Patents by Inventor Shunichi Aoyama
Shunichi Aoyama 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).
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Patent number: 6732682Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The engine includes a compression ratio control mechanism and an ignition timing control system. The control system comprises an engine control for controlling the compression ratio control mechanism and the ignition timing control system so that when the engine is cold, the ignition timing is retarded largely from an MBT point and the compression ratio is set higher than that obtained when the engine is cold and operated at corresponding engine rpm and engine load. A method for controlling such an internal combustion engine is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2002Date of Patent: May 11, 2004Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shunichi Aoyama, Katsuya Moteki, Kenshi Ushijima, Ryosuke Hiyoshi
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Publication number: 20040083992Abstract: A variable compression ratio system for an internal combustion engine, including a variable compression ratio mechanism for continuously varying a compression ratio of the engine, the variable compression ratio mechanism including a control shaft rotatably moveable to a rotational position corresponding to the compression ratio, a hydraulic actuator driving the control shaft to the rotational position depending on operating conditions of the engine, a hydraulic pressure source mechanically driven by the engine to produce a hydraulic pressure supplied to the hydraulic actuator, and a hydraulic control for variably controlling the hydraulic pressure supplied to the hydraulic actuator on the basis of the engine operating conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2003Publication date: May 6, 2004Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Tsuneyasu Nohara, Yoshiaki Tanaka, Shinichi Takemura, Shunichi Aoyama
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Patent number: 6729273Abstract: In a piston actuation system of a V-type internal combustion engine with two cylinder banks having at least one pair of cylinders, a piston pin, an upper link, a lower link, and a control link are mechanically linked to each other for each cylinder bank. When changing a compression ratio of the engine, ends of the control links of the two cylinder banks are moved in synchronism. The lower links of the two cylinder banks are coaxially rotatably fitted on the outer periphery of the same crankpin whose axis is eccentric to the axis of the crankshaft.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2002Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shunichi Aoyama, Katsuya Moteki, Hiroya Fujimoto
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Publication number: 20040069254Abstract: In a compression ratio controlling apparatus and method for a spark-ignited internal combustion engine, the variable compression ratio mechanism is controlled by a compression controlling section on the basis of a detected engine speed and engine load in such a manner that the compression ratio is varied toward a target high compression ratio when the engine load falls in a predetermined low load region and toward a target low compression ratio when the engine load falls in a predetermined high load region and a predetermined delay is provided in a variation in the compression ratio toward one of the target high and low compression ratios in accordance with at least one of an engine driving history immediately before a transient state of a change in the engine load occurs and a wall temperature of a combustion chamber of the engine immediately before the transient state thereof occurs.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2003Publication date: April 15, 2004Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Shunichi Aoyama, Shinichi Takemura, Takanobu Sugiyama, Ryosuke Hiyoshi, Toru Noda
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Patent number: 6691655Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The engine includes a compression ratio control mechanism and an ignition timing control system. The control system comprises an engine control for controlling the compression ratio control mechanism and the ignition timing control system so that the compression ratio is varied depending upon variations of engine rpm, engine load and a warm-up condition of the engine and that when the engine is cold, the ignition timing is retarded from a MBT point and a top dead center position of a piston is made lower in level than that obtained when the engine is hot and operated at corresponding engine rpm and engine load. A method for controlling such an internal combustion engine is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2003Date of Patent: February 17, 2004Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shunichi Aoyama, Shinichi Takemura, Takanobu Sugiyama, Ryosuke Hiyoshi
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Patent number: 6691022Abstract: In an engine capable of continuously controlling an intake air quantity by varying an intake valve operating characteristic, an intake valve lift is sensed as well as an engine speed. Then, an intake air quantity is calculated in accordance with the engine speed and intake valve lift when an engine operating point is in a very low lift state.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2002Date of Patent: February 10, 2004Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shinichi Takemura, Shunichi Aoyama, Tsuneyasu Nohara, Takanobu Sugiyama
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Patent number: 6684828Abstract: In a variable compression ratio mechanism for an internal combustion engine employing an upper link, a lower link, and a control link, the lower link includes a crankpin bearing portion into which a crankpin is fitted, a first connecting-pin bearing portion into which a first connecting pin for the upper link is fitted, and a second connecting-pin bearing portion into which a second connecting pin for the control link is fitted. A central connecting portion is provided to connect an axial central portion of at least one of the first and second connecting-pin bearing portions to an axial central portion of the crankpin bearing portion. The central connecting portion has an axial length L1 shorter than each of an axial length L2 of the crankpin bearing portion, an axial length L3 of the first connecting-pin bearing portion, and an axial length L4 of the second connecting-pin bearing portion.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2002Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenshi Ushijima, Shunichi Aoyama, Katsuya Moteki, Ryosuke Hiyoshi, Yoshiaki Tanaka
