Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Toyota Motor North America, Inc.

Geoffrey David Gaither

Joshua D Payne

Nathan C Westover

Justin J Chow

Robert C MacArthur

Benjamin M Geller

Brian Schneidewind

Allison McGowan

Nicholas Vernon

Takanori Aoki

Norman Lu

Mohammad Effendi Dufford

Tapan V Patel

Abril A Galang

Samuel D Koch

James D Wilder

James G Swartz

Christopher E Yang

Ronnie Nomoto

Frederick W Mau

Shinichiro Tomoda

Josh D Payne

An assessment method for a vehicle part includes an identifying feature of the vehicle part with a visual detector. The assessment method includes identifying the vehicle part with a processing unit based on the identifying feature. The assessment method includes detecting a visual quality of the vehicle part with the visual detector. The assessment method includes calculating a present value of the vehicle part with the processing unit. The step of calculating the present value is based at least in part on the visual quality. The assessment method includes determining a recommended use of the vehicle part with the processing unit. The step of determining the recommended use is based on the present value.

Vehicle assessment systems and methods

An example operation includes one or more of associating a driver parking space preference to an identified driver of a transport, associating at least one occupant parking space preference to at least one identified occupant of the transport and determining a relative parking position within a potential parking space based on the driver parking space preference and the at least one occupant parking space preference.

Ingress and egress parking preferences

Vehicle systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer program products to enhance the situational competency and/or the safe operation of a vehicle by automatically controlling the vehicle in response to a biometric attribute analysis of one or more objects detected within a predetermined threshold distance of the vehicle.

Object detection system for a vehicle

Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to vehicle charging and supplying backup power to a structure while reducing system complexity (e.g., installation). In one embodiment, a system includes a charger including a charging circuit and a discharge circuit coupled to a charging connector for an electric vehicle (EV), and the charging connector is bi-directional. The system also includes that the charging circuit supplies an ingoing power from a main electric panel of a structure to the charging connector. The system also includes that the discharge circuit receives an outgoing power through the charging connector and splits the outgoing power in voltage levels using a transformer. The system also includes a manual transfer switch within the discharge circuit that feeds backup power using the voltage levels to a sub-panel for electrical circuits of the structure during a power interruption and the sub-panel is external from the charger.

Systems and methods for an integrated vehicle and structure charger

An example operation includes one or more of determining an expected charging duration of an electric vehicle (EV) at a charging point, determining content preferences of an occupant associated with the EV, wherein the content preferences are based on profile data of the occupant associated with the occupant, and delivering content to the EV, based on the expected charging duration and the content preferences.

Artificial intelligence and content delivery during charging

Vehicle systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer program products to enhance the situational competency and/or the safe operation of a vehicle by automatically controlling the vehicle in response to executing measurable attribute data analysis that includes a comparison of the relative height of a detected road infrastructure element with a predetermined threshold height value.

Object measurement system for a vehicle

Systems and methods are provided for a running board. In particular, a motorized running board system that improves accessibility for vehicle occupants entering or exiting a vehicle. Certain embodiments of the motorized running board system may include a running board connected via at least one motor to a vehicle and an electronic control unit that detects a contextual environment, determines a preferred running board position from the contextual environment, and adjusts the running board to reach the preferred running board position.

System and method for motorized lowering of a tube-step or running board

Systems and methods are provided for presenting personalized information to one or more vehicle occupants as a vehicle approaches and/or passes a road sign. Characteristics of a vehicle, e.g., operating conditions, characteristics of the one or more vehicle occupants, e.g., age, demographic, driving record, purchase history, etc. and/or road conditions, e.g., weather-related road conditions, current traffic conditions, etc., may be obtained. Information relevant to the one or more vehicle occupants based on one or more of these characteristics/conditions may presented to the one or more vehicle occupants. In scenarios where the presentation of personalized information is unwanted/unwarranted, more generalized information and/or safety warnings or recommendations can be presented.

Systems and methods for dynamic road sign personalization

Systems, vehicles, and methods for seatbelt assistance. A system may include a sensor. The sensor may be configured to detect a physical property of a user sitting on a seat. The system may further include a motor. The motor may be configured to extend a seatbelt part towards a body center of the user. The system may further include an electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU may be coupled to the sensor and the motor. The ECU may be configured to receive the detected physical property of the user. The ECU may be further configured to prompt the motor to extend the seatbelt part towards the body center of the user based on the detected physical property of the user.

