Patents by Inventor Kenji INOSHITA

Kenji INOSHITA 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: 11512658
    Abstract: An engine device includes: an engine; and a control device that executes a return rich control that controls the engine so that an air-fuel ratio becomes rich over a predetermined period after the engine returns from the fuel cut. When the engine is intermittently stopped during the execution of the return rich control, the return rich control is executed for a period shorter than the predetermined period after the engine is restarted. Thus, when the engine is intermittently stopped during the execution of the return rich control and the engine is restarted thereafter, it is possible to suppress a total period of the return rich control from becoming long. As a result, it is possible to suppress an increase in the amount of hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas and suppress deterioration of emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Inoshita, Masanao Idogawa
  • Publication number: 20220178321
    Abstract: An engine device includes: an engine; and a control device that executes a return rich control that controls the engine so that an air-fuel ratio becomes rich over a predetermined period after the engine returns from the fuel cut. When the engine is intermittently stopped during the execution of the return rich control, the return rich control is executed for a period shorter than the predetermined period after the engine is restarted. Thus, when the engine is intermittently stopped during the execution of the return rich control and the engine is restarted thereafter, it is possible to suppress a total period of the return rich control from becoming long. As a result, it is possible to suppress an increase in the amount of hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas and suppress deterioration of emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji INOSHITA, Masanao IDOGAWA
  • Patent number: 10851732
    Abstract: The controller includes a fuel amount control unit adjusting amount of fuel supplied to a cylinder through feedback control with an air-fuel ratio deviation as input, a target air-fuel ratio adjustment unit alternately repeating a lean period process and a rich period process, and a learning value correction unit updating a learning value to compensate for a steady deviation in an air-fuel ratio. If an absolute value of an oxygen amount deviation is less than a determination value, the learning value update unit updates a learning value only when one of the lean period process and the rich period process is switched to the other one. If the absolute value of the oxygen amount deviation is greater than or equal to the determination value, the learning value is updated both when one of the processes is switched to the other one and when the switching is reversed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Inoshita, Norihisa Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10837386
    Abstract: The exhaust purification system of an internal combustion engine has: exhaust purification catalysts 20, 24 arranged in an exhaust passage and able to store oxygen; and a control device 31 for calculating an EGR rate of intake gas supplied to combustion chambers 5 and for controlling an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the catalysts. The control device alternately switches the air-fuel ratio between a rich air-fuel ratio and a lean air-fuel ratio, and controls the air-fuel ratio so that the air-fuel ratio is switched from the lean air-fuel ratio to the rich air-fuel ratio when the oxygen storage amount of the catalyst is greater, when the calculated EGR rate is relatively high, compared to when it is relatively low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Inoshita
  • Patent number: 10724456
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine including an exhaust passage, a catalyst provided in the exhaust passage, and an electronic control unit. When the engine stop condition is established, the electronic control unit stops fuel injection and increases a catalyst inflow oxygen amount that is an amount of oxygen flowing into the catalyst by a specified oxygen increase amount. The engine stop condition is a condition for stopping operation of the internal combustion engine. The specified oxygen increase amount is larger than an increased part of the catalyst inflow oxygen amount that is increased by the stop of the fuel injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Miwa, Koichi Kitaura, Takahiro Tsukagoshi, Kenji Inoshita, Kazuya Suzuki, Takeru Yoshida, Isao Chinzei, Kaoru Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20200217264
    Abstract: The controller includes a fuel amount control unit adjusting amount of fuel supplied to a cylinder through feedback control with an air-fuel ratio deviation as input, a target air-fuel ratio adjustment unit alternately repeating a lean period process and a rich period process, and a learning value correction unit updating a learning value to compensate for a steady deviation in an air-fuel ratio. If an absolute value of an oxygen amount deviation is less than a determination value, the learning value update unit updates a learning value only when one of the lean period process and the rich period process is switched to the other one. If the absolute value of the oxygen amount deviation is greater than or equal to the determination value, the learning value is updated both when one of the processes is switched to the other one and when the switching is reversed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji INOSHITA, Norihisa Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10669961
