Having Specific Transducer Patents (Class 123/494)
  • Patent number: 11712704
    Abstract: Disclosed is a paint discharging nozzle designed for discharging paint supplied at a predetermined pressure. The paint discharging nozzle includes a housing having a nozzle hole through which paint is discharged; a paint chamber configured to supply paint to the nozzle hole; a needle valve disposed in the paint chamber, the needle valve having a tip end configured to close or open the nozzle hole; a driving mechanism configured to drive the needle valve to advance toward and retract from the nozzle hole; and a synthetic resin layer formed to cover the tip end of the needle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Keiko Maruyama, Shohei Ozawa, Shusei Murai
  • Patent number: 11585287
    Abstract: An arrangement for cylinder detection in a four-stroke internal combustion engine is disclosed. The arrangement comprises a first disc connected to a crankshaft, the first disc comprising a first mark (M11-M13) within each an interspace angle (?), and a second disc connected to a camshaft and comprising one second mark (M21-M26) per number of cylinders. The first mark (M11-M13) is arranged on a first disc, or the plurality of first marks (M11-M13) are arranged in relation to each other on the first disc, and the second marks (M21-M26) are arranged in relation to each other on the second disc such that for each interspace angle (?) the relevant first mark (M11-M13) is detectable by a first sensor and the relevant second mark (M21-M26) is detectable by a second sensor at different relative rotational positions between the first disc and the second disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Sebastian Zamani, Andrey Gromov, Hans Svensson, Ulrik Erikstam, Anders Larsson
  • Patent number: 11326564
    Abstract: Internal combustion engines having an external mixture formation and compensation tank for avoiding reignition. An internal combustion engine is provided having an external mixture formation including at least one exhaust system, at least one intake system, the intake system including at least one intake manifold, at least one throttle valve, at least one mixture forming device, at least one compensation tank, and at least one air filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Deutz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Benedikt Nork, Klaus-Peter Bark, Peter Kipke
  • Patent number: 11221246
    Abstract: A physical quantity sensing device is installed to a circuit board and is configured to output a signal, which corresponds to a physical quantity of air flowing through a physical quantity measurement passage. A physical quantity measurement passage inlet, which is communicated with the physical quantity measurement passage, includes a first inner surface and a second inner surface. A second distance, which is measured from the physical quantity sensing device to the second inner surface in a plate thickness direction of the circuit board, is larger than a first distance, which is measured from the circuit board to the first inner surface in the plate thickness direction of the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuma Tsuchiya, Kengo Itou, Noboru Kitahara, Yasushi Goka
  • Patent number: 11131261
    Abstract: A method for adjusting an air-fuel ratio of a turbocharged engine that operates without blow though and with blow through is disclosed. In one example, the method provides a way to provide a feed forward fuel adjustment in the presence of engine blow though so that a closed loop controller does not have to exceed its range of control authority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Owen Toms, Paul Mahlon Ranspach, Stephen William Magner, Kenneth John Behr, Zena Yanqing Yee
  • Patent number: 11060471
    Abstract: An engine system includes: an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders; a bypass valve arranged to receive exhaust output from at least a dedicated one of the cylinders and to selectively one of: direct the exhaust through an exhaust system to atmosphere; and direct the exhaust to an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve; the EGR valve, where the EGR valve is configured to, when open, enable flow of the exhaust to an intake manifold of the internal combustion engine; and an intake air valve located between an air cleaner and a mass airflow (MAF) sensor and configured to, when open, enable flow of ambient air to the intake manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Edward J. Keating, Robert S. McAlpine, Lisa M. Marcella-O'Leary
  • Patent number: 11035291
    Abstract: A marine outboard motor is provided with an internal combustion engine comprising an engine block defining at least one cylinder, an air intake configured to deliver a flow of air to the at least one cylinder; and an air intake duct forming part of an air intake path for delivering the flow of air to the air intake. The engine further includes a flow sensing arrangement located in the air intake duct and comprising a flow meter configured to generate a signal indicative of a flow rate of the flow of air through the air intake duct, and a bluff body located in the air intake duct upstream of the flow meter, wherein the flow meter is a vortex shedding flow meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: COX POWERTRAIN LIMITED
    Inventor: Richard Cornwell
  • Patent number: 10947922
