Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Toyota Technical Center, U.s.a., Inc.

Hinduja Tech, Inc.

Mingher Fred Shen

Brandon W Letcher

Salem Bensalem

David William Schelberg

Scott Louis Frederick

Nora Arellano

Nicholas H Augustyn

Revathy Dasan Muthiah

Ryan Craig Harris

Bryan Else Yamasaki

Josh David Fraley

Umesh P Naik

Scott W Shopoff

Jonathan J Sander

Ryan A Mikolaizik

Brandon H Hanna

Jesse D Rydell

Charles Christopher Garnett

Eric Yoshinari

Braden Cuss

Timothy B Dutton

Andrew V Manzanero

Jared C Meeks

Ansari Ahamed Abdul Shukkoor

Lenny D Gotwalt

Chad B Pierce

Robert D Gray

A system for controlling operation of a vehicle during a turning maneuver includes an object detection sensor, a vehicle turning angle sensor, and a processor. A memory is communicably coupled to the processor and stores a turning alert zone module configured to determine if a speed of the vehicle is within a predetermined range of speeds and, if the speed of the vehicle is within the predetermined range of speeds, determine if a vehicle turning angle is above a predetermined threshold value. If the turning angle is above the predetermined threshold value, and using the turning angle, a turning alert zone is determined. The system may then determine if at least a portion of an object resides in the turning alert zone and, if at least a portion of an object resides in the turning alert zone, control an operation of the vehicle (for example, a braking operation).

System and method for detecting an object in a turning alert zone of a vehicle

Disclosed is a sensor device. The sensor device includes a sensor configured to be attached between a rear wheel of a vehicle and a rear body cover of the vehicle, configured to detect objects in proximity to the vehicle through the rear body cover. The sensor device also includes a vertical guard configured to be attached to the vehicle, such that the sensor is protected from adhesion of materials directed rearward by the rear wheel, and an angled guard coupled to the vertical guard and extending underneath the sensor and towards the rear body cover, such that a portion of the rear body cover, through which the sensor emits a signal for detecting objects in proximity to the vehicle, is protected from adhesion of materials directed rearward by the rear wheel.

Guard for vehicle blind spot monitor

Disclosed is a vehicle door and window opening system comprising a controller that includes a user control, a motion sensor configured to detect a first defined motion and a second defined motion of the controller, and a transmitter configured to transmit signals related to the motion sensor and the user control. The system also includes at least one actuator, a receiver configured to receive the signals, and a control unit in communication with the receiver and the at least one actuator. When the user control is activated and released, the control unit commands a first action from the at least one actuator. When the user control is activated and held while the motion sensor detects the first defined motion, the control unit commands a second action from the at least one actuator. When the user control is activated and held while the motion sensor detects the second defined motion, the control unit commands a third action from the at least one actuator.

System for remote vehicle door and window opening

A vehicle is provided including a bumper attachment member, a radiator support beam, and a bumper support assembly coupled to the bumper attachment member and the radiator support beam. The bumper support assembly includes a center stay fixed to the radiator support beam and a center stay support having a receiver, an arm, and an anti-rotation pin. The arm extends in a vehicle-longitudinal direction from the receiver. The receiver is configured to receive and engage the bumper attachment member. The anti-rotation pin extends in the vehicle-lateral direction proximate an end of the arm opposite the receiver and engages the center stay to inhibit movement of the bumper attachment member with respect to the radiator support beam.

Vehicle bumper support assemblies

A vehicle includes a door assembly including an outer door panel and an inner door panel defining a volume therebetween and a window frame that receives a window therein. A molding assembly includes a corner molding component including a portion that extends along an A-pillar portion of the window frame and a portion that extends along a lower portion of the window frame. A lower molding component extends along the lower portion of the window frame having a connector receiving notch located at a front end of the lower molding component that defines at least part of a catch tab portion. An engagement component comprising a body that is connected to the portion of the corner molding component that extends along the lower portion of the window frame and a connector that projects outward in a vehicle lateral direction and engages the catch tab portion thereby connecting the corner molding component and the lower molding component.

Vehicle door assemblies including front end engaged lower molding components

A clamp assembly includes a housing having an attachment surface defining a keyed slot. The keyed slot includes a first pair of recesses extending in a first direction and a second pair of recesses extending in a second direction. The attachment surface includes an outwardly extending protrusion. The assembly includes a clamp having a main body including an intermediate portion positioned between distal and proximate end portions, and a connection portion extending outwardly from the intermediate portion. The connection portion is configured to be inserted within the keyed slot in an insertion direction. The clamp is configured to be received within the keyed slot and rotatable between an engaged and disengaged position. In the engaged position the connection portion engages the first pair of recesses to inhibit movement in an extraction direction and the proximate end portion abuts the protrusion to inhibit rotation of the clamp to the disengaged position.

