Patents Assigned to Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11940417
    Abstract: A flexural wave absorption system detects, with a sensor attached to a beam, an incident wave propagating in the beam. The system determines, based on a signal from the sensor generated in response to the incident wave, an amplitude and phase of the incident wave propagating in the beam and controls an actuator connected to the beam to generate a suppression wave, based on the amplitude and the phase of the incident wave, that reduces a coefficient of reflection of the incident wave across a broadband frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaopeng Li, Taehwa Lee, Hideo Iizuka, Danil V. Prokhorov
  • Patent number: 11941081
    Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to training a model to stylize low-light images for improved perception. In one embodiment, a method includes encoding, by a style model, an input image to identify first content information. The method also includes decoding, by the style model, the first content information into an albedo component and a shading component. The method also includes generating, by the style model, a synthetic image using the albedo component and the shading component. The method also includes training the style model according to computed losses between the input image and the synthetic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kareem Metwaly, Rui Guo, Xuewei Qi, Kentaro Oguchi
  • Patent number: 11943760
    Abstract: A method for data sharing between a transmitter vehicle and a receiver vehicle includes obtaining sensor data, encoding the sensor data into structured data having a set of features and a set of channels, generating a channel attention map based on inter-channel relationships of the set of features, generating weights corresponding to channels of the channel attention map, selecting one or more channels among the set of channels based on the weights corresponding to the set of channels, and transmitting the selected channels to the receiver vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Rui Guo, Hongsheng Lu, Prashant Tiwari
  • Patent number: 11938875
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for wireless power transfer in a vehicle. A wireless power transfer system can include a high-frequency alternating current (HFAC) inverter electrically coupled to the power source and a transmitter to wirelessly transmit a HFAC power signal to at least one device of a vehicle, such as sensors (e.g., LiDAR, GPS etc.) and cameras. The HFAC power signal provides wireless power and a data signal to the at least one device of a vehicle. The wireless power transfer system can eliminate the need for cabling and wires to provide power to the device. Wireless power transfer can include use or a data modulation circuit and a pulse current source to inject a pulse current to the HFAC power signal as superimposed data. System configurations can power a plurality of devices. Systems can includes a plurality of HFAC inverters and transmitters to power multiple sets of devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignees: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Yanghe Liu, Chungchih Chou, Hiroshi Ukegawa, Qunfang Wu, Mengqi Wang, Weiyang Zhou
  • Publication number: 20240097984
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for forming remote vehicular micro clouds at one or more remote locations. According to some embodiments, the methods and systems comprise responsive to receiving a request to form a vehicular micro cloud from a client device, communicating with a plurality of vehicles within an area of a geographic location to collectively form a vehicular micro cloud at the geographic location, where client device is remote from the area of the geographic location. The methods and systems further include receiving resource data from the plurality of vehicles, the resource data comprising detection results of an environment surrounding the geographic location based on sensor sets of the plurality of vehicles, and transmitting the resource data to the client device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicants: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: SEYHAN UCAR, TAKAMASA HIGUCHI, ONUR ALTINTAS, KENTARO OGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20240094093
    Abstract: A test fixture for a testing a vehicle seat mounting includes a first portion and a second portion separate from the first portion and having a fulcrum supported thereon. An energy absorbing member is attached to the test fixture first portion and extends around a portion of the fulcrum. The energy absorbing member is formed so as to have a first shape when the test fixture first portion and second portion are spaced apart less than a predetermined distance. The test fixture is structured so that movement of the second portion in a direction away from the first portion causes the fulcrum to slide along the energy absorbing member. Sliding of the fulcrum along the energy absorbing member plastically deforms the energy absorbing member into a second shape different from the first shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kyle E. Rosander, Phouvadol P. Khouphongsy, Tejaswi Mule, Robert J. Stauffer, Zachary T. Pawson, Louis J. Brady
  • Publication number: 20240094723
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to controlling an untethered trailer vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving sensor data about at least one vehicle between a tow vehicle and at least one trailer vehicle and outputting, using an output system, information related to the at least one vehicle and the at least one trailer vehicle based on the sensor data. The method includes receiving from a user, using an input system, a new position for at least one trailer vehicle relative to the at least one vehicle and transmitting the new position to the at least one trailer vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Paxton S. Williams
  • Publication number: 20240096218
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for forming a knowledge hub. According to some embodiments, the methods and systems comprise determining a region of interest comprising a geographical portion of a roadway, determining an appropriate notification associated with the region of interest, the appropriate notification comprising instructions to navigate the geographical portion of the roadway, examining available resources to generate a knowledge hub about the region of interest and notifying the driver of the vehicle of the appropriate notification associated with the region of interest when the vehicle enters into the region of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicants: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: SEYHAN UCAR, TAKAMASA HIGUCHI, ONUR ALTINTAS
  • Publication number: 20240091974
    Abstract: Apparatuses described herein relate to coniditioning an edge of a substrate using a water jet. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a nozzle connected on a receiving end with a connecting tube to receive a water jet that is a stream of water accelerated at a high velocity to generate a high pressure for cutting a substrate, where the water jet exits through the nozzle. The appartus further includes a deflector coupled to the nozzle, where the deflector splits the water jet into a cutting stream of water for cutting the substrate and an angled stream of water for conditioning an edge of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Lindsay A. Babian, Nazul M. Rivera
  • Publication number: 20240092209
