Patents by Inventor Frankie B. Reed
Frankie B. Reed 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: 11705030Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems provide for technology to identify a communication that is to be presented to a user. The technology controls a first plurality of actuators to press a first portion of a light emitting element (LEE) layer against a deformable layer to deform the deformable layer into a shape that represents the communication to be presented to the user, and controls the LEE layer to emit light from the first portion of the LEE layer that is pressed against the deformable layer to illuminate the shape of the deformable layer.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2021Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Frankie B. Reed, John C. Rafferty
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Publication number: 20230177989Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems provide for technology to identify a communication that is to be presented to a user.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2021Publication date: June 8, 2023Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Frankie B. Reed, John C. Rafferty
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Patent number: 11498377Abstract: Embodiments related to systems and methods for determining an identity of a trailer coupled to a vehicle are provided herein. The system includes one or more trailer lamps, a trailer lamp current sensing device electrically coupled to the one or more trailer lamps, one or more processors, one or more data storage devices, one or more memory modules communicatively coupled to the one or more processors and storing machine readable instructions that cause the system to perform at least the following when executed by the one or more processors: receive a sensed current signal from the trailer lamp current sensing device, determine whether an amperage level of the sensed current signal is associated with a trailer identification stored within the one or more data storage devices, and notifying a user of the trailer identification stored in the one or more data storage devices for the trailer connected to the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2020Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Frankie B. Reed, Derek A. Thompson
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Publication number: 20210379944Abstract: Embodiments related to systems and methods for determining an identity of a trailer coupled to a vehicle are provided herein. The system includes one or more trailer lamps, a trailer lamp current sensing device electrically coupled to the one or more trailer lamps, one or more processors, one or more data storage devices, one or more memory modules communicatively coupled to the one or more processors and storing machine readable instructions that cause the system to perform at least the following when executed by the one or more processors: receive a sensed current signal from the trailer lamp current sensing device, determine whether an amperage level of the sensed current signal is associated with a trailer identification stored within the one or more data storage devices, and notifying a user of the trailer identification stored in the one or more data storage devices for the trailer connected to the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2020Publication date: December 9, 2021Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Frankie B. Reed, Derek A. Thompson
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Patent number: 10991178Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for trailer safety is provided. The method includes: receiving a request to perform a trailer safety check, wherein the request is associated with a vehicle and a trailer; in response to the request, providing a trailer safety checklist, wherein the trailer safety checklist includes a plurality of user-interface elements, and at least one of the user-interface elements corresponds to a light component of the trailer; receiving a first signal indicating that an operator has selected the user-interface element corresponding to the light component of the trailer, wherein the operator is located outside of the vehicle; and in response to the first signal, causing the light component of the trailer corresponding to the selected user-interface element to turn on.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2019Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Derek A. Thompson, Darin P. Rosekrans, Jeffrey E. Pierfelice, Frankie B. Reed, Stephen L. Robertson, John Charles Rafferty, Clinton John Williams
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Publication number: 20200327748Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for trailer safety is provided. The method includes: receiving a request to perform a trailer safety check, wherein the request is associated with a vehicle and a trailer; in response to the request, providing a trailer safety checklist, wherein the trailer safety checklist includes a plurality of user-interface elements, and at least one of the user-interface elements corresponds to a light component of the trailer; receiving a first signal indicating that an operator has selected the user-interface element corresponding to the light component of the trailer, wherein the operator is located outside of the vehicle; and in response to the first signal, causing the light component of the trailer corresponding to the selected user-interface element to turn on.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2019Publication date: October 15, 2020Inventors: Derek A. Thompson, Darin P. Rosekrans, Jeffrey E. Pierfelice, Frankie B. Reed, Stephen L. Robertson, John Charles Rafferty, Clinton John Williams
