Abstract: A method for predicting presence of objects in an area is provided. The method includes obtaining a 2-dimensional matrix representing presence of objects in an area, each of values of the 2-dimensional matrix representing presence of objects in corresponding sub-region of the area, filtering the 2-dimensional matrix based on map information, converting the filtered 2-dimensional matrix to 1-dimensional data, inputting a series of the 1-dimensional data to a trained prediction machine learning model to obtain 1-dimensional data for future presence of objects, and converting the 1-dimensional data for future presence of objects to a 2-dimensional matrix representing the future presence of objects.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 11, 2023
Publication date:
February 13, 2025
Applicants:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for adapted vehicle geometry include a vehicle and one or more processors. The vehicle includes a camera operable to generate an image of an environment surrounding the vehicle. The environment includes a parking space and an object removably attached to the vehicle. The one or more processors operable to identify the object as attached to the vehicle, generate, using a pre-trained depth algorithm, a depth map based on the image, generate a boundary of the parking space and a boundary of the vehicle combined with the object based on the depth map, determine whether a distance between the boundary of the parking space and the boundary of the vehicle combined with the object is less than a threshold value, and output an alert in response to determining that the distance is less than the threshold value.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 13, 2024
Publication date:
February 13, 2025
Applicants:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
Abstract: A flexural wave absorption system includes a base member connected to a beam that may be subject to flexural waves, an arm member, connected to the base, disposed substantially in parallel alignment with the beam, a mass member connected to a distal end of the arm member, a piezoelectric patch, connected to the arm member, that generates electricity in response to a flexural wave propagating through the beam, and a shunting circuit, connected to the piezoelectric patch, that dissipates electricity generated by the piezoelectric patch to absorb the flexural wave.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 5, 2021
Date of Patent:
February 11, 2025
Assignee:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
Abstract: A method includes receiving first environment information related to a first vehicular task from a host vehicle, comparing the first environment information to second environment information captured when a member vehicle performed a second vehicular task corresponding to the first vehicular task using a second set of operating criteria, and determining a first set of operating criteria for performing the first vehicular task based on a similarity score between the first environment information and the second environment information and a success or accuracy rate of the second vehicular task performed by the member vehicle.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 29, 2021
Date of Patent:
February 11, 2025
Assignee:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
Abstract: A cathode catalyst for a nanoparticle catalyst and method of making the same may include creating a nanoparticle. The nanoparticle catalyst may include a shell, wherein the shell may include platinum (Pt). The nanoparticle catalyst may include a core within the shell, wherein the core may include a platinum alloy (Pt-M), where M is a transition metal.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 4, 2023
Publication date:
February 6, 2025
Applicants:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
Abstract: Systems and methods of transitioning a vehicle from being autonomously controlled by an autonomous vehicle control system to being controlled by a driver upon the driver taking over driving of the vehicle are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may: obtain tactile information corresponding to the driver of the vehicle while the vehicle is being autonomously controlled by the autonomous vehicle control system; predict, using the tactile information, when the driver will be ready to take over driving of the vehicle from the autonomous vehicle control system; alert the driver to take over driving of the vehicle from the autonomous vehicle control system based on the prediction as to when the driver will be ready to take over driving of the vehicle; and transition the vehicle from being autonomously controlled by the autonomous vehicle control system to being controlled by the driver upon the driver taking over driving of the vehicle.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 1, 2023
Publication date:
February 6, 2025
Applicants:
TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Inventors:
Ziran Wang, Rohit Gupta, Kyungtae Han, Runjia Du