Clamp assemblies and grille assemblies with wire harness clamp attachment structures

A vehicle, front end assembly, and a method for creating a front end assembly including an upper bumper cover portion including an upper wall, a lower wall, and an exterior wall facing forward in a vehicle-longitudinal direction that extends between the upper wall and the lower wall and a bumper cover retainer that extends along a width of a rear edge of the upper wall, the bumper cover retainer having a sidewall engaging the upper wall of the upper bumper cover portion as the upper wall deflects rearward in the vehicle-longitudinal direction in response to a front impact to the upper bumper cover portion to inhibit movement of the upper wall rearward in the vehicle-longitudinal direction.

Bumper cover retainers for bumper assemblies

Described herein are various embodiments for a rear bumper snow and ice shield. In an embodiment, a corrosion prevention device may be mounted on a vehicle. The corrosion prevention device may comprise a shield, a support, a mechanism, a left rail, and a right rail. The shield may comprise a left protrusion on a left end, a right protrusion on a right end, a front end, and a rear end. The support may comprise an upper end supporting the shield, and a lower end. The mechanism may be configured to secure the support in a raised position and further configured to secure the support in a lowered position. The lower end of the support may be in contact with the mechanism. The left protrusion may be housed within the left rail and the right protrusion may be housed within the right rail.

Rear bumper snow and ice shield

A vehicle includes a front fascia having a lower bumper region extending outwardly in a vehicle longitudinal direction at a bottom of a front end assembly. An undercover assembly is located rearward of the front fascia and has an undercover body including a front edge located at the lower bumper region. The undercover assembly includes an undercover reinforcement member that is connected to a surface of the undercover body and extends along a length of the undercover body to increase a stiffness within at least a region of the undercover body.

Undercover assemblies including undercover reinforcement member

An attachment member may couple a radiator to a grille of an automotive vehicle. The attachment member may be easily fit into a complementary grille opening on the grille. The complementary shapes of the attachment member and the grille opening may limit movement of the attachment member relative to the grille in one or more directions. The attachment member may install from above the grille opening or horizontally slide into the grille opening. Engagement features on the attachment member may engage with surfaces of the grille opening to limit relative vertical movement. The attachment member may provide a first engagement with the grille at a first level and a second engagement with the radiator at a second level different than the first level.

Radiator grille attachment

A vehicle includes a headlamp assembly, an upper bumper assembly, and a reinforcement bracket. The headlamp assembly includes a headlamp housing and a brace portion. The brace portion includes a front end that extends forward beyond the headlamp housing in the vehicle-longitudinal direction. The upper bumper assembly extends in a vehicle-lateral direction. The upper bumper assembly is positioned forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction with respect to the brace portion. The reinforcement bracket is attached to the brace portion. The reinforcement bracket has a rigidity higher than a rigidity of the brace portion. The reinforcement bracket reinforces the brace portion upon engagement with the upper bumper assembly as the upper bumper assembly deflects rearward in the vehicle-longitudinal direction in response to a front impact to the upper bumper assembly to inhibit movement of the upper bumper assembly rearward in the vehicle-longitudinal direction.

Front end assemblies having reinforcement brackets

A vehicle includes a hood assembly that is located above an engine compartment. A hood latch assembly includes an auxiliary latch assembly. The auxiliary latch assembly includes an auxiliary lever that unlatches the auxiliary latch assembly from the hood assembly. A front grille assembly has an auxiliary lever access location formed as an opening between the hood assembly and the front grille assembly. An auxiliary lever access panel has a closed configuration that conceals at least a portion of the opening and an open configuration that exposes the opening to access the auxiliary lever.

Vehicles including front grille assemblies with auxiliary lever access panels

A dual position bulb seal is provided for selectively sealing an interface gap between two components of a vehicle. The dual position bulb seal includes an elongated base portion configured for coupling to a first vehicle component. A hollow, bulbous portion may extend from the elongated base portion. A flexible sealing fin upwardly extends from the bulbous portion, along a length of the bulbous portion. The flexible sealing fin may be configured to rest in a first, non-sealing position that permits a flow of air over the flexible sealing fin, and a second, sealing position contacting a second vehicle component such that it prevents a flow of air through the interface gap.

Bumper gap aerodynamic seal

A cowl louver clip assembly includes a protrusion receiving body including a windshield receiving end, a windshield engaging top and a protrusion receiving end. A protector member extends along the windshield engaging top and windshield receiving end. The protrusion receiving body has a volume configured to receive a support protrusion of a cowl louver structure.

Cowl louver clip assemblies for cowl louver structures for supporting windshields

A one-way drain hole plug that affords for easy, quick, and proper installation into a panel having drain hole. The one-way drain hole plug includes a seal portion made from a first material and a hollow bulb portion made from a second material that is harder and/or stronger than the first material. The hardness or strength of the second material prevents the hollow bulb portion and the base attached thereto from collapsing during installation of the one-way drain hole plug into the drain hole. However, the first material is soft or pliable enough to allow sufficient deformation of the drain hole insert as it is pushed through the drain hole and provide a liquid-tight fit with the panel.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Mingher Fred Shen