presence or absence of the contact conditions. After the controller  14  receives the input, the processing can return to step S  10  during which the controller  14  returns the input devices (e.g., the HMI controls  24 ) to the deactivated state. Also, the controller  14  can control one or more of the indicators as discussed above to provide an indication of the deactivated state in step S 10 . The processing then continues as discussed herein. 
     The controller  14  can also determine in step S 20  whether to enter the user input device controlling mode based on a predetermined operating condition of the vehicle  10 . For example, the predetermined operating condition can represent a speed of the vehicle  10  that is less than a predetermined speed. The predetermined speed can be any suitable speed from  0  miles per hour, which indicates a stopped condition of the vehicle  10 , to a speed which is acceptable for a driver or other occupant to operate the HMI controls  24 . Alternatively or in addition, the predetermined condition can represent a driver workload condition that is less than a driver workload condition threshold. The driver workload condition can be ascertained based on, for example, the driver&#39;s operation of the steering wheel  50 , the accelerator, the brakes, the turn signals and other vehicle devices that are indicative of driver activity and can be detected in any suitable manner as known in the art. The driver workload condition can also be ascertained based on traffic conditions, road conditions such as construction, blocked lanes, weather related conditions and so on that can be detected in any suitable manner as known in the art. Thus, when the controller  14  refrains from entering the user input device controlling mode based on the predetermined vehicle operating condition or conditions, the controller  14  controls at least one of the user input devices to change from the deactivated state to the activated state regardless of whether the contact conditions exist at predetermined locations. 
     The controller  14  can further determine in step S 20  whether to enter the user input device controlling mode based on an identity of the driver or a passenger of the vehicle  10 . For example, the controller  14  can identify a driver&#39;s identity based on identification information included in the driver&#39;s key, the driver&#39;s fingerprint as detected by any of the sensors  16 , the driver&#39;s voice as detected by the audio system  30 , facial recognition or visual recognition of any other types of identifying features as performed by the imaging system  26 , or in any other suitable manner as understood in the art. The controller  14  can store driver-specific vehicle operating characteristics pertaining to operation of the vehicle  10  by the driver over a period of time for each specific driver in the memory  46 . Accordingly, in step S 20 , the controller  14  can refrain from entering the user input device controlling mode while the controller  14  determines that the driver is a specific driver and based on the driver-specific vehicle operating characteristics. Thus, the controller  14  controls at least one of the user input devices to change from the deactivated state to the activated state based on the driver-specific vehicle operating characteristics regardless of whether the contact conditions exist at the predetermined locations, respectively, while the controller  14  is refraining from entering the user input device controlling mode as discussed above. 
     However, if the occupant wants to use the vehicle interface input control system  12  to control the HMI controls  24  to provide input to the controller  14  as described herein, the occupant can input an instruction via an HMI control  24  to control the controller  14  to enter the user input device controlling mode in step S 20 . Thus, the processing continues to step S 40  during which the controller  14  determines whether the appropriate contact conditions are present. In this exemplary embodiment, the controller  14  operates in step S 40  to determine the presence of a contact condition (a first contact condition) at a location (a first predetermined location PL 1 ) on the vehicle steering wheel  50  and the presence of another contact condition (a second contact condition) at another location (a second predetermined location PL 2 ) in the passenger compartment  28 . The first and second predetermined locations PL 1  and PL 2  can be, for example, at the recommended driving positions of 3 o&#39;clock and 9 o&#39;clock on the steering wheel  50 , 2 o&#39;clock and 10 o&#39;clock on the steering wheel  50 , or similar recommend hand positions. The first and second predetermined locations PL 1  and PL 2  could also be specified by the design of the steering wheel spokes and features on the steering wheel  50  such as palm pads, steering wheel control locations, thumb rests and so on. The second predetermined location PL 2  can also be at a location on the vehicle steering wheel  50 . In this event, the first and second predetermined locations PL 1  and PL 2  are interchangeable as discussed herein. Alternatively, the second predetermined location PL 2  can be a location apart from the vehicle steering wheel  50 , such as a location on the shifter  52 , on the control puck  54 , on the center console  56 , on the dashboard  58  or at any other location that is accessible by a driver or passenger of the vehicle  10 . The first and second predetermined locations PL 1  and PL 2  can be any of a plurality of locations in the passenger compartment  28 , such that detection of the first contact condition at any of the plurality of first predetermined locations PL 1  and detection of the second contact condition at any of the plurality of second predetermined locations PL 2  will satisfy detection of the first and second contact conditions to enter the activated state. 
