Patents by Inventor Takahiko Inada
Takahiko Inada 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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Publication number: 20170292492Abstract: The ignition control device includes a spark plug that includes a first electrode and a second electrode disposed so as to oppose each other, an ignition coil that includes a plurality of sets of a primary coil and a secondary coil, generates a high voltage in the secondary coil by energizing or interrupting a primary current supplied to the primary coil, and applies the generated high voltage to the first electrode, and a control unit that, in a case where a plurality of the primary coils are driven during a single ignition process, temporarily stops energization of a primary current supplied to a second primary coil when a primary current supplied to a first primary coil is interrupted, and re-energizes the primary current supplied to the second primary coil following the elapse of an energization stoppage period.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2016Publication date: October 12, 2017Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Takahiko INADA, Takahiro ENOMOTO
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Patent number: 9605643Abstract: There is provided a leakage detection apparatus that can accurately detect a leakage condition in an internal combustion engine having a cylinder resting function. An ignition plug provided in the combustion chamber of a cylinder is made to generate an ignition signal at least once when based on an instruction from a cylinder resting control unit, a fuel injection valve and a valve driving mechanism are stopping the operation thereof; the leakage condition of the ignition plug is detected based on an output signal generated by an ion current detection circuit at a timing other than the timing when ignition discharge is caused.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2015Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Takahiko Inada, Takahiro Enomoto, Yuhei Matsushima, Takeshi Koda
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Publication number: 20160201636Abstract: There is provided a leakage detection apparatus that can accurately detect a leakage condition in an internal combustion engine having a cylinder resting function. An ignition plug provided in the combustion chamber of a cylinder is made to generate an ignition signal at least once when based on an instruction from a cylinder resting control unit, a fuel injection valve and a valve driving mechanism are stopping the operation thereof; the leakage condition of the ignition plug is detected based on an output signal generated by an ion current detection circuit at a timing other than the timing when ignition discharge is caused.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2015Publication date: July 14, 2016Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Takahiko INADA, Takahiro ENOMOTO, Yuhei MATSUSHIMA, Takeshi KODA
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Patent number: 9382852Abstract: Provided is a control device for an internal combustion engine having a cylinder resting mechanism, capable of accurately detecting an intake/exhaust valve state and therefore serving to solve problems of fuel depletion and environmental conservation. The control device includes: ignition means 2 including high voltage means 202 for causing ignition discharge on an ignition plug based on an ignition signal, and an ignition discharge parameter detection circuit 203 for detecting a parameter indicating a state of the ignition discharge; and valve state determination means 206 for determining a valve operation state of an intake/exhaust valve based on at least one of an ignition discharge duration, ignition insulation breakdown voltage, and ignition discharge maintaining voltage detected based on an output signal from the ignition discharge parameter detection circuit 203. Operation of cylinder resting control means 207 is controlled based on a determination result by the valve state determination means 206.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2014Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Takahiko Inada, Takahiro Enomoto, Yuhei Matsushima
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Publication number: 20160108824Abstract: There is provided an internal combustion engine control apparatus that is capable of determining accurately from an ignition discharging time period whether the intake valve and the exhaust valve are in the operative condition or in the inoperative condition. A cylinder deactivation controller causes a first ignition controller to perform a first ignition control on the basis of the ignition timing when issuing no cylinder deactivation request, and causes a second ignition controller to perform a second ignition control on the basis of an energizing time period when issuing the cylinder deactivation controller. The discharging time period is calculated by a discharging time period calculation section on the basis of an ion current signal output from the ignition coil.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Yuhei MATSUSHIMA, Takahiko INADA
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Publication number: 20150300271Abstract: Provided is a control device for an internal combustion engine having a cylinder resting mechanism, capable of accurately detecting an intake/exhaust valve state and therefore serving to solve problems of fuel depletion and environmental conservation. The control device includes: ignition means 2 including high voltage means 202 for causing ignition discharge on an ignition plug based on an ignition signal, and an ignition discharge parameter detection circuit 203 for detecting a parameter indicating a state of the ignition discharge; and valve state determination means 206 for determining a valve operation state of an intake/exhaust valve based on at least one of an ignition discharge duration, ignition insulation breakdown voltage, and ignition discharge maintaining voltage detected based on an output signal from the ignition discharge parameter detection circuit 203. Operation of cylinder resting control means 207 is controlled based on a determination result by the valve state determination means 206.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2014Publication date: October 22, 2015Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Takahiko INADA, Takahiro ENOMOTO, Yuhei MATSUSHIMA
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Patent number: 8701629Abstract: There is provided a combustion state detecting apparatus capable of detecting combustion-state abnormality in an internal combustion engine. A comparison timing is set to be advanced in terms of the rotation angle of the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine with respect to the ending timing of an electric quantity based on an ion that occurs when ignition is performed normally through a predetermined ignition signal among the plurality of ignition signals; in the case where, as a result of the comparison between the detected ending timing of an electric quantity based on an ion and the comparison timing, the ending timing is advanced in terms of the rotation angle of the crankshaft with respect to the comparison timing, it is determined that the combustion based on ignition through the predetermined ignition signal is abnormal.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2009Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Kimihiko Tanaya, Takahiko Inada, Yumi Takaoka, Takeshi Koda
