The Van Buren Township-based automotive supplier Visteon Corp. (NYSE:VC) said Wednesday it had obtaine a license from San Jose, Calif.-based Immersion Corp. (NASDAQ: IMMR) to apply Immersion's touch feedback technology to electronic controls in vehicles.

The so-called haptic feedback can, for example, make a button on a TV screen issue a "click" sensation like a switch.

The agreement enables Visteon to apply technology that maximizes the sense of touch in electronic controls in vehicles, similar to what consumers experience when using the emerging technology in portable devices such as mobile phones and personal navigation systems.

The agreement strengthens a working relationship between Visteon and Immersion for developing and commercializing, by 2010, several types of controls enabled by haptics throughout vehicle interiors. Independent research has shown that haptics, by improving touch sensation, can increase user speed and accuracy, reduce complication and stress, and improve overall satisfaction. In vehicles, haptics can offer the additional advantages of reducing glance time and minimizing driver distraction.

Concepts integrating Immersion's TouchSense technology will be demonstrated at Visteon's exhibit during the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas Jan. 8-11 at booth CP13 in the Central Plaza.

Visteon sees potential application of this technology throughout its core product lines -- electronics, interiors products such as door and instrument panels, and climate controls.

More at www.visteon.com or www.immersion.com.