The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 13, 2025
Filed:
Sep. 10, 2019
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US);
Frank A. Richards, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., Plano, TX (US);
Abstract
Apparatuses and methods for controlling an operation of a powered system by extending the coverage of a sensor along a complex contour. An apparatus comprises a structure and a safety system that includes a sensor, a hinge, and a contoured panel. The structure (e.g., a vehicle door) has a first edge in which at least a portion of the first edge has a complex contour. The sensor is attached to the structure. The hinge is attached to at least one of the sensor or the structure. The contoured panel is movably attached to the hinge and has a second edge that substantially aligns with the complex contour of the first edge of the structure. The safety system may be used to control operation of the structure based on a detection of an obstruction by the sensor of the safety system.