Patents by Inventor Toshikazu Katou
Toshikazu Katou 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: 8549902Abstract: On the basis of a correlation between exhaust gas temperature detected by an exhaust gas temperature sensor and exhaust gas temperature estimated according to an engine operating condition, it is detected whether or not abnormality occurs in the exhaust gas temperature sensor. Namely, when a change characteristic of the detected exhaust gas temperature follows a change characteristic of the estimated exhaust gas temperature, it is determined that the exhaust gas temperature sensor is normal. On the other hand, when the change characteristic of the detected exhaust gas temperature does not follow that of the estimated exhaust gas temperature, it is determined that the exhaust gas temperature sensor is abnormal.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2011Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: UD Trucks CorporationInventors: Hideki Matsunaga, Toshikazu Katou
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Patent number: 8132405Abstract: An exhaust emission purifying apparatus for an engine, which is provided with: an electric pump sucking and supplying a liquid reducing agent by pumping out of a reducing agent tank; a flow control valve controlling flow rate of the liquid reducing agent; and an injection nozzle injection-supplying the liquid reducing agent with the controlled flow rate, to an exhaust emission upstream of NOx reduction catalytic converter. At the engine starting, a highly pressurized air is urged to reversely flow to a reducing agent supply system upstream of the flow control valve. Then it is determined whether or not the reducing agent supply system brings about clogging based on a pressure change produced by the reverse flow. When a number of frequency at which it is consecutively determined as occurrence of clogging reaches a predetermined number or more, it is determined that the clogging is serious, which is unable to be readily mended.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2008Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignees: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd., Bosch CorporationInventors: Toshikazu Katou, Hideki Matsunaga, Toshiki Sawaki
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Publication number: 20120051396Abstract: On the basis of a correlation between exhaust gas temperature detected by an exhaust gas temperature sensor and exhaust gas temperature estimated according to an engine operating condition, it is detected whether or not abnormality occurs in the exhaust gas temperature sensor. Namely, when a change characteristic of the detected exhaust gas temperature follows a change characteristic of the estimated exhaust gas temperature, it is determined that the exhaust gas temperature sensor is normal. On the other hand, when the change characteristic of the detected exhaust gas temperature does not follow that of the estimated exhaust gas temperature, it is determined that the exhaust gas temperature sensor is abnormal.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2011Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: NISSAN DIESEL MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Hideki MATSUNAGA, Toshikazu KATOU
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Patent number: 8091415Abstract: On the basis of a correlation between exhaust gas temperature detected by an exhaust gas temperature sensor and exhaust gas temperature estimated according to an engine operating condition, it is detected whether or not abnormality occurs in the exhaust gas temperature sensor. Namely, when a change characteristic of the detected exhaust gas temperature follows a change characteristic of the estimated exhaust gas temperature, it is determined that the exhaust gas temperature sensor is normal. On the other hand, when the change characteristic of the detected exhaust gas temperature does not follow that of the estimated exhaust gas temperature, it is determined that the exhaust gas temperature sensor is abnormal.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2009Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: UD Trucks CorporationInventors: Hideki Matsunaga, Toshikazu Katou
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Patent number: 8006483Abstract: In an exhaust emission purifying apparatus for reductively purifying NOx in the exhaust emission by using a liquid reducing agent or its precursor, to be referred to as “liquid reducing agent” herein, a dosing flow rate of the liquid reducing agent according to engine operating conditions is computed, and the dosing of the liquid reducing agent is controlled based on the computed dosing flow rate, and also, it is judged whether or not a supply system of the liquid reducing agent is failed, based on a ratio between an integrated amount obtained by sequentially integrating the dosing flow rate and a consumed amount of the liquid reducing agent.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2009Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignees: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd., NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideki Matsunaga, Toshikazu Katou, Hiroyuki Kurita, Shinji Kumazawa, Masayuki Motomura, Katsunori Yazawa
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Patent number: 7842267Abstract: A technology for purifying an exhaust emission from an engine is provided, in which a misjudgment caused by a time lag between the abnormality detection and an abnormality judgment is avoided, in the case where a plurality of abnormalities is judged on the aqueous solution of a reducing agent or the like. After a first abnormality judgment (Femp=1: the time t2) is made, when a second abnormality is detected as a result that the concentration Dn as a state parameter is directly shifted from a first region A to a second region C (the time t3), the first abnormality judgment is maintained for a predetermined period of time PRD after the second abnormality detection.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2010Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mitsuhiro Nishina, Toshikazu Katou
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Publication number: 20100236220Abstract: A technology for purifying an exhaust emission from an engine is provided, in which a misjudgment caused by a time lag between the abnormality detection and an abnormality judgment is avoided, in the case where a plurality of abnormalities is judged on the aqueous solution of a reducing agent or the like. After a first abnormality judgment (Femp=1: the time t2) is made, when a second abnormality is detected as a result that the concentration Dn as a state parameter is directly shifted from a first region A to a second region C (the time t3), the first abnormality judgment is maintained for a predetermined period of time PRD after the second abnormality detection.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2010Publication date: September 23, 2010Applicant: NISSAN DIESEL MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Mitsuhiro Nishina, Toshikazu Katou
