Patents by Inventor Shinichi Soejima

Shinichi Soejima 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: 8000881
    Abstract: The present invention provides an internal combustion engine control device which is capable of implementing a plurality of functions desired to the internal combustion engine. An adder unit determines a total energy E_total that should be generated by the engine by adding a target work, a target exhaust energy and cooling heat loss, which are calculated in a style of energy. A target fuel supply quantity calculation unit calculates a target fuel supply quantity necessary for generating the E_total. A target intake quantity calculating unit calculates a target intake quantity based on the target fuel supply quantity and a target A/F. A target ignition timing calculation unit calculates a target ignition timing necessary for realizing the target exhaust energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Soejima, Keisuke Kawai, Hiroyuki Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20110191009
    Abstract: To balance between air-fuel ratio controllability and torque response performance in a control device for an internal combustion engine performing a throttle delay control. An air quantity requirement is calculated based on torque required of an internal combustion engine. A throttle opening for achieving the air quantity requirement is calculated by using an inverse model of an intake system model that models response of a cylinder intake air quantity relative to an operation of a throttle. A throttle opening delayed by a predetermined delay time Td is outputted as an operation amount to the throttle. When, however, there is no allowance for introducing the delay time Td between the response time of the cylinder intake air quantity to a throttle operation to be achieved at a current engine speed and a torque response time requirement, the delay processing of the throttle opening is restricted by, for example, making the delay time Td zero or shortening the delay time Td.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: 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: 20110126803
    Abstract: A control device for a spark-ignition internal combustion engine that sets ignition timing based on a target value of a predetermined combustion-related parameter correlated with a combustion state and operates an ignition device in accordance with the ignition timing thus set. The control device calculates an actual value of the combustion-related parameter from an output value of the cylinder pressure sensor and feeds back the calculated value of the combustion-related parameter to the setting of ignition timing. Further, in parallel with the above processing, the control device calculates a value of a predetermined combustion variation parameter correlated with the magnitude of combustion variation from the output value of the cylinder pressure sensor. If the calculated value of the combustion variation parameter deviates from an allowable range of the combustion variation, the control device stops the feedback of the calculated value of the combustion-related parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi Soejima, Naoto Kato, Kiyonori Takahashi
  • 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: 20110087421
    Abstract: A control device for an internal-combustion engine designed to ensure that required responsiveness is obtained as actual torque responsiveness with respect to a torque demand even when the torque responsiveness with respect to the actuation of a particular actuator is affected by the operating conditions. A response compensating filter is provided at a preceding stage to an air inverse model, and the target torque which has been corrected by the response compensating filter is converted by the air inverse model to obtain a target opening degree of a throttle. A time constant of the response compensating filter is set on the basis of the operating conditions of the internal-combustion engine so that the responsiveness of actual torque with respect to the torque demand reaches a preset standard responsiveness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi Soejima, Ken Koibuchi, Hirotada Otake, Keisuke Kawai
  • Publication number: 20110082629
    Abstract: In a vehicle control apparatus controlling a vehicle operating state by using a torque generated by an internal combustion engine, an arrangement is made to inhibit fuel efficiency from being aggravated as a result of ignition timing of the internal combustion engine being retarded. The vehicle control apparatus includes a drive system control unit that comprehensively controls a drive system of the vehicle and an engine control unit that controls the internal combustion engine based on demanded torque issued from the drive system control unit. The engine control unit adjusts an amount of intake air based on the demanded torque and adjusts ignition timing so as to compensate for any deviation between torque achievable through an adjustment of the amount of intake air and the demanded torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi Soejima, Naoto Kato, Kiyonori Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20110071747
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a control device for a spark-ignition internal combustion engine provided with a cylinder pressure sensor and aims to facilitate optimal control of a combustion state even in a situation where an operating condition is variable. A predetermined combustion-related parameter whose value is uniquely determined by behavior of a change in cylinder pressure relative to a crank angle is used as a control value. Ignition timing is calculated based on the control value in accordance with a calculation rule determined according to a current or target operating condition of the internal combustion engine. The control value resulting from calculation based on a target value of a predetermined physical quantity relating to torque of the internal combustion engine in accordance with a predetermined calculation rule is used as a base value and is corrected by feeding back an output value of the cylinder pressure sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoto Kato, Shinichi Soejima, Kiyonori Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20110022288
