Patent ID: 8099210

Claim:
Apparatus for operator control of an in-vehicle system, comprising: an interface device for receiving inputs for control of the in-vehicle system from an operator hand, said interface device comprising a control panel including a visual display screen; a sensing system adjacent the interface device comprising an optical proximity sensor including a single infrared light source, a first plurality of directionally sensitive light receivers for detecting a first reflected infrared light from the infrared light source that is reflected by the operator hand only when the operator hand approaches the optical proximity sensor near the interface device from a driver side of the vehicle and a second plurality of directionally sensitive light receivers for detecting a second reflected infrared light from the infrared light source that is reflected by the operator hand only when the operator hand approaches the optical proximity sensor near the interface device from a passenger side of the vehicle; and a controller generating a user-specific menu on the visual display screen based upon the first and second plurality of directionally sensitive light receivers detecting respective first and second reflected infrared light from the infrared light source.