Patents by Inventor Fumikazu Satou

Fumikazu Satou 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: 9005082
    Abstract: An ECU increases an engine rotation speed when the ECU determines that an inclination angle of an uphill is larger than or equal to a predetermined value, an accelerator is off and a vehicle speed in a direction opposite to a travelling direction of a vehicle, indicated by a specified range, is increasing. Subsequently, the ECU acquires an engine stall predicted vehicle speed, and calculates a predetermined value used in an immediate engine stall determination condition from a current rate of increase per unit time of a turbine rotation speed. Then, the ECU determines that immediate engine stall determination is affirmative when a rotation speed difference between the engine rotation speed and the turbine rotation speed becomes smaller than the predetermined value, and executes engine stall prevention control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Okamura, Takao Nishimura, Masatomo Yoshihara, Fumikazu Satou
  • Publication number: 20140287873
    Abstract: An ECU increases an engine rotation speed when the ECU determines that an inclination angle of an uphill is larger than or equal to a predetermined value, an accelerator is off and a vehicle speed in a direction opposite to a travelling direction of a vehicle, indicated by a specified range, is increasing. Subsequently, the ECU acquires an engine stall predicted vehicle speed, and calculates a predetermined value used in an immediate engine stall determination condition from a current rate of increase per unit time of a turbine rotation speed. Then, the ECU determines that immediate engine stall determination is affirmative when a rotation speed difference between the engine rotation speed and the turbine rotation speed becomes smaller than the predetermined value, and executes engine stall prevention control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Okamura, Takao Nishimura, Masatomo Yoshihara, Fumikazu Satou
  • Patent number: 8161952
    Abstract: An electronically controlled blow-by gas returning apparatus for an internal combustion engine which corrects a fuel injection amount is disclosed. This blow-by gas returning apparatus is provided with an electronically controlled ventilation valve and a control unit. The ventilation valve regulates the flow rate of blow-by gas. The control unit controls the ventilation valve. The control unit controls the opening degree of the ventilation valve such that the actual value of the opening degree of the ventilation valve is maintained at a demand value of the opening degree of the ventilation valve. The control unit corrects the demand value based on the degree of enrichment of the actual air-fuel ratio in relation to a target air-fuel ratio and an intake air amount which is the amount of air fed into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Fumikazu Satou
  • Patent number: 8145406
    Abstract: An abnormality diagnosis device for diagnosing abnormality in a positive crankcase ventilation apparatus including a PCV passage, which is for supplying blow-by gas to an intake passage of an engine, and a PCV valve, which is for regulating the flow rate of blow-by gas in the PCV passage. The diagnosis device varies a control amount of the PCV valve to determine the occurrence of an abnormality in the PCV passage and PCV valve and performs abnormality diagnosis in a first determination mode when the amount of fuel components in the blow-by gas is less than a reference amount and in a second determination mode when the amount is greater than the reference amount. A varying amount of the control amount of the PCV valve in the second determination mode is smaller than that of the control amount of the PCV valve in the first determination mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Fumikazu Satou
  • Patent number: 7788023
    Abstract: A hybrid electronic control unit sends a combustion start command to an engine ECU when the rotation speed of an engine reaches a combustion start rotation speed by engine cranking. The engine ECU sends an initial explosion advance notification to the hybrid electronic control unit when the crank position of the engine reaches a specific position prior to an ignition timing of an initial explosion cylinder by a preset crank angle ?ec. Ignition of the initial explosion cylinder is performed at a timing when the crank position is further rotated by the preset crank angle ?ec. The hybrid electronic control unit sends a torque command in view of a counter torque T? to a motor ECU after elapse of a preset time period tv.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daigo Ando, Fumikazu Satou, Takeshi Kanayama
  • Patent number: 7751965
    Abstract: When a start command of an engine is given in the presence of the driver's power demand, the start control sets the ignition timing of the engine to a power demand ignition timing, in order to enable quick output of a large power from the engine in response to the driver's power demand. When the start command of the engine is given in the absence of the driver's power demand in a vehicle drive state, there is little possibility of the occurrence of gear chattering noise because of application of a torque to a driveshaft. The start control accordingly sets the ignition timing of the engine to a vibration control ignition timing, in order to reduce the vibration of the vehicle body. When the start command of the engine is given in the absence of the driver's power demand in a vehicle stop state, on the other hand, application of a small torque may cause the occurrence of chattering noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daigo Ando, Fumikazu Satou, Takeshi Kanayama
