Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Thomas S Hawley

Shingo Eto

Craig D Herring

Luis C Quinteros

Syed S Ali

Bradley S Nowlin

A storage system for a vehicle is provided. The storage system includes a cover including a section operable to move between a folded position and an unfolded position, a crossmember disposed on an underside of the section, and a rail system disposed on the underside of the cover and configured to slidably support a bin. The crossmember obstructs sliding movement of the bin when the section is in the unfolded position, and the crossmember allows sliding movement of the bin when the section is in the folded position.

Storage systems

Systems and methods related to downhill target speed acceleration control are provided. A powertrain torque control system includes a logic device configured to detect a braking behavior to set a target speed of a vehicle to descend downgrade. The logic device is further configured to activate a downhill speed control of the vehicle based on the detected braking behavior. The downhill speed control may include applying powertrain torque feedback to limit an acceleration of the vehicle to hold the target speed of the vehicle while descending downgrade. Associated methods and vehicles are also provided.

Downhill target speed acceleration control systems and methods

Systems and methods for smoothing accelerator signal oscillations caused by road interference are provided. The disclosed systems and methods may apply a pedal smoothing logic/filter to avoid unnecessary torque request oscillation (e.g., torque hunting) caused by pedal oscillation. For example, a control may determine when outside road inputs are causing the driver to oscillate the pedal. When road interference is occurring, the pedal smoothing logic/filter is activated to limit torque request oscillation. When road interference is minimal or non-existent, the pedal smoothing logic/filter is deactivated to maintain vehicle responsiveness for intended driver inputs. A method may include determining a shock value based on a vehicle acceleration, comparing the shock value to a threshold value, and activating a pedal smoothing logic to smooth an accelerator signal based on the shock value being greater than the threshold value. A system may be configured to perform the disclosed method(s).

Pedal smoothing systems and methods

A system for controlling a vehicle includes: the vehicle, at least one forward-looking sensor disposed within the vehicle, and a positioning system disposed within the vehicle. The system also includes a processor disposed within the vehicle and configured to: during deceleration of the vehicle, determine, based on inputs from the at least one forward-looking sensor or the positioning system, whether it is likely that a driver of the vehicle will stop decelerating the vehicle and will instead accelerate the vehicle. If it is likely that the driver will accelerate, the processor is configured to inhibit the downshifting of the vehicle's transmission.

Vehicle coastdown control system

A downhill target acceleration control system for a vehicle is provided, which includes the vehicle, a road grade sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a processor. The processor stores an acceleration target value, determines the mass of the vehicle, and detects whether a downhill acceleration of the vehicle exceeds the target value by more than a threshold amount. If so, the processor is configured to receive and implement a driver-initiated change to the downhill target acceleration value, without input from the accelerator or brake. Based on the downhill acceleration, the target value, and the mass, the processor generates a negative power train torque request to reduce the downhill acceleration of the vehicle. If the acceleration of the vehicle is then below the target acceleration by more than a second threshold amount, the processor reduces the negative power train torque request to increase the downhill acceleration of the vehicle.

Downhill target acceleration control

Methods, systems, devices and apparatuses for a driveforce speed control system for a vehicle. The driveforce speed control system includes a sensor configured to detect a speed limit, and an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the sensor. The ECU is configured to calculate a road load and a mass condition, determine a speed limit based on the sensor, and activate a speed control based on the road load, the mass condition, and the speed limit.

Adaptive driveforce for speed limit control

Methods, systems, and apparatus for a monitoring system to monitor and detect a vehicle load. The monitoring system includes a first camera configured to capture first image data including a load in the vehicle, a memory configured to store image data, and an electronic control unit coupled to the first camera and the memory. The electronic control unit is configured to obtain, from the first camera, the first image data including the load, determine a movement of the load based on the first image data, and provide a notification when the movement of the load exceeds a first threshold.

Truck bed hauling warning system for shifting loads

Methods, systems, and apparatus for a lane assist system that prepares the vehicle to move from a current lane to an adjacent lane. The lane assist system includes a sensor for detecting a vehicle in an adjacent lane and an electronic control unit connected to the sensor. The electronic control unit is configured to determine that the vehicle intends to move from a current lane to the adjacent lane and, in response, controls operations of an automatic transmission of the vehicle to prepare the vehicle for a lane change based on a calculated time duration for the adjacent vehicle to reach the vehicle. The electronic control unit can be further configured to command one or more indicators to be displayed at an indicator display located at a side-view mirror of the vehicle based on the determination and the calculated time duration for the adjacent vehicle to reach the vehicle.

