Patents by Inventor Eiichi Hioka
Eiichi Hioka 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: 10132214Abstract: A valve device for an internal combustion engine (1) includes a camshaft (16), a cam (17), a control shaft (15), an input arm (14), a first rocker arm (13a), a second rocker arm (13b), a first valve (603a), a second valve (603b), and a slider (18). The input arm (14) is configured such that a cam torque of the cam (17) is transmitted thereto. The slider (18) is configured to allow the input arm (14) to be supported by the control shaft (15). The slider (18) is configured to support the first rocker arm (13a) in a power transmittable manner such that the cam torque transmitted to the input arm (14) is transmitted to the first rocker arm (13a). The slider (18) includes a torsion portion (23) configured to connect the first rocker arm (13a) with the second rocker arm (13b) such that the cam torque transmitted to the first rocker arm (13a) is transmitted to the second rocker arm (13b) via the torsion portion (23).Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2015Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Eiichi Hioka
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Patent number: 9964066Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder head including an intake port, an exhaust port, a water jacket, an intake valve, an exhaust valve, an intake valve seat, and an exhaust valve seat. The water jacket is positioned between the intake port and the exhaust port. The intake valve includes an intake valve head, and the exhaust valve includes an exhaust valve head. The intake valve contacts an intake valve seat surface of the intake valve seat. The exhaust valve head contacts an exhaust valve seat surface of the exhaust valve seat. The shortest distance between the water jacket and the intake valve seat surface is shorter than the shortest distance between the water jacket and the exhaust valve seat surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2016Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yasuhiro Yamamoto, Takehisa Fujita, Naoyuki Miyara, Hajime Takagawa, Eiichi Hioka
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Patent number: 9765706Abstract: A controller for controlling an internal combustion engine includes a valve timing adjuster, a variable valve lift mechanism and a processor. The processor controls a duty cycle of a drive signal in a selected one of control modes, thereby changing a relative rotational phase of a camshaft relative to an engine output shaft. The control modes include a specific control mode in which the duty cycle of the drive signal is adjusted to change a value of the current through a first motor. The processor performs, when changing the relative rotational phase through execution of the specific control mode, an abnormality diagnosis for the variable valve lift mechanism based on a comparison between the current value at the first motor and a reference current value. The processor sets the reference current value in accordance with a rotation angle of the output shaft of a second motor.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2015Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Eiichi Hioka
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Publication number: 20170254236Abstract: A valve device for an internal combustion engine (1) includes a camshaft (16), a cam (17), a control shaft (15), an input arm (14), a first rocker arm (13a), a second rocker arm (13b), a first valve (603a), a second valve (603b), and a slider (18). The input arm (14) is configured such that a cam torque of the cam (17) is transmitted thereto. The slider (18) is configured to allow the input arm (14) to be supported by the control shaft (15). The slider (18) is configured to support the first rocker arm (13a) in a power transmittable manner such that the cam torque transmitted to the input arm (14) is transmitted to the first rocker arm (13a). The slider (18)includes a torsion portion (23) configured to connect the first rocker arm (13a) with the second rocker arm (13b) such that the cam torque transmitted to the first rocker arm (13a) is transmitted to the second rocker arm (13b) via the torsion portion (23).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2015Publication date: September 7, 2017Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Eiichi HIOKA
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Publication number: 20160348608Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder head including an intake port, an exhaust port, a water jacket, an intake valve, an exhaust valve, an intake valve seat, and an exhaust valve seat. The water jacket is positioned between the intake port and the exhaust port. The intake valve includes an intake valve head, and the exhaust valve includes an exhaust valve head. The intake valve contacts an intake valve seat surface of the intake valve seat. The exhaust valve head contacts an exhaust valve seat surface of the exhaust valve seat. The shortest distance between the water jacket and the intake valve seat surface is shorter than the shortest distance between the water jacket and the exhaust valve seat surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2016Publication date: December 1, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yasuhiro YAMAMOTO, Takehisa FUJITA, Naoyuki MIYARA, Hajime TAKAGAWA, Eiichi HIOKA
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Patent number: 9500141Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a plurality of cylinders, intake valves (31) provided respectively in the cylinders, and a variable valve mechanism (600) for changing a valve characteristic of the intake valves (31). A motor (210) drives the variable valve mechanism (600). A motor controller (150) controls the motor (210). The internal combustion engine can be operated in a cylinder deactivation mode for retaining the intake valves (31) of some of the cylinders in a valve closing state. When the internal combustion engine returns from the cylinder deactivation mode, the motor controller (150) executes overlap adjustment processing for controlling the valve characteristic such that valve opening periods of the intake valves (31) are not overlapped between the cylinders.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2013Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Eiichi Hioka
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Publication number: 20160169124Abstract: A controller for controlling an internal combustion engine includes a valve timing adjuster, a variable valve lift mechanism and a processor. The processor controls a duty cycle of a drive signal in a selected one of control modes, thereby changing a relative rotational phase of a camshaft relative to an engine output shaft. The control modes include a specific control mode in which the duty cycle of the drive signal is adjusted to change a value of the current through a first motor. The processor performs, when changing the relative rotational phase through execution of the specific control mode, an abnormality diagnosis for the variable valve lift mechanism based on a comparison between the current value at the first motor and a reference current value. The processor sets the reference current value in accordance with a rotation angle of the output shaft of a second motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2015Publication date: June 16, 2016Inventor: Eiichi Hioka
