Patents Assigned to Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America
  • Patent number: 11958466
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for presenting in a hybrid electric vehicle display, proximate to or in some relation to each other, engine power usage, motor-generator power usage, and battery state of charge information. By combining the display of engine power usage, motor-generator power, and battery state of charge information, power distribution and related information may be presented to the operator of a vehicle to explain the vehicle's performance from a power split output and usage perspective. This can provide reassurance or confirmation that the vehicle is operating as it should, identify a problematic condition, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Craig D. Herring, Aaron M. France
  • Patent number: 11958541
    Abstract: An outrigger coupled to a cab frame. The outrigger including a base wall, a first side wall, an opposite second side wall, a reinforcement flange, and a reinforcement bracket. The first side wall and the opposite second side wall extend from the base wall. Each of the first side wall and the second side wall include an interior edge, an opposite exterior edge, and an inner surface. The reinforcement flange extends along the exterior edge of the first side wall, the second edge, and the exterior edge of the second side wall. The reinforcement bracket is coupled to the interior edge of the first side wall and the interior edge of the second side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob M. Kemppainen, Scott B. Smith
  • Patent number: 11958346
    Abstract: A tonneau cover for a vehicle has a topside and an underside. The tonneau cover also includes a rail system attached to the underside. The tonneau cover also includes a ramp system. The ramp system is slidably engaged with the rail system and is configured to slide out from the underside along the rail system such that a rear end of the ramp system engages a ground surface to create a rampway between the topside and the ground surface. The ramp system can be used to load large cargo onto the topside of the tonneau cover. The ramp system is also removable from the rail system and attachable to an end of a truck bed of the vehicle such that the ramp system can be used to load cargo into the truck bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan C. Harris, Scott Louis Frederick
  • Patent number: 11962472
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Seyhan Ucar, Takamasa Higuchi, Onur Altintas, Kentaro Oguchi
  • Patent number: 11958448
    Abstract: A lifting system for generating a lifting force on a portion of a vehicle includes a vehicle wheel and a force-generating mechanism structured to be received inside a rim cavity of the wheel. The force-generating mechanism is also structured to be operably connected to a frame of a vehicle. A bearing member is operably connected to the force-generating mechanism. The bearing member is structured to transmit a force generated by the force-generating mechanism to a surface in physical contact with the bearing member. The bearing member is also structured for operably connecting the wheel to the force-generating mechanism. Force applied by the force-generating mechanism may be sufficient to lift a portion of the vehicle off of a ground surface, or the force may only be sufficient to apply a parking brake force without lifting the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. MacArthur, Shigenori Shibata, Corey Zwegers, Rachel M. Menchak, Claudia A. Ma, Adam R. VanAntwerp
  • Patent number: 11962046
    Abstract: Described are systems and methods for directly monitoring the conductivity of the coolant used to regulate the temperature of a fuel cell. The system includes a coolant loop that acts as a conduit for the coolant, an ion exchanger configured to deionize the coolant, and a conductivity sensor configured to output an electrical signal indicating a conductivity of the coolant. The system also includes a processor in communication with the conductivity sensor and a memory having instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine the conductivity of the coolant based on the electrical signal from the conductivity sensor and determine when the ion exchanger requires servicing based on the conductivity of the coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew K. McClory, Daniel Charles Folick, Dakota Kelley
  • Patent number: 11958383
    Abstract: A regenerative braking control system for a vehicle can include one or more user interface elements located in a cabin of the vehicle. The user interface element(s) can correspond to a plurality of regenerative braking settings. Each of the regenerative braking setting(s) can correspond to a different amount of regenerative braking torque to apply to the wheel(s) of the vehicle. The system can include a processor operatively connected to the user interface element(s). The processor can be configured to detect a condition, the condition being at least one of a weight of the vehicle, a center of gravity of the vehicle, a weight of a trailer operatively connected to the vehicle, and a center of gravity of a trailer operatively connected to the vehicle. The processor can be configured to cause the amount of regenerative braking torque for the regenerative braking setting(s) to be adjusted based on the condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Takehito Yokoo
