Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Alexander L Paradis

Frank A Richards

Stuart Roger Wuerthele

Clinton John Williams

Justin B Norris

Chung Woo Lee

Skylar C Watson

Thomas Maire

Jeremy Gahimer

Frank A Ramos, Ii

David N Osborne

John P Jaaska

Clinton Williams

A vehicle system for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle system includes an electronic control unit configured to receive a signal from a key fob, and determine whether the key fob is within a predetermined distance from the vehicle based on the received signal. Upon determination that the key fob is within the predetermined distance from the vehicle, the electronic control unit determines whether a predetermined action has been performed by a user based on an output from one or more vehicle sensors. Upon determination that the predetermined action has been performed, the electronic control unit causes a component of the vehicle to at least one of unlock and open.

Alternative methods for opening doors and hatches

Systems and methods are provided for increasing driver awareness of external audible and visual alerts. The external alerts may be detected by external sensors of a vehicle. Systems may use internal sensors to determine whether a driver of the vehicle appears aware of the external alert or whether the external alert is detectable inside the vehicle. If the driver does not appear aware of the external alert, or the external alert is not detectable inside the vehicle, the vehicle may broadcast an internal alert to the driver. The internal alert may be one or more of a visual alert, an audible alert, or a tactile alert.

Systems and methods to increase driver awareness of exterior occurrences

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.

Systems and methods of indirectly illuminating a step surface of a vehicle running board

A system for checking or verifying an electrical connection of a trailer with a vehicle. The system includes a first connector integrated with the vehicle, one or more light sources on the vehicle each configured to emit a light ray of one or more colors, and a controller. The first connector includes a plurality of first wires configured for providing power for one or more electrical components on or within the trailer when the first connector integrated with the vehicle is connected to a second connector integrated with the trailer. The controller is configured to determine whether each one of the one or more electrical components on or within the trailer is working and control, based on the determination, the one or more light sources such that each one of the one or more light sources emits a light ray of one of the one or more colors.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for checking electrical connection of a trailer with a vehicle

Backup light systems and methods for use in a vehicle. The system includes a backup light configured to generate light in an illumination pattern, a sensor configured to detect data corresponding to a vehicle condition, and an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the backup light and the sensor. The ECU is configured to determine the vehicle condition based on the detected data, and adjust an intensity of the light generated by the backup light based on the vehicle condition.

Systems and methods for improving backup lighting visibility

A vehicle including a powered running board, a motor for positioning the powered running board between a stowed position and a deployed position, a sensor configured to capture data of activity around the vehicle, and an electronic control unit configured to process the data captured by the sensor to detect an unauthorized event around the vehicle, and operate the motor to repeatedly move the powered running board in a predetermined pattern based on at least one of position and a speed in response to the sensor detecting an unauthorized event around the vehicle.

Vehicles and vehicle systems for operating powered running boards in an alarm deterrent mode

Systems are provided for integrating a deployable grip with a vehicle. The deployable grip may comprise a support coupled to a portion of a vehicle and a handle attached to the support and configured to move between a deployed position and a retracted position relative to the support upon application of a force on the handle. The handle provides a physical aid, when deployed, to an occupant of the vehicle while the occupant is entering or exiting the vehicle, is deployable when a door of the vehicle proximal to which the support is coupled to the portion of the vehicle is open, is not deployable when the door is closed.

Integrated assist grip device

A vehicle including powered door locks, a motor for positioning the powered door locks between a locked position and an unlocked position, one or more sensors for detecting an unauthorized event around the vehicle, and a controller configured to operate the motor to repeatedly move the powered door locks in a predetermined pattern based on speed in response to the one or more sensors detecting an unauthorized event around the vehicle.

Vehicles and vehicle systems for operating powered door locks in an alarm deterrent mode

Methods for aiming a headlamp assembly of a vehicle having an aiming bracket and a sensor coupled to the aiming bracket. The method includes adjusting the aiming bracket such that an optical axis of the optical assembly inside of the headlamp assembly is parallel to a predetermined axis). The method further includes storing an output of the sensor when the optical axis is parallel to the predetermined axis. The method further includes installing the headlamp assembly into the vehicle. The method further includes adjusting the aiming bracket such that the output of the sensor equals the stored output.

Apparatus and methods for aligning headlamp assemblies

A vehicle includes a passenger cabin and a truck bed located rearward of the passenger cabin. The vehicle includes a truck bed cover that is sized to cover the truck bed and is movably attached to one or more walls of the truck bed to allow the truck bed cover to be moved between open and closed positions. The truck bed cover includes a latching device that engages a striker in the closed position. A sensing device is mounted in the truck bed that is configured to provide an indication of an open condition of the truck bed cover to a vehicle locking and security ECU. The locking and security ECU configured to provide an indication using an OEM security system of the vehicle when the open condition is detected.

Integrated alarm systems for truck bed covers

A vehicle includes a cabin and a vehicle body including a cargo area rearward of the cabin. A tailgate assembly is mounted to the vehicle body that closes the cargo area. The tailgate assembly includes a rear-mounted video camera. An electronic control unit receives image data from the rear-mounted video camera. A connector communicatively couples the electronic control unit and the rear-mounted video camera. The connector has a closed configuration with the tailgate assembly mounted to the vehicle body and an open configuration with the tailgate assembly removed from the vehicle body. The electronic control unit includes logic that, wherein executed by a processor, causes the electronic control unit to receive signals from an alarm circuit when the connector is in the closed configuration and detect when the signals from the alarm circuit have stopped when the connector is in the open configuration.

Systems and methods to detect tailgate removal using alarm circuits

A lighting system for a vehicle can include a sideview mirror assembly mountable to an exterior of the vehicle over a ground area near the vehicle. The lighting system can also include a service lamp integrated with the sideview mirror assembly. The service lamp can be configured to project one or more narrow beams of light to illuminate one or more jack placement indicator spots on the ground area. The service lamp can also be configured to project one or more broad beams of light to illuminate the ground area and/or one or more wheels of the vehicle.

Vehicular lighting system

A lighting system for a vehicle includes a sequential illumination section including multiple illumination segments, and a constant illumination section. The multiple illumination segments of the sequential illumination portion activate or deactivate sequentially, and the constant illumination section illuminates at least a portion of the sequential illumination section when all of the multiple illumination segments are deactivated.

Reduction of constant illumination section area by indirect illumination of sequential illumination section area

A vehicle that includes a rear bumper having a license plate well recessed into the rear bumper and a combined lighting assembly disposed at the rear bumper. The combined lighting assembly includes a lighting body having an outward facing portion coupled to a sideward facing portion by a turned portion. The sideward facing portion extends into the license plate well. The combined lighting assembly also includes a rearward facing light having a rearward illumination region directed in the vehicle rearward direction from the outward facing portion and a license plate light having a sideward illumination region directed into the license plate well.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Alexander L Paradis