Patents by Inventor Osamu MUKAIHARA

Osamu MUKAIHARA 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: 11885275
    Abstract: In abnormality determination of determining whether fuel injection has been executed normally, making an erroneous determination is prevented. A fuel injection control device 127 that controls a plurality of fuel injection valves each having a coil for energization includes a drive state detection unit 211 that detects a drive state of a fuel injection valve, from an energization current or an applied voltage of the coil of the fuel injection valve, an injection abnormality detection unit 213 that detects an injection abnormality of the fuel injection valve by comparing a fuel injection instruction with the drive state of the fuel injection valve, and an injection abnormality detection execution determining unit 212 that based on a state of an internal combustion engine, determines whether or not to permit execution of injection abnormality detection by the injection abnormality detection unit 213.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Itaba, Osamu Mukaihara
  • Patent number: 11873775
    Abstract: An injection amount variation of a plurality of fuel injection valves is reduced regardless of a state of an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Itaba, Osamu Mukaihara, Takao Miyake, Takuya Watai
  • Patent number: 11859584
    Abstract: Provided is a solenoid valve control device capable of detecting a motion of a valve body in response to a drive command without adding a special circuit. According to the present invention, a solenoid valve control device controls opening and closing of a solenoid valve in an internal combustion engine system including: a fuel pump including a plunger that that increases or decreases a volume of a pressurizing chamber by moving up and down with rotation of a pump drive cam, a solenoid valve for sucking fuel into the pressurizing chamber, and a discharge valve for discharging fuel in the pressurizing chamber; and a fuel rail (common rail) that accumulates fuel discharged by the fuel pump. The solenoid valve control device includes a control unit that determines whether or not closing of the solenoid valve has succeeded based on fuel pressure 604 of the fuel rail, or calculates a discharge amount by closing the solenoid valve based on the fuel pressure of the fuel rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Nakai, Osamu Mukaihara, Toshihiro Aono
  • Patent number: 11852093
    Abstract: Low noise control of a high-pressure fuel pump is performed by reducing noise generated by an anchor colliding with a fixing core. A control device 800 for a high-pressure fuel pump controls a suction valve that opens and closes an inflow port through which fuel flows to a pressurizing chamber by performing energization to a solenoid 205 in synchronization with a reciprocating motion of a plunger. A current energized to the solenoid 205 includes a peak current for giving a force to start closing a valve to the suction valve in a stationary state and a holding current for performing switching in a range smaller a maximum value of the peak current in order to hold the suction valve in a valve closing state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Aono, Osamu Mukaihara, Kenichiro Tokuo, Hirotaka Nakai, Kotaro Oki, Shunsuke Aritomi, Akiyasu Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 11754033
    Abstract: Provided is an ignition control device capable of suppressing wear of an ignition plug due to occurrence of a re-strike without adding a component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayasu Matsushita, Osamu Mukaihara, Kohei Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11732667
    Abstract: Appropriate detection of an abnormality of voltage information, which is a basis for correcting a fuel injection amount, becomes possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Itaba, Osamu Mukaihara, Satoshi Kojima
  • Publication number: 20230228227
    Abstract: In abnormality determination of determining whether fuel injection has been executed normally, making an erroneous determination is prevented. A fuel injection control device 127 that controls a plurality of fuel injection valves each having a coil for energization includes a drive state detection unit 211 that detects a drive state of a fuel injection valve, from an energization current or an applied voltage of the coil of the fuel injection valve, an injection abnormality detection unit 213 that detects an injection abnormality of the fuel injection valve by comparing a fuel injection instruction with the drive state of the fuel injection valve, and an injection abnormality detection execution determining unit 212 that based on a state of an internal combustion engine, determines whether or not to permit execution of injection abnormality detection by the injection abnormality detection unit 213.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Fumihiro ITABA, Osamu MUKAIHARA
  • Publication number: 20230213013
    Abstract: Provided is an ignition control device capable of suppressing wear of an ignition plug due to occurrence of a re-strike without adding a component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Takayasu MATSUSHITA, Osamu MUKAIHARA, Kohei SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20230193843
    Abstract: To provide a control device capable of calculating a cam phase equal to an actual cam angle even when a corresponding cam angle signal detection range is exceeded by changing a cam phase by a variable valve mechanism. In addition to the conventional cam angle measuring function, a cam angle measuring means for advancing or retarding beyond a cam angle measurement reference position, and a means for determining that the cam angle signal advances or retards beyond the cam angle measurement reference position are provided. By switching the cam angle measuring function according to a determination result as to whether the cam angle signal exceeds the cam angle measurement reference position, it is possible to improve the time resolution of the angle measurement while maintaining the cam phase change amount at the same wide angle as the conventional one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Kotaro OKI, Osamu MUKAIHARA
  • Publication number: 20230193867
    Abstract: Provided is a solenoid valve control device capable of detecting a motion of a valve body in response to a drive command without adding a special circuit. According to the present invention, a solenoid valve control device controls opening and closing of a solenoid valve in an internal combustion engine system including: a fuel pump including a plunger that that increases or decreases a volume of a pressurizing chamber by moving up and down with rotation of a pump drive cam, a solenoid valve for sucking fuel into the pressurizing chamber, and a discharge valve for discharging fuel in the pressurizing chamber; and a fuel rail (common rail) that accumulates fuel discharged by the fuel pump. The solenoid valve control device includes a control unit that determines whether or not closing of the solenoid valve has succeeded based on fuel pressure 604 of the fuel rail, or calculates a discharge amount by closing the solenoid valve based on the fuel pressure of the fuel rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Hirotaka NAKAI, Osamu MUKAIHARA, Toshihiro AONO
  • Publication number: 20230038318
