Patents by Inventor Crystal J. Mink

Crystal J. Mink 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).

  • Patent number: 10189506
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a roof assembly including a roof outer panel having an outer facing surface and a sensor housing recess that extends below the outer facing surface. The sensor housing recess extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction between a front windshield and a rear windshield. A roof sensor housing assembly is mounted to the roof outer panel and extends along a length of the sensor housing recess. The roof sensor housing assembly includes a sensor housing structure that is mounted to the roof outer panel forming a sensor housing volume therebetween. The sensor housing structure extends at least partially above the outer facing surface of the outer roof panel. The sensor housing structure includes a transmission region that has increased transmittance therethrough compared to surrounding regions of the sensor housing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jaime N. Moore, Crystal J. Mink
  • Patent number: 10071773
    Abstract: A vehicle roof structure for concealing one or more sensors therein includes a roof panel, a windshield extending up to the roof panel, and a spoiler. The spoiler extends across at least a portion of a width of the roof panel and includes a leading portion that is substantially parallel to a windshield-roof interface, an apex, wherein a height of the spoiler increases from a height of the roof panel to a height of the apex as the spoiler extends from the leading portion to the apex in a vehicle longitudinal direction, and a trailing portion extending from the apex to the roof panel. A sensor volume is formed between the spoiler and the roof panel. One or more sensors are at least partially positioned within the sensor volume, wherein the one or more sensors output a signal indicative of a characteristic of an environment of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Paxton S. Williams, Jaime N. Moore, Crystal J. Mink
  • Patent number: 9963018
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to vehicles and vehicle roof structures for concealing one or more sensors. Vehicle roof structures according to the present disclosure include a roof panel and a window extending at least up to the roof panel. A headliner extends along an interior portion of the roof panel to the window and is at least partially spaced from the roof panel in a direction of an interior of the vehicle to provide a sensor mounting volume therebetween, wherein the window extends along at least a portion of the sensor mounting volume. One or more sensors are positioned behind the window within the sensor mounting volume to provide a signal indicative of a characteristic of an environment of the vehicle detected by the one or more sensors through the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Paxton S. Williams, Jaime N. Moore, Crystal J. Mink
  • Publication number: 20180037268
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a roof assembly including a roof outer panel having an outer facing surface and a sensor housing recess that extends below the outer facing surface. The sensor housing recess extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction between a front windshield and a rear windshield. A roof sensor housing assembly is mounted to the roof outer panel and extends along a length of the sensor housing recess. The roof sensor housing assembly includes a sensor housing structure that is mounted to the roof outer panel forming a sensor housing volume therebetween. The sensor housing structure extends at least partially above the outer facing surface of the outer roof panel. The sensor housing structure includes a transmission region that has increased transmittance therethrough compared to surrounding regions of the sensor housing structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jaime N. Moore, Crystal J. Mink
  • Publication number: 20180037267
    Abstract: A vehicle roof structure for concealing one or more sensors therein includes a roof panel, a windshield extending up to the roof panel, and a spoiler. The spoiler extends across at least a portion of a width of the roof panel and includes a leading portion that is substantially parallel to a windshield-roof interface, an apex, wherein a height of the spoiler increases from a height of the roof panel to a height of the apex as the spoiler extends from the leading portion to the apex in a vehicle longitudinal direction, and a trailing portion extending from the apex to the roof panel. A sensor volume is formed between the spoiler and the roof panel. One or more sensors are at least partially positioned within the sensor volume, wherein the one or more sensors output a signal indicative of a characteristic of an environment of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Paxton S. Williams, Jaime N. Moore, Crystal J. Mink
  • Publication number: 20170369003
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to vehicles and vehicle roof structures for concealing one or more sensors. Vehicle roof structures according to the present disclosure include a roof panel and a window extending at least up to the roof panel. A headliner extends along an interior portion of the roof panel to the window and is at least partially spaced from the roof panel in a direction of an interior of the vehicle to provide a sensor mounting volume therebetween, wherein the window extends along at least a portion of the sensor mounting volume. One or more sensors are positioned behind the window within the sensor mounting volume to provide a signal indicative of a characteristic of an environment of the vehicle detected by the one or more sensors through the window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Paxton S. Williams, Jaime N. Moore, Crystal J. Mink