Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Jonathan C Hall

Cassandra R Grant

Kameron Rose Hurst

Frankie B Reed

Earnee Jones Gilling

Tomohiro Matsukawa

A system and method for roadside image tracing are described herein. The system includes a camera mounted on a vehicle configured to capture images of objects around the vehicle while driving along a route of a plurality of routes, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to receive the captured images from the camera and vehicle parameters including speed, a fuel level, and a mileage, extract objects and locations of the objects within the captured images including information related to driving, determine a route ranking based on the information collected from the objects during one or more trips along each route of the plurality of routes, generate route options based on the route ranking and the vehicle parameters, and transmit route options to a display.

Roadside image tracking system

An information display system includes a steering wheel including a ring portion and an upper opening region within the ring portion, an instrument cluster arrangement positioned forward of the steering wheel, and an electronic control unit. The instrument cluster arrangement includes a first gauge having a first fixing member on a portion of a boundary of the first gauge, and a second gauge having a second fixing member on a portion of a boundary of the second gauge. The first fixing member and the second fixing member are configured to hold a handheld device placed between the first and second gauges, and the first and second gauges are positioned such that when the handheld device is placed between the first and second gauges the handheld device is visible through the upper opening region.

Instrument cluster arrangements for vehicles

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.

Vehicle attachment point positioning in relation to a vehicle environment

Embodiments of an under seat capture device are described. Some embodiments include a first chute for aligning below a gap between a center console and a vehicle seat, a first platform component that is coupled to the first chute for receiving an object, and an actuator that is coupled to the first platform component that causes a change in position of the first platform component to guide the object received by the first platform component to a desired location.

Under seat capture device

A vehicle information display system and an instrument panel assembly configured to project vehicle information onto the windshield or on a meter panel is provided. The information display system and the instrument panel assembly utilizes a single electronic display to either display vehicle information on the meter panel or to project vehicle information onto the windshield so as to reduce the number of components needed to perform both functions, and thus reduce packaging space. The electronic display and a first panel are rotatably mounted to the first display opening so as to alternatively cover the first display opening, wherein in a first mode of operation the electronic display is disposed within the first display opening and in a second mode of operation the first panel is disposed within the opening and the vehicle information is projected onto the windshield.

Vehicle information display systems

Embodiments of a retractable storage apparatus are described. Some embodiments include a hinge component, a back support disposed on a first side of the hinge component, and a lower support disposed on the first side of the hinge component. Some embodiments include an anchor component that is disposed on a second side of the hinge component, where when the retractable storage apparatus is disengaged, the back support, the lower support, and the anchor component are substantially coplanar and disposed within a mechanism cavity. Similarly, in some embodiments, in response to receiving a force directed into the mechanism cavity, the retractable storage apparatus is engaged such that the back support and the lower support extend from the mechanism cavity to expose the back support and the lower support and the back support and the lower support rotate on the hinge component to receive a mobile device.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Jonathan C Hall