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Patent number: 10566822Abstract: Embodiments for providing a movable charging coil are provided. One embodiment includes a console that includes a device receptacle. Embodiments also include a first biased retention finger and a second biased retention finger disposed on the device receptacle, where the first biased retention finger and the second biased retention finger removably secure any of a plurality of differently sized mobile devices. Embodiments may also include a movable charging coil that is disposed within the console, as well as a computing device. The computing device may include logic that, when executed by a processor causes the computing device to determine a type of mobile device received in the device receptacle, and adjust a position of the movable charging coil.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2017Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Cassandra R. Grant, Frankie B. Reed
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Patent number: 10317909Abstract: Provided is a method and device for positioning a vehicle attachment point in a vehicle environment. On retrieving a plurality of object parameters relating to an object, a determination is made for a vehicle distance value relative to the vehicle attachment point in order to accommodate an object distance parameter that was retrieved from the plurality of object parameters. A vehicle environment assessment is then made relating to accommodating the physical characteristics of the object and the vehicle associated with the vehicle attachment point. Based on the assessment, vehicle attachment point positional data may be generated for positioning the vehicle attachment point relative to a vehicle environment based on at least the object distance parameter and the vehicle distance value.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2016Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Kameron R. Hurst, Jonathan C. Hall, Cassandra R. Grant, Frankie B. Reed
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Patent number: 10220675Abstract: A device and method for mitigating freezing-precipitation accumulation for a vehicle window are described. The device and method include retrieving ambient temperature data. When the ambient temperature data exceeds a temperature threshold for freezing precipitation, sensing ambient light from within a vehicle cabin to produce light magnitude sample data and comparing the light magnitude sample data with a baseline light magnitude sample data from within the vehicle cabin. When the light magnitude sample data compares unfavorably with the baseline light magnitude sample data, generating a vehicle window defroster command for transmission to activate a vehicle window defroster operable to be powered by a vehicle battery source.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2017Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventor: Frankie B. Reed
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Publication number: 20190061468Abstract: A device and method for mitigating freezing-precipitation accumulation for a vehicle window are described. The device and method include retrieving ambient temperature data. When the ambient temperature data exceeds a temperature threshold for freezing precipitation, sensing ambient light from within a vehicle cabin to produce light magnitude sample data and comparing the light magnitude sample data with a baseline light magnitude sample data from within the vehicle cabin. When the light magnitude sample data compares unfavorably with the baseline light magnitude sample data, generating a vehicle window defroster command for transmission to activate a vehicle window defroster operable to be powered by a vehicle battery source.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2017Publication date: February 28, 2019Inventor: Frankie B. Reed
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Publication number: 20190036369Abstract: Embodiments for providing a movable charging coil are provided. One embodiment includes a console that includes a device receptacle. Embodiments also include a first biased retention finger and a second biased retention finger disposed on the device receptacle, where the first biased retention finger and the second biased retention finger removably secure any of a plurality of differently sized mobile devices. Embodiments may also include a movable charging coil that is disposed within the console, as well as a computing device. The computing device may include logic that, when executed by a processor causes the computing device to determine a type of mobile device received in the device receptacle, and adjust a position of the movable charging coil.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2017Publication date: January 31, 2019Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North Ame rica, Inc.Inventors: Cassandra R. Grant, Frankie B. Reed
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Publication number: 20180173241Abstract: Provided is a method and device for positioning a vehicle attachment point in a vehicle environment. On retrieving a plurality of object parameters relating to an object, a determination is made for a vehicle distance value relative to the vehicle attachment point in order to accommodate an object distance parameter that was retrieved from the plurality of object parameters. A vehicle environment assessment is then made relating to accommodating the physical characteristics of the object and the vehicle associated with the vehicle attachment point. Based on the assessment, vehicle attachment point positional data may be generated for positioning the vehicle attachment point relative to a vehicle environment based on at least the object distance parameter and the vehicle distance value.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2016Publication date: June 21, 2018Inventors: Kameron R. Hurst, Jonathan C. Hall, Cassandra R. Grant, Frankie B. Reed