System and method of operating an output device in a vehicle

1. A system for operating an output device in a vehicle, the system comprising:

a trim component having a front side and a back side;

an initial sensor positioned at the back side of the trim component and defining a first sensing region adjacent to the front side of the trim component, the first sensing region being hidden from view, the initial sensor configured to provide a signal to a display device to selectively display the location of a second sensing region on the front side of the trim component when an object is detected within the first sensing region, the initial sensing region being hidden when the second sensing region is being displayed; and

an operative sensor positioned at the back side of the trim component and respectively defining the second sensing region adjacent the front side of the trim component, the second sensing region being hidden from view until caused to be displayed by the first sensor, the operative sensor configured to provide a signal to at least one output device when an object is detected within the second sensing region.

2. The system of claim 1 comprising at least one additional sensor positioned at the back side of the trim component.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the additional sensors is an operative sensor for providing a signal to at least one output device when an object is detected within a respective sensing region adjacent the front side of the trim component.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the additional sensors is an initial sensor for providing a signal to the display device when an object is detected within a respective sensing region adjacent the front side of the trim component.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a timer coupled to the display device and configured to deactivate the display device after a predetermined amount of time.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the trim component is translucent.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the trim component is at least partly opaque.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a display device configured to selectively display one or more indicia on the front side of the trim component.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the display device comprises a lighting element for projecting one or more indicia on the front side of the trim component.

10. The system of claim 8 , the trim component further comprising a front layer having a front surface and a back surface layer having a back surface, the front surface layer being more translucent than the back surface layer, wherein the back surface layer comprises an aperture that provides an optical pathway between the back surface and the front surface.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the operative sensor and the initial sensor is a Hall-effect sensor.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the operative sensor and the initial sensor is a capacitive sensor.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the trim component is an automotive trim component.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the initial sensor is configured to detect an object within a first maximum distance from the trim component and the operative sensor is configured to detect an object within a second maximum distance from the trim component that is less than the first maximum distance.

15. A method of operating an output device in a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a trim component having a front side and a back side;

sensing an object within a first sensing region adjacent the front side of the trim component and hidden from view;

providing a signal to a display device for selectively displaying the location of a second sensing region adjacent the front side of the trim component, the second sensing region being hidden from view until caused to be displayed by the sensing step of the first sensing region, the first sensing region remaining hidden from view during displaying of the second sensing region; and

sensing an object within the second sensing region.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of providing a signal to at least one output device when an object is detected within the second sensing region.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:

sensing an object within a third sensing region adjacent the front side of the trim component; and

providing a signal to a display device for selectively displaying the location of a fourth sensing region adjacent the front side of the trim component, the third sensing region being hidden from view during displaying of the fourth sensing region.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:

providing a signal to at least one output device for performing a first function when an object is detected within the second sensing region;

sensing an object within a third sensing region adjacent the front side of the trim component; and

providing a signal to the at least one output device for performing a second function when an object is detected within the second sensing region.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of deactivating the display device after a predetermined amount of time.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:

sensing an object within the first sensing region at a first distance from the trim component; and

sensing the object within the second sensing region at a second distance from the trim component, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance.