Patents by Inventor Manabu Niki

Manabu Niki 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: 7146958
    Abstract: An object is to improve fuel consumption efficiency. Accordingly, a fuel gradual addition delay time when starting (engine water temperature) TMKSTDLYT which changes in a decreasing trend with an increase in the engine water temperature is set (step S10). A fuel gradual addition delay time when starting (state of charge)TMKSTDLYQ which changes in an increasing trend with an increase in the state of charge QBAT is set (step S12 and S14). A fuel gradual addition delay time when starting (vehicle speed) TMKSTDLYV which changes in a decreasing trend with an increase in vehicle speed VP is set (step S13 and S15). Then the greatest value of; the fuel gradual addition delay time when starting (engine water temperature)TMKSTDLYT, the fuel gradual addition delay time when starting (state of charge)TMKSTDLYQ, and the fuel gradual addition delay time when starting (vehicle speed) TMKSTDLYV is set as a fuel gradual addition delay time when starting TMKSTDLY (step S16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanobu Asakawa, Manabu Niki, Kohei Hanada, Minoru Suzuki, Teruo Wakashiro
  • Patent number: 7104244
    Abstract: A control system for a variable-cylinder internal combustion engine, which is capable of attaining excellent fuel economy by executing a partial-cylinder operation mode as long as possible, while suppressing vibration and noise during the partial-cylinder operation mode. A control system switches the operation mode of a variable-cylinder internal combustion engine between an all-cylinder operation mode in which all of a plurality of cylinders (#1 to #3, and #4 to #6) are put in operation, and a partial-cylinder operation mode in which some (#1 to #3) of the plurality of cylinders are deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Nishi, Masanobu Asakawa, Toshitaka Hachiro, Manabu Niki
  • Patent number: 7099757
    Abstract: An FI/AT/MGECU, in a cylinders deactivation operating state during cruise control where the vehicle speed follows a predetermined target speed, regulates renewal on an addition side of a power plant required torque final value TQPPRQF, and in a case where a flag value of a torque hold flag F_CCKTQS showing to hold the power plant required torque final value TQPPRQF to a predetermined torque value related to a cylinder deactivation upper limit torque TQACS is a “1” (YES side in step S33), when the vehicle speed VP is decreased less than a value obtained by subtracting from a set vehicle speed VC which is the target vehicle speed during cruise control, a predetermined vehicle speed #?V (for example, #?V=3 km/h or the like) (YES side in step S35), the internal-combustion engine E is switched from a cylinders deactivation operation to an all cylinders operation. The fuel consumption efficiency is thus improved while keeping occupants in the vehicle from feeling discomfort with respect to travelling behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Niki, Masanobu Asakawa, Kohei Hanada, Minoru Suzuki, Teruo Wakashiro, Takahiro Yonekura, Naoto Sen
  • Patent number: 7074157
    Abstract: A motor charge-discharge torque limit correction coefficient for during cylinder deactivation enlargement assistance, which changes with an increasing trend according to an increase in a regeneration/assistance integrated residual amount which is an integrated value of the energy amount obtained during deceleration regeneration of vehicle, that is a correction coefficient which corrects to decrease an energy management discharge torque limit which is an upper limit value of motor torque set according to for example, an energy state in high voltage electrical equipment and an operating state of the vehicle, when assisting the output from the internal-combustion engine by the motor, is calculated. A value obtained by correcting the energy management discharge torque limit is set to an energy management discharge torque limit for cylinder deactivation enlargement assistance, and a cylinder deactivation upper limit ENG torque is added so as to calculate a cylinder deactivation upper limit torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruo Wakashiro, Masanobu Asakawa, Kohei Hanada, Manabu Niki, Toshitaka Hachiro, Tomohiro Nishi
  • Patent number: 7059435
    Abstract: An object is to improve fuel consumption efficiency while maintaining a desired driving force. Accordingly, in a case where an assisting possibility of a motor M is increased accompanying a relatively high state of charge SOC of a battery (YES side in step S02), and moreover in a case where a required torque TQAPCC is less than a predetermined value (NO side in step S03 or YES side in step S04), a “1” is set to a flag value of an LC_ON assistance flag F_LCOAST, and in a region for an accelerator pedal opening AP, and a vehicle speed VP, a region which maintains an LC_ON state where a lock-up clutch 21 is in an engaged state is enlarged compared to for a normal state where the flag value of the LC_ON assistance flag F_LCOAST is “0”. In the LC_ON region enlarging state, it is determined whether or not it is possible to shift to the normal state, according to the state of charge SOC and the required torque TQAPCC (step S07 to step S09).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Niki, Masanobu Asakawa, Kohei Hanada, Minoru Suzuki, Toshitaka Hachiro, Kazuhiko Kitano
  • Publication number: 20060107919
    Abstract: A control system for a variable-cylinder internal combustion engine, which is capable of attaining excellent fuel economy by executing a partial-cylinder operation mode as long as possible, while suppressing vibration and noise during the partial-cylinder operation mode. A control system switches the operation mode of a variable-cylinder internal combustion engine between an all-cylinder operation mode in which all of a plurality of cylinders (#1 to #3, and #4 to #6) are put in operation, and a partial-cylinder operation mode in which some (#1 to #3) of the plurality of cylinders are deactivated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Nishi, Masanobu Asakawa, Toshitaka Hachiro, Manabu Niki
  • Patent number: 6966803
    Abstract: In a control device of a hybrid vehicle provided with an engine and a propulsion motor, at least one of which is used for driving the hybrid vehicle and a high voltage battery which power is charged and discharged by driving or regeneration operation of a propulsion motor, the control device comprises a throttle opening control device which controls an opening of a throttle depending on an accelerator pedal operating amount, and when the current driving speed of the vehicle at zero, and either the temperature of the high voltage battery is lower than a specified value, or the internal resistance of the high voltage battery is greater than a specified value, or an increase in a rotation speed of the propulsion motor or the rotation speed of the engine 3 is greater than a specified value, or a change amount of the input/output power voltage of the high voltage battery is greater than a specified value, or a change amount of the accelerator pedal operating amount is greater than a specified value, delays the res
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hara, Manabu Niki, Kohei Hanada, Koichiro Takemasa
  • Patent number: 6915782
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle which comprises an internal-combustion engine and a motor as a power source, and connects at least one of the internal-combustion engine and the motor to driving wheels of the vehicle through a transmission so as to transmit a driving force to the driving wheels, comprises: a target torque setting device which sets a target torque with respect to a crank end torque, which is a torque at the end of a crank shaft, of the power plant torque output from the power plant being the internal combustion engine and the motor, based on a change of accelerator pedal opening from fully opened to fully closed; and a torque allocation device which allocates the target torque corresponding to the accelerator pedal opening, to an engine torque instruction, being a required value with respect to the output torque from the internal combustion engine, and to a motor torque instruction, being a required value with respect to the output torque from the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Hanada, Manabu Niki, Masanobu Asakawa, Minoru Suzuki, Teruo Wakashiro, Tomohiro Nishi, Takahiro Yonekura
  • Patent number: 6892128
    Abstract: An FI/AT/MGECU in a control unit calculates an EV travel capable battery terminal discharge power which is the dischargeable power from a battery during EV travel which is travel under the driving force from the motor, according to a state of charge of the battery and a vehicle travelling speed. Based on the calculated EV travel capable battery terminal discharge power and a predetermined limit value, an energy management charge-discharge required battery terminal power is calculated. Then an energy management charge-discharge required torque corresponding to the energy management charge-discharge required battery terminal power, that is the motor torque capable of being output, is calculated based on; a predetermined PDU-MOT overall efficiency efima which is the conversion efficiency of the electric power and the motive power between the power drive unit and the motor, a rotation frequency of the motor, and a predetermined torque limit value for protecting the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanobu Asakawa, Manabu Niki, Kohei Hanada, Minoru Suzuki, Teruo Wakashiro
  • Publication number: 20050014602
    Abstract: In a control device of a hybrid vehicle provided with an engine and a propulsion motor, at least one of which is used for driving the hybrid vehicle and a high voltage battery which power is charged and discharged by driving or regeneration operation of a propulsion motor, the control device comprises a throttle opening control device which controls an opening of a throttle depending on an accelerator pedal operating amount, and when the current driving speed of the vehicle at zero, and either the temperature of the high voltage battery is lower than a specified value, or the internal resistance of the high voltage battery is greater than a specified value, or an increase in a rotation speed of the propulsion motor or the rotation speed of the engine 3 is greater than a specified value, or a change amount of the input/output power voltage of the high voltage battery is greater than a specified value, or a change amount of the accelerator pedal operating amount is greater than a specified value, delays the res
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Publication date: January 20, 2005
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hara, Manabu Niki, Kohei Hanada, Koichiro Takemasa
  • Publication number: 20050003926
