Toyota Continues Innovation Streak with Diverse Patent Portfolio
Key Ideas
- Toyota secures the highest number of patents in the automotive industry for the 11th consecutive year, showcasing its commitment to innovation.
- The patents cover a wide range of areas including cybersecurity, electric and fuel cell vehicles, and vehicle-to-vehicle connectivity, highlighting Toyota's diverse technological advancements.
- Innovations like lidar reflective fabric, energy transfer optimization for electric vehicles, and cooperative maneuvering among connected vehicles demonstrate Toyota's focus on safety, efficiency, and sustainability.
- Toyota's development of modular fuel cell systems with optimized power distribution reaffirms its dedication to advancing hydrogen fuel cell technology for carbon emissions reduction.
Toyota has once again topped the list of patent recipients in the automotive industry for the 11th consecutive year, securing 2,428 U.S. patents in 2024 according to the Intellectual Property Owners Association. The company's patent portfolio covers a wide spectrum of areas including cybersecurity, driver assist technology, electric and fuel cell vehicles, and vehicle-to-vehicle connectivity. These patents reflect Toyota's evolution into a mobility company, showcasing a diverse range of inventions across various technological domains.
Some notable patents obtained by Toyota in 2024 include a lidar reflective fabric that enhances the visibility of black-colored items for obstacle detection systems in autonomous vehicles. Additionally, Toyota has developed a method to optimize energy transfer for electric vehicles based on real-time cost information, enabling efficient utilization of power grid resources. The company has also designed systems for managing cooperative maneuvering among connected vehicles to improve traffic flow and efficiency.
Furthermore, Toyota's innovation extends to hydrogen fuel cell technology with the development of a modular fuel cell system architecture. This system includes a control system that optimizes power distribution among modules, ensuring efficiency, durability, drivability, and safety while reducing carbon emissions. The company's efforts in advancing hydrogen fuel cell systems align with its commitment to sustainable technologies.
Overall, Toyota's continuous innovation in diverse technological fields through its patent acquisitions reinforces its position as a pioneer in the automotive industry and a leader in sustainable mobility solutions.