Abstract: Systems and methods described herein relate to assessing the quality of electrocatalyst-loaded disk electrodes. In one embodiment, a system that assesses the quality of electrocatalyst-loaded disk electrodes receives one or more images of a disk electrode on which an electrocatalyst has been deposited to produce an electrocatalyst-loaded disk electrode. The system also processes the one or more images using a machine-learning-based model trained to generate a prediction of a Koutecky-Levich (K-L) quality assessment of the electrocatalyst-loaded disk electrode. The system also accepts or reject inclusion of the electrocatalyst-loaded disk electrode in an electrochemical experimentation process based, at least in part, on the prediction.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 31, 2023
Publication date:
February 6, 2025
Applicants:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
Abstract: Methods and systems for personalized notifications are provided. The methods and systems may include determining a comfort level of a user based on a reaction of the user to a road situation associated with road traffic, defining a zone of the user based on the comfort level, the zone including a location of the user, providing a notification to a vehicle, the notification including information associated with the zone, in response to a result of a comparison of the zone and a trajectory of the vehicle, and controlling the vehicle to drive based on the notification.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 1, 2023
Publication date:
February 6, 2025
Applicants:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
Inventors:
Rohit Gupta, Sergei S. Avedisov, Paul Li
Abstract: A system for determining a future state-of-health (SOH) of a battery includes a memory communicably coupled to a processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to acquire battery data of a battery for which a future SOH is to be predicted. The instructions also cause the processor to identify a selected model from an ensemble of models according to at least a time to the future SOH and a time length of the battery data. The instructions further cause the processor to predict the future SOH using the battery data as an input to the selected model.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 4, 2023
Publication date:
February 6, 2025
Applicants:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
Abstract: Systems and methods of indirectly illuminating a step surface of a vehicle running board are provided. A running board may include an upper step surface and at least one lighting element provided at an inboard underside of the running board to directly illuminate the undercarriage of the vehicle and a ground surface below the running board. The lighting element may be configured to direct light to a reflecting element provided at the undercarriage for reflecting light provided by the at least one lighting element to indirectly illuminate the upper step surface of the running board. Associated vehicles including the running board are provided. Associated methods are also provided.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 1, 2022
Date of Patent:
February 4, 2025
Assignees:
TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSRIKI KAISHA
Inventors:
Stuart R. Wuerthele, Frank A. Richards, Alexander L. Paradis
Abstract: A method of designing a fuel cell includes executing one or more programs on one or more computing devices having one or more processors to predict a location of one or more liquid regions and one or more vapor regions in microchannels at an air layer of a plate of the fuel cell. Based on the prediction, fluid flow networks for the air layer, a hydrogen layer, and a coolant layer of the fuel cell are simultaneously optimized via homogenized flow optimization. In response to the results of the homogenized flow optimization, one or more multi-scale Turing-patterned microstructures are generated for the air layer and the hydrogen layer. One or more multi-scale Turing-patterned microstructures are generated for the coolant layer by stacking the air layer and the hydrogen layer.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 3, 2020
Date of Patent:
February 4, 2025
Assignee:
TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Abstract: A retainer installation tool can facilitate installation of a retainer onto a vehicle body structure. In some arrangements, the retainer can be for a vehicle sonar sensor, and the vehicle body structure can be a bumper. The retainer installation tool can help to ensure proper placement of retainer, sufficient adhesion time, and/or placement of an adhesive. The retainer installation tool can include an outer casing. The retainer installation tool can include a central shaft extending partially within the outer casing. The retainer installation tool can include a handle operatively connected to cause rotation of the central shaft. The retainer installation tool can be configured to retainably engage a retainer. The retainer installation tool can be configured to selectively disengage the retainer when the central shaft is rotated.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 15, 2022
Date of Patent:
February 4, 2025
Assignee:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting one or more properties of a deformable lens are described herein. The deformable lens includes a photoswitch material that, when irradiated by a radiation, causes a curvature of a surface of the deformable lens to change from a first curvature to a second curvature based on the intensity of the radiation.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 14, 2021
Date of Patent:
February 4, 2025
Assignee:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
