Patents by Inventor Kaoru Ohtsuka

Kaoru Ohtsuka has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8010258
    Abstract: A torque control device for a power system and facilitates the addition of a new torque control actuator. A target torque signal according to a target torque for the power system is distributed to each actuator in a predetermined distribution priority order. A signal processing filter is mounted on a signal input section of each actuator and allows only a portion of distributed signal that matches the operation characteristics of the actuator to pass through as a command signal for the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidossha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tanaka, Keisuke Kawai, Hayato Nakada, Kaoru Ohtsuka, Yuichiro Sawada, Shinichi Soejima
  • Publication number: 20110144885
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided that can precisely reflect requirements relating to performance of the internal combustion engine in a control amount of each actuator by compensating for weaknesses in the so-called torque demand control. A requirement value of each of torque, efficiency, and an air-fuel ratio, and engine information are inputted to an engine inverse model. The engine inverse model is then used to calculate actuator requirement values for achieving those requirement values. An actuator direct requirement value directly required of each of actuators is also acquired. Control of the actuators is adapted to be changed between that according to the actuator requirement value and that according to the actuator direct requirement value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kaoru Ohtsuka, Shinichi Soejima, Keisuke Kawai, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Hayato Nakada, Naoto Kato
  • Publication number: 20110098905
    Abstract: Disclosed are a control device and a control method that are used with an internal combustion engine in which the air-fuel ratio in the vicinity of an ignition plug differs from the overall air-fuel ratio in a cylinder, and capable of properly fulfilling demands concerning various capabilities of the internal combustion engine by accurately reflecting each of the demands in the operation of each actuator. Three physical quantities, namely, a torque, an efficiency, and an air-fuel ratio, are used as controlled variables for the internal combustion engine. Target values for the controlled variables are then set by integrating at least some of demands concerning a capability of the internal combustion engine into the three physical quantities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Ueda, Kota Sata, Shinichi Soejima, Kaoru Ohtsuka
  • Publication number: 20110005212
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes: an accessory that adjusts torque that is output from an internal combustion engine, by giving load to the internal combustion engine; an ignition timing control portion that is provided so as to adjust ignition timing of the internal combustion engine, and that adjusts the torque output from the internal combustion engine by performing a retardation control of the ignition timing; an accessory load adjustment portion that adjusts an accessory load that is the load given from the accessory to the internal combustion engine; and a catalyst that purifies exhaust gas discharged from the internal combustion engine. The ignition timing control portion reduces the retardation of the ignition timing with increase in temperature of the catalyst. The accessory load adjustment portion increases the accessory load with increase in the temperature of the catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koki Matsushita, Shin Noumura, Ken Koibuchi, Kaoru Ohtsuka, Shinichi Soejima
  • Publication number: 20100269785
    Abstract: When fuel cut permission conditions are satisfied, a guard provided by an ignition timing retardation limit is relieved. In the resulting state, the ignition timing is retarded to decrease the output torque of an internal combustion engine. After the output torque of the internal combustion engine is decreased to a predetermined minimum torque, the supply of fuel is shut off. When, on the other hand, recovery from a fuel cut is to be achieved, the guard provided by the ignition timing retardation limit is relieved until completion conditions for recovery from the fuel cut are satisfied. In the resulting state, the ignition timing is retarded to decrease the output torque of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tanaka, Kaoru Ohtsuka
  • Publication number: 20100268436
    Abstract: This invention is intended to ensure that a control device for a vehicle drive unit is capable of realizing desired torque by making the main-actuator and sub-actuator collaborate adequately while holding the interposition of the sub-actuator as low as possible. For this end, a future target of torque that is going to be output from the engine and a realization timing of the future target are taken as reservation information for reserving engine torque regulation. Next, the required period, which is required to realize the future target when a main-actuator (a throttle) is operated to regulate the torque, is computed from a current engine operating condition. Then, the operation of the main-actuator is started at the timing preceding the realization timing by the required period for realizing the future target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi Soejima, Junichi Kako, Kaoru Ohtsuka, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Keisuke Kawai
  • Publication number: 20100211287
    Abstract: The internal combustion engine control device includes a request output section and a mediation section. The request output section expresses a plurality of requests about internal combustion engine functions (drivability, exhaust gas, and idling) in terms of physical quantities (torque, efficiency, and air-fuel ratio) and outputs the requests. The mediation section collects a plurality of requests A-C expressed in terms of the same physical quantity and conducts mediation in accordance with a predefined rule to determine one request value E. The requests A-C output from the request output section are defined on the basis of the range of request values and the distribution of expected values indicative of the degree of expectation of request values within the range. The mediation section calculates the sum D of the expected values of the plurality of requests A-C and conducts mediation to determine the request value E that prevails when the sum is maximized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Kaoru Ohtsuka, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Keisuke Kawai, Shinichi Soejima