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Patent number: 7743605Abstract: An exhaust emission purifying apparatus for an engine in which it is determined that a reducing agent supply system is clogged, which is arranged on the downstream of a pump carrying out suction and pumping of a liquid reducing agent out of a reducing agent tank, when a reduction in a pressure of the liquid reducing agent remaining in the downstream of the pump and also in the upstream of a flow control valve by an amount equal to or more than a first predetermined pressure does not occur until a cumulative injection amount obtained by sequentially integrating an injection amount of the liquid reducing agent computed in real time based on engine operating conditions reaches a predetermined amount after the pump has been temporarily stopped.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2008Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshikazu Katou, Hideki Matsunaga
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Publication number: 20100086446Abstract: In an exhaust emission purifying apparatus for reductively purifying NOx in the exhaust emission by using a liquid reducing agent or its precursor, to be referred to as “liquid reducing agent” herein, a dosing flow rate of the liquid reducing agent according to engine operating conditions is computed, and the dosing of the liquid reducing agent is controlled based on the computed dosing flow rate, and also, it is judged whether or not a supply system of the liquid reducing agent is failed, based on a ratio between an integrated amount obtained by sequentially integrating the dosing flow rate and a consumed amount of the liquid reducing agent.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2009Publication date: April 8, 2010Applicants: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd., NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideki Matsunaga, Toshikazu Katou, Hiroyuki Kurita, Shinji Kumazawa, Masayuki Motomura, Katsunori Yazawa
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Publication number: 20100071451Abstract: On the basis of a correlation between exhaust gas temperature detected by an exhaust gas temperature sensor and exhaust gas temperature estimated according to an engine operating condition, it is detected whether or not abnormality occurs in the exhaust gas temperature sensor. Namely, when a change characteristic of the detected exhaust gas temperature follows a change characteristic of the estimated exhaust gas temperature, it is determined that the exhaust gas temperature sensor is normal. On the other hand, when the change characteristic of the detected exhaust gas temperature does not follow that of the estimated exhaust gas temperature, it is determined that the exhaust gas temperature sensor is abnormal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2009Publication date: March 25, 2010Applicant: NISSAN DIESEL MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Hideki Matsunaga, Toshikazu Katou
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Patent number: 7658093Abstract: A concentration sensor for detecting a concentration of a liquid reducing agent through heat transfer characteristics between separate two points is provided in a storage tank for storing a liquid supplied to an NOx reduction catalyst. When the concentration read from the concentration sensor is 0% or less, the liquid is discriminated to be water, that is, it is utilized that when water is converted to the concentration of a liquid reducing agent, it is 0%, and it is also 0% even when the concentration is reduced by convection. When the concentration is greater than a predetermined value, it is discriminated that no liquid is present, since it is considered that the output of the sensor is abnormal because of the absence of a liquid in the tank. On the other hand, when the concentration is greater than 0% and less than a predetermined value, the liquid is discriminated to be the liquid reducing agent, provided that the concentration value may include an error.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2004Date of Patent: February 9, 2010Assignee: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mitsuhiro Nishina, Toshikazu Katou, Hiroyuki Kurita
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Patent number: 7617672Abstract: An engine C/U 51 detects an abnormality which has occurred in an engine, and outputs a signal that indicates the occurrence of this abnormality to an SCR-C/U 61. The SCR-C/U 61 increases and decreases the urea water injection quantity corresponding to the abnormality which has occurred. On the other hand, the SCR-CU 61 detects an abnormality that has occurred in the SCR device, and outputs a signal that indicates the occurrence of this abnormality to an engine C/U 51. The engine C/U 51 controls an engine part such as an EGR valve, to reduce the NOx emission amount.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2004Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Assignee: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mitsuhiro Nishina, Hiroyuki Kurita, Toshikazu Katou
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Patent number: 7602058Abstract: A semiconductor device is composed of a power supply interconnection extending from a certain starting point in a first direction and also extending from the starting point in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, a plurality of power pads, and connecting interconnections providing electrical connection between the power supply interconnection and the power pads. The power supply interconnection, the power pads, and the connecting interconnections are arranged in a symmetrical manner with respect to a symmetry line crossing the starting point and extending in a direction at an angle of 45 degree to the first and second directions.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2006Date of Patent: October 13, 2009Assignee: NEC Electronics CorporationInventor: Toshikazu Katou
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Patent number: 7587288Abstract: Each of a first and a second number of times is counted, in which the first number of times indicates a condition where a concentration of a liquid reducing agent indirectly measured based on a characteristic of heat transmission between two separated points is successively determined to be equal to or higher than an upper limit threshold for no agent, and the second number of times indicates a condition the concentration is successively determined to be equal to or lower than a lower limit threshold for different agent. When the former becomes equal to or larger than the predetermined value, determination is made that no liquid reducing agent remains. When, the latter becomes equal to or larger than the predetermined value, determination is made that the liquid reducing agent is a solution of a different kind. When the former and the latter is less than the predetermined value, determination is made that correct liquid reducing agent remains.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2007Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mitsuhiro Nishina, Toshikazu Katou, Eitarou Asakawa
