Patent ID: 8907778

Claim:
A multifunction display and operator control system for use in a motor vehicle, the system comprising: at least two operator control devices for capturing user input; a display that outputs information to a user to facilitate user input via one of the at least two operator control devices using one of a plurality of operator control presentations output on the display; a control unit coupled to the display and which controls a format of the information output on the display; and wherein the at least two operator control devices are different operator control devices which can be used alternatively to capture the same user input in different ways, wherein the control unit controls the format of the output information on the display to facilitate user input using one of the plurality of operator control presentations, wherein the user input is captured via one of the at least two operator control devices and is facilitated using one of the plurality of operator control presentations, wherein the format of each of the plurality of operator control presentations output on the display is matched to a corresponding one of the at least two operator control devices used to capture the user input or for which an operator control intention for user input has been captured, wherein the system further comprises one or more sensor units coupled to the control unit and capturing an operator control intention from the user for one of the at least two operator control devices before the one of the at least two operator control devices is operated by the user for the purpose of user input, and wherein each of the at least two operator control devices are different types of operator control devices and the operator control presentation output on the display is matched to the type of operator control device approached by the user or used by the user to enter user input to facilitate that user input using that operator control device.