  • Publication number: 20100198485
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine that accurately incorporates demands related to various capabilities of the internal combustion engine. A demand output unit outputs various capability demands of the internal combustion engine, expressed in terms of either torque, efficiency, or an air-fuel ratio data. A torque mediation unit collects only the demand values expressed in terms of torque, and mediates the torque demand values into one. An efficiency mediation unit collects the demand values expressed in terms of efficiency and mediates the efficiency demand values into one. An air-fuel ratio mediation unit collects the demand values expressed in terms of the air-fuel ratio and mediates the air-fuel ratio demand values into one. A control variable computing unit computes control variables of actuators, based upon the torque demand value, efficiency demand value, and air-fuel ratio demand value output from the mediation units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kaoru Ohtsuka, Shinichi Soejima, Naoto Kato, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Hayato Nakada, Keisuke Kawai
  • Publication number: 20100191406
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle drive unit including a control structure of a hierarchical type having a demand generation level, a mediation level, and a control variable setting level and a signal is transmitted in one direction from a higher level of hierarchy to a lower level of hierarchy. The demand generation level includes demand output elements for each capability. The mediation level includes mediation elements, each corresponding to a classified category of demands. Each of the mediation elements collects demand values of the category of which the mediation elements are in charge and performs mediation according to a rule to arrive at a single demand value. The control variable setting level includes an adjuster portion adjusting each of the mediated demand values based on a relationship between each other and control variable calculation elements calculating a control variable of each of a plurality of actuators based on the adjusted demand value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tanaka, Junichi Kako, Kaoru Ohtsuka, Shinichi Soejima, Keisuke Kawai, Naoto Kato, Hayato Nakada
  • Publication number: 20100036581
    Abstract: Disclosed is an internal combustion engine control device capable of accurately achieving a target torque. At time t11, which precedes an exhaust stroke, a target throttle angle is calculated in accordance with the target torque. During a period between time t12 and time t13, the actual throttle angle is changed to match the target throttle angle calculated at time t11. At time t14 during a subsequent intake stroke, the target torque decreases. At time t18 during a subsequent compression stroke, a target ignition timing is calculated in accordance with the latest (decreased) target torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kaoru Ohtsuka
  • Publication number: 20100004829
    Abstract: A torque control device for a power system and facilitates the addition of a new torque control actuator. A target torque signal according to a target torque for the power system is distributed to each actuator in a predetermined distribution priority order. A signal processing filter is mounted on a signal input section of each actuator and allows only a portion of distributed signal that matches the operation characteristics of the actuator to pass through as a command signal for the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tanaka, Keisuke Kawai, Hayato Nakada, Kaoru Ohtsuka, Yuichiro Sawada, Shinichi Soejima
  • Patent number: 7222483
    Abstract: There is provided a device for supplying secondary air, which comprises a secondary air passage for supplying secondary air, to an exhaust passage of an engine, upstream of an exhaust purification device provided in the exhaust passage, a pump provided in the secondary air passage for supplying a secondary air, a battery used for driving the pump, at least one opening-closing device for opening and closing the secondary air passage, and a pressure sensor provided between the pump and the opening-closing device for detecting a pressure in the secondary air passage. A malfunction of at least one of the pump and the opening-closing device is detected on the basis of at least one of the pressures detected when the secondary air passage is opens and when the secondary air passage is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Oi, Kaoru Ohtsuka, Shinya Kondo, Hiroyasu Koyama, Tetsuji Nagata
  • Patent number: 7032550
    Abstract: An inter-bank variation detection device of an internal combustion engine provided with a valve opening characteristic setting means (57) for changing the valve opening characteristic of an intake valve (9) for each of the cylinders (#1 to #4) or each of the bank (BL, BR); an indicator detecting means for detecting indicators of the state of combustion for each bank at the time of a first valve opening characteristic set by the valve opening characteristic setting means and the time of a second valve opening characteristic smaller than the first valve opening characteristic; a fuel injection amount variation detecting means (27) for detecting variation of the fuel injection amount for each bank by using the indicator (Xfn) detected by the indicator detecting means at the time of the first valve opening characteristic; and a valve opening characteristic variation detecting means (27) for detecting variation of the valve opening characteristic for each bank by using the indicator (Xsn) detected by the indicator