    Abstract: A control device that is used with an internal combustion engine to improve both the response and controllability of torque generated by the internal combustion engine. The control device calculates an operation amount of an intake actuator in accordance with a demanded air amount. The control device then calculates a torque that is generated when the intake actuator is operated by the calculated operation amount at a predetermined ignition timing setting, and calculates an ignition timing retard amount that is necessary to achieve a demanded torque in accordance with the difference between the calculated torque and the demanded torque. The control device ensures that the demanded torque and a demanded efficiency are both reflected in the demanded air amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi Soejima, Naoto Kato, Keisuke Kawai
  • 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: 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: 20100211294
    Abstract: The present invention provides a control device that is used with an internal combustion engine and capable of achieving a target torque with high accuracy and without being affected by EGR. A target torque setup device sets a target torque for the internal combustion engine. A target EGR rate setup device sets a target EGR rate. A target torque correction device and calculates a correction factor for correcting the influence of EGR on torque in accordance with the target EGR rate and an air amount, and corrects the target torque with the correction factor. A target air amount calculation device calculates a target air amount from the corrected target torque. A controller controls the operations of a plurality of actuators for adjusting an in-cylinder air amount and EGR rate in accordance with the target air amount calculated from the corrected target torque and with the target EGR rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinichi Soejima
  • 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: 20100095931
    Abstract: A first arbitration unit determines one demand engine torque of static demand engine torques set in a power train driver model and an ECT torque control system. The demand engine torque determined by the first arbitration unit is converted into dynamic demand engine torque by a conversion unit. A second arbitration unit determines demand engine torque for use in control of an engine from among the dynamic demand engine torque converted from the static demand engine torque by the conversion unit, dynamic demand engine torque set by a VDIM system, and dynamic demand engine torque set by a vibration suppression control system. An engine control system controls the engine according to the demand engine torque determined by the second arbitration unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiya Oishi, Seiji Kuwahara, Shinichi Soejima, Ken Koibuchi
  • Publication number: 20100071658
    Abstract: In a V-type six-cylinder engine, turbo-superchargers are provided for compressing intake air and feeding the compressed air into combustion chambers, and an ECU is operable to switch the combustion mode from a non-supercharged stoichiometric combustion mode to a supercharged lean combustion mode, depending on the engine operating conditions. When switching from the non-supercharged stoichiometric combustion mode to the supercharged lean combustion mode, the ECU retards the ignition timing, and keeps the retard amount of the ignition timing at a constant value if the increasing actual boost pressure becomes equal to or higher than a pre-set target boost pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Soejima, Yasuyuki Irisawa, Shinichiro Nogawa
  • Publication number: 20100047133
    Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide an exhaust gas purifying apparatus for an internal combustion engine capable of obtaining accurate temperature information relating to a catalyst placed in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine. The degree of influence emthc of a catalyst inlet gas temperature and catalyst rear end temperature ethuf[end] is calculated (Step 102). An estimated value ethco of an outlet gas temperature is calculated by weighted averaging the inlet gas temperature and the catalyst rear end temperature ethuf[end] considering the degree of influence emthc (Step 104). A temperature correction coefficient ekthuf[x] for each region of the catalyst is calculated as a function f(emthc) of the degree of influence emthc (Step 108).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABBUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichi Kako, Shinichi Soejima, Ryozo Kayama
  • Publication number: 20100017095
    Abstract: The present invention provides an internal combustion engine control device which is capable of implementing a plurality of functions desired to the internal combustion engine. An adder unit determines a total energy E_total that should be generated by the engine by adding a target work, a target exhaust energy and cooling heat loss, which are calculated in a style of energy. A target fuel supply quantity calculation unit calculates a target fuel supply quantity necessary for generating the E_total. A target intake quantity calculating unit calculates a target intake quantity based on the target fuel supply quantity and a target A/F. A target ignition timing calculation unit calculates a target ignition timing necessary for realizing the target exhaust energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi Soejima, Keisuke Kawai, Hiroyuki Tanaka
  • 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