    Abstract: Low noise control of a high-pressure fuel pump is performed by reducing noise generated by an anchor colliding with a fixing core. A control device 800 for a high-pressure fuel pump controls a suction valve that opens and closes an inflow port through which fuel flows to a pressurizing chamber by performing energization to a solenoid 205 in synchronization with a reciprocating motion of a plunger. A current energized to the solenoid 205 includes a peak current for giving a force to start closing a valve to the suction valve in a stationary state and a holding current for performing switching in a range smaller a maximum value of the peak current in order to hold the suction valve in a valve closing state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2020
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Toshihiro AONO, Osamu MUKAIHARA, Kenichiro TOKUO, Hirotaka NAKAI, Kotaro OKI, Shunsuke ARITOMI, Akiyasu MIYAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20220412282
    Abstract: An injection amount variation of a plurality of fuel injection valves is reduced regardless of a state of an engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Fumihiro ITABA, Osamu MUKAIHARA, Takao MIYAKE, Takuya WATAI
  • Patent number: 11401879
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel injection control device capable of reducing variations in injection amounts of a plurality of fuel injection valves. Thus, the fuel injection control device of the present invention includes a control unit that controls voltages applied to coils of a plurality of fuel injection valves, the coils being adapted for energization. The control unit performs control such that the voltage being applied to the coil is cut off. The control unit changes a timing at which the cutoff of the voltage to the coil of at least one fuel injection valve is started or a timing at which the cutoff of the voltage to the coil of at least one fuel injection valve is ended, based on a valve closing time until closing of the fuel injection valve is completed or a valve opening time until opening of the fuel injection valve is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Itaba, Masahiro Toyohara, Osamu Mukaihara
  • Publication number: 20220220916
    Abstract: Appropriate detection of an abnormality of voltage information, which is a basis for correcting a fuel injection amount, becomes possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Fumihiro ITABA, Osamu MUKAIHARA, Satoshi KOJIMA
  • Patent number: 11300070
    Abstract: An electromagnetic valve control unit for detecting operation of an electromagnetic valve on the basis of a drive voltage or a drive current applied to the electromagnetic valve. The electromagnetic valve control unit includes an A/D converter, a filter, and a detection unit. The A/D converter converts the drive voltage or the drive current into a digital signal. The filter has a gain of about zero at a predetermined frequency. The detection unit detects operation of the electromagnetic valve on the basis of an output of the filter upon input of the digital signal into the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Aono, Motoyuki Abe, Ryo Kusakabe, Teppei Hirotsu, Ayumu Hatanaka, Hideyuki Sakamoto, Takao Fukuda, Masahiro Toyohara, Osamu Mukaihara
  • Patent number: 11293371
    Abstract: Provided is a technique for identifying a variation in an injection amount by estimating a valve opening start timing in an extremely small injection region of a half lift region. Therefore, a fuel injection control device according to the present invention estimates a valve opening start timing of a fuel injection valve by referring to a characteristic of a reference fuel injection valve acquired in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Kotaro Oki, Osamu Mukaihara, Fumihiro Itaba, Akira Iizuka
  • Patent number: 11236697
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high-efficiency and highly-reliable fuel injection control device that controls a fuel injection valve of an internal combustion engine and can perform injection amount control in accordance with a deterioration degree of the fuel injection valve. A fuel injection control device controlling a fuel injection valve of an internal combustion engine includes a deterioration determination unit that determines a deterioration state of the fuel injection valve, an injection amount learning unit that learns the injection amount of the fuel injection valve, and a learning frequency change unit that changes the learning frequency of the injection amount learning unit in accordance with the deterioration state of the fuel injection valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Itaba, Osamu Mukaihara, Akira Iizuka
  • Publication number: 20220010747
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel injection control device capable of reducing variations in injection amounts of a plurality of fuel injection valves. Thus, the fuel injection control device of the present invention includes a control unit that controls voltages applied to coils of a plurality of fuel injection valves, the coils being adapted for energization. The control unit performs control such that the voltage being applied to the coil is cut off. The control unit changes a timing at which the cutoff of the voltage to the coil of at least one fuel injection valve is started or a timing at which the cutoff of the voltage to the coil of at least one fuel injection valve is ended, based on a valve closing time until closing of the fuel injection valve is completed or a valve opening time until opening of the fuel injection valve is completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Fumihiro ITABA, Masahiro TOYOHARA, Osamu MUKAIHARA
  • Patent number: 11215133
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel injection control apparatus that can suppress variations in fuel injection amounts in a very small fuel injection region. For this purpose, the fuel injection control apparatus includes a fixed injection pulse generator 10 and a drive current interruption unit 31. The fixed injection pulse generator 10 generates a fixed injection pulse having a valve opening timing at which a drive current is supplied to an electromagnetic coil 19 in an electromagnetic fuel injection valve 18 and a first valve closing timing at which the drive current to the electromagnetic coil 19 is interrupted. Within a period in which the fixed injection pulse is generated, the drive current interruption unit 31 determines an electric energy amount of a drive current supplied to the electromagnetic coil in response to a valve opening timing of the fixed injection pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kotaro Oki, Osamu Mukaihara
  • Patent number: 11193442
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel injection control device capable of detecting individual differences in fuel injection valves and appropriately collecting information on the individual differences. For this reason, the fuel injection control device includes a fuel injection valve drive circuit that supplies a current or a voltage to a coil of a fuel injection valve to drive the fuel injection valve, a valve body operation time period detection unit that detects a valve body operation time period related to an operation of a valve body of the fuel injection valve, and a state determination unit that determines that at least one of the fuel injection valve, the valve body operation time period detection unit, and the fuel injection valve drive circuit is abnormal based on information related to a valve body operation time period detected by the valve body operation time period detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Itaba, Osamu Mukaihara