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Patent number: 7499814Abstract: In a storage tank for storing a liquid reducing agent, a sensor for outputting a signal related to a concentration and a remaining amount of the liquid reducing agent based on a heat transfer characteristic between two points at a distance from each other is disposed. In a control unit which contains a built-in computer, it is determined that a vehicle state is stable when a stop time for which a vehicle is continuously in a stationary state reaches a predetermined determination time, the concentration of the liquid reducing agent is calculated based on the signal from the sensor when the vehicle state is stable, and the remaining amount of the liquid reducing agent is determined based on the signal from the sensor irrespective of the vehicle state, in response to a measurement trigger output every predetermined time after a start of an engine.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2004Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mitsuhiro Nishina, Hiroyuki Kurita, Toshikazu Katou
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Patent number: 7467512Abstract: In an SCR apparatus mounted on a vehicle, the concentration of a reducing agent or a precursor thereof contained in an aqueous solution of the reducing agent or the precursor is accurately detected. In sensing the concentration, whether or not the urea water stored in a storage tank is in a stationary state is determined. Only it is in a stationary state, the concentration is detected. The determination of whether or not it is in a stationary state or not is preferably determined by determining whether the vehicle is stopped (S207) and that the period of time TIM that has elapsed after the stoppage has reached a predetermined stationary time TIM1 (S211). The deceleration DCL of the vehicle before stoppage thereof is detected, and the stationary time TIM1 is altered in accordance with the deceleration DCL (S206).Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2004Date of Patent: December 23, 2008Assignee: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mitsuhiro Nishina, Toshikazu Katou, Hiroyuki Kurita
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Publication number: 20080282681Abstract: An exhaust emission purifying apparatus for an engine, which is provided with: an electric pump sucking and supplying a liquid reducing agent by pumping out of a reducing agent tank; a flow control valve controlling flow rate of the liquid reducing agent; and an injection nozzle injection-supplying the liquid reducing agent with the controlled flow rate, to an exhaust emission upstream of NOx reduction catalytic converter. At the engine starting, a highly pressurized air is urged to reversely flow to a reducing agent supply system upstream of the flow control valve. Then it is determined whether or not the reducing agent supply system brings about clogging based on a pressure change produced by the reverse flow. When a number of frequency at which it is consecutively determined as occurrence of clogging reaches a predetermined number or more, it is determined that the clogging is serious, which is unable to be readily mended.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2008Publication date: November 20, 2008Applicants: NISSAN DIESEL MOTOR CO., LTD., BOSCH CORPORATIONInventors: Toshikazu KATOU, Hideki Matsunaga, Toshiki Sawaki
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Publication number: 20080276601Abstract: An exhaust emission purifying apparatus for an engine in which it is determined that a reducing agent supply system is clogged, which is arranged on the downstream of a pump carrying out suction and pumping of a liquid reducing agent out of a reducing agent tank, when a reduction in a pressure of the liquid reducing agent remaining in the downstream of the pump and also in the upstream of a flow control valve by an amount equal to or more than a first predetermined pressure does not occur until a cumulative injection amount obtained by sequentially integrating an injection amount of the liquid reducing agent computed in real time based on engine operating conditions reaches a predetermined amount after the pump has been temporarily stopped.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2008Publication date: November 13, 2008Applicant: NISSAN DIESEL MOTOR CO., LTDInventors: Toshikazu KATOU, Hideki MATSUNAGA
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Publication number: 20070266697Abstract: A technology for purifying an exhaust emission from an engine is provided, in which a misjudgment caused by a time lag between the abnormality detection and an abnormality judgment is avoided, in the case where a plurality of abnormalities is judged on the aqueous solution of a reducing agent or the like. After a first abnormality judgment (Femp=1: the time t2) is made, when a second abnormality is detected as a result that the concentration Dn as a state parameter is directly shifted from a first region A to a second region C (the time t3), the first abnormality judgment is maintained for a predetermined period of time PRD after the second abnormality detection.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2007Publication date: November 22, 2007Applicant: NISSAN DIESEL MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Mitsuhiro Nishina, Toshikazu Katou
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Publication number: 20070209428Abstract: A concentration sensor for detecting a concentration of a liquid reducing agent through heat transfer characteristics between separate two points is provided in a storage tank for storing a liquid supplied to an NOx reduction catalyst. When the concentration read from the concentration sensor is 0% or less, the liquid is discriminated to be water, that is, it is utilized that when water is converted to the concentration of a liquid reducing agent, it is 0%, and it is also 0% even when the concentration is reduced by convection. When the concentration is greater than a predetermined value, it is discriminated that no liquid is present, since it is considered that the output of the sensor is abnormal because of the absence of a liquid in the tank. On the other hand, when the concentration is greater than 0% and less than a predetermined value, the liquid is discriminated to be the liquid reducing agent, provided that the concentration value may include an error.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2004Publication date: September 13, 2007Applicant: NISSAN DIESEL MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Mitsuhiro Nishina, Toshikazu Katou, Hiroyuki Kurita