Granted Patent B2

US 12,559,034 · App. 18/327,188 · Granted Feb 24, 2026

Inventors: Timothy Wang (Ann Arbor, MI); Roger Akira Kyle (Aubrey, TX); Bryan Else Yamasaki (Frisco, TX); Justin K Shen (Canton, MI); Jackson Zhu (Belleville, MI); Sean Xu (Novi, MI)

Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.; Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

B60R3/002B60R3/02

Abstract

Claims (17)

1 . A method for a deployable power running board of a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving sensor data from the vehicle, the sensor data indicating a distance between the power running board and an object, an approaching angle of the object approaching the power running board, and/or a vehicle position status;

and

transmitting a signal to a pyrotechnics mechanism at the power running board to cause the power running board to deploy or retract at a calculated distance and speed of deployment or retraction.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a time when the object is expected to contact the power running board based on the sensor data.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the calculated distance and the speed of deployment or retraction of the power running board is based on the time determined.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the calculated distance and the speed of deployment or retracting of the power running board is such to avoid contact between the object and the power running board.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a rollover event based on the vehicle position status of the sensor data.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the calculated distance and the speed of deployment of the power running board is based on the determined rollover event.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

calculating when to deploy the power running board based on the determined rollover event to obstruct the vehicle from spinning or rolling during the rollover event.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the power running board is deployed to apply force in a direction opposite to a direction of rollover.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting a potential vehicle theft based on the sensor data; and

deploying the power running board at a full speed and a maximum distance when the potential vehicle theft is detected.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (21)