Vehicle accessory control interface having capactive touch switches

A system for enabling an operator to control a vehicle accessory includes a control interface and a processor. The control interface has a display surface and a touch area defined by an electrically conductive layer adjacent the display surface. The conductive layer capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object upon the object touching or being in proximity with the touch area while the conductive layer is driven with an electrical charge. The processor drives the conductive layer with the electrical charge, detects the capacitive coupling of the conductive layer to the object upon the object touching or being in proximity with the touch area while the conductive layer is driven, generates a signal indicative of the object touching or being in proximity with the touch area upon detecting the capacitive coupling of the conductive layer to the object, and provides the signal to the accessory for controlling the accessory accordingly.