    Abstract: An exhaust purification system of an internal combustion engine comprises an air-fuel ratio control device controlling an air-fuel ratio of the inflowing exhaust gas to a target air-fuel ratio. If a first judged condition wherein an estimated amount of change of an oxygen storage amount of the catalyst when the target air-fuel ratio is maintained at the first set air-fuel ratio is equal to or greater than a first reference amount, and a second judged condition wherein a difference of an air-fuel ratio detected by the upstream side air-fuel ratio sensor and a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio is equal to or greater than a difference of a second judged air-fuel ratio and a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio are satisfied, the air-fuel ratio control device switches the target air-fuel ratio from the first set air-fuel ratio to the second set air-fuel ratio when the first judged condition and second judged condition are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Inoshita, Shogo Tanaka, Norihisa Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10641146
    Abstract: An exhaust purification system comprises a catalyst 20, an upstream side air-fuel ratio sensor 40, a downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor 41, and an air-fuel ratio control device. The air-fuel ratio control device alternately switches a target air-fuel ratio between a rich set air-fuel ratio and a lean set air-fuel ratio, calculates an oxygen storage amount and an oxygen discharge amount, updates a learning value, and corrects an air-fuel ratio-related parameter based on the learning value. The air-fuel ratio control device changes a condition for switching the target air-fuel, stores the learning value at the time when the operating state of the internal combustion engine changes from the first state to the second state as a first state value, and updates the learning value to the first state value when the operating state of the internal combustion engine returns from the second state to the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Inoshita, Shogo Tanaka, Norihisa Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10634027
    Abstract: An exhaust purification system comprises an air-fuel ratio control device. If the air-fuel ratio detected by the downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor 41 reaches a second judged air-fuel ratio, the air-fuel ratio control device sets the target air-fuel ratio to a third set air-fuel ratio when the air-fuel ratio reaches the second judged air-fuel ratio, and switch the target air-fuel ratio from the third set air-fuel ratio to the second set air-fuel ratio when the air-fuel ratio becomes a value at the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio side from the second judged air-fuel ratio. The first set air-fuel ratio, the first judged air-fuel ratio and the second judged air-fuel ratio are an air-fuel ratio in the first region. The second set air-fuel ratio and the third set air-fuel ratio are an air-fuel ratio in a second region at an opposite side from the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shogo Tanaka, Kenji Inoshita, Norihisa Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10378467
    Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine is provided with a target air-fuel ratio setting part including a first setting control part performing normal control alternately switching a target air-fuel ratio between a predetermined first lean air-fuel ratio and a predetermined first rich air-fuel ratio and a second setting control part performing control for restoration of the storage amount stopping normal control and increasing the oxygen storage amount of a second catalyst when an output air-fuel ratio of a third air-fuel ratio sensor becomes a predetermined rich judgment air-fuel ratio or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Inoshita, Shuntaro Okazaki, Yuji Miyoshi
  • Publication number: 20190136778
    Abstract: An exhaust purification system of an internal combustion engine comprises an air-fuel ratio control device controlling an air-fuel ratio of the inflowing exhaust gas to a target air-fuel ratio. If a first judged condition wherein an estimated amount of change of an oxygen storage amount of the catalyst when the target air-fuel ratio is maintained at the first set air-fuel ratio is equal to or greater than a first reference amount, and a second judged condition wherein a difference of an air-fuel ratio detected by the upstream side air-fuel ratio sensor and a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio is equal to or greater than a difference of a second judged air-fuel ratio and a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio are satisfied, the air-fuel ratio control device switches the target air-fuel ratio from the first set air-fuel ratio to the second set air-fuel ratio when the first judged condition and second judged condition are satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji INOSHITA, Shogo TANAKA, Norihisa NAKAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20190128161
