Methods and systems for providing accessory steering wheel controls

A system for providing control signals to a vehicle component, the system comprising:

• an aftermarket steering wheel control mounted to a steering column of a vehicle, and including at least one user-operable switch;
• and
• a control signal interface, including:
• an input unit configured to receive control signals from the aftermarket steering wheel control,
• an output unit electrically connectable to at least one channel of a vehicle component, the vehicle component including an aftermarket entertainment component, and
• a signal processing unit adapted to auto-detect a control signal configuration of the vehicle component, by:
• (i) performing a measurement on the at least one channel of the vehicle component, and
• (ii) identifying the control signal configuration of the vehicle component based on the measurement,
• wherein the output unit is adapted to transmit control signals to the vehicle component based on the control signals received by the input unit and in accordance with the auto-detected control signal configuration of the vehicle component.

A system for providing control signals to a vehicle component, the system comprising:

• an aftermarket control disposed in a vehicle, the aftermarket control including at least one user-operable input;
• and
• a control signal interface, including:
• an input unit configured to receive control signals from the aftermarket control,
• an output unit electrically connectable to at least one channel of a vehicle component, the vehicle component including an aftermarket entertainment component, and
• a signal processing unit adapted to auto-detect a control signal configuration of the vehicle component, by:
• (i) performing a measurement on the at least one channel of the vehicle component, and
• (ii) identifying the control signal configuration of the vehicle component based on the measurement,
• wherein the output unit is adapted to transmit control signals to the vehicle component based on control signals received by the input unit and in accordance with the auto-detected control signal configuration of the vehicle component.