    Abstract: A first intake air amount an engine is calculated based on a detected value of an intake air flow rate of an air flowmeter. A second intake air amount is calculated based on any one of a detected value of an intake pipe pressure and a throttle opening degree instead of the detected value of the intake air flow rate. When it is determined that the intake pulsation is not large, a difference amount of the second intake air amount from the first intake air amount is calculated. A corrected second intake air amount, which is a sum of the second intake air amount and the difference amount, is set as an intake air amount calculated value when it is determined that the intake pulsation is large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takafumi Yamada, Hiroyuki Shibata, Shunsuke Kurita, Takahiro Anami
  • Patent number: 10876872
    Abstract: A physical quantity detection device includes: a housing; a circuit board; a resin material which covers the circuit board; a cover which forms a circuit chamber in which the circuit board is disposed and a flow path through which a gas to be measured passes together with the housing; and a conductor which is disposed to be exposed to the flow path, in which the conductor and the circuit board are electrically connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Tsubasa Watanabe, Hiroaki Hoshika, Takayuki Yogo
  • Patent number: 10831949
    Abstract: A novel nonlinear method for area-wide near surface air temperature precision retrieval is described. The steps include: First, construct the 1st sub-model modelVEC1 to the f-th sub-model modelVECf. Establish and normalize raw data vectors of each gridded pixel sBlkVEC in the targeted area. Calculate the retrieved full maps (surfTf) of near surface air temperatures using each sub-model. Then, identify abnormal samples and define their near-range regions in surfTf Apply a selective arithmetic mean (SAM) approach to achieve precision temperature map surfT. And finally apply further modification to the pixels of surfT where pixlf?badsurfT?f is true to all f=1, 2, 3, . . . . Using the super nonlinear algorithm, this invention provides a solution of retrieving near surface air temperature based on combinations of various factors (information fusion) to achieve satisfied prediction errors, which are independent of cloud levels and topographic characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignees: GUANGXI INSTITUTE OF METEOROLOGICAL DISASTER-REDUCING RESEARCH, DEPARTMENT OF GUANGXI FORESTRY PEST MANAGEMENT, GUANGXI FORESTRY BUREAU
    Inventors: Jianglin Qin, Xiuhao Yang, Jitong Luo, He Fu, Xiufeng Lei, Jun Wei, Yuanrui Qin, Zixin Yang
  • Patent number: 10612957
    Abstract: A sensor system for determining at least one parameter of a fluid medium flowing through a channel, in particular of an intake air mass flow of an internal combustion engine. The sensor system includes a sensor housing, in particular a plug-in sensor, which is introduced or introducible into a flow tube in which the channel is formed, and at least one sensor chip, which is situated in the channel for determining the parameter of the fluid medium. The sensor housing includes a housing body and a cover. The channel has an inlet into the channel, which faces in a direction opposite the main flow direction of the fluid medium, and at least one outlet out of the channel. The channel is formed in the cover, and the cover is connected to the housing body with the aid of a force-locked connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Kaufmann, Hans Beyrich, Torsten Mais, Ulrich Wagner
  • Patent number: 10584650
    Abstract: An example method for operating an internal combustion engine may include: measuring pressure oscillations for a cylinder in the inlet tract at a defined operating point during normal operation; generating a corresponding oscillation signal; determining a crankshaft phase angle corresponding to the oscillation signal; and from the pressure oscillation signal, using discrete Fourier transformation to calculate the actual phase position of a selected signal frequency; determining a further comparison phase position in the same way from the selected signal frequency in the absence of fuel injection; calculating an actual phase position difference; on the basis of the difference, taking into consideration reference phase position differences of the same signal frequency for different fuel compositions, to identify a fuel composition of the presently used fuel; and adapting operating parameters of the engine based on the identified composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Tobias Braun, Gerhard Haft, Rainer List
  • Patent number: 10539102
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for an air intake assembly configured for use with Pro Stock vehicles comprising fuel injection equipped engines. The air intake assembly comprises an air inlet that includes a distal opening disposed in a forward direction at a front of the vehicle and configured to direct incident air into the air intake assembly. An air duct is joined with the air inlet by way of a first coupler configured to maintain an airtight seal between the air inlet and the air duct. A throttle body adapter is joined with the air duct by way of a second coupler configured to maintain an airtight seal therebetween. The throttle body adapter is configured to establish an airtight coupling between the air intake assembly and a throttle body of the engine, such that the incident air is directed into the throttle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: K&N Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Steve Williams
  • Patent number: 10519889
    Abstract: An ECU functioning as a diagnostic device includes an information acquisition portion acquiring a flow rate of a fluid flowing through an intake pipe, and a diagnostic portion performing a diagnosis on a second purge pipe employed as a fuel gas pipe regarding a connection failure. The diagnostic portion diagnoses a connection failure of the fuel gas pipe according to magnitude of a pulsation of the flow rate acquired by the information acquisition portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanori Kurosawa, Kosuke Nakano