    Abstract: An exhaust purification system comprises an air-fuel ratio control device. If the air-fuel ratio detected by the downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor 41 reaches a second judged air-fuel ratio, the air-fuel ratio control device sets the target air-fuel ratio to a third set air-fuel ratio when the air-fuel ratio reaches the second judged air-fuel ratio, and switch the target air-fuel ratio from the third set air-fuel ratio to the second set air-fuel ratio when the air-fuel ratio becomes a value at the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio side from the second judged air-fuel ratio. The first set air-fuel ratio, the first judged air-fuel ratio and the second judged air-fuel ratio are an air-fuel ratio in the first region. The second set air-fuel ratio and the third set air-fuel ratio are an air-fuel ratio in a second region at an opposite side from the first region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shogo TANAKA, Kenji INOSHITA, Norihisa NAKAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20190120107
    Abstract: An exhaust purification system comprises a catalyst 20, an upstream side air-fuel ratio sensor 40, a downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor 41, and an air-fuel ratio control device. The air-fuel ratio control device alternately switches a target air-fuel ratio between a rich set air-fuel ratio and a lean set air-fuel ratio, calculates an oxygen storage amount and an oxygen discharge amount, updates a learning value, and corrects an air-fuel ratio-related parameter based on the learning value. The air-fuel ratio control device changes a condition for switching the target air-fuel, stores the learning value at the time when the operating state of the internal combustion engine changes from the first state to the second state as a first state value, and updates the learning value to the first state value when the operating state of the internal combustion engine returns from the second state to the first state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji INOSHITA, Shogo TANAKA, Norihisa NAKAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20180347489
    Abstract: The exhaust purification system of an internal combustion engine has: exhaust purification catalysts 20, 24 arranged in an exhaust passage and able to store oxygen; and a control device 31 for calculating an EGR rate of intake gas supplied to combustion chambers 5 and for controlling an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the catalysts. The control device alternately switches the air-fuel ratio between a rich air-fuel ratio and a lean air-fuel ratio, and controls the air-fuel ratio so that the air-fuel ratio is switched from the lean air-fuel ratio to the rich air-fuel ratio when the oxygen storage amount of the catalyst is greater, when the calculated EGR rate is relatively high, compared to when it is relatively low.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenji INOSHITA
  • Publication number: 20180340481
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine including an exhaust passage, a catalyst provided in the exhaust passage, and an electronic control unit. When the engine stop condition is established, the electronic control unit stops fuel injection and increases a catalyst inflow oxygen amount that is an amount of oxygen flowing into the catalyst by a specified oxygen increase amount. The engine stop condition is a condition for stopping operation of the internal combustion engine. The specified oxygen increase amount is larger than an increased part of the catalyst inflow oxygen amount that is increased by the stop of the fuel injection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Miwa, Koichi Kitaura, Takahiro Tsukagoshi, Kenji Inoshita, Kazuya Suzuki, Takeru Yoshida, Isao Chinzei, Kaoru Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20180202385
    Abstract: A direct injection injector injects all of fuel having an idle required fuel amount required for an idle operation and makes a port injection injector inject no fuel from a second time to a third time so that an internal combustion engine executes idle operation from second time to third time. A fuel cut operation in which the fuel is not injected from both the direct injection injector and the port injection injector is executed from third time so that operation of the internal combustion engine is stopped at or after third time. At least one of the direct injection injector and the port injection injector inject the fuel so that operation of the internal combustion engine is restarted when a predetermined engine restart condition is satisfied under a state where operation of the internal combustion engine is stopped at or after third time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji MIWA, Takahiro TSUKAGOCHI, Koichi KITAURA, Kenji INOSHITA, Takeru YOSHIDA, Isao CHINZEI
  • Publication number: 20180010539
    Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine is provided with a target air-fuel ratio setting part including a first setting control part performing normal control alternately switching a target air-fuel ratio between a predetermined first lean air-fuel ratio and a predetermined first rich air-fuel ratio and a second setting control part performing control for restoration of the storage amount stopping normal control and increasing the oxygen storage amount of a second catalyst when an output air-fuel ratio of a third air-fuel ratio sensor becomes a predetermined rich judgment air-fuel ratio or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji INOSHITA, Shuntaro OKAZAKI, Yuji MIYOSHI