Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Nifco America Corporation

Philip Joseph Babian

Benjamin P Austin

William Patrick Garrett

George M Evans

John K Lenneman

Rohit Gupta

Joshua E Domeyer

Rebecca L Kirschweng

Craig D Herring

Aaron M France

Angela Piculi

Christopher E Dragan

Travis M Blais

Ali C Eren

Paxton Steven Williams

Heishiro Toyoda

Robert Anthony Porcs

Takeshi Yoshida

Andrew W Harvey

Emily Ann Khouphongsy

Ichiroh Isobe

Benjamin D Hack

Clayton J Karl

Scott E Malinowski

Robert Tsao

Dianne O Tykoski

Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to identifying and assisting pedestrians identified as experiencing impaired decision-making capabilities. In one embodiment, a method includes determining, from interaction data collected by a user device of a pedestrian, an interaction characteristic of the pedestrian. The method also includes classifying the pedestrian as in an impaired decision-making state based on the interaction characteristic of the pedestrian deviating from baseline interaction data. The method further includes producing a pedestrian assistance countermeasure responsive to a determined impaired decision-making state for the pedestrian.

Systems and methods for detecting impaired decision-making pedestrians

In one embodiment, a lighting system includes one or more light sources, one or processors, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to: receive a lighting profile for an individual or device within visible range of the lighting system, and control the one or more light sources according to the lighting profile. In another embodiment, a method of operating a lighting system includes receiving, from an individual or a device within a visible range of the individual or device, a lighting profile, and controlling one or more lights of the lighting system according to the lighting profile.

Lighting systems and methods utilizing lighting profiles

A pedal touch anomaly notification system for a vehicle is provided. The system includes the vehicle itself, and at least one sensor configured to capture information about the position or orientation of the driver's foot relative to a control pedal of the vehicle. A processor uses the captured information, as well as a database containing baseline information and variance information about expected positions or orientations of the driver's foot relative to the control pedal. Based on the captured information, the processor determines the position or orientation of the foot of the driver relative to the control pedal, and compares the determined position or orientation to the baseline information and variance information. If the position or orientation fall outside the variance information, the processor generates a driver alert.

System for providing feedback based on pedal touching

Systems and methods providing sleep service in a vehicle to wake up a sleeping driver at a wake-up time based on the user profile of the driver are disclosed. In one embodiment, a sleeping service system includes a processor, a data receiver, an alarm, and a non-transitory memory module communicatively coupled to the processor, and a set of machine-readable instructions stored on the memory module that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations. The operations include accessing a user profile of a driver, accessing a route information, calculating an action time based on one or more of upcoming events, calculating a current leading time based on the user profile, and providing a wake-up notification to the driver at a wake-up time based on the action time and the current leading-time period.

Systems and methods to determine awakening lead time for waking up sleeping driver

Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving the communication of a railroad crossing warning. In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a railroad crossing in a path of a road user. The method further includes in response to determining that a train is approaching the road user at the railroad crossing, determining whether a warning mechanism of the railroad crossing satisfies a crossing threshold that is based, at least in part, on a safety condition of the warning mechanism. Moreover, the method includes controlling a display of the road user to output a virtual railroad crossing bar on the display according to the safety condition responsive to determining that the warning mechanism satisfies the crossing threshold.

Providing a virtual railroad crossing warning

A system and method in communication with a sensor that can attach to objects placed on the roof of a vehicle acquires dimensional data to determine the position/orientation of the objects on the roof and determine the clearance of the vehicle based on the orientation of the object. The system recommends an orientation of the object to be placed in (e.g., based on the acquired dimensions of the object) to optimize aerodynamics and/or to reduce clearance.

Determination of vehicle clearance and optimized orientation of objects placed on roof

System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving communication of user intent at a road crossing. In one embodiment, a method includes acquiring sensor data identifying a blood flow in a brain of a user, determining whether the user intends on crossing a street based, at least in part, on the sensor data, and in response to determining the user intends on crossing the street, communicating an intent to cross using the accessory.

Smart accessory for communicating an intention to cross a street

A system and method for adjusting the intensity of light provided to an analog needle are disclosed herein. The system and method adjust the intensity of light provided to the analog needle based on an operating state of an engine of a vehicle.

