Patents by Inventor Masashi Inaba

Masashi Inaba 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: 11835006
    Abstract: An energization control unit is configured to perform a constant current control by repeatedly switching between an on-state and an off-state of at least one upstream switch provided in an energization path of a coil of a fuel injection valve to control opening of the fuel injection valve in a drive period in which the coil is energized to drive the fuel injection valve. A current detection unit is configured to detect a coil current flowing through the coil. A valve-opening detection unit is configured to detect valve-opening timing of the fuel injection valve based on a change in at least one frequency spectrum of the coil current in a constant current control period in which the constant current control is performed. A valve-opening correction unit is configured to correct valve opening of the fuel injection valve based on a detection result of the valve-opening detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Inaba, Tomoki Fujino
  • Patent number: 11808228
    Abstract: An injection control device includes: a boost controller charging a boost capacitor by performing a boost switching control of a boost switch, and supplying a boost power from a battery power source; and a boost voltage monitor monitors a boost voltage. The boost controller measures a number of times of when the boost voltage becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined value due to a boost current flowing into the boost capacitor, causing a jump of the boost voltage during a time between a start and stop of boosting, and determines deterioration of the boost capacitor by comparing the measured number of times (i.e., the number of jumps) with a predetermined number of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masashi Inaba
  • Patent number: 11754011
    Abstract: An injection control device includes: a boost controller performing a boost switching control of a boost switch to charge a boost capacitor and supplying a boost power from a battery power supply; a boost voltage monitor monitoring the boost voltage; and a boost monitor timing controller setting a section from a predetermined time after an on-edge of the boost switch to an off-edge timing in a section monitor mode as a boost monitor section. The boost controller stops boosting by stopping the boost switching control when the boost voltage is equal to or higher than a boost stop threshold value in the boost monitor section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Inaba, Yusuke Shimizu, Hiroki Kakui
  • Patent number: 11703008
    Abstract: An injection control device includes: a boost controller charging a boost capacitor by performing a boost switching control of a boost switch, and supplying a boost power from a battery power source; and a boost voltage monitor monitors a boost voltage. The boost controller measures a number of times of when the boost voltage becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined value due to a boost current flowing into the boost capacitor, causing a jump of the boost voltage during a time between a start and stop of boosting, and determines deterioration of the boost capacitor by comparing the measured number of times (i.e., the number of jumps) with a predetermined number of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masashi Inaba
  • Patent number: 11591982
    Abstract: A first switch designates one of energization instruction signals to designate a valve closing detection cylinder. A valve closing detection unit monitors downstream voltages of the fuel injection valves to detect occurrence of an inflection point in change of the downstream voltages and detects valve closing. A second switch designates one of the downstream voltages and designates the valve closing detection cylinder. A stage number designation unit designates a valve closing detection stage number. A valve closing time measuring unit measures a valve closing time, which is from a switching timing at which the energization instruction signal is switched from ON to OFF to a valve closing detection timing of the valve closing, for injection of the valve closing detection stage number of the valve closing detection cylinder. A valve closing time learning unit learns the valve closing time measured by the valve closing time measuring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masashi Inaba
  • Patent number: 11585306
    Abstract: An injection control device includes an injector and a detection unit. The injector includes: an injection hole; a movable part; a seat portion; a valve housing; a magnetic field application unit; and a detection sensor. The movable part opens and closes the injection hole by reciprocal movement. The seat portion when seated by the movable part closes the injection hole, and when the movable part lifted therefrom opens the injection hole. The valve housing accommodates the movable part in a reciprocally movable manner. The magnetic field application unit is installed on an outer circumference of the valve housing and applies a magnetic field to the movable part and the valve housing. The detection sensor outputs a detection signal according to a size of a distance between the valve housing and the movable part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masashi Inaba
  • Patent number: 11525418
    Abstract: An injection control device executes a current-drive of a fuel injection valve to inject fuel into an engine. The injection control device includes: a drive controller that controls energization by correcting an energization instruction time when injecting the fuel by executing the current-drive of the fuel injection valve; an estimated energization time correction amount calculation unit that calculates an estimated energization time correction amount; and a deterioration determination unit that determines deterioration of the charging capacitor based on a calculated estimated energization time correction amount and the energization time correction amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xinyu Guo, Masashi Inaba
  • Patent number: 11454185
    Abstract: An injection control device includes a boost controller performing boost control of a boosted voltage generated by a booster circuit until a boosted voltage, which is generated in a boost capacitor, rises to a full-charge threshold when the boosted voltage falls below a charge start threshold. When a power interruption controller interrupts electric current supplied to the fuel injection valve by the drive unit, a regeneration unit regenerates electric current generated in the fuel injection valve to the boost capacitor of the booster circuit. The boost controller stops the boost control of the booster circuit when at least the electric current is regenerated by the regeneration unit to the boost capacitor of the booster circuit after the interruption control by the power interruption controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Shirakawa, Masashi Inaba
  • Patent number: 11448154
    Abstract: An injection control device of capable of correcting an energization time even in an S/N non-guaranteeable situation includes: an energization controller calculating an energization time correction amount based on an area correction performed by an energization time correction amount calculator regarding electric current flowing in a fuel injection valve when the fuel injection valve is electrically driven for injecting fuel; and an energization instruction time calculator correcting an energization instruction time for fuel injection in a next cycle and thereafter by using the energization instruction time correction amounts in or before a current cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yohei Suganuma, Masashi Inaba
  • Patent number: 11441505
    Abstract: An injection control device includes a boost controller performing boost control of a boosted voltage generated by a booster circuit until a boosted voltage, which is generated in a boost capacitor, rises to a full-charge threshold when the boosted voltage falls below a charge start threshold. When, for stopping a peak current by a drive unit, a power interruption controller interrupts electric current supplied to the fuel injection valve by the drive unit as interruption control (i) of an application voltage to a fuel injection valve or (ii) of a constant current by the drive unit, a regeneration unit regenerates electric current generated in the fuel injection valve to the boost capacitor of the booster circuit. The boost controller upward-shifts (i.e., raises) the full-charge threshold of the booster circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Shirakawa, Masashi Inaba
  • Publication number: 20220275765
    Abstract: An energization control unit is configured to perform a constant current control by repeatedly switching between an on-state and an off-state of at least one upstream switch provided in an energization path of a coil of a fuel injection valve to control opening of the fuel injection valve in a drive period in which the coil is energized to drive the fuel injection valve. A current detection unit is configured to detect a coil current flowing through the coil. A valve-opening detection unit is configured to detect valve-opening timing of the fuel injection valve based on a change in at least one frequency spectrum of the coil current in a constant current control period in which the constant current control is performed. A valve-opening correction unit is configured to correct valve opening of the fuel injection valve based on a detection result of the valve-opening detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Masashi INABA, Tomoki FUJINO
  • Patent number: 11421620
    Abstract: An injection control device includes: an area correction unit that calculates an energization time correction amount when executing a current drive of the fuel injection valve to inject a fuel from the fuel injection valve; an estimation unit that independently calculates an estimated energization time correction amount; a comparison unit that compares the energization time correction amount c with the estimated energization time correction amount; and a first abnormality determination unit that determines that the energization time correction amount is abnormal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Shirakawa, Masashi Inaba, Hiroyuki Fukuda
  • Patent number: 11421617
    Abstract: An injection control device includes a boost controller performing boost control of a boosted voltage until a boosted voltage, which is generated in a boost capacitor, rises to a full-charge threshold when the boosted voltage falls below a charge start threshold. A drive unit supplies electric current to a fuel injection valve from a start timing t1 of an injection instruction period. A power interruption controller interrupts electric current supplied to the fuel injection valve by the drive unit. A regeneration unit regenerates electric current generated in the fuel injection valve which is caused by interruption control by the power interruption controller to the boost capacitor of the booster circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Shirakawa, Masashi Inaba