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle which comprises an internal-combustion engine and a motor as a power source, and connects at least one of the internal-combustion engine and the motor to driving wheels of the vehicle through a transmission so as to transmit a driving force to the driving wheels, comprises: a target torque setting device which sets a target torque with respect to a crank end torque, which is a torque at the end of a crank shaft, of the power plant torque output from the power plant being the internal combustion engine and the motor, based on a change of accelerator pedal opening from fully opened to fully closed; and a torque allocation device which allocates the target torque corresponding to the accelerator pedal opening, to an engine torque instruction, being a required value with respect to the output torque from the internal combustion engine, and to a motor torque instruction, being a required value with respect to the output torque from the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventors: Kohei Hanada, Manabu Niki, Masanobu Asakawa, Minoru Suzuki, Teruo Wakashiro, Tomohiro Nishi, Takahiro Yonekura
  • Publication number: 20050000481
    Abstract: An object is to improve fuel consumption efficiency. Accordingly, a fuel gradual addition delay time when starting (engine water temperature) TMKSTDLYT which changes in a decreasing trend with an increase in the engine water temperature is set (step S10). A fuel gradual addition delay time when starting (state of charge) TMKSTDLYQ which changes in an increasing trend with an increase in the state of charge QBAT is set (step S12 and S14). A fuel gradual addition delay time when starting (vehicle speed) TMKSTDLYV which changes in a decreasing trend with an increase in vehicle speed VP is set (step S13 and S15). Then the greatest value of; the fuel gradual addition delay time when starting (engine water temperature) TMKSTDLYT, the fuel gradual addition delay time when starting (state of charge) TMKSTDLYQ, and the fuel gradual addition delay time when starting (vehicle speed) TMKSTDLYV is set as a fuel gradual addition delay time when starting TMKSTDLY (step S16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventors: Masanobu Asakawa, Manabu Niki, Kohei Hanada, Minoru Suzuki, Teruo Wakashiro
  • Publication number: 20050003927
    Abstract: An FI/AT/MGECU in a control unit calculates an EV travel capable battery terminal discharge power which is the dischargeable power from a battery during EV travel which is travel under the driving force from the motor, according to a state of charge of the battery and a vehicle travelling speed. Based on the calculated EV travel capable battery terminal discharge power and a predetermined limit value, an energy management charge-discharge required battery terminal power is calculated. Then an energy management charge-discharge required torque corresponding to the energy management charge-discharge required battery terminal power, that is the motor torque capable of being output, is calculated based on; a predetermined PDU-MOT overall efficiency efima which is the conversion efficiency of the electric power and the motive power between the power drive unit and the motor, a rotation frequency of the motor, and a predetermined torque limit value for protecting the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventors: Masanobu Asakawa, Manabu Niki, Kohei Hanada, Minoru Suzuki, Teruo Wakashiro
  • Publication number: 20050000479
    Abstract: An FI/AT/MGECU, in a cylinders deactivation operating state during cruise control where the vehicle speed follows a predetermined target speed, regulates renewal on an addition side of a power plant required torque final value TQPPRQF, and in a case where a flag value of a torque hold flag F_CCKTQS showing to hold the power plant required torque final value TQPPRQF to a predetermined torque value related to a cylinder deactivation upper limit torque TQACS is a “1” (YES side in step S33), when the vehicle speed VP is decreased less than a value obtained by subtracting from a set vehicle speed VC which it the target vehicle speed during cruise control, a predetermined vehicle speed #?V (for example, #?V=3 km/h or the like) (YES side in step S35), the internal-combustion engine E is switched from a cylinders deactivation operation to an all cylinders operation. The fuel consumption efficiency is thus improved while keeping occupants in the vehicle from feeling discomfort with respect to travelling behavior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventors: Manabu Niki, Masanobu Asakawa, Kohei Hanada, Minoru Suzuki, Teruo Wakashiro, Takahiro Yonekura, Naoto Sen
  • Publication number: 20050003928
    Abstract: t An object is to improve fuel consumption efficiency while maintaining a desired driving force. Accordingly, in a case where an assisting possibility of a motor M is increased accompanying a relatively high state of charge SOC of a battery (YES side in step S02), and moreover in a case where a required torque TQAPCC is less than a predetermined value (NO side in step S03 or YES side in step S04), a “1” is set to a flag value of an LC_ON assistance flag F_LCOAST, and in a region for an accelerator pedal opening AP, and a vehicle speed VP, a region which maintains an LC_ON state where a lock-up clutch 21 is in an engaged state is enlarged compared to for a normal state where the flag value of the LC_ON assistance flag F_LCOAST is “0”. In the LC_ON region enlarging state, it is determined whether or not it is possible to shift to the normal state, according to the state of charge SOC and the required torque TQAPCC (step S07 to step S09).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventors: Manabu Niki, Masanobu Asakawa, Kohei Hanada, Minoru Suzuki, Toshitaka Hachiro, Kazuhiko Kitano