  • Patent number: 10508611
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a control device and a control method for an internal combustion engine including a fuel injection valve and an electric fuel pump. In stopping the internal combustion engine, the control device stops driving of the fuel pump and then fuel injection by the fuel injection valve, and increases the total amount of fuel injection by the fuel injection valve after stopping of driving of the fuel pump as the temperature of fuel in stopping the internal combustion engine decreases, thereby reducing a fuel pressure in a stop period. In this manner, fuel leakage from the fuel injection valve in the stop period can be reduced with a simple configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshitatsu Nakamura, Tomoyuki Murakami
  • Patent number: 10458828
    Abstract: A heater control circuit in a fluid flow sensor. The circuit comprises first, second, and third resistors, a heater resistor, a trimmable resistor, and a switch. A positive terminal of the first resistor is connected to a positive terminal of the trimmable resistor, a negative terminal of the first resistor is connected to a positive terminal of the heater resistor, a negative terminal of the trimmable resistor is connected to a positive terminal of the second resistor, a negative terminal of the second resistor is connected to a positive terminal of the third resistor, and a negative terminal of the heater resistor is connected to a negative terminal of the third resistor, the terminals of the second resistor are attached to the terminals of the switch, where the switch is configured closed in a calibration mode and configured open in a flow sensing mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew J Milley
  • Patent number: 10436157
    Abstract: An apparatus for in-line re-calibration of engine load signal, the apparatus having a housing and a first connector disposed on the housing, adapted to plug into an electrical connection socket of an automotive air intake sensor. A second connector is disposed on the housing, adapted to mimic the electrical connection socket of the automotive air intake sensor. An electronic circuit is disposed in the housing, the electronic circuit adapted to re-calibrate signals from the automotive air intake sensor and deliver the re-calibrated signals the to the second connector. The housing is adapted to plug in-line directly into the electrical connection socket of the automotive air intake sensor, whereby the corresponding electrical wiring connector to an engine control unit plugs directly into the second connector of the housing, completing the inline connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Inventor: Quirt Evan Crawford
  • Patent number: 10400685
    Abstract: A method for correction of intake pulsation is provided. The method includes calculating a basic air charge amount of a cylinder or a charge amount conversion coefficient based on a measurement value of a sensor disposed in an intake system of an engine. A basic pulsation compensation coefficient for correcting an intake amount from a basic waveform of pulsation is calculated based on opening/closing of an intake valve and engine RPM. The basic pulsation compensation coefficient is then corrected when the basic waveform of the pulsation is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Min-Kyu Won, Hyung-Soo Do, Soo-Hyeok Kang, Dae-Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 10288465
    Abstract: A differential flow-meter for measuring the weight loss in dialysis treatments. The differential flow-meter is of the “thermal anemometer” type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: MEDICA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Marco Bellei, Davide Bagnoli, Luciano Fecondini
  • Patent number: 10224120
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor scram control system for a nuclear reactor includes a solenoid pilot valve (SSPV). The SSPV includes a solenoid indicator light electrically coupled to an SSPV solenoid of the SSPV. The solenoid indicator light may be selectively activated based on an energization state of the SSPV solenoid, thereby providing an immediate and visually observable indication of the SSPV energization state. The immediate and visually observable indication of the SSPV energization state may enable quicker and more reliable verification of SSPV solenoid energization state. As a result, operator radiation exposure associated with verification may be reduced, and a risk of inadvertent nuclear reactor scram based on a de-energized SSPV solenoid may be reduced, thus streamlined nuclear reactor operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLC
    Inventors: John Robert Bass, Ted Gordon Bahensky, Sean Wilson Miers, Robert A. Ayer
  • Patent number: 10203257
    Abstract: In order to improve sensor characteristics and minimize variation in said characteristics, a pressure sensor is positioned upstream of a humidity sensor so as to help prevent water from contacting the humidity sensor and dust from adhering to the humidity sensor. This physical-quantity detection device 300 is characterized by having a detection unit 422 that detects humidity, a detection unit 421 that detects pressure, a circuit board 400 that has an electronic circuit that processes detection signals, and a housing 302 that accommodates the circuit board 400. The physical-quantity detection device 300 is also characterized in that the detection units 422, 421 are laid out on the surface of the circuit board 400 in a straight line in the direction in which a gas being measured flows, with the detection unit 421 that detects pressure positioned upstream of the detection unit 422 that detects humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Yogo, Hiroaki Hoshika, Takahiro Miki