  • Patent number: 11401880
    Abstract: When injecting fuel from a fuel injection valve by energizing thereof, an energization time correction amount calculator performs an area correction of an electric current flowing in the fuel injection valve, and calculates an energization time correction amount. An injection instruction state determiner determines an inter-cylinder injection instruction interval among cylinders which inject fuel in series or determines an injection instruction overlapping state. An upper guard value setter sets an upper guard value of the energization time correction amount based on the inter-cylinder injection instruction state determined by the injection instruction state determiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouyou Yoshikawa, Masashi Inaba
  • Patent number: 11384704
    Abstract: An injection control device includes: a conversion coefficient setter setting a conversion coefficient for each injection when a fuel injection valve is driven by an electric current to inject fuel from the fuel injection valve; and an area correction unit calculating an energization time correction amount by performing area correction using the conversion coefficient for each injection regardless of whether a drive current of the fuel injection valve has reached a target peak current or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yohei Suganuma, Ryohei Takahashi, Hiroyuki Fukuda, Masashi Inaba
  • Patent number: 11371458
    Abstract: An injection control device has a current supply controller controlling a supply of an electric current for opening and closing a fuel injection valve, a current monitor monitoring the electric current supplied to the valve, and a boost controller performing a boost voltage generation control that generates a boost voltage from a power supply voltage by a tuning ON/OFF of a switching element for supplying a peak current to open the valve. When the current supply controller supplies the peak current to the fuel injection valve, the boost controller stops the boost voltage generation control in a stop period that includes a timing when an electric current supply amount takes a threshold value of the peak current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masashi Inaba
  • Publication number: 20220186699
    Abstract: An injection control device includes an injector and a detection unit. The injector includes: an injection hole; a movable part; a seat portion; a valve housing; a magnetic field application unit; and a detection sensor. The movable part opens and closes the injection hole by reciprocal movement. The seat portion when seated by the movable part closes the injection hole, and when the movable part lifted therefrom opens the injection hole. The valve housing accommodates the movable part in a reciprocally movable manner. The magnetic field application unit is installed on an outer circumference of the valve housing and applies a magnetic field to the movable part and the valve housing. The detection sensor outputs a detection signal according to a size of a distance between the valve housing and the movable part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventor: Masashi INABA
  • Patent number: 11326537
    Abstract: An injection control device includes: an area correction unit that calculates an energization time correction amount when executing a current drive of a fuel injection valve to inject a fuel from the fuel injection valve; a charging circuit that applies an electric power from the charging unit to the fuel injection valve; and a charge amount determination unit for determining the charge amount of the charging unit. The area correction unit changes the area correction control based on a determination result of the charge amount determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuuta Katou, Kosuke Kato, Masashi Inaba
  • Patent number: 11255286
    Abstract: An injection control device includes: an area correction unit that calculates an energization time correction amount by performing area correction of a current flowing through a fuel injection valve when executing a current drive of a fuel injection valve to inject a fuel from the fuel injection valve in a multi-stage injection; and a change unit that changes an upper limit guard value of the energization time correction amount according to an injection time of the multi-stage injection during control of the multi-stage injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasumasa Ishikawa, Masashi Inaba, Kosuke Kato
  • Patent number: 11225925
    Abstract: An injection control device controls the opening and closing of a fuel injection valve by performing peak current drive and constant current drive with respect to the fuel injection valve and controls injection of fuel from the fuel injection valve to an internal combustion engine. The injection control device includes an energization control unit that performs constant current switching control of an energization current to the fuel injection valve. The energization control unit is configured to, when the energization current to the fuel injection valve is to be stopped, controls an energization stop timing of the energization current such that a flyback period is equal to a first predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masashi Inaba