US 12,168,421 B2
Systems, methods, and apparatus for smart multi-tier power running board with ground sensing technologies
John D. Harkleroad, Ypsilanti, MI (US); Manish Shah, Canton, MI (US); and Aamir U Warsi, Canton, MI (US)
Assigned to TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., Plano, TX (US); and TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, (JP)
Filed by Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US)
Filed on Jun. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/840,299.
Prior Publication US 2023/0398937 A1, Dec. 14, 2023
Int. Cl. B60R 3/00 (2006.01); B60R 3/02 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 3/002 (2013.01) [B60R 3/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An adjustable running board apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
one or more support bars movably attached to the vehicle and configured to move between a stowed position and a deployed position;
a plurality of steps where each step is attached to the one or more support bars;
an actuator connected to one end of each support bar of the one or more support bars, the actuator being configured to:
cause the one or more support bars to move between the stowed position and the deployed position, and
adjust a position of each step of the plurality of steps in the deployed position;
one or more sensors attached to at least one of the one or more support bars, the plurality of steps, or the vehicle, the one or more sensors being configured to detect sensor data related to a ground clearance between a ground and the vehicle; and
a controller coupled to the actuator and the one or more sensors and configured to:
obtain data indicative of a request to move the one or more support bars from the stowed position to the deployed position,
determine, based on the detected sensor data, the position of each step of the plurality of steps in the deployed position such that a first distance between the vehicle and a first step of the plurality of steps is equal to:
a second distance between two consecutive steps of the plurality of steps, and
a third distance between a second step of the plurality of steps and the ground or a truck bed on the vehicle, and
control, based on the determined position of each step of the plurality of steps, the actuator to move the one or more support bars from the stowed position to the deployed position.