     In addition, the controller  14  can operate one or more of the indicators, such as one or more of the haptic devices  32 , to provide a haptic indication as an indication of the detection of the first contact condition at the first predetermined location PL 1  and the detection of the second contact condition at the second predetermined location PL 2 . Additionally, the controller  14  can subsequently operate one or more of the indicators, such as one or more of the haptic devices  32 , to provide a haptic indication as an indication of entering the activated state. 
     Furthermore, as can be appreciated from  FIG. 4 , the controller  14  can determine the presence of the first and second contact conditions by determining a proximity of the user wearable device  22  or  23  to the first predetermined location PL 1  on the steering wheel  50  and operating the controller  14  to determine the second contact condition based on a proximity of the user wearable device  22  or  23 , or another user wearable device  22  or  23 , to the second predetermined location PL 2 . The user wearable devices  22  and  23  can include an indicator  33 , such as a haptic indicator, an audio indicator, a visual indicator, or any combination of these types of indicators, which can operate to provide an indication of the first contact condition, the second contact condition, or both, at the first and second predetermined locations PL 1  and PL 2 , respectively. Also, the indicator  33  in the user wearable devices  22  and  23  can provide an indication of the activated state and the deactivated state. For instance, the user wearable devices  22  and  23  can operate to provide the indication of the activated state as a haptic indication, an audio indication, a visual indication or a combination of these types of indications. The user wearable devices  22  and  23  can operate to provide the indication of the deactivated state in a similar manner. 
     In order to determine whether to control the input device, such as the HMI controls  24 , to enter the activated state, the controller  14  further determines in step S 40  whether an appropriate relationship exists between the presence of the first and second contact conditions at the first and second predetermined locations PL 1  and PL 2 , respectively. For example, the controller  14  can proceed from step S 40  to step S 50  to control the user input device to change from a deactivated state to an activated state in response to the first and second contact conditions simultaneously existing at the first and second predetermined locations PL 1  and PL 2 , respectively, in an appropriate or desired manner while the controller  14  is operating in the user input device controlling mode as discussed above. Basically, the controller  14  can control the user input device to change from a deactivated state to an activated state as long as at least one of the driver&#39;s hands  18  remains on the steering wheel  50 . Furthermore, the controller  14  can adjust the proper positions for the driver&#39;s hands  18  on the steering wheel  50  based on on-board conditions or information received off-board via the communication system  42 . Furthermore, the proper hand position may not require that both hands  18  be physically grasping the steering wheel  10 . For instance, the palm of one hand  18  could be resting in the appropriate location, but the fingers  20  may not be grasping the rim of the steering wheel  50 . Furthermore, the proper locations could have defined zones, and allow for deviations that may occur during steering of the vehicle  10  or while the driver adjusting for comfort. 
     The controller  14  can determine whether the first and second contact conditions have existed simultaneously in an appropriate manner in several ways. For instance, the controller  14  can control the user input device to change from the deactivated state to the activated state in response to the first and second contact conditions simultaneously existing at the first and second predetermined locations PL 1  and PL 2 , respectively, followed by the controller  14  determining that the second contact condition ceases to exist at the second predetermined location PL 2  after a predetermined duration of time has elapsed from when the controller  14  initially determined simultaneous existence of the first and second contact conditions at the first and second predetermined locations PL 1  and PL 2 , respectively. That is, the controller  14  will allow the occupant to remove the presence of contact from the second predetermined location PL 2  after a certain period of time so that the occupant can, for example, use their free hand to control the input device to enter input to the controller  14  while the vehicle interface input control system  12  is in the activated state. Similarly, the controller  14  can therefore control the user input device to remain in the deactivated state upon the second contact condition ceasing to exist at the second predetermined location PL 2  before expiration of the predetermined duration of time. In this event, the processing can return to step S 10  and repeat as discussed above. 
     Naturally, if the first and second predetermined locations PL 1  and PL 2  are both on the steering wheel  50 , the first and second predetermined locations PL 1  and PL 2  can be interchangeable. For instance, the controller  14  can initially consider the presence of the driver&#39;s left hand  18  on the steering wheel  50  as the first contact condition at the first predetermined location PL 1  and the presence of the driver&#39;s right hand  18  on the steering wheel  50  as the second contact condition at the second predetermined location PL 2 . If the driver&#39;s left hand  18  then is removed from the steering wheel  50  to, for example, operate a user input device, the controller  14  can then consider the presence of the driver&#39;s right hand  18  on the steering wheel  50  as the first contact condition and the absence of the driver&#39;s left hand  18  on the steering wheel  50  as an indication of the absence of the second contact condition. Hence, as long as one of the driver&#39;s hands  18  remains on the steering wheel  50 , the controller  14  can allow the user input device to remain in the activated state. 