  • Patent number: 11959448
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining whether to use engine start-stop systems during trail or other off-road driving are provided. Systems and methods may utilize various vehicle sensors (e.g., lidar, forward-facing cameras, accelerometers, sonar sensors, etc.) to detect when it is appropriate to command engine stop for fuel economy while driving off-road. To determine appropriateness, the vehicle may evaluate obstacles, ground clearance, and/or vehicle inclination. A method may include measuring accelerations/inclinations of a vehicle, comparing an acceleration value of each acceleration to an acceleration threshold, and disabling a start-stop system of the vehicle based on at least one acceleration value exceeding the acceleration threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas S. Hawley
  • Publication number: 20240116497
    Abstract: A trailer monitoring system for a vehicle includes a processor and a memory communicably coupled to the processor. The memory stores instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to receive, from at least one monocular camera mounted to a vehicle towing a trailer, at least one monocular camera image of at least a portion of the trailer. The instructions also cause the processor to generate at least one depth map based on the at least one monocular camera image. The instructions further cause the processor to identify a trailer irregularity based on the at least one depth map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Emrah Akin Sisbot, Seyhan Ucar, Takamasa Higuchi, Yongkang Liu, Kentaro Oguchi
  • Publication number: 20240116317
    Abstract: A vehicle including a vehicle frame, a front bumper, and a tow hook assembly. The vehicle frame has an open interior. The front bumper includes a front surface, a rear surface opposite the front surface, and a channel extending between the front surface and the rear surface. The tow hook assembly includes an attachment cord coupled to the vehicle frame and extends through the channel of the front bumper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Paxton S. Williams
  • Publication number: 20240116383
    Abstract: A system for managing on-demand charging or discharging of electrical energy. The system includes a plurality of energy storage devices, one or more connectors configured to connect with a plug of an external device, a switching device configured to control a connection between the plurality of energy storage devices and the one or more connectors, and an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the switching device. The ECU may receive data relating to a first external device and a second external device each requesting an on-demand charging or discharging of electrical energy, determine a first amount and a second amount of electrical energy to be charged to or discharged from, respectively, the first external device and the second external device, and determine whether a service apparatus is capable of the on-demand charging or discharging of electrical energy for the first and the second external devices without requiring additional electrical energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Brian Woods
  • Publication number: 20240119185
    Abstract: One or more multi-zoned microreactor flow field configurations that facilitate optimized reaction-fluid performance, and one or more methods of designing such multi-zoned microreactor flow fields.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sarah N. Hankins, Yuqing Zhou, Ercan Dede, Danny Lohan
  • Publication number: 20240116530
    Abstract: An object detection system for a vehicle includes a processor and a memory communicably coupled to the processor. The memory stores instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to receive a priority assignment set by an occupant of a vehicle. The priority assignment corresponds to a customization of at least one warning characteristic. The at least one warning characteristic includes a distance threshold. The instructions also cause the processor to detect an object in an external environment of the vehicle and apply the priority assignment to the object. The instructions further cause the processor to issue a warning according to the at least one warning characteristic. According to the distance threshold, the warning is issued when a distance from the vehicle to the object meets the distance threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Emrah Akin Sisbot, Seyhan Ucar, Takamasa Higuchi, Yongkang Liu, Kentaro Oguchi
  • Publication number: 20240120743
    Abstract: A system for managing transfer or distribution of energy amongst a plurality of devices. The system includes one or more connectors configured to provide one or more connections to at least one of the plurality of devices, a switching device connected to the one or more connectors and configured to open or close the one or more connections, a memory configured to store energy storage or usage data associated with the at least one of the plurality of devices, and a controller coupled to the switching device and the memory. The controller may receive first data indicative of a request to receive energy, receive second data indicative of a request to unload energy, determine, based on the energy storage or usage data, the first data, and the second data, an energy distribution schedule, and control the switching device to provide or collect energy according to the energy distribution schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Brian Woods