Abstract: A battery pack frame is disclosed. The battery pack frame includes a front wall, a rear wall, and a pair of sidewalls that extend between the front wall and the rear wall. A bottom plate extends beneath the front wall, the rear wall, and the pair of sidewalls, and a plurality of cross members extend between the pair of sidewalls. Each of the plurality of cross members further include an upper member and a base member having a channel that defines a cavity for receiving the upper member.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 25, 2023
Publication date:
January 30, 2025
Applicants:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
Abstract: Disclosed herein are assemblies for protecting the battery pack of a vehicle. The vehicle includes a pair of side frame members. A battery pack is located between the side frame members. A battery protection plate has an upper surface, an opposite lower surface, a plurality of mounting bosses, and a plurality of openings. The plurality of mounting bosses are coupled to the battery protection plate to the pair of side frame members, and the plurality of openings extend between the upper surface and the opposite lower surface. The plurality of openings are configured to expose at least a portion of the battery pack to an exterior atmosphere so as to allow fluid to drain through the plurality of openings.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 28, 2023
Publication date:
January 30, 2025
Applicants:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
Abstract: A metal-air battery includes an anode, a porous cathode, a separator between the anode and the porous cathode, a liquid electrolyte, and at least one acoustic device. The acoustic device produces acoustic waves at a frequency that pumps the liquid electrolyte through and into flowing contact with the porous cathode such that a discharge product is removed from the porous cathode. An accumulation compartment where the discharged product is collected after being removed from the porous cathode can also be included.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 24, 2023
Publication date:
January 30, 2025
Applicants:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
Inventors:
Timothy S. Arthur, Xiaoshi Su, Debasish Banerjee
Abstract: A method for video instance segmentation is provided. The method includes inputting a plurality of video frames collected by a sensor of a vehicle to a trained machine learning model to obtain an n-th output from an n-th layer of the trained machine learning model and an n+1-st output from an n+1-st layer of the trained machine learning model, the trained machine learning model comprising a deep learning model and early-exit subnets, and in response to determining that a difference between the n-th output and the n+1-st output is less than a threshold value, controlling the vehicle based on the n+1-st output, the n+1-st output includes information about instances in the plurality of video frames.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 28, 2023
Publication date:
January 30, 2025
Applicants:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for accommodating relative movement between a vehicle body and a vehicle frame. An apparatus includes a flexible member attaching a tire catcher cover to a fender liner. The flexible member surrounds a perimeter of the tire catcher cover. The flexible member can seal a gap between the tire catcher cover and the fender liner. The flexible member can temporarily deform in response to relative movement between the vehicle frame and the vehicle body. The tire catcher cover can be mounted to a tire catcher and may move together with the tire catcher and the vehicle frame with respect to the fender liner. The fender liner can be mounted to a vehicle fender and may move together with the fender and the vehicle body with respect to the vehicle frame.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 24, 2023
Publication date:
January 30, 2025
Applicants:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
Inventors:
Blaine C. Benson, Erin L. Twombly, Mark C. Kulik
Abstract: A battery pack frame is disclosed. A battery pack frame includes a front wall, a rear wall, a pair of sidewalls extending between the front wall and the rear wall, and a bottom plate extending beneath the front wall, the rear wall, and the pair of sidewalls. A plurality of cross members extend between the pair of sidewalls, and each of the plurality of cross members includes an extruded frame having at least one channel that defines a cavity and a reinforcement member positioned within the at least one cavity.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 25, 2023
Publication date:
January 30, 2025
Applicants:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to reconstructing a dynamic scene using Neural Radiance Field (NeRF) technology. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from one or more sensors, a plurality of video clips of an environment. The method includes generating a second plurality of video clips based on the plurality of video clips, and reconstructing, using NeRF technology, a scene as a continuous function based on the second plurality of video clips.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 25, 2023
Publication date:
January 30, 2025
Applicants:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
Inventors:
Hongsheng Lu, Nejib Ammar, Akila C. Ganlath, Qi Chen, John B. Kenney, Onur Altintas