US Patent Issued to TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA on Dec. 30 for "Alternative methods for opening doors and hatches" (Michigan Inventors)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 31 -- United States Patent no. 12,509,022, issued on Dec. 30, was assigned to TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA INC. (Plano, Texas) and TOYOTA JIDOSHA K.K. (Toyota, Japan).

"Alternative methods for opening doors and hatches" was invented by Alexander L. Paradis (Ann Arbor, Mich.) and Frank A. Richards (Ann Arbor, Mich.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A vehicle system for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle system includes an electronic control unit configured to receive a signal from a key fob, and determine whether the key fob is within a predetermined distance from the vehicle based on the received signal. Upon determination that the key fob is withi...