Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Craig D Herring

Aaron M France

Benjamin P Austin

Philip Joseph Babian

William Patrick Garrett

George M Evans

Thomas S Hawley

Ichiroh Isobe

A system and method for adjusting the intensity of light provided to an analog needle are disclosed herein. The system and method adjust the intensity of light provided to the analog needle based on an operating state of an engine of a vehicle.

System and method for adjusting the light intensity of an analog needle

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.

HEV battery SOC meter and power split usage display

A system and method for adjusting the transparency of a digital needle of a digital gauge are disclosed herein. The system and method adjust a transparency of a digital needle based on an operating state of an engine of a vehicle.

System and method for adjusting the transparency of a digital needle

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. Sometimes, the motor-generator power usage may be presented as boost power, where motor-generator power can augment engine power.

HEV battery SOC meter and boost power display

A method for controlling engine braking includes determining an amount of brake pressure being applied by a vehicle traveling on a road. The method includes determining a current velocity of the vehicle, wherein a transmission of the vehicle is operating using a first gear of a plurality of gears. The method includes, according to the amount of brake pressure and the current velocity of the vehicle, determining a road grade threshold for a second gear of the plurality of gears. The method includes determining a grade of the road. The method includes determining that the determined grade of the road satisfies the road grade threshold for the second gear of the vehicle. The method includes, in response to the determination, causing the transmission of the vehicle to operate in the second gear of the plurality of gears.

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Pinckney, MI, United States of America

Craig D Herring