     As a practical matter, since many of the user input devices are typically to the right of the driver, the driver will typically use their right hand  18  to control the user input devices. Thus, the second contact condition will typically relate to the presence or absence of the driver&#39;s right hand  18  at the second predetermined location PL 2 . However, as explained above, the controller  18  can change the first and second predetermined locations PL 1  and PL 2  as necessary or desired. 
     It should also be noted that in addition to the physical location of the hands  18 , or as an alternative to the physical location of one of the hands  18 , the vehicle interface input control system  12  can use another type of input to confirm driver attentiveness to determine whether to place the user input devices in the activated state. For example, as discussed above, the imaging system  26  can perform eye tracking operations, and the vehicle interface input control system  12  can use this eye-tracking to determine current focus of the driver. This can also help to resolve any possible ambiguities in the presence or absence of the driver&#39;s hands  18  at the predetermined locations, especially the second predetermined location PL 2 . For example, if the presence or absence of the contact condition at one or more of the predetermined locations PL 1  and PL 2  is indeterminate, the results of the eye-tracking can determine whether the driver is engaged in driving and/or glancing between the roadway and any of the visual displays  40  to determine whether to change the user input devices from a deactivated state to an activated state and vice-versa. Alternatively or in addition, the vehicle interface input control system  12  can be configured to accept a manual command, such as the physical manipulation of an HMI control  24 , a voice command, and so on, to instruct the vehicle interface input control system  12  to change the user input devices from a deactivated state to an activated state and vice-versa. Furthermore, the controller  14  need not change all of different types of input devices from the activated state to the deactivated state and vice-versa in unison. Thus, depending on the presence or absence of the contact condition at the predetermined locations PL 1 , PL 2 , or both, the controller  14  can change some of the input devices to the activated state while maintaining other of the input devices in the deactivated state, and vice-versa. For example, the controller  14  can change the audio or visual inputs to the activated state while maintaining the manual inputs and gesture inputs in the deactivated state if the controller  14  determines based on conditions such as driver workload, vehicle speed, traffic, weather and any other suitable factors that certain types of inputs should remain in the deactivated state. 
     Once the controller  14  has controlled the user input device to change from a deactivated state to an activated state in step S 50 , the controller  14  can control the one or more of the indicators in step S 60  to provide an indication of entering the activated state while the user input device, such as one or more of the HMI controls  24 , is in the activated state. For instance, the controller  14  can operate one or more of the haptic devices  32  to provide the indication of the activated state, and can also operate the audio system  30 , the visual displays  40  or a combination of any of these devices to provide an indication of the activated state. For instance, the controller  14  can simply dim the video displays  40  for a brief period to provide an indication of the activated state, the switching between the activated and deactivated states, and so on. The controller  14  can provide these indications simultaneously while controlling the user input device to change from the deactivated state to the activated state, or can provide these indications at any suitable time after changing the user input device from the deactivated state to the activated state. 
     While the user input device is in the activated state, the controller  14  determines in step S 70  whether the first contact condition continues to exist at the first predetermined location PL 1 . Thus, the controller  14  maintains the user input device in the activated state while the controller  14  determines that the first contact condition continues to exist at the first predetermined location PL 1 . In step S 80 , the controller  14  controls the user input device to provide input to the controller  14  in the activated state. 
     The controller  14  can operate one or more of the indicators to provide an indication of each input. For example, the controller  14  can operate at least one of the haptic devices  32  to provide a respective haptic indication of each input received by the user input device. Alternatively or in addition, the controller  14  can control at least one of the visual displays  40  to provide a visual indication of each input. Alternatively or in addition, the controller  14  can control the audio system  30  to provide an audio indication of each input. The controller  14  can provide any or all of these types of indications simultaneously with each input received. Also, any of the types of inputs discussed herein, such as physical operations of HMI devices  24 , gesture inputs, eye tracking inputs, brainwave inputs and so on, can be used to provide input to the vehicle interface input control system  12 . 
