US 11,872,927 B2
Tail lamp back door/tailgate activation switch
Kevin J. James, Saline, MI (US); and Taun-Min Chan, Northville, MI (US)
Assigned to TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., Plano, TX (US)
Filed by Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US)
Filed on May 15, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/874,797.
Prior Publication US 2021/0354641 A1, Nov. 18, 2021
Int. Cl. B60Q 1/00 (2006.01); B60R 16/00 (2006.01); B60R 16/023 (2006.01); B60J 5/10 (2006.01); B60R 25/34 (2013.01); B60R 13/00 (2006.01); B60L 1/00 (2006.01); B60R 11/02 (2006.01); B62D 33/027 (2006.01)
CPC B60Q 1/0076 (2013.01) [B60J 5/10 (2013.01); B60L 1/006 (2013.01); B60R 11/0217 (2013.01); B60R 13/005 (2013.01); B60R 16/005 (2013.01); B60R 16/0239 (2013.01); B60R 25/34 (2013.01); B62D 33/0273 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for controlling a function of a vehicle by activation of a button, the system comprising:
a first vehicle component including an actuator configured to receive a first signal and to perform a first electrical or mechanical function in response to receiving the first signal and to receive a second signal and to perform a second electrical or mechanical function that is different than the first electrical or mechanical function, the first electrical or mechanical function and the second electrical or mechanical function includes at least controlling a vehicle light between an on state and an off state or actuating at least one of a rear vehicle door, a tailgate, or a back vehicle door from a closed position to an open position or from the open position to the closed position;
a physical structure located on an exterior of the vehicle and coupled to the button such that at least one of manual actuation of, or physical proximity to, the physical structure initiates at least one of a first button selection event or a second button selection event, the physical structure includes the vehicle light and a vehicle light cover at least partially enclosing the vehicle light; and
an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the actuator and to the button and configured to:
identify the first button selection event and to transmit the first signal to the actuator in response to identifying the first button selection event to cause the actuator to perform the first electrical or mechanical function, the first button selection event identified in response to a first button selection variation including a first pattern of button depressions; and
identify the second button selection event and to transmit the second signal to at least one of the actuator or a second vehicle component in response to identifying the second button selection event to cause the at least one of the actuator or the second vehicle component to perform the second electrical or mechanical function, the second button selection event identified in response to a second button selection variation including a second pattern of button depressions different from the first pattern of button depressions.