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Home >> BMW >> 2015 >> i3 Range Extender >> Repair and Diagnosis (Single Page) >> General Information >> OEM General Information >> Functional Description -- I3_I01 >> Touchbox with controller and rear-compartment controller >> Brief component description >> Controller (CON)
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Controller (CON)

The controller is the central operating element for the vehicle functions that can be selected and configured on the central information display. The control panel and control unit of the controller (CON) have been combined in one single component. There are 7 fixed selector keys arranged around the controller. These selector keys now enable selection of half of all the sub-menus.

A touchpad is integrated on the controller. The term touchpad (keyboard) defines a touch-sensitive surface that can be used to replace keyboards, for example. Modern touchpads determine the position of the finger on the surface of the touchpad using electrical capacity.

G09872622Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Item Explanation
1 Controller (CON)
2 Button {BACK}
3 Rotary knob with touchpad
4 Bounce {RADIO} and {MEDIA}
5 button {MENU}
6 Bounce {TEL} and {NAV}
7 button {OPTION}
8 4-pin plug connection

There are a variety of degrees of operating freedom for the control panel available to navigate the menu structure:

The controller is connected via the bus system with the head unit.

Signal path: Controller (CON) > K-CAN2 > Head unit High (HU-H) 

The signal for the locator lighting (terminal 58g e.g. for the buttons) is transferred on the bus.

The controller (CON) is supplied by the front power distribution box with terminal 30B. The ground supply comes from the body. On BMW i vehicles, the ground connection comes from the ground support point on the Life module.