  • Patent number: 10202914
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining a load of a canister included in an evaporative emissions system of a vehicle. One example method comprises flowing each of purge vapors, refueling vapors, and breakthrough vapors through a common hydrocarbon sensor and using output from the hydrocarbon sensor based on the flowing of different vapors to estimate the load of the canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 10184413
    Abstract: A control system comprising a variable valve timing mechanism (B) able to set a closing timing of an intake valve (7), a fuel injector (13) for feeding fuel to a combustion chamber (5), an intake air amount detector (17) for detecting an amount of intake air fed to an intake passage from the outside air, and a pressure sensor (16) for detecting the pressure in the intake passage downstream of a throttle valve (16). When air in the combustion chamber (5) is blown back to the intake passage when injection of fuel is restarted after the fuel injection is stopped at the time of deceleration operation, the basis for calculation of the fuel injection amount in the initial cycle when fuel injection is restarted is switched from the amount of intake air detected by the intake air amount detector (17) to the pressure in the intake passage detected by the pressure sensor (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukihiro Nakasaka
  • Patent number: 10138828
    Abstract: An evaporated fuel processing device utilizing a flow rate control valve as a valve positioned in a passage connecting a fuel tank with a canister. The device includes: a valve opening means for opening the flow rate control valve at a constant speed; an internal pressure sensor; a valve opening start position detecting means for acquiring a second derivative value of the internal pressure after a valve opening motion of the flow rate control valve has started and for detecting a valve opening start position of the flow rate control valve based on the second derivative value; a learning means for storing the valve opening start position; and a valve opening speed change means for changing a valve opening speed of the valve opening means based on a variation speed of the internal pressure before the valve opening motion of the flow rate control valve has started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junya Kimoto, Yoshikazu Miyabe
  • Patent number: 10060394
    Abstract: An evaporative system is for an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine has an intake pipe equipped with a supercharger to pressurize intake air. The evaporative system includes an ejector, an ejector passage, and a pressure sensor. The ejector is to draw intake airflow from a downstream of the supercharger to an upstream of the supercharger to cause a negative pressure to draw fuel vapor into the upstream of the supercharger. The ejector passage is branched from the downstream of the supercharger and is returned through the ejector to the upstream of the supercharger. The pressure sensor is communicated with the ejector passage to detect pressure in the ejector passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Paolo Guidi
  • Patent number: 10012198
    Abstract: A method for testing a high-pressure pump, particularly a high-pressure pump which is provided to inject fuel into a combustion engine, the method including filling the high-pressure pump with a fluid prior to switching it on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhard Hoss, Dirk Doerhoefer, Joachim Goeser, Karl-Martin Kutteruf, Markus Vogel, Martin Maier, Thilo Bareuther
  • Patent number: 9989390
    Abstract: In order to provide a flow measuring device high in thermal responsiveness, the flow measuring device includes a temperature detecting element 2 for temperature detection, and a conductive metal lead frame 3 that supports and fixes the temperature detecting element. Of the metal lead frame, a part of the metal lead frame mounted with the temperature detecting element has a portion which is thinner than the thickness of the other metal lead frame or narrower than the width of the other metal lead frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinobu Tashiro, Keiji Hanzawa, Noboru Tokuyasu, Takeshi Morino, Ryosuke Doi
  • Patent number: 9976523
    Abstract: A method and diagnostic facility for checking a plurality of magnetic valves in a high-pressure tank system of a motor vehicle is described. A magnetic valve is activated for opening the magnetic valve. A pressure in a high-pressure tank system is measured while activating the magnetic valve. A valve is determined to be defective if during measuring the pressure a drop in pressure is found.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ayhan Sarikaya, Andreas Jauss, Thorsten Bender
  • Patent number: 9945884
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a method of measuring wind speed includes measuring atmospheric pressure at a first pressure sensor arranged inside a case and shielded from wind, measuring air pressure at a second pressure sensor arranged at an opening in the case, and determining wind speed at the opening in the case based on measuring the atmospheric pressure and the air pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Andreas Froemel, Waldemar Marsetz
  • Patent number: 9938919