Gear selection for merging into faster traffic

Systems and methods for determining whether to use engine start-stop systems during trail or other off-road driving are provided. Systems and methods may utilize various vehicle sensors (e.g., lidar, forward-facing cameras, accelerometers, sonar sensors, etc.) to detect when it is appropriate to command engine stop for fuel economy while driving off-road. To determine appropriateness, the vehicle may evaluate obstacles, ground clearance, and/or vehicle inclination. A method may include measuring accelerations/inclinations of a vehicle, comparing an acceleration value of each acceleration to an acceleration threshold, and disabling a start-stop system of the vehicle based on at least one acceleration value exceeding the acceleration threshold. A system may include an accelerometer configured to measure accelerations of a vehicle, and a logic device configured to compare an acceleration value of each acceleration to an acceleration threshold, and disable a start-stop system based on at least one acceleration value exceeding the acceleration threshold.

Trail driving engine start-stop judgment systems and methods

Systems and methods are provided for adjusting the creep torque to maneuver a vehicle to a target location. In various embodiments, the creep torque adjustment mode is deactivated when the driver changes the direction of travel. The change in direction also causes the parameters of the creep torque control to be reinitiated to their initial values. In various embodiments, the creep torque mode is increased from a low creep towards a target creep. If the driver engages the brakes, the input torque is set to zero, and when the driver releases the brake, the minimum creep torque is set to the value that creep torque had risen to just before the brake was applied. This allows the driver to control the acceleration and speed, by just braking. In various embodiments, the creep control controls reverse creep to aid in hooking up a vehicle to a trailer.

Creep torque feedback to improve controllably maneuvering a vehicle

Methods, systems, devices and apparatuses for a pedal gain adjustment system. The pedal gain adjustment system includes a user input device configured to receive user input data indicating a desired pedal setting of the vehicle, and an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the user input device. The ECU is configured to determine the vehicle is operating in a tow mode, receive the user input data via the user input device, and adjust the pedal gain based on the user input data.

Driver adjusted pedal gain control for trailer towing

Methods, systems, and apparatus for controlling operation of a vehicle. The system includes a microphone located in a passenger cabin of the vehicle and configured to detect sound data indicating noise in the passenger cabin. The system also includes a powertrain of the vehicle including an engine/motor for propelling the vehicle and a transmission of the vehicle having a plurality of gears. The system also includes an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle coupled to the microphone and the transmission. The ECU is configured to determine a powertrain torque limit based on the sound data, determine whether a torque output of the powertrain exceeds the powertrain torque limit, and instruct the transmission to downshift when the torque output of the powertrain exceeds the powertrain torque limit.

Sound based powertrain control system

A method of controlling a hybrid-electric vehicle includes determining that a slow-down condition of the hybrid-electric vehicle comprises a reduction in speed of the hybrid-electric vehicle that is greater than or equal to a threshold. The method also includes modifying transmission shifting points in a regenerative braking mode to rotate an electric machine of the hybrid-electric vehicle above an engine start limit. The method also includes, in response to receiving an indication of an end of the slow-down condition, causing rotation of the electric machine above the engine start limit to trigger starting an engine of the hybrid-electric vehicle.

Systems and methods for high motor speed regenerative breaking

A system for controlling an internal combustion engine start threshold in a parallel hybrid-electric vehicle. A predetermined conditions tracking module determines whether or not conditions of a plurality of predetermined conditions exist. Responsive to a determination that the conditions exist, a required power estimation module estimates a next acceleration required by the vehicle and a final power requirement for the next acceleration. A propulsion system control module determines if the estimated final power requirement is between a first amount of electric motor power available at a predetermined base engine start threshold and a second amount of electric motor power available at a predetermined elevated engine start threshold. If the estimated final power requirement is between the first and second amounts of power, operation of the vehicle is controlled so as to ensure that the engine start threshold is at the predetermined elevated threshold.

Control of hybrid vehicle engine start threshold in congested traffic conditions

A vehicle, a vehicle powertrain system, a computer program product, and a method of controlling a vehicle in a manner to achieve enhanced driving performance. An example vehicle powertrain system includes one or more of a powertrain having an engine, a transmission, and a torque converter, and a control module to control the powertrain system. The control module is configured to conduct, in response to sensor data in connection with a detected current vehicle speed and a detected current transmission oil temperature, a vehicle powertrain analysis of the sensor data. The control module is to then control the powertrain in response to the vehicle powertrain analysis and an operating state of a lock-up clutch of the torque converter.

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Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Thomas S Hawley