  • Patent number: 11951873
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for a continuously adaptable braking pedal system. The braking system includes an electric motor that is configured to generate regenerative energy and provide a regenerative braking torque. The braking system includes an electronic control unit coupled to the electric motor. The electronic control unit is configured to determine an amount of the regenerative braking torque to be applied based on an adaptable pedal map and an amount of braking force. The electronic control unit is configured to control an amount of the regenerative braking torque to be applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Takehito Yokoo
  • Patent number: 11951987
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for adjusting the creep torque to maneuver a vehicle to a target location. In various embodiments, the creep torque adjustment mode is deactivated when the driver changes the direction of travel. The change in direction also causes the parameters of the creep torque control to be reinitiated to their initial values. In various embodiments, the creep torque mode is increased from a low creep towards a target creep. If the driver engages the brakes, the input torque is set to zero, and when the driver releases the brake, the minimum creep torque is set to the value that creep torque had risen to just before the brake was applied. This allows the driver to control the acceleration and speed, by just braking. In various embodiments, the creep control controls reverse creep to aid in hooking up a vehicle to a trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas S. Hawley
  • Patent number: 11951986
    Abstract: Systems and methods of electrically heating catalyst (EHC) driver notification are provided. With the goal of increasing driver cooperation in reducing emissions, EHC driver notification systems notify the driver when the EHC is in an inefficient operation state. This notification is provided to the driver so that the driver may consciously operate the vehicle in a fashion that reduces emissions while the EHC is in the inefficient operation state. EHC driver notifications systems may also restrict operation of the vehicle when the EHC is in an inefficient operation state. However, for safety reasons, these systems provide the driver a function to bypass the restriction as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Alessandro Concas
  • Patent number: 11952011
    Abstract: Methods and devices for digitally combining multiple access or entry enabling items or keys and/or location data of multiple destinations. A device may wirelessly communicate with a plurality of access control devices. The access control devices may individually authenticate a digital key of a plurality of digital keys identifiable by key identification data stored in a memory of the device. The device may further include a processor. The processor may be configured to determine that the digital key is authenticated by one of the access control devices. The processor may be further configured to communicate with the one access control system to prompt the one access control system to allow access to a user of the device. The processor may be further configured to communicate the location data to a navigation system. The processor may be further configured to transmit access tokens and/or location data to other devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Masashi Nakagawa, Seisuke Kasaoki
  • Publication number: 20240110805
    Abstract: A parking assist system for a vehicle includes a processor and a memory communicably coupled to the processor. The memory stores instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to detect a parking space for a vehicle. The instructions further cause the processor to identify one or more parking parameters related to parking the vehicle in the parking space. The parking parameters include a point-of-interest associated with the parking space. The instructions further cause the processor to determine a suitability of the parking space based on the one or more parking parameters. Determining the suitability of the parking space includes predicting a point-of-interest-related action to be performed by an occupant after parking the vehicle in the parking space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Emrah Akin Sisbot, Seyhan Ucar, Takamasa Higuchi, Yongkang Liu, Kentaro Oguchi
  • Publication number: 20240110644
    Abstract: Systems and methods herein provide for an anolyte hose guide to optimize anolyte flow of an electrodeposition coating system. According to some embodiments, a flexible member guide is disclosed that has a guide channel adapted to receive a flexible member and shaped so as to direct an end of the flexible member into a membrane housing of an anode cell for use during an electrodeposition coating process. Examples disclosed herein receive the flexible member via a first direction and direct the end of the flexible member into the anode cell via a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction. The flexible member guide also include a mounting structure having a fork-like extending in the second direction providing for a mounting space configured to receive a rim of the anode cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicants: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: PHILLIP L. PUTLER