    Abstract: A method is provided for setting combustion parameters of an internal combustion engine operated with liquefied natural gas, the combustion parameters being sensed during operation of the internal combustion engine and being stored upon shutoff of the internal combustion engine. Also provided is a controller for carrying out the method. Provision is made that during a stoppage of the internal combustion engine, the duration of the stoppage, the ambient temperature and/or tank temperature, and the pressure in a liquefied gas tank are sensed; the influence thereof on a required adaptation of the combustion parameters that are to be set is identified from a characteristics diagram; and from the stored combustion parameters and the adaptation, initial combustion parameters are identified and are used upon startup of the internal combustion engine in order to control it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Achim Wach, Juergen Foerster
  • Patent number: 9874415
    Abstract: An airflow sensor for a heat sink has a first portion having a first electrical point of contact, a second portion have a second electrical point of contact, and a deformable portion made of an electroactive material electrically coupled to the first and second portions. The deformable portion has first electrical properties measured between the first and second electrical points of contact when there is no airflow and the deformable portion is in a first position, and has second electrical properties different than the first electrical properties when a source of airflow blows air against the deformable portion, thereby causing the deformable portion to extend to a second position farther away from the source of airflow than the first position. The airflow sensor can be incorporated into a heat sink for an electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Anderl, Bret P. Elison, Phillip V. Mann, Chelsie M. Peterson
  • Patent number: 9835485
    Abstract: For the functional testing of an arrangement for dynamic fuel consumption measurement, at least two reference flows are produced through successive operation, at different frequencies, of a system pump (6) provided in any case for the regulated fuel flow, and the gradient determined from the reference measured values obtained is compared with the known gradients of the characteristic curve of the system pump (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Tauch, Rudolf Christian
  • Patent number: 9797520
    Abstract: A flow control apparatus and a program are disclosed herein. A flow control apparatus includes a piezoelectric element coupled to a valve element configuring a flow regulating valve and that works the valve element to regulate a flow, a driving circuit that applies a voltage to the piezoelectric element to drive the piezoelectric element, an accepting means for accepting a target flow, and an output means for outputting a signal corresponding to the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element to the driving circuit, to change the flow so as to coincide with the target flow. When the target flow is changed, the output means transiently outputs a signal corresponding to a voltage value different from a target voltage value corresponding to the target flow after the change, and then the output means outputs a signal corresponding to a voltage change converging at the target voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruaki Ohtsuki, Masashi Sonoda
  • Patent number: 9790882
    Abstract: An individual cylinder air-fuel ratio estimation of estimating an air-fuel ratio of an individual cylinder is performed on a sensed value of an air-fuel ratio sensor set in an exhaust gas collection part of an engine, and an individual cylinder air-fuel ratio control of controlling the air-fuel ratio of the individual cylinder is performed in such a way that a variation in the air-fuel ratio between the cylinders becomes small on the basis of an estimated air-fuel ratio of the individual cylinder. Further, it is determined whether or not a misfire of the engine is caused and when it is determined that the misfire of the engine is caused, the individual cylinder air-fuel ratio estimation and the individual cylinder air-fuel ratio control are stopped and an individual cylinder correction value by the individual cylinder air-fuel ratio control is reset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noriaki Iwase, Yasuo Mukai
  • Patent number: 9677489
    Abstract: A method and control unit for a start of an Otto engine operated at low temperatures, using ethanol and/or gasoline, having direct injection. The method includes generating by a high pressure pump a fuel pressure in a high pressure system connected to a high pressure reservoir; a sensor monitoring the fuel pressure in the reservoir and the system; injecting the fuel, by an injector, from the reservoir into a cylinder of the engine, the fuel pressure, an injection quantity and a fuel quantity being specified by a control unit based on, sensor the fuel pressure being specified based on the operating point of the engine up to an upper pressure which is below a starting pressure to which the fuel is increased before the fuel injection, and the fuel pressure in the reservoir and the system being limited to a maximum by an opening pressure of a limiting valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Hans-Friedrich Schwarz, Peter Schenk
  • Patent number: 9657704
