Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Lou M Pope

John Charles Rafferty

Clinton John Williams

Aaron Weidenaar

Clinton J Williams

In one embodiment, a vehicle includes a steering wheel, one or more vehicle drive systems, one or more driving mode paddler shifters coupled to the steering wheel, an output device, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is communicatively coupled to the one or more driving mode paddle shifters, the one or more vehicle drive systems, and the output device. The electronic control unit is configured to receive a drive mode shifting signal from the one or more driving mode paddle shifter indicative of a desire to change a driving mode of the vehicle, change one or more parameters of the one or more vehicle drive systems in order to change the driving mode in response to the driving mode shifting signal, and provide a notification related to the change in the driving mode with the output device.

Vehicles, systems, and methods for selecting a recommended vehicle driving mode

A vehicle includes a battery, one or more programmable connection ports electrically coupled to the battery, and an electronic controller communicatively coupled to the one or more programmable connection ports. The electronic controller receives a user control signal from a user input device communicatively coupled to the electronic controller, wherein the user control signal indicates a threshold of operation, and selectively operates the one or more programmable connection ports in response to the threshold of operation indicated by the user control signal from the user input device.

Vehicles with one or more programmable connection ports

A system includes a sensor for sensing an outdoor environment weather condition of an outdoor environment, a processor, and a memory module communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory module including one or more processor-readable instructions that when executed, cause the processor to determine an expected departure time, determine the outdoor environment weather condition from data received from the sensor, and send a request for user input to a remote device, the request including a user input selector to initiate at least one climate control system based on one or more of the expected departure time and the outdoor environment weather condition.

Systems and methods for automatically adjusting a cabin climate condition

Vehicles, systems, and methods for changing a vehicle driving mode

A multi-function input apparatus of a steering wheel that includes a plurality of outer buttons that correspond to a plurality of vehicle systems, such that actuation of at least one of the plurality of outer buttons selects a corresponding vehicle system from the plurality of vehicle systems. The apparatus includes a touch pad having a capacitive touch surface that is positioned adjacent the plurality of outer buttons. In response to actuation of the capacitive surface the touch pad is configured to navigate through and select a setting of a plurality of settings of the selected vehicle system. The apparatus further includes a confirmation button positioned adjacent to the touch pad that corresponds to a confirmation input such that actuation of the confirmation button actuates the selected setting of the selected vehicle system.

Multi-function vehicle input apparatuses with operational buttons for vehicle systems control and methods incorporating the same

A multi-function input apparatus of a steering wheel that includes an outer dial having a planar surface and a center dial having a capacitive surface such that the center dial is responsive to capacitive touch along the capacitive surface. The center dial being disposed within the outer dial and the outer dial is rotatable about a rotation axis independent of the center dial such that the center dial is rotatably fixed when the outer dial rotates. The outer dial including a recessed portion positioned along the planar surface such that the recessed portion is rotatable about the center dial. The recessed portion of the outer dial is translatable along the rotation axis.

Multi-function vehicle input apparatuses with rotatable dials for vehicle systems control and methods incorporating the same

A multi-function input apparatus of a steering wheel that includes an outer dial having a planar surface, and a center dial having a convex surface such that the center dial extends outwardly from the steering wheel. The center dial being disposed within the outer dial. The outer dial is rotatable about a rotation axis independent of the center dial such that the center dial is rotatably fixed when the outer dial rotates. The center dial is translatable on the steering wheel in a lateral direction and a longitudinal direction such that the outer dial translates simultaneously with the center dial such that the rotation axis is movable relative to the steering wheel.

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Ypsilanti, MI, United States of America

Lou M Pope