Apparatus and method for controlling driving of vehicle

An apparatus for controlling a vehicle, comprising:

• an operation unit that enables a transmission operation to allow a transmission stage to be selected from among a plurality of transmission stages;
• a function unit that performs at least one vehicle function other than the transmission operation;
• and
• a position adjusting unit that switches the operation unit between a first position where the transmission operation is disabled and a second position where the transmission operation is enabled, by rotating the operation unit with respect to the functional unit, depending on whether the vehicle is in a first state or a second state, wherein the first state includes a state in which an engine of an internal combustion engine vehicle is not running or a state in which an electric vehicle is not drivable, and the second state includes a state in which the engine of the internal combustion engine vehicle is running or a state in which the electric vehicle is drivable,
• wherein the function unit is configured to be activated in both the first state and the second state, and
• wherein the operation unit is configured to be operated by a dial operation method.

An apparatus for controlling a vehicle, comprising:

• an operation unit that enables a transmission operation to allow a transmission stage to be selected from among a plurality of transmission stages;
• a function unit that performs at least one vehicle function other than the transmission operation;
• and
• a position adjusting unit that switches the operation unit between a first position where the transmission operation is disabled and a second position where the transmission operation is enabled, by rotating the operation unit with respect to the functional unit, depending on whether the vehicle is in a first state or a second state, wherein the first state includes a state in which an engine of an internal combustion engine vehicle is not running or a state in which an electric vehicle is not drivable, and the second state includes a state in which the engine of the internal combustion engine vehicle is running or a state in which the electric vehicle is drivable,
• wherein the function unit is configured to be activated in both the first state and the second state,
• wherein the operation unit includes an opening that surrounds at least a portion of the function unit, and
• wherein the opening exposes at least a portion of the function unit to an interior space of the vehicle when the operation unit is at the first position and the second position.

A method for controlling a vehicle, comprising:

• detecting whether the vehicle is in a first state or a second state, wherein the first state includes a state in which an engine of an internal combustion engine vehicle is not running or a state in which an electric vehicle is not drivable, and the second state includes a state in which the engine of the internal combustion engine vehicle is running or a state in which the electric vehicle is drivable;
• adjusting a position of an operation unit that enables a driver's transmission operation so as to be disposed between a first position, in which the transmission operation is disabled, and a second position, in which the transmission operation is enabled, by rotating the operation unit depending on whether the vehicle is in the first state or the second state with respect to a function unit that performs at least one vehicle function other than the transmission operation,
• wherein, in the first state, the position of the operation unit is adjusted to allow a first surface, on which a transmission operation unit is disposed, to be unexposed to a cabin of the vehicle and to allow a second surface, on which the function unit is disposed, to be exposed to the cabin, and
• wherein, in the second state, the position of the operation unit is adjusted to allow the surface to be exposed to the cabin and to allow the second surface to be unexposed to the cabin.