    Abstract: An electromagnetic relay for starting a motor of a starter includes a resistor to reduce an activation current that flows through the motor from a battery for activation of the motor, a relay contact that causes the starting current to flow while bypassing the resistor, a relay coil that forms an electromagnet when excited by energization, and a control circuit that controls an excited state of the relay coil for activation of the motor to open or close the relay contact, thus controlling energization of the motor from the battery via the resistor. The electromagnetic relay incorporates therein the control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Suzuki, Mitsuhiro Murata
  • Patent number: 9614451
    Abstract: A power apparatus for an external load comprises a transformer, a power coordinating unit, a control unit and an internal load. The transformer is adapted for transforming an input voltage into an output voltage and an auxiliary voltage in response to an operating signal. The transformer comprises a first coil, a second coil and an auxiliary coil electromagnetically coupled to one another. The power coordinating unit comprises a first resistor, a transistor, a second resistor, a diode and a capacitor. The control unit is coupled between the first node and the first coil and configured to selectively generate the operating signal. When the control unit operates in a protective mode, the control unit is configured not to generate the operating signal, the power coordinating unit is configured to generate a coordinating current supplied to the internal load by using a starting voltage of the first node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: PEGATRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chao-Tung Fan Chiang, Jheng-Ting Jhou, Ming-Lin Hu
  • Patent number: 9587970
    Abstract: An airflow measuring apparatus includes a sub-passage that takes in part of flow of fluid flowing through an intake pipe, a sensor element disposed in the sub-passage to measure the flow of fluid, a circuit part converting the flow of fluid detected by the sensor element into an electric signal, a connector part connected to the circuit part to output a signal externally, and a casing supporting the sensor element and the circuit part. The sensor element is disposed in the intake pipe, and includes a cavity disposed at a semiconductor substrate and a diaphragm including a thin film part that covers the cavity. The sensor element on a lead frame has surfaces that are mold-packaged with resin so that the diaphragm and part of the lead frame are exposed. One hole is disposed at the lead frame for communication between the cavity and exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Morino, Shinobu Tashiro, Noboru Tokuyasu, Ryosuke Doi, Keiji Hanzawa
  • Patent number: 9581102
    Abstract: A method and control apparatus are disclosed for operating a fuel-metering valve associated to a fuel pump arranged to supply fuel into a fuel rail, the fuel-metering valve having a valve member and an electric actuator arranged to move that member for regulating a fuel flow-rate. The control apparatus includes an electronic control unit connected to the fuel-metering valve and configured to implement a method of control using a target value, a nominal function corrected value to set an adjustable parameter of a control signal for the fuel-metering valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Stefano Nieddu
  • Patent number: 9556839
    Abstract: A method for operating a fuel injection system includes detecting the pressure prevailing in a pressure accumulator using a fuel injection valve piezo actuator that includes, in addition to the active piezo region used to actuate the closing element, a passive piezo region that acts as a pressure sensor. Using this pressure sensor, the closing element force acting on the passive piezo region, and therefore the pressure prevailing in the pressure accumulator, can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Hong Zhang, Detlev Schoeppe
  • Patent number: 9541434
    Abstract: A sensor system has at least one first sensor element for measuring a first physical variable and a second sensor element for measuring a second physical variable. The first sensor element is part of an application-specific integrated circuit which, in addition to the first sensor element, has further electronic circuits. The second sensor element is arranged separately and outside the application-specific integrated circuit. The second sensor element is electrically connected to the application-specific integrated circuit via a first connection point. The application-specific integrated circuit is configurable via the first connection point and the measurement signal from the second sensor element can be read out via the first connection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Knittel, Stephan Schürer, Stephen Setescak
  • Patent number: 9435279
    Abstract: When two abnormal cylinders are causing variation abnormality, these abnormal cylinders are identified. A parameter correlated with a degree of fluctuation of output from an air-fuel ratio sensor installed in an exhaust passage common to a plurality of cylinders is calculated. Based on the calculated parameter, inter-cylinder air-fuel ratio variation abnormality is detected. The following steps are carried out: (A) a step of forcibly changing amounts of fuel injected for two of the plurality of cylinders and calculating the parameter, (B) a step of changing the two cylinders to other two cylinders and repeating the step (A), and (C) a step of identifying two cylinders causing variation abnormality based on a plurality of the parameters calculated in the steps (A) and (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Iwazaki, Kenji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9410509
