Patents by Inventor Todd J. Rowell

Todd J. Rowell 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: 11735051
    Abstract: A method for alerting a driver when a cyclist is detected near an ego vehicle is described. The method includes detecting a presence of an object proximate the ego vehicle. The method also includes identifying the object as the cyclist according to geometric characteristics and/or speed data of the detected object. The method further includes displaying a graphical indication of the cyclist on a passenger side/driver side mirror of the ego vehicle while the cyclist is in a blind spot of the ego vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Hughes, Erik C. Sobel, Todd J. Rowell
  • Publication number: 20210304611
    Abstract: A method for alerting a driver when a cyclist is detected near an ego vehicle is described. The method includes detecting a presence of an object proximate the ego vehicle. The method also includes identifying the object as the cyclist according to geometric characteristics and/or speed data of the detected object. The method further includes displaying a graphical indication of the cyclist on a passenger side/driver side mirror of the ego vehicle while the cyclist is in a blind spot of the ego vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen HUGHES, Erik C. SOBEL, Todd J. ROWELL
  • Patent number: 11021147
    Abstract: Vehicles and methods for determining an object of a driver's focus are disclosed. In one embodiment, a vehicle includes an object detection sensor configured to output an output signal, a sound detection sensor configure to output a sound signal, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to detect one or more objects based at least in part on the output signal of the object detection sensor, and detect speech based on the sound signal of the sound detection sensor. The electronic control unit is further configured to determine an object of focus based at least in part on a comparison of the speech and the one or more objects, and produce a control signal based at least in part on the object of focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventor: Todd J. Rowell
  • Patent number: 10960924
    Abstract: Vehicle systems are disclosed. A vehicle system includes one or more sensors, a steering wheel, an accelerator pedal, a steering wheel actuator, an accelerator pedal actuator, and a controller. The controller is communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors and the steering sensitivity adjusting unit. The controller includes at least one processor and at least one memory module storing computer readable and executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to detect an object based on output from the one or more sensors, and send to the steering sensitivity adjusting unit an instruction for adjusting a sensitivity of the steering wheel in response to detecting the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Todd J. Rowell, Michael L. Elkins
  • Publication number: 20200189572
    Abstract: Vehicles and methods for determining an object of a driver's focus are disclosed. In one embodiment, a vehicle includes an object detection sensor configured to output an output signal, a sound detection sensor configure to output a sound signal, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to detect one or more objects based at least in part on the output signal of the object detection sensor, and detect speech based on the sound signal of the sound detection sensor. The electronic control unit is further configured to determine an object of focus based at least in part on a comparison of the speech and the one or more objects, and produce a control signal based at least in part on the object of focus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Applicant: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd J. Rowell
  • Patent number: 10633027
    Abstract: A method and device are disclosed. Vehicle sensor data may be compared with a threshold value. When the vehicle sensor data exceeds the threshold value, selecting an appearance mode of a plurality of appearance modes, and applying the first appearance mode to virtual lane marker data to produce enhanced virtual marker data. The enhanced virtual marker data may be transmitted for display by a vehicle graphical user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd J. Rowell
  • Patent number: 10596958
    Abstract: Vehicle systems for providing alerts of opening doors are disclosed. A system includes a camera configured to output image data of a vehicle occupant, an external environment sensor configured to output an external environment sensor output signal, one or more processors communicatively coupled to the camera and the external environment sensor, one or more memory modules communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, and machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules. The system receives the image data of the vehicle occupant, predicts whether a door of the vehicle is going to be opened based on the image data of the vehicle occupant, determines whether an object is present based on the external environmental sensor output signal, and generates an alert in response to predicting that the door of the vehicle is going to be opened and determining that the object is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventor: Todd J. Rowell
  • Patent number: 10569708
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an object detection sensor configured to output an output signal, a notification device, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to detect an object based on the output signal of the object detection sensor, classify the detected object into a classification, determine a notification magnitude level based on the classification of the detected object, and output a notification with the notification device at the determined notification magnitude level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventor: Todd J. Rowell
  • Patent number: 10525873
    Abstract: A turn signal system for activating a turn signal of a vehicle includes an electronic control unit having a processor and a non-transitory computer readable memory including a machine-readable instruction set. The electronic control unit is communicatively coupled to one or more external vehicle environment sensors, a vehicle speed sensor, and a turn signal. The machine-readable instruction set causes the processor to determine a vehicle speed based on an output signal of the vehicle speed sensor, predict a vehicle turning maneuver based on one or more environment signals output by the one or more external vehicle environment sensors when the vehicle speed is below a threshold, and automatically activate the turn signal in response to predicting the vehicle turning maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventor: Todd J. Rowell