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Publication number: 20160061118Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a plurality of cylinders, intake valves (31) provided respectively in the cylinders, and a variable valve mechanism (600) for changing a valve characteristic of the intake valves (31). A motor (210) drives the variable valve mechanism (600). A motor controller (150) controls the motor (210). The internal combustion engine can be operated in a cylinder deactivation mode for retaining the intake valves (31) of some of the cylinders in a valve closing state. When the internal combustion engine returns from the cylinder deactivation mode, the motor controller (150) executes overlap adjustment processing for controlling the valve characteristic such that valve opening periods of the intake valves (31) are not overlapped between the cylinders.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2013Publication date: March 3, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Eiichi HIOKA
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Publication number: 20150300217Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a variable valve mechanism that takes a valve characteristic of an intake valve, and changes the valve characteristic according to an engine operating state; a turbocharger that includes a bypass passage that bypasses a turbine wheel arranged in an exhaust passage by connecting a portion of the exhaust passage that is upstream of the turbine wheel to a portion of the exhaust passage that is downstream of the turbine wheel, and a waste gate valve that adjusts a flow path area of the bypass passage; and a control apparatus configured to, when there is a request to increase the valve characteristic according to a change in the engine operating state, change the valve characteristic to an increase side with the variable valve mechanism after opening the waste gate valve to an opening amount that is larger than before the request.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2014Publication date: October 22, 2015Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Eiichi HIOKA
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Patent number: 8656874Abstract: An electronic control unit (100) detects the position of an output shaft (221) by counting a position count value based on pulse signals generated from position sensors (S4, S5) in accordance with rotation of a motor (210). The electronic control unit (100) determines that the motor (210) is in a predetermined rotational phase, based on the pulse signals generated from the position sensors (S4, S5). The electronic control unit (100) determines the number of revolutions that have been made by the motor (210) when the determination is made, based on the magnitude of current applied to the motor (210) when the determination is made, and updates the position count value based on a reference count value stored in association with the predetermined rotational phase.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2011Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Eiichi Hioka, Shunsuke Habara
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Patent number: 8525463Abstract: A malfunction determination device for a motor control system, outputs a position signal that indicates a moved position of a movable member of a motor and a direction signal that indicates a movement direction of the movable member. The malfunction determination device determines a malfunction has occurred if a relationship between the position signal and the direction signal differs from that when the motor control system is operating normally. The malfunction determination device outputs a pulse signal that varies periodically along with variations in the moved position of the movable member as the position signal; outputs a periodic pulse signal in the same phase with the position signal as the direction signal if the movable member is moving in one direction; and outputs a periodic pulse signal in an opposite phase to the position signal as the direction signal if the movable member is moving in the other direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2010Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Eiichi Hioka, Takashi Nakagawa, Masahiro Ito
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Publication number: 20130092111Abstract: An electronic control unit (100) detects the position of an output shaft (221) by counting a position count value based on pulse signals generated from position sensors (S4, S5) in accordance with rotation of a motor (210). The electronic control unit (100) determines that the motor (210) is in a predetermined rotational phase, based on the pulse signals generated from the position sensors (S4, S5). The electronic control unit (100) determines the number of revolutions that have been made by the motor (210) when the determination is made, based on the magnitude of current applied to the motor (210) when the determination is made, and updates the position count value based on a reference count value stored in association with the predetermined rotational phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2011Publication date: April 18, 2013Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Eiichi Hioka, Shunsuke Habara
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Patent number: 8386151Abstract: An ECU executes a program based on which, when a fuel-supply cutoff control is executed or when a hybrid vehicle travels in a second mode in which the engine is stopped and the hybrid vehicle travels using only the drive power generated by a second MG an intake VVT mechanism is controlled so that a valve phase is brought to the mechanically determined most retarded phase. The phase, which is detected by a cam position sensor, is learned as the most retarded phase.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2008Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masayoshi Hattori, Tsukasa Abe, Eiichi Hioka, Daigo Ando
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Publication number: 20100270963Abstract: A malfunction determination device for a motor control system, outputs a position signal that indicates a moved position of a movable member of a motor and a direction signal that indicates a movement direction of the movable member. The malfunction determination device determines a malfunction has occurred if a relationship between the position signal and the direction signal differs from that when the motor control system is operating normally. The malfunction determination device outputs a pulse signal that varies periodically along with variations in the moved position of the movable member as the position signal; outputs a periodic pulse signal in the same phase with the position signal as the direction signal if the movable member is moving in one direction; and outputs a periodic pulse signal in an opposite phase to the position signal as the direction signal if the movable member is moving in the other direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2010Publication date: October 28, 2010Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Eiichi Hioka, Takashi Nakagawa, Masahiro Ito
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Publication number: 20100106355Abstract: An ECU executes a program based on which, when a fuel-supply cutoff control is executed or when a hybrid vehicle travels in a second mode in which the engine is stopped and the hybrid vehicle travels using only the drive power generated by a second MG an intake VVT mechanism is controlled so that a valve phase is brought to the mechanically determined most retarded phase. The phase, which is detected by a cam position sensor, is learned as the most retarded phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2008Publication date: April 29, 2010Inventors: Masayoshi Hattori, Tsukasa Abe, Eiichi Hioka, Daigo Ando