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Publication number: 20030213451Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The engine includes a compression ratio control mechanism and an ignition timing control system. The control system comprises an engine control for controlling the compression ratio control mechanism and the ignition timing control system so that the compression ratio is varied depending upon variations of engine rpm, engine load and a warm-up condition of the engine and that when the engine is cold, the ignition timing is retarded from a MBT point and a top dead center position of a piston is made lower in level than that obtained when the engine is hot and operated at corresponding engine rpm and engine load. A method for controlling such an internal combustion engine is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2003Publication date: November 20, 2003Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Shunichi Aoyama, Shinichi Takemura, Takanobu Sugiyama, Ryosuke Hiyoshi
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Patent number: 6647935Abstract: In a rockable-cam equipped reciprocating internal combustion engine, a rockable cam is rotatably fitted on the outer periphery of an intake-valve drive shaft that is rotatable in synchronism with rotation of a crankshaft. The rockable cam oscillates within predetermined limits during rotation of the intake-valve drive shaft so as to directly push an intake-valve lifter. As viewed from an axial direction of the crankshaft, an axis of the intake-valve drive shaft is offset from a centerline of the intake-valve stem in a first direction that is normal to both the cylinder centerline and the crankshaft axis and directed from the cylinder centerline to the intake valve side. The crankshaft axis is also offset from the cylinder centerline in the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2002Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shunichi Aoyama, Katsuya Moteki, Kenshi Ushijima, Ryosuke Hiyoshi
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Publication number: 20030209213Abstract: A link mechanism of an engine includes: an upper link having a first end connected to a piston pin of a piston; a lower link connected to the upper link via an upper pin having a center, the lower link being connected to a crank pin of a crank shaft; a control shaft extending substantially in parallel with the crank shaft, the control shaft having a rotational center; and a control link including: a first end swingably connected to the control shaft, and a second end connected to the lower link. In a process of the center of the upper pin moving nearer to the axial line of the piston pin, the center of the control pin moves in the upward direction, thus inclining the lower link and allowing the center of the upper pin and the center of the piston pin to move in the downward direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2003Publication date: November 13, 2003Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Katsuya Moteki, Shunichi Aoyama, Kenshi Ushijima, Ryosuke Hiyoshi
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Patent number: 6626135Abstract: Intake valve drive shaft and exhaust valve drive shaft are arranged in parallel to each other and provided with sprockets, respectively, for receiving engine rotation from a crank shaft. A rocker cam is swingably mounted on the intake valve drive shaft to push the intake valve, and connected mechanically by a link mechanism with the intake valve drive shaft. The axis of the intake valve drive shaft is offset from the axis of the intake valve to one side. The rocker cam includes a cam nose which projects to the other side of the axis of the intake valve when the intake valve is in the closed state.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2002Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shinichi Takemura, Shunichi Aoyama, Tsuneyasu Nohara, Takanobu Sugiyama
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Patent number: 6622670Abstract: A piston crank mechanism of an internal combustion engine includes an upper link connected to a piston, a lower link connected to both the upper link and a crankpin, and a control link through which the lower link is linked to an eccentric cam of a control shaft to restrict the degree of freedom of the lower link. By varying the angular position of the eccentric cam with respect to the control-shaft axis, the center of oscillating motion of the control link varies, thus varying a compression ratio. The center of gravity of the lower link, determined by an equivalent inertia weight obtained by adding weights of connecting pins and weights of the upper-link boss-shaped end and the control-link boss-shaped end connected to the lower link via the respective connecting pins to the lower-link self-weight, is situated closer to the center of the crankpin.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2001Date of Patent: September 23, 2003Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ryosuke Hiyoshi, Shunichi Aoyama
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Patent number: 6615773Abstract: In an internal combustion engine of variable compression ratio type, a piston control mechanism is employed which comprises a lower link rotatably disposed on a crank pin of a crankshaft of the engine, an upper link having one end pivotally connected to the lower link and the other end pivotally connected to a piston of the engine, a control link having one end pivotally connected to the lower link; and a position changing mechanism which changes a supporting axis about which the other end of the control link turns. When the piston comes up to a top dead center, a compression load is applied to the control link in an axial direction of the control link in accordance with an upward inertial load of the piston.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2002Date of Patent: September 9, 2003Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Katsuya Moteki, Shunichi Aoyama, Kenshi Ushijima, Ryosuke Hiyoshi
