Multi-function vehicle input devices with convex dials for vehicle systems control and methods incorporating the same

A steering wheel of a vehicle comprising:

• an outer rim;
• a center hub disposed within the outer rim;
• and
• an input apparatus positioned along the center hub, the input apparatus including an outer dial and a center dial disposed within the outer dial, and the center dial being curved relative to the outer dial such that the center dial extends outwardly from the center hub,
• wherein the outer dial is rotatable relative to and independent of the center dial, and the outer dial is translatable relative to the center hub and simultaneous with the center dial in at least a first direction and a second direction, and
• wherein translation of the center dial in the first direction actuates a first vehicle system and translation of the center dial in the second direction actuates a second vehicle system, wherein settings of the first vehicle system is navigable in response to rotation of the outer dial when the first vehicle system is actuated and settings of the second vehicle system is navigable in response to rotation of the outer dial when the second vehicle system is actuated.

A multi-function input apparatus of a vehicle comprising:

• a center dial protruding outwardly from a steering wheel of the vehicle, the center dial being selectively translatable on the steering wheel in a plurality of directions;
• an outer dial positioned about the center dial such that the center dial is encapsulated by the outer dial, the outer dial being rotatable about the center dial such that the center dial is rotatably fixed relative to the outer dial, and the outer dial being translatable on the steering wheel simultaneous with the center dial;
• a processor;
• and
• non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
• actuate a vehicle system in response to the center dial translating in at least one of the plurality of directions;
• and
• navigate a plurality of settings of the vehicle system in response to the outer dial rotating with the center dial translated in at least one of the plurality of directions.