System and method for adjusting the light intensity of an analog needle

Systems are provided for an assist pocket. In particular, an assist pocket formed into a vehicle pillar. Certain embodiments of the assist pocket may include a depression formed into the vehicle pillar dimensioned to accept fingers of an occupant, where a grip is formed along an edge of the depression and extends partially over the pocket. The assist pocket may be formed to help occupants ingress and egress a vehicle.

System for an assist pocket

A system and method for adjusting the transparency of a digital needle of a digital gauge are disclosed herein. The system and method adjust a transparency of a digital needle based on an operating state of an engine of a vehicle.

System and method for adjusting the transparency of a digital needle

Disclosed is a breakaway mobile device connection port for a vehicle. The breakaway mobile device connection port includes a socket within a surface of a vehicle, formed by one or more flexible retention members coupled to the surface. The port further includes a ball-type bearing positioned partially within the socket, a female connector positioned in the bearing outside the socket and configured to receive a male connector, and a harness cable coupled to the bearing, linking the female connector to an electrical system or data system of the vehicle. The bearing is configured to swivel on at least one axis within the socket, and an impact force on the male connector that exceeds a first threshold value causes the bearing to be pushed completely into the socket.

Breakaway mobile device connection port

Systems and methods for alerting a pedestrian of the density of automated vehicles to non-automated vehicles in an area by broadcasting a visual signal representing a group mode status of automated vehicles travelling towards or within a roadway intersection. The group mode status may be broadcast as a percentage of automated vehicles to total vehicles or can be broadcast as a ratio of automated vehicles to non-automated vehicles on an external mode indicator of a subject automated vehicle. The visual signal may be broadcast as a pattern of lighting, a change in light intensity, a change in colors or a change in text. The group mode status may also be broadcast to a pedestrian equipped with a wireless device via vehicle-to-infrastructure communications. The group status may also be broadcast to and displayed on infrastructure component, such as a street light, display post, crosswalk sign, or building display configured to receive signals.

Vehicle automation-connected pedestrian risk assessment device

An oar for use in propelling a watercraft through water includes a first circular paddle portion. An edge hole extends into an edge of the first paddle portion. The oar also includes a second circular paddle portion, with an edge hole extending into an edge of the second paddle portion. The oar also includes a handle portion having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first paddle portion edge hole and the handle portion first end are structured so that the handle portion first end is detachably securable in the first paddle portion edge hole. The second paddle portion edge hole and the handle portion second end are structured so that the handle portion second end is detachably securable in the second paddle portion edge hole.

Watercraft propulsion and transportation mechanism

A hook assembly for mounting to a body component having a pair of openings is provided. The hook assembly includes a pin member and a hook housing. The pin member includes a base portion and a pair of insertion pins extending upwardly from the base portion. The hook housing includes a top surface and a pair of interior channels. A pair of clip prongs are positioned at each opening of the pair of interior channels. A hook member extends outwardly from the hook housing. The hook housing is coupled to the body component by inserting the pair of clip prongs into the openings formed in the body component in a clip prong insertion direction. The pair of insertion pins are inserted into the pair of interior channels in a pin insertion direction to secure the pin member and the hook housing to the body component.

Hook assemblies

A vehicular assembly and a method of connecting a panel to a vehicular structure in order to form an assembly. The assembly includes a clip that is used to join first and second components each of which defines an aperture therein. The first and second components are sized and shaped such that upon being joined to one another, their respective apertures are substantially aligned with one another and held together by the clip. The clip includes a first connector portion and a second connector portion. The clip can be turned in a twisting or screwing motion about an axis of rotation such that upon insertion of the clip into the aperture of the first component and subsequent rotation, the first connector portion forms a locking engagement with an edge structure that is defined by the aperture of the first component. In addition, upon additional insertion of the clip into the aperture of the second component, the second connector portion of the clip forms a resiliently-biased engagement with an edge structure that is defined by the aperture of the second component. This helps promote the blind installation of automotive components in a more ergonomic manner.

Growing community of inventors

Canton, MI, United States of America

Philip Joseph Babian