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).

  • Patent number: 8549902
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: UD Trucks Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Matsunaga, Toshikazu Katou
  • Patent number: 8132405
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignees: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd., Bosch Corporation
    Inventors: Toshikazu Katou, Hideki Matsunaga, Toshiki Sawaki
  • Publication number: 20120051396
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: NISSAN DIESEL MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki MATSUNAGA, Toshikazu KATOU
  • Patent number: 8091415
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: UD Trucks Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Matsunaga, Toshikazu Katou
  • Patent number: 8006483
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignees: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd., NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Matsunaga, Toshikazu Katou, Hiroyuki Kurita, Shinji Kumazawa, Masayuki Motomura, Katsunori Yazawa
  • Patent number: 7842267
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Nishina, Toshikazu Katou
  • Publication number: 20100236220
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: NISSAN DIESEL MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Nishina, Toshikazu Katou
  • Patent number: 7743605
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshikazu Katou, Hideki Matsunaga
  • Publication number: 20100086446
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicants: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd., NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Matsunaga, Toshikazu Katou, Hiroyuki Kurita, Shinji Kumazawa, Masayuki Motomura, Katsunori Yazawa
  • Publication number: 20100071451
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: NISSAN DIESEL MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Matsunaga, Toshikazu Katou
  • Patent number: 7658093
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Nishina, Toshikazu Katou, Hiroyuki Kurita
  • Patent number: 7617672
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Nishina, Hiroyuki Kurita, Toshikazu Katou
  • Patent number: 7602058
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Toshikazu Katou
  • Patent number: 7587288
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Nishina, Toshikazu Katou, Eitarou Asakawa
  • Patent number: 7499814
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Nishina, Hiroyuki Kurita, Toshikazu Katou
  • Patent number: 7467512
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Nishina, Toshikazu Katou, Hiroyuki Kurita
  • Publication number: 20080282681
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicants: NISSAN DIESEL MOTOR CO., LTD., BOSCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshikazu KATOU, Hideki Matsunaga, Toshiki Sawaki
  • Publication number: 20080276601
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: NISSAN DIESEL MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventors: Toshikazu KATOU, Hideki MATSUNAGA
  • Publication number: 20070266697
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Applicant: NISSAN DIESEL MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Nishina, Toshikazu Katou
  • Publication number: 20070209428
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2004
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: NISSAN DIESEL MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Nishina, Toshikazu Katou, Hiroyuki Kurita