  • Patent number: 10497264
    Abstract: Vehicles systems for predicting a trajectory of an object proximate to vehicles are disclosed. A vehicle system includes one or more sensors, one or more processors communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors, a memory module communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, and machine readable instructions stored in the memory module. The machine readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the system to: detect an object based on one or more signals output by the one or more sensors; classify the object into an object classification; predict a trajectory of the object based on at least one behavior characteristic of the object determined from a model corresponding to the object classification; predict a trajectory of the vehicle; and provide a warning when the detected object is likely to move from a non-obstacle position to an obstacle position based on the predicted trajectories of the object and the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventor: Todd J. Rowell
  • Publication number: 20190255989
    Abstract: A turn signal system for activating a turn signal of a vehicle includes an electronic control unit having a processor and a non-transitory computer readable memory including a machine-readable instruction set. The electronic control unit is communicatively coupled to one or more external vehicle environment sensors, a vehicle speed sensor, and a turn signal. The machine-readable instruction set causes the processor to determine a vehicle speed based on an output signal of the vehicle speed sensor, predict a vehicle turning maneuver based on one or more environment signals output by the one or more external vehicle environment sensors when the vehicle speed is below a threshold, and automatically activate the turn signal in response to predicting the vehicle turning maneuver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Applicant: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd J. Rowell
  • Publication number: 20190232863
    Abstract: Vehicle systems for providing alerts of opening doors are disclosed. A system includes a camera configured to output image data of a vehicle occupant, an external environment sensor configured to output an external environment sensor output signal, one or more processors communicatively coupled to the camera and the external environment sensor, one or more memory modules communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, and machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules. The system receives the image data of the vehicle occupant, predicts whether a door of the vehicle is going to be opened based on the image data of the vehicle occupant, determines whether an object is present based on the external environmental sensor output signal, and generates an alert in response to predicting that the door of the vehicle is going to be opened and determining that the object is present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd J. Rowell
  • Publication number: 20190096256
    Abstract: Vehicles systems for predicting a trajectory of an object proximate to vehicles are disclosed. A vehicle system includes one or more sensors, one or more processors communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors, a memory module communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, and machine readable instructions stored in the memory module. The machine readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the system to: detect an object based on one or more signals output by the one or more sensors; classify the object into an object classification; predict a trajectory of the object based on at least one behavior characteristic of the object determined from a model corresponding to the object classification; predict a trajectory of the vehicle; and provide a warning when the detected object is likely to move from a non-obstacle position to an obstacle position based on the predicted trajectories of the object and the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd J. Rowell
  • Publication number: 20180370567
    Abstract: A method and device are disclosed. Vehicle sensor data may be compared with a threshold value. When the vehicle sensor data exceeds the threshold value, selecting an appearance mode of a plurality of appearance modes, and applying the first appearance mode to virtual lane marker data to produce enhanced virtual marker data. The enhanced virtual marker data may be transmitted for display by a vehicle graphical user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventor: Todd J. Rowell
  • Publication number: 20180362076
    Abstract: Vehicle systems are disclosed. A vehicle system includes one or more sensors, a steering wheel, an accelerator pedal, a steering wheel actuator, an accelerator pedal actuator, and a controller. The controller is communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors and the steering sensitivity adjusting unit. The controller includes at least one processor and at least one memory module storing computer readable and executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to detect an object based on output from the one or more sensors, and send to the steering sensitivity adjusting unit an instruction for adjusting a sensitivity of the steering wheel in response to detecting the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd J. Rowell, Michael L. Elkins
  • Publication number: 20180361925
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an object detection sensor configured to output an output signal, a notification device, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to detect an object based on the output signal of the object detection sensor, classify the detected object into a classification, determine a notification magnitude level based on the classification of the detected object, and output a notification with the notification device at the determined notification magnitude level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd J. Rowell