  • Publication number: 20050003925
    Abstract: A motor charge-discharge torque limit correction coefficient for during cylinder deactivation enlargement assistance, which changes with an increasing trend according to an increase in a regeneration/assistance integrated residual amount which is an integrated value of the energy amount obtained during deceleration regeneration of vehicle, that is a correction coefficient which corrects to decrease an energy management discharge torque limit which is an upper limit value of motor torque set according to for example, an energy state in high voltage electrical equipment and an operating state of the vehicle, when assisting the output from the internal-combustion engine by the motor, is calculated. A value obtained by correcting the energy management discharge torque limit is set to an energy management discharge torque limit for cylinder deactivation enlargement assistance, and a cylinder deactivation upper limit ENG torque is added so as to calculate a cylinder deactivation upper limit torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventors: Teruo Wakashiro, Masanobu Asakawa, Kohei Hanada, Manabu Niki, Toshitaka Hachiro, Tomohiro Nishi
  • Patent number: 6769401
    Abstract: There is provided a power output control system for an internal combustion engine, which enables the vehicle to smoothly perform refuge travel to find a place to park when an electric throttle control device becomes incapable of controlling a throttle valve, while ensuring adequate traveling performance. An ECU determines whether or not the electric throttle control device is incapable of controlling the throttle valve, and interrupts energization of the electric throttle control device when it is determined that the electric throttle control device is incapable of controlling the throttle valve. At this time, the opening of the throttle valve is held at the default opening degree by a spring. Further, basic ignition timing is calculated according to the engine rotational speed and load on the engine, and ignition timing of the engine is determined by correcting the calculated basic ignition timing according to the amount of operation of the accelerator pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yosuke Tachibana, Norio Suzuki, Manabu Niki
  • Patent number: 6733418
    Abstract: There is provided a control system for a vehicle, which enables the vehicle to smoothly travel only to find a place to park when an electric throttle control device is in a condition incapable of controlling a throttle valve, thereby improving drivability. An ECU determines whether or not the electric throttle control device is in the condition incapable of controlling the throttle valve, and interrupts energization of the electric throttle control device when it is determined that the electric throttle control device is in the condition incapable of controlling the throttle valve. The throttle valve is held at a default opening position by a spring when the electric throttle control device is determined to be in the condition incapable of controlling the throttle valve. A throttle valve opening sensor detects a degree of opening of the throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yosuke Tachibana, Norio Suzuki, Manabu Niki
  • Patent number: 6729304
    Abstract: A fuel injection control system including an ECU, for an internal combustion engine which is capable of changing a valve overlap period by changing a cam phase. The ECU calculates a cam phase difference between the present value and the immediately preceding value of the cam phase (amount of change in the valve overlap period), calculates a wall surface temperature of intake ports, and sets a basic fuel injection time period based on an intake pipe absolute pressure and an engine rotational speed. The ECU also calculates a final fuel injection time period by correcting the basic fuel injection time period according to the cam phase difference and wall surface temperature of the intake ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuuji Fujiki, Manabu Niki, Osamu Takizawa
  • Patent number: 6701891
    Abstract: There is provided a throttle control system and method for an internal combustion engine as well as an engine control unit, which are capable of controlling a throttle valve without any trouble even when the throttle valve is frozen. The throttle control system controls the degree of opening of the throttle valve. The opening of the throttle valve detected during control of the throttle valve to a fully-closed position at a start of the engine is set to a smallest angle. A temperature of the throttle valve is detected. A lower limit value of the target degree of opening is set to a degree of opening larger than the detected smallest angle of the throttle valve, when the detected smallest angle is larger than a predetermined degree of opening and at the same time the detected temperature of the throttle valve is lower than a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Niki, Eisei Yamazaki, Manabu Sekine, Takeru Tajima, Yasuo Takagi