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Patent number: 7882730Abstract: There is provided an ignition diagnosis apparatus that detects ignition abnormality in a multi-point-ignition internal combustion engine.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2009Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Kimihiko Tanaya, Yumi Takaoka, Takahiko Inada, Takeshi Koda
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Patent number: 7863903Abstract: A combustion state detection apparatus for an internal combustion engine, includes convexity detection means (30) for detecting that domain within the detection interval in which the change shape of the ionic current is upwardly convex, on the basis of the ionic current data extracted by data extraction means (20), and preignition decision means (40) including comparison setting means for setting a comparison value with which the upwardly convex domain is compared, and functioning to decide the occurrence of the preignition or the premonitory phenomenon thereof when the upwardly convex domain lies at a timing earlier than the comparison value, wherein the convexity detection means (30) includes leak current judgment means for judging the appearance of a leak current across electrodes, and it enables the detection of the upwardly convex domain when the appearance of the leak current has been judged.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2008Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Takeshi Koda, Takahiko Inada, Kimihiko Tanaya
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Patent number: 7856308Abstract: A knock detection apparatus for an internal combustion engine can accurately detect the occurrence of a knock without an influence of a noise component even if the noise component having the same frequency as a knock vibration superposes on an ionic current signal. The apparatus includes an ionic current detection section, a knock signal detection section for detecting a knock signal based on an ionic current, a crank angle sensor for detecting a crank angle corresponding to a rotational position of the engine, a window setting section for setting a noise detection window, a noise component detection section for detecting a noise component in the window, and a knock determination section for determining the occurrence of a knock based on a relation between the noise component and the knock signal. The window setting section sets the window after a predetermined crank angle corresponding to an end of a combustion stroke of the engine.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2007Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Takahiko Inada, Kimihiko Tanaya
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Patent number: 7836864Abstract: An internal-combustion-engine combustion condition detection apparatus is provided with an ignition means that makes an ignition plug ignite a fuel; an ignition control means that controls the operation of the ignition means; an ion-current detection means that detects an ion current generated; an ion current detection range setting means that sets an ion-current detection range; a preignition detection means that detects preignition within a detection range to be set; a leakage current detection range setting means that sets a leakage-current detection range; and a leakage current determination means that determines whether or not a smolder exists, based on a current detected, within a detection range to be set, by the ion-current detection means. The ignition control means includes a non-combustion-stroke ignition control means; the leakage-current detection range set by the leakage current detection range setting means is set within the non-combustion stroke.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2009Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Takahiko Inada, Kimihiko Tanaya
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Publication number: 20100258081Abstract: There is provided a combustion state detecting apparatus capable of detecting combustion-state abnormality in an internal combustion engine. A comparison timing is set to be advanced in terms of the rotation angle of the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine with respect to the ending timing of an electric quantity based on an ion that occurs when ignition is performed normally through a predetermined ignition signal among the plurality of ignition signals; in the case where, as a result of the comparison between the detected ending timing of an electric quantity based on an ion and the comparison timing, the ending timing is advanced in terms of the rotation angle of the crankshaft with respect to the comparison timing, it is determined that the combustion based on ignition through the predetermined ignition signal is abnormal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2009Publication date: October 14, 2010Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Kimihiko TANAYA, Takahiko Inada, Yumi Takaoka, Takeshi Koda
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Publication number: 20100257921Abstract: There is provided an ignition diagnosis apparatus that detects ignition abnormality in a multi-point-ignition internal combustion engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2009Publication date: October 14, 2010Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Kimihiko TANAYA, Yumi TAKAOKA, Takahiko INADA, Takeshi KODA
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Publication number: 20100089361Abstract: An internal-combustion-engine combustion condition detection apparatus is provided with an ignition means that makes an ignition plug ignite a fuel; an ignition control means that controls the operation of the ignition means; an ion-current detection means that detects an ion current generated; an ion current detection range setting means that sets an ion-current detection range; a preignition detection means that detects preignition within a detection range to be set; a leakage current detection range setting means that sets a leakage-current detection range; and a leakage current determination means that determines whether or not a smolder exists, based on a current detected, within a detection range to be set, by the ion-current detection means. The ignition control means includes a non-combustion-stroke ignition control means; the leakage-current detection range set by the leakage current detection range setting means is set within the non-combustion stroke.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2009Publication date: April 15, 2010Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Takahiko INADA, Kimihiko TANAYA