     Furthermore, the controller  14  can provide these types of indications in a manner related to the type of input received. For instance, if the input is a gesture such as a swipe on a touchpad or an open-air gesture, the controller  14  can control one or more of the indicators to provide a suitable input representative of this type of gesture. For example, if the gesture is a right to left swipe, the controller  14  can control an array of indicators of the haptic devices  32  on the steering wheel  50  to be energized from the right of the array to the left of the array, thus giving the driver the sensation that the motion is from right to left. Likewise, if the gesture is from left to right, the controller  14  can control the array of indicators of the haptic devices  32  on the steering wheel  50  to be energized from the left of the array to the right of the array, thus giving the driver the sensation that the motion is from the left to the right. The controller  50  can also operate the array of indicators of the haptic devices  32  on the steering wheel  50  to represent gestures in the vertical direction, such as up and down, and gestures in various diagonal directions. The controller  50  can also operate the haptic devices  32  at other locations in the vehicle  10 , such as in the seats, to provide haptic indications of these gestures. The controller  14  can also operate the audio system  30  and the visual displays  40  to provide further indication of the type of gesture. 
       FIGS. 6 through 11  illustrate examples of the manner in which the controller  14  controls the input devices based on the gestures. For example, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the controller  14  can control, for example, the visual display  40  to provide an example of a type of gesture  60 , such as a swipe, that an occupant can enter to provide input. The occupant can then mimic that gesture to provide an input at the user input. Thus, the controller  14  can control the user input to indicate that the input device is ready to accept gestures and to assist in instructing an occupant about what types of gestures can be accepted for input. 
     For instance, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the visual display  40  indicates that the input device is in the activated state and the cursor is at the top of Menu  1  on the left of the screen. If the user gestures to the right, the controller  14  can move the cursor to the top of Menu  2  which is the next menu to the right. If the user gestures down, the controller  14  can move the cursor down one entry in Menu  2  as indicated in  FIG. 9 . The controller  14  can also operate the indicators as discussed herein to indicate these gestures and user inputs. 
     The controller  14  then determines in step S 90  whether all of the desired input has been received. If all of the desired input has not yet been received, the processing returns to step S 70  and repeats as discussed above. However, if all of the desired input has been received, the processing returns to step S 10  during which the controller  14  controls the user input device to return to the deactivated state after receiving the desired input from the user input device. Thus, as shown, for example, in  FIG. 10 , the controller  14  can control the visual display  40  to indicate the return to the deactivated state where user gestures are no longer received as input. As discussed above, the controller  14  can also control at least one of the indicators to indicate that the user input device has returned to the deactivated state. An indication of the deactivated state can also simply be the lack of the user input devices responding to inputs from a user 
     Turning back to step S 70 , if the controller  14  determines in step S 60  that the first contact condition ceases to exist at the first predetermined location PL 1  as discussed herein, the processing continues to step S 100  during which the controller  14  controls the user input device to return from the activated state to the deactivated state, and controls the indicators in step S 110  to provide an indication of the return to the deactivated state as discussed herein. The processing then returns to step S 10  and repeats as discussed above. Naturally, in addition to the operations discussed herein, the controller  14  can control the user input devices to return from the activated state to the deactivated state for reasons such as a sudden increase in driver workload, a change in vehicle conditions or road conditions, and for any other suitable reason. 
     General Interpretation of Terms 
     In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term “comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to be open ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features, elements, components, groups, integers, and/or steps, but do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements, components, groups, integers and/or steps. The foregoing also applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms, “including”, “having” and their derivatives. Also, the terms “part,” “section,” “portion,” “member” or “element” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single part or a plurality of parts. Also, the term “detect” as used herein to describe an operation or function carried out by a component, a section, a device or the like includes a component, a section, a device or the like that does not require physical detection, but rather includes determining, measuring, modeling, predicting or computing or the like to carry out the operation or function. The term “configured” as used herein to describe a component, section or part of a device includes hardware and/or software that is constructed and/or programmed to carry out the desired function. The terms of degree such as “substantially”, “about” and “approximately” as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed. 
     While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the size, shape, location or orientation of the various components can be changed as needed and/or desired. Components that are shown directly connected or contacting each other can have intermediate structures disposed between them. The functions of one element can be performed by two, and vice versa. The structures and functions of one embodiment can be adopted in another embodiment. It is not necessary for all advantages to be present in a particular embodiment at the same time. Every feature which is unique from the prior art, alone or in combination with other features, also should be considered a separate description of further inventions by the applicant, including the structural and/or functional concepts embodied by such feature(s). Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.