Seatbelt assistance systems, vehicles, and methods

A hybrid drive train includes a first electric motor, a nested power splitting planetary gear set having a first carrier element and a second carrier element, an inner sun gear coupled with the first electric motor and an outer sun gear coupled with an output shaft. A first selectable one-way clutch controls the first and the second carrier element, and switches between operation as a one way clutch and operation as a brake. A second selectable one-way clutch controls a ring gear of the nested planetary gear set, and switches between operation as a one way clutch and operation as a brake. The extra outer planetary gear set improves lowing capacity at higher speeds without substantially increasing the axial length of the power split device.

Two motor power-split hybrid system with selectable one-way clutch enabled lockable planetary gear sets for two-speed dual motor EV and engine plus dual motor drive modes

A battery pack assembly includes a battery pack, a first elongated terminal connector, a second elongated terminal connector, and a biasing member. The battery pack includes a plurality of battery cells each having a terminal. The first elongated terminal having a plurality of first recesses. The second elongated terminal having plurality of second recesses. The first elongated terminal connector and the second elongated terminal connector movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The biasing member extends between the first elongated terminal and the second elongated terminal, and the biasing member biases the first elongated terminal and the second elongated terminal towards the engaged position. In the engaged position, the plurality of first recesses are engaged with the terminals of the plurality of battery cells and the plurality of second recesses are engaged with the terminals of the plurality of battery cells.

Battery pack assemblies having elongated terminal connectors and vehicles having the same

Methods, systems, devices and apparatuses for a vehicle control system. The vehicle control system includes a memory. The memory is configured to store multiple charging events that activate multiple charging plans. The vehicle control system includes a navigation unit that is configured to obtain a current location of the vehicle. The vehicle control system includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to determine that the vehicle is within a threshold distance of the first charging event. The electronic control unit is configured to control an operation of the vehicle to prepare the vehicle to charge or discharge the battery based on a first charging plan when the vehicle is within the threshold distance of a first charging event.

Farm-based predictive efficient drive

Systems and methods are provided for a drive mechanism of a vehicle, that may include: a rotor comprising a ring of a plurality of magnets located about a circumference of a rim of a wheel of the vehicle, the plurality of magnets generating a first magnetic field; a stator comprising a plurality of coils, the stator mounted to a body of the vehicle, and located outside a wheel of the vehicle and proximate to an outer edge of the ring of the plurality of magnets; and wherein the plurality of coils of the stator, when energized by an AC waveform, generate a second magnetic field stator, and further wherein an interaction between the first and second magnetic fields creates an attractive force causing tractive motion of the wheel about an axis of rotation of the wheel.

Non-contact in-wheel motor with steering

Methods, systems, devices and apparatuses for an infrastructure planning tool. The infrastructure planning tool includes a navigation unit. The navigation unit is configured to determine a location of a vehicle. The infrastructure planning tool includes a processor. The processor is configured to determine a route within an off-road real property to traverse by the vehicle using the location of the vehicle over a period of time. The processor is configured to determine or estimate an amount of energy used by the vehicle to traverse the route. The processor is configured to determine a location along the route to place critical based on the amount of energy used. The processor is configured to render, on a display, a graphical representation that includes the route, the off-road real property and the location along the route to place the critical infrastructure.

Infrastructure planning tool

Systems and methods for reducing a current speed of a vehicle that can operate on solar energy to increase solar energy collection. The system may include a photovoltaic (PV) panel configured to receive sunlight to drive an electric motor, a solar loading sensor configured to detect solar load, a global position system (GPS) sensor configured to detect vehicle location data, a speed sensor configured to detect vehicle speed, and an electronic control unit (ECU) connected to the electric motor, the solar loading sensor, the speed sensor, and the GPS sensor. The ECU may determine whether the vehicle is exposed to solar load greater than a predetermined threshold value and, if so, present a driver of the vehicle a minimum acceptable speed to select based on sensor data and a difference of solar energy collection between the minimum acceptable speed and the current speed.

Growing community of inventors

Brighton, MI, United States of America

Geoffrey David Gaither