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kaoru Ohtsuka, Takashi Tsunooka, Keizo Hiraku
  • Publication number: 20060048504
    Abstract: There is provided a device for supplying secondary air, which comprises a secondary air passage for supplying secondary air, to an exhaust passage of an engine, upstream of an exhaust purification device provided in the exhaust passage, a pump provided in the secondary air passage for supplying a secondary air, a battery used for driving the pump, at least one opening-closing device for opening and closing the secondary air passage, and a pressure sensor provided between the pump and the opening-closing device for detecting a pressure in the secondary air passage. A malfunction of at least one of the pump and the opening-closing device is detected on the basis of at least one of the pressures detected when the secondary air passage is opens and when the secondary air passage is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Oi, Kaoru Ohtsuka, Shinya Kondo, Hiroyasu Koyama, Tetsuji Nagata
  • Publication number: 20050247277
    Abstract: An inter-bank variation detection device of an internal combustion engine provided with a valve opening characteristic setting means (57) for changing the valve opening characteristic of an intake valve (9) for each of the cylinders (#1 to #4) or each of the bank (BL, BR); an indicator detecting means for detecting indicators of the state of combustion for each bank at the time of a first valve opening characteristic set by the valve opening characteristic setting means and the time of a second valve opening characteristic smaller than the first valve opening characteristic; a fuel injection amount variation detecting means (27) for detecting variation of the fuel injection amount for each bank by using the indicator (Xfn) detected by the indicator detecting means at the time of the first valve opening characteristic; and a valve opening characteristic variation detecting means (27) for detecting variation of the valve opening characteristic for each bank by using the indicator (Xsn) detected by the indicator
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kaoru Ohtsuka, Takashi Tsunooka, Keizo Hiraku
  • Patent number: 6923169
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying apparatus adopted to an internal combustion engine provided with air-fuel ratio learning means for learning a primary air-fuel ratio given in the form of a mass ratio between air and fuel introduced into a combustion chamber, comprises an exhaust gas purifying catalyst provided in an exhaust gas passage of the engine and a catalyst activating means for supplying secondary air to an upstream of the exhaust gas purifying catalyst and increasing the quantity of fuel supplied to the engine to activate the exhaust gas purifying catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Demura, Hiroyasu Koyama, Kaoru Ohtsuka
  • Publication number: 20050066650
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying apparatus adopted to an internal combustion engine provided with air-fuel ratio learning means for learning a primary air-fuel ratio given in the form of a mass ratio between air and fuel introduced into a combustion chamber, comprises an exhaust gas purifying catalyst provided in an exhaust gas passage of the engine and a catalyst activating means for supplying secondary air to an upstream of the exhaust gas purifying catalyst and increasing the quantity of fuel supplied to the engine to activate the exhaust gas purifying catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki Demura, Hiroyasu Koyama, Kaoru Ohtsuka
  • Patent number: 6059057
    Abstract: In an engine mounted on a hybrid vehicle, even in an atmosphere that readily cools down a catalyst by relatively low-temperature gaseous exhausts, for example, under a fuel cut control, the structure of the invention quickly warms up the catalyst and maintains a conversion efficiency of the gaseous exhausts at a high level. When it is determined that an engine is in operation and the fuel cut control is being performed, a reflux valve is turned on to reflux the gaseous exhausts into an intake conduit. This control procedure enables the relatively low-temperature gaseous exhausts to be refluxed to the intake conduit, instead of flowing into the catalyst, thereby preventing the catalyst from being cooled down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Suehiro Yamazaki, Kaoru Ohtsuka, Takahide Izutani
  • Patent number: 6032753
    Abstract: In an engine mounted on a hybrid vehicle, even in an atmosphere that readily cools down a catalyst by relatively low-temperature gaseous exhausts, for example, under a fuel cut control, the structure of the invention quickly warms up the catalyst and maintains a conversion efficiency of the gaseous exhausts at a high level. When it is determined that an engine 10 is in operation and the fuel cut control is being performed, a reflux valve is turned on to reflux the gaseous exhausts into an intake conduit. This control procedure enables the relatively low-temperature gaseous exhausts to be refluxed to the intake conduit, instead of flowing into the catalyst, thereby preventing the catalyst from being cooled down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Suehiro Yamazaki, Kaoru Ohtsuka, Takahide Izutani
  • Patent number: 5899828
    Abstract: An engine control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle reduces a shock and improves the fuel consumption rate when an engine is under a fuel cut control at the time of reducing a speed through an operation of a brake pedal. In case that all conditions are fulfilled, that is, the fuel cut control, the speed reduction of not less than a predetermined level, and the non-full charge state of a battery, the program locks an intake valve and an exhaust valve in full open position and carries out a regenerative control with a generator 14. This procedure enables a cylinder to be connected with an intake air conduit and an exhaust conduit via the passages of the intake valve and the exhaust valve, thereby preventing compression of a gas in the cylinder and effectively reducing friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Suehiro Yamazaki, Kaoru Ohtsuka, Takahide Izutani