    Abstract: A system for a multi-cylinder compression ignition engine includes a plurality of heaters, at least one heater per cylinder, with each heater configured to heat air introduced into a cylinder. Independent control of the heaters is provided on a cylinder-by-cylinder basis. A combustion parameter is determined for combustion in each cylinder of the engine, and control of the heater for that cylinder is based on the value of the combustion parameter for combustion in that cylinder. A method for influencing combustion in a multi-cylinder compression ignition engine, including determining a combustion parameter for combustion taking place in a cylinder of the engine and controlling a heater configured to heat air introduced into that cylinder, is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory T. Roth, Mark C. Sellnau
  • Patent number: 9353696
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus for controlling combustion in an internal combustion engine having a fuel delivery system includes a cylinder contents prediction module configured to predict at least one condition within a combustion cylinder of the internal combustion engine. The apparatus also includes a fueling parameter selection module configured to generate a fuel command for the fuel delivery system. The fuel command is based at least partially on the predicted at least one condition within the combustion cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Cummins IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn Midlam-Mohler, Jason Meyer, Stephen Yurkovich, Vivek Sujan
  • Patent number: 9249739
    Abstract: A controller for controlling a power source in response to a throttle input, the throttle input representing the status of a throttle control in a range from a minimum state to a maximum state, the controller being configured to control the power source in dependence on both the current status of the throttle control and the current direction of change of that status between the maximum state and the minimum state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: McLaren Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Jonathan Smith, Davide Bizzarri, Davide Montosi
  • Patent number: 9243580
    Abstract: An engine system and method for reducing soot produced by an engine is disclosed. In one example, during purging of stored fuel vapors, a number of fuel injections to a cylinder during a cylinder cycle are maximized to reduce soot formation. The system and method may reduce soot formation within an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Vincent Edward Mariucci
  • Patent number: 9243577
    Abstract: A sensor for detecting the mass flow rate and the temperature of a fluid flow has a mass flow rate sensor having a mass flow rate sensor element, a temperature sensor having a temperature sensor element, and an interface for power supply. The sensor converts the measured values detected in analog by the mass flow rate sensor element and the temperature sensor element into digital output signals. In order to specify the simplest and most economical sensor possible for detecting the mass flow rate and the temperature of a fluid flow, at least one analog/digital converter is arranged in the sensor, which analog/digital converter converts the analog measured values of the mass flow rate sensor element and/or the analog measured value of the temperature sensor element into digital output signals and provides the digital output signals at a single digital interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Knittel, Stephan Schürer
  • Patent number: 9222426
    Abstract: Embodiments for controlling cylinder air flow are provided. In one example, a method for controlling airflow into a cylinder of an engine comprises, if a previous cylinder airflow is different than a desired cylinder airflow, allocating flow into an intake manifold between a throttle and an EGR valve to provide the desired cylinder airflow while maintaining a desired EGR amount in the cylinder. In this way, transient air flow requests may be met without delay while maintaining desired cylinder EGR amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Eric Rollinger, Freeman Carter Gates, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Rommel Racelis
  • Patent number: 9200611
    Abstract: The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and is intended to carry out ignition to a mixture in a more stable manner in a multi-fuel internal combustion engine. In the control apparatus for a multi-fuel internal combustion engine which is able to be operated by mixed combustion of a plurality of kinds of fuels, a mixing ratio of the plurality of kinds of fuels is controlled by a mixing ratio control unit, and ignition timing of a spark plug is controlled by an ignition timing control unit, in such manner that a required discharge voltage is made equal to or less than a voltage which is lower by a fixed value than a voltage to be applied to said spark plug (S104, S108).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Taniguchi, Masahiko Masubuchi, Hiroshi Eto
  • Patent number: 9140205
    Abstract: A method for operating a pressure-regulating valve of a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine of, in particular, a motor vehicle; the fuel injection system including a pressure reservoir for storing pressurized fuel, as well as a feed device for delivering fuel to the pressure reservoir; and fuel being removable from the pressure reservoir via the pressure-regulating valve. In an overrun mode of the internal combustion engine, a delivery quantity of fuel delivered to the pressure reservoir by the feed device is set to a value greater than zero, and that a fuel pressure in the pressure reservoir is ascertained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Henning Hermes, Andreas Sommerer, Joerg Nafe, Markus Viereck