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Patent number: 6595186Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine is provided which comprises a compression ratio control mechanism and a control unit for controlling the compression ratio control mechanism. The control unit including an acceleration parameter obtaining section for obtaining an acceleration parameter corresponding to a change of an engine speed, an acceleration determining section for determining whether the engine is in a slow or fast acceleration state on the basis of the acceleration parameter, and a control section for controlling at least one of a compression ratio change speed at which the engine compression ratio during engine acceleration is changed and a compression ratio change start time at which a change of the engine compression ratio during engine acceleration is started, on the basis of whether the engine is in a slow or fast acceleration state. A control method is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2002Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ryosuke Hiyoshi, Shunichi Aoyama, Kenshi Ushijima, Katsuya Moteki
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Publication number: 20030106542Abstract: A combustion control system for a spark-ignition internal combustion engine includes a variable piston stroke characteristic mechanism changing a compression ratio of the engine, sensors detecting engine operating conditions, i.e., engine speed and engine load, and at least one of a variable lift and working angle control mechanism simultaneously continuously changing an intake-valve lift and an intake-valve working angle and a variable phase control mechanism changing an angular phase at a central angle corresponding to a maximum valve lift point of the intake valve. Also provided is a control unit that controls the variable piston stroke characteristic mechanism, and at least one of the variable lift and working angle control mechanism and the variable phase control mechanism, depending on the engine operating conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2002Publication date: June 12, 2003Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Shunichi Aoyama, Shinichi Takemura, Takanobu Sugiyama, Ryosuke Hiyoshi
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Patent number: 6575128Abstract: In a VVA apparatus, when an actual lift amount detected by a lift-amount detecting sensor exceeds a basic lift-amount target value by a predetermined value or more, ECU corrects a lift phase through a lift-phase varying mechanism to separate from a piston TDC with respect to a basic lift-phase target value.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2002Date of Patent: June 10, 2003Assignees: Unisia Jecs Corporation, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Makoto Nakamura, Naoki Okamoto, Seinosuke Hara, Akinori Suzuki, Tsuneyasu Nohara, Shinichi Takemura, Takanobu Sugiyama, Shunichi Aoyama
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Patent number: 6561142Abstract: A paired counterweights of a crankshaft have projected inner surfaces which protrude toward each other defining a given space therebetween. A plurality of links are arranged to convert a reciprocating motion of a piston to a rotational motion of the crankshaft. One of the links is pivotally connected to other links through link connecting portions and swingably disposed on a crank pin of the crankshaft so that upon rotation of the crankshaft, a peripheral portion of the link passes through the given space. At least one of the link connecting portions is placed within an imaginary circle which would be described by a radially innermost part of the projected inner surfaces of the paired counterweights when the paired counterweights turn about an axis of the crank pin.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2001Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Katsuya Moteki, Shunichi Aoyama, Ryousuke Hiyoshi, Hiroya Fujimoto
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Patent number: 6550436Abstract: An internal combustion engine has an intake valve control device for controlling at least intake valves. The control device comprises a first mechanism which varies a working angle of the intake valve; a second mechanism which varies an operation phase of the intake valve; and a control unit which controls both the first and second mechanisms in accordance with an operation condition of the engine. The control unit is configured to carry out controlling variation in the open timing of the intake valve effected by the first mechanism to be larger than variation in the open timing of the intake valve effected by the second mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2001Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tsuneyasu Nohara, Shinichi Takemura, Shunichi Aoyama
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Publication number: 20030051685Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine is provided which comprises a compression ratio control mechanism and a control unit for controlling the compression ratio control mechanism. The control unit including an acceleration parameter obtaining section for obtaining an acceleration parameter corresponding to a change of an engine speed, an acceleration determining section for determining whether the engine is in a slow or fast acceleration state on the basis of the acceleration parameter, and a control section for controlling at least one of a compression ratio change speed at which the engine compression ratio during engine acceleration is changed and a compression ratio change start time at which a change of the engine compression ratio during engine acceleration is started, on the basis of whether the engine is in a slow or fast acceleration state. A control method is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Ryosuke Hiyoshi, Shunichi Aoyama, Kenshi Ushijima, Katsuya Moteki
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Patent number: 6516757Abstract: A supercharged internal combustion engine is provided with a double-link type piston crank mechanism connecting between a piston and a crankshaft. The piston crank mechanism causes the piston to move at a speed which is smaller around a top dead center (TDC) and larger around a bottom dead center (BDC) as compared with respective corresponding piston speeds attained by a comparable single-link type piston crank mechanism. The double-link type piston crank mechanism variably controls a compression ratio by varying an angular position of one of links constituting the piston crank mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2001Date of Patent: February 11, 2003Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shunichi Aoyama, Takayuki Arai, Katsuya Moteki