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Patent number: 7673614Abstract: An internal-combustion-engine combustion condition detection apparatus is provided with an ignition means that makes an ignition plug ignite a fuel; an ignition control means that controls the operation of the ignition means; an ion-current detection means that detects an ion current generated; an ion current detection range setting means that sets an ion-current detection range; a preignition detection means that detects preignition within a detection range to be set; a leakage current detection range setting means that sets a leakage-current detection range; and a leakage current determination means that determines whether or not a smolder exists, based on a current detected, within a detection range to be set, by the ion-current detection means. The ignition control means includes a non-combustion-stroke ignition control means; the leakage-current detection range set by the leakage current detection range setting means is set within the non-combustion stroke.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2008Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Takahiko Inada, Kimihiko Tanaya
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Patent number: 7624619Abstract: The present invention relates to a knocking detecting device for an internal combustion engine, for controlling a timing at which an ignition coil is actuated according to a knocking occurrence intensity, the knocking detecting device including the signal processing module for processing a signal attributable to knocking occurring in the operation of the internal combustion engine to determine a knocking occurrence intensity, in which the signal processing module includes: signal detecting means for detecting a signal attributable to knocking; frequency intensity calculating means for selecting a plurality of frequencies extracted from an output of the signal detecting means to calculate a frequency intensity; and knocking intensity determining means for finally determining that knocking occurs in a case where it is determined that at least two primary determination results of among a plurality of primary knocking determination results based on the outputs of the frequency intensity calculating means.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2007Date of Patent: December 1, 2009Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Kimihiko Tanaya, Takahiko Inada
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Patent number: 7624717Abstract: An internal-combustion-engine combustion condition detection apparatus that can accurately comprehend a combustion condition is obtained. The internal-combustion-engine combustion condition detection apparatus includes an ion-current detection device (41) that detects an ion current generated during combustion and ignition devices including a first ignition device (21) having a first ignition plug (11) that causes main combustion in a combustion chamber (33) and a second ignition device (22) having a second ignition plug (12) disposed in the same combustion chamber (33) as and spaced apart from the first ignition plug (11) of the first ignition device (21); the ion-current detection device (41) detects a combustion ion current that is generated in the second ignition device (22) regardless of whether or not ignition is performed by the second ignition device (22), thereby detecting pre-ignition or a precursor phenomenon of pre-ignition.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2008Date of Patent: December 1, 2009Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Takahiko Inada, Kimihiko Tanaya, Koichi Okamura
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Publication number: 20090173315Abstract: An internal-combustion-engine combustion condition detection apparatus is provided with an ignition means that makes an ignition plug ignite a fuel; an ignition control means that controls the operation of the ignition means; an ion-current detection means that detects an ion current generated; an ion current detection range setting means that sets an ion-current detection range; a preignition detection means that detects preignition within a detection range to be set; a leakage current detection range setting means that sets a leakage-current detection range; and a leakage current determination means that determines whether or not a smolder exists, based on a current detected, within a detection range to be set, by the ion-current detection means. The ignition control means includes a non-combustion-stroke ignition control means; the leakage-current detection range set by the leakage current detection range setting means is set within the non-combustion stroke.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2008Publication date: July 9, 2009Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Takahiko INADA, Kimihiko Tanaya
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Publication number: 20090108846Abstract: A combustion state detection apparatus for an internal combustion engine, includes convexity detection means (30) for detecting that domain within the detection interval in which the change shape of the ionic current is upwardly convex, on the basis of the ionic current data extracted by data extraction means (20), and preignition decision means (40) including comparison setting means for setting a comparison value with which the upwardly convex domain is compared, and functioning to decide the occurrence of the preignition or the premonitory phenomenon thereof when the upwardly convex domain lies at a timing earlier than the comparison value, wherein the convexity detection means (30) includes leak current judgment means for judging the appearance of a leak current across electrodes, and it enables the detection of the upwardly convex domain when the appearance of the leak current has been judged.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2008Publication date: April 30, 2009Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Takeshi KODA, Takahiko Inada, Kimihiko Tanaya
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Publication number: 20090084353Abstract: An internal-combustion-engine combustion condition detection apparatus that can accurately comprehend a combustion condition is obtained. The internal-combustion-engine combustion condition detection apparatus includes an ion-current detection device (41) that detects an ion current generated during combustion and ignition devices including a first ignition device (21) having a first ignition plug (11) that causes main combustion in a combustion chamber (33) and a second ignition device (22) having a second ignition plug (12) disposed in the same combustion chamber (33) as and spaced apart from the first ignition plug (11) of the first ignition device (21); the ion-current detection device (41) detects a combustion ion current that is generated in the second ignition device (22) regardless of whether or not ignition is performed by the second ignition device (22), thereby detecting pre-ignition or a precursor phenomenon of pre-ignition.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2008Publication date: April 2, 2009Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Takahiko INADA, Kimihiko TANAYA, Koichi OKAMURA