Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Nicholas Earl Merkel

Roy C Thorsell

Daniel K Lim

Maurice P Silva

Tomoaki Iida

Jose David Hernandez Cardenas

Todd Miller

Saijian Li

One embodiment of a trailer hitch assist system analyzes image data from a vehicle camera to detect a reference object on the ground in a first location and stores a first position, within the camera's field of view, of the reference object. The first location is directly beneath the hitch ball of the vehicle. The system analyzes additional image data to detect the reference object on the ground in a second location and stores a second position, within the camera's field of view, of the reference object. The second location is directly beneath the trailer coupler of a trailer. The system calculates a spatial relationship between the first and second locations based on the stored first and second positions and camera parameters. Based on the calculated spatial relationship, the vehicle backs autonomously to align the hitch ball and trailer coupler to permit the trailer to be hitched to the vehicle.

Trailer hitch assist system for a vehicle and associated methods

A sideview mirror assembly for a vehicle can comprise a body including a sideview mirror housing. The sideview mirror assembly can include a camera located in the body about the sideview mirror housing. The camera can have a field-of-view including an above-horizontal region directed rearward toward an overhead target position past the sideview mirror housing. The camera can be mounted for movement relative to the body between a normal position, in which the sideview mirror housing intersects the camera and the overhead target position in the above-horizontal region, and an extended position, in which the sideview mirror housing does not intersect the camera and the overhead target position in the above-horizontal region. Movement of the camera from the normal position to the extended position can unblock camera visibility of the overhead target position by the sideview mirror housing.

Sideview mirror assembly with an extendable camera

An instrument panel and energy absorbing system for a vehicle includes an instrument panel reinforcement extending from a passenger side to a driver side of a vehicle. At least one bracket is secured to the instrument panel reinforcement. A one piece instrument panel includes an open bin structure formed thereon. An opening is formed in the instrument panel and receives a glove box structure. A trim panel is connected to the instrument panel about the opening and open bin structure. When an impact force is applied to the glove box, the glove box travels along a path from an unengaged position to an engaged position wherein the trim panel contacts the at least one bracket to absorb at least a portion of the impact force, when the glove box is in the engaged position.

One piece instrument panel with molded upper bin

An instrument panel assembly and method of installing an instrument panel assembly is provided. The instrument panel assembly includes a base having a side portion. The side portion includes a first mounting aperture. A side panel is dimensioned to cover the side portion. The side panel is configured to be angled relative to the side portion so as to preventing other tabs from scratching the exterior surface of the instrument panel assembly.

Instrument panel assembly

A storage container having a pivotable door pivotable between an open and closed position is provided. The storage container includes a housing configured to hold the pivotable door and a biasing member operable to bias the pivotable door between the open and closed position. A mount is disposed on the pivotable door. The mount includes a loading member. The biasing member is operatively connected to the mount. The biasing member is configured to engage the loading member so as to retain the biasing member in a fixed position with respect to the pivotable door prior to assembling the pivotable door to the housing. A method for installing or assembling a storage container having a pivotable door is also provided.

Storage container

A coin box assembly having an anti jamming feature for a vehicle. The coin box assembly can have a coin box with a back wall with a top end, a front wall, and a pair of side walls extending between the back wall and the front wall. The coin box assembly can also have a cover that encloses the coin box when box is in a closed position. The back wall is dimensioned such that the top end is a predefined distance from the cover, the predefined distance providing a clearance. The clearance allows the coin box to pivot between the closed position and an open position, and yet prevents a small object such as a coin from being located between the back wall top end and the cover and thereby preventing the coin box from pivoting.

Coin box

A console assembly for an automotive vehicle having a housing secured to the vehicle which defines a cavity open at one end of the housing. A drawer support extends outwardly from a lower end of the open end of the housing and at least one track is attached to the drawer support. A drawer has a portion dimensioned to fit within the housing cavity and the drawer is movable between a closed position in which the drawer is positioned within the housing cavity, and an open position in which the drawer overlies the drawer support. At least one shoe is attached to the drawer and slidably mounted to the track so that the shoe slides along the track as the drawer is moved between its open and closed positions. At least one elongated bearing slide assembly is also provided between the drawer and the housing to slidably support the drawer.

Growing community of inventors

Canton, MI, United States of America

Nicholas Earl Merkel