    Abstract: An example operation includes one or more of determining, by a charging facility, an amount of current charge in a vehicle, an amount of requested charge for the vehicle, and an amount of time to charge the vehicle; charging, by the charging facility, the vehicle based on the determining; ceasing, by the charging facility, the charging of the vehicle, when another vehicle with an amount of requested charge is lower than the amount of requested charge of the vehicle and an amount of time to charge the another vehicle is less than the amount of time to charge the vehicle, and responsive to the another vehicle receiving the amount of requested charge, continuing to charge, by the charging facility, the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicants: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Gregg J. Overfield
  • Patent number: 11935310
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to managing a vehicular micro cloud. A method may include determining join/leave protocols for a vehicular micro cloud and transmitting the join/leave protocols to a local vehicle in a vicinity of the vehicular micro cloud prior to the local vehicle joining the vehicular micro cloud. The join/leave protocols can define at least: 1) a procedure for the local vehicle to join the vehicular micro cloud and contribute computing resources to a collaborative micro cloud task, and 2) a protocol for handing an incomplete task when the local vehicle leaves the vehicular micro cloud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Seyhan Ucar, Takamasa Higuchi, Chang-Heng Wang, Enes Krijestorac, Onur Altintas
  • Patent number: 11935093
    Abstract: An example operation includes one or more of receiving an opt-in request to display information on a display of a vehicle configured to be viewed from outside of the vehicle, authenticating the request to allow displaying information on the display, determining information associated with the vehicle to be displayed on the display, determining misuse of the information displayed on the display based on a notification from another vehicle, and flagging the misuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Paul Li, John F. Daly, Rohit Gupta, Satoshi Nagashima, Adrian Lombard
  • Patent number: 11935254
    Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving depth prediction for objects within a low-light image using a style model. In one embodiment, a method includes encoding, by a style model, an input image to identify content information. The method also includes decoding, by the style model, the content information into an albedo component and a shading component. The method also includes generating, by the style model, a synthetic image using the albedo component and the shading component. The method also includes providing the synthetic image to a depth model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Rui Guo, Xuewei Qi, Kentaro Oguchi, Kareem Metwaly
  • Patent number: 11932245
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving identification of a path for an ego vehicle on a roadway. In one embodiment, a method includes, in response to acquiring sensor data from at least one sensor of the ego vehicle about a surrounding environment, identifying roadway elements from the sensor data as cues about the path. The roadway elements include one or more of lane markers of the roadway and surrounding vehicles. The method includes grouping the roadway elements into two or more groups according to characteristics of roadway elements indicating common curvatures. The method includes analyzing the two or more groups according to a confidence heuristic to determine a priority group from the two or more groups that corresponds with a trajectory of the ego vehicle. The method includes providing an identifier for the priority group to facilitate at least path planning for the ego vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Rohit Pandita, Ruiko Miyano
  • Patent number: 11932114
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems to provide for technology to that includes a first power electronics module including a plurality of first transistors that are diagonally offset from each other, and a second power electronics module stacked on the first power electronics module. The second power electronics module includes second transistors that are diagonally offset from each other. The second transistors are staggered relative to the first transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Fujioka, Shailesh N. Joshi, Danny J. Lohan
  • Patent number: 11935404
    Abstract: A method of operating a traffic management system may comprise identifying a vehicle queue in a first lane of a road based on sensor data from one or more connected vehicles traveling along the road, determining driving instructions for a connected vehicle within a queue management region in a second lane, adjacent to the first lane, to create a gap in front of the connected vehicle for a vehicle in the vehicle queue to change lanes into the gap, and transmitting the driving instructions to the connected vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., MCMASTER UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Baik Hoh, Hao Yang, Seyhan Ucar, Kentaro Oguchi
  • Patent number: 11931773
    Abstract: The systems and methods utilize thermal energy linked to certain colors vehicles may be manufactured in a single color and changed to a specific color at a dealership before customer purchase and/or throughout the lifetime of the vehicle. A system for modulating vehicle paint of a vehicle includes a paint layer disposed on an exterior surface of the vehicle and a color modulator configured to radiate a light such that the paint layer reacts when the paint layer is exposed to the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaiha
    Inventors: Lauren M. Abro, Yuko N. Gidcumb, Michelle R. Vargo, Lindsay A. Babian
  • Patent number: 11935417
    Abstract: Systems and methods for cooperatively managing mixed traffic at an intersection are disclosed herein. One embodiment determines, at an autonomous sensor-rich vehicle, that one or more other vehicles are following in the same lane, the one or more other vehicles including at least one legacy vehicle; communicates with the one or more other vehicles to form a platoon; receives Signal Phase and Timing (SpaT) information from a roadside unit associated with an intersection toward which the platoon is traveling; calculates at the autonomous sensor-rich vehicle, based at least in part on the SPaT information and location information for the platoon, a speed profile and a trajectory for the autonomous sensor-rich vehicle that minimize a delay of the platoon in traversing the intersection while accounting for fuel consumption; and executes the speed profile and the trajectory to control indirectly the one or more other vehicles while the platoon traverses the intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Mehmet Ali Guney, Rui Guo, Prashant Tiwari
  • Patent number: 11934576
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method includes measuring brain activity for a target frequency and a second harmonic frequency based on a default value of display parameters for a plurality of icons, determining whether a strength of the target frequency and the second harmonic frequency are below a threshold level, and modifying one or more display parameters in response to the strength of the target frequency and the second harmonic frequency being below the threshold level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT HEALTH CENTER
    Inventors: Insoo Kim, Hossein Hamidi Shishavan, Kia Golzari, Muhamed Farooq, Ercan M. Dede
  • Patent number: 11932390
    Abstract: An aircraft can include a wing. A morphing member can be operatively connected to the wing. The morphing member can include a base and a shape memory material member operatively connected to the base. The base can be made of a flexible material. When the shape memory material member is activated, a shape of the morphing member can change. As a result, one or more aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft can be changed. In some arrangements, the flexible material can be a fabric, and the shape memory material member can be a shape memory alloy wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Rikin Gupta, Shardul Singh Panwar, Taewoo Nam, Deborah Bumgardner, Yufei Zhu