Patents by Inventor Kevin J. James
Kevin J. James has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11872927Abstract: A system for controlling a function of a vehicle by activation of a vehicle button includes a vehicle component configured to receive a signal and to perform an electrical or mechanical function in response to receiving the signal. The system further includes a physical structure located on an exterior of the vehicle and having an integrated button such that at least one of manual actuation of or physical proximity to the physical structure initiates a button selection event. The system further includes an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the vehicle component and to the integrated button and configured to identify the button selection event and to transmit the signal to the vehicle component in response to identifying the button selection event to cause the vehicle component to perform the electrical or mechanical function.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2020Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Kevin J. James, Taun-Min Chan
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Publication number: 20230365200Abstract: A tailgate support cable assembly includes a cable and a retainer portion attached to an end of the cable. The retainer portion rotatably attaches the end of the cable assembly to a vehicle tailgate. The retainer portion includes a tailgate retention portion, an object contact portion extending from the tailgate retention portion, and a sensor engagement portion extending from the object contact portion. The retainer portion is structured to rotate with respect to the tailgate responsive to contact between the object contact portion and a foreign object positioned in a seam between the tailgate and another portion of the vehicle, during a closing movement of the tailgate. Rotation of the retainer portion brings the sensor engagement portion into contact with (and activates) a touch sensor mounted on the tailgate. Activation of the touch sensor causes a stoppage and/or reversal of tailgate movement, thereby preventing “pinching” of the foreign object.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2022Publication date: November 16, 2023Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tarakorn Soonthornwinate, Kevin J. James, James D. Cunningham
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Patent number: 11307586Abstract: An offroad travel assistance system for a user vehicle includes one or more processors and a memory communicably coupled to the one or more processors and storing a user vehicle configuration evaluation module including computer-readable instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to determine if user vehicle configuration information describing the user vehicle is consistent with ride information similar to the user vehicle configuration information and describing a traversal of an offroad trail by a reference vehicle and, responsive to a determination that the user vehicle configuration information is not consistent with the ride information, autonomously control at least one portion of the user vehicle so as to prevent operation of the user vehicle to traverse the offroad trail.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2020Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventor: Kevin J. James
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Publication number: 20210354641Abstract: A system for controlling a function of a vehicle by activation of a vehicle button includes a vehicle component configured to receive a signal and to perform an electrical or mechanical function in response to receiving the signal. The system further includes a physical structure located on an exterior of the vehicle and having an integrated button such that at least one of manual actuation of or physical proximity to the physical structure initiates a button selection event. The system further includes an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the vehicle component and to the integrated button and configured to identify the button selection event and to transmit the signal to the vehicle component in response to identifying the button selection event to cause the vehicle component to perform the electrical or mechanical function.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2020Publication date: November 18, 2021Inventors: Kevin J. James, Taun-Min Chan
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Publication number: 20210255621Abstract: An offroad travel assistance system for a user vehicle includes one or more processors and a memory communicably coupled to the one or more processors and storing a user vehicle configuration evaluation module including computer-readable instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to determine if user vehicle configuration information describing the user vehicle is consistent with ride information similar to the user vehicle configuration information and describing a traversal of an offroad trail by a reference vehicle and, responsive to a determination that the user vehicle configuration information is not consistent with the ride information, autonomously control at least one portion of the user vehicle so as to prevent operation of the user vehicle to traverse the offroad trail.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2020Publication date: August 19, 2021Inventor: Kevin J. James
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Patent number: 10988007Abstract: A mounting package includes a sunroof assembly, a roof crossbeam, and a hanger hanging the roof crossbeam underneath the sunroof assembly. The sunroof assembly includes a guiderail. The hanger includes a lower hook hooked with the roof crossbeam, and an upper hook hooked with the guiderail. The hanger is configured to flexibly accommodate multidirectional movement of the roof crossbeam relative to the guiderail. The multidirectional movement includes lifting movement of the roof crossbeam relative to the guiderail.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2019Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignees: Aisin Technical Center of America, Inc., Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Bernath, Joel T. Runyan, Kevin J. James, James D. Cunningham
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Publication number: 20210107342Abstract: A mounting package includes a sunroof assembly, a roof crossbeam, and a hanger hanging the roof crossbeam underneath the sunroof assembly. The sunroof assembly includes a guiderail. The hanger includes a lower hook hooked with the roof crossbeam, and an upper hook hooked with the guiderail. The hanger is configured to flexibly accommodate multidirectional movement of the roof crossbeam relative to the guiderail. The multidirectional movement includes lifting movement of the roof crossbeam relative to the guiderail.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2019Publication date: April 15, 2021Inventors: Thomas Bernath, Joel T. Runyan, Kevin J. James, James D. Cunningham
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Patent number: 10207616Abstract: A seat assembly for a rear vehicle cabin is provided including a seat base configured to receive and support a car seat in a rear-facing configuration; a backrest; and a movable headrest component. The movable headrest component includes first and second opposing major surfaces. At least a portion of the second major surface is configured to provide a reflective surface, for example, using a mirror. A movable cover may be provided, configured to selectively conceal the reflective surface. The movable headrest component has a first orientation with the first major surface facing a forward direction with respect to the vehicle, and a second orientation with the second major surface facing a forward direction with respect to the vehicle. In the second orientation, the reflective surface provides a forward facing driver with a view of the car seat, when viewed from a center mounted rear-view mirror coupled to a vehicle windshield.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2016Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventor: Kevin J. James
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Publication number: 20180056831Abstract: A seat assembly for a rear vehicle cabin is provided including a seat base configured to receive and support a car seat in a rear-facing configuration; a backrest; and a movable headrest component. The movable headrest component includes first and second opposing major surfaces. At least a portion of the second major surface is configured to provide a reflective surface, for example, using a mirror. A movable cover may be provided, configured to selectively conceal the reflective surface. The movable headrest component has a first orientation with the first major surface facing a forward direction with respect to the vehicle, and a second orientation with the second major surface facing a forward direction with respect to the vehicle. In the second orientation, the reflective surface provides a forward facing driver with a view of the car seat, when viewed from a center mounted rear-view mirror coupled to a vehicle windshield.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2016Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventor: Kevin J. James