  • Publication number: 20090256513
    Abstract: A hybrid electronic control unit sends a combustion start command to an engine ECU when the rotation speed of an engine reaches a combustion start rotation speed by engine cranking. The engine ECU sends an initial explosion advance notification to the hybrid electronic control unit when the crank position of the engine reaches a specific position prior to an ignition timing of an initial explosion cylinder by a preset crank angle ?ec. Ignition of the initial explosion cylinder is performed at a timing when the crank position is further rotated by the preset crank angle ?ec. The hybrid electronic control unit sends a torque command in view of a counter torque T? to a motor ECU after elapse of a preset time period tv.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daigo Ando, Fumikazu Satou, Takeshi Kanayama
  • Publication number: 20090259391
    Abstract: When a start command of an engine is given in the presence of the driver's power demand, the start control sets the ignition timing of the engine to a power demand ignition timing, in order to enable quick output of a large power from the engine in response to the driver's power demand. When the start command of the engine is given in the absence of the driver's power demand in a vehicle drive state, there is little possibility of the occurrence of gear chattering noise because of application of a torque to a driveshaft. The start control accordingly sets the ignition timing of the engine to a vibration control ignition timing, in order to reduce the vibration of the vehicle body. When the start command of the engine is given in the absence of the driver's power demand in a vehicle stop state, on the other hand, application of a small torque may cause the occurrence of chattering noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daigo Ando, Fumikazu Satou, Takeshi Kanayama
  • Publication number: 20090235907
    Abstract: An electronically controlled blow-by gas returning apparatus for an internal combustion engine which corrects a fuel injection amount is disclosed. This blow-by gas returning apparatus is provided with an electronically controlled ventilation valve and a control unit. The ventilation valve regulates the flow rate of blow-by gas. The control unit controls the ventilation valve. The control unit controls the opening degree of the ventilation valve such that the actual value of the opening degree of the ventilation valve is maintained at a demand value of the opening degree of the ventilation valve. The control unit corrects the demand value based on the degree of enrichment of the actual air-fuel ratio in relation to a target air-fuel ratio and an intake air amount which is the amount of air fed into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Fumikazu Satou
  • Publication number: 20090211545
    Abstract: An abnormality diagnosis device for diagnosing abnormality in a positive crankcase ventilation apparatus including a PCV passage, which is for supplying blow-by gas to an intake passage of an engine, and a PCV valve, which is for regulating the flow rate of blow-by gas in the PCV passage. The diagnosis device varies a control amount of the PCV valve to determine the occurrence of an abnormality in the PCV passage and PCV valve and performs abnormality diagnosis in a first determination mode when the amount of fuel components in the blow-by gas is less than a reference amount and in a second determination mode when the amount is greater than the reference amount. A varying amount of the control amount of the PCV valve in the second determination mode is smaller than that of the control amount of the PCV valve in the first determination mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Fumikazu SATOU
  • Patent number: 7357122
    Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including the steps of: detecting an engine speed NE, a throttle angle THA and an amount of intake air GA; estimating an amount of intake air GAINI from the engine speed NE and the throttle angle THA; if the estimated amount of intake air GAINI minus the detected amount of intake air GA is larger than a predetermined deviation ?GA(0) (YES at S104), then causing an intake manifold injector to inject fuel to clear a deposit, as controlled, at the exhaust stroke when an intake valve is closed and at the intake stroke when the intake valve is opened and an exhaust valve is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignees: Nippon Soken, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masatoshi Basaki, Tatsushi Nakashima, Fumikazu Satou, Motoki Ohtani
  • Patent number: 7302928
    Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including the step of detecting an engine coolant temperature (THW), the step of selecting a map for a warm state as the map for calculating a fuel injection ratio (or a DI ratio) r when the engine coolant temperature (THW) is equal to or higher than a temperature threshold value (THW(TH)) (YES in S110), the step of selecting a map for a cold state as the map for calculating the fuel injection ratio (or the DI ratio) r when the engine coolant temperature (THW) is lower than the temperature threshold value (THW(TH)) (NO in S110), and the step of calculating the fuel injection ratio between the in-cylinder injector and the intake manifold injector (or the DI ratio) r based on the engine speed, load factor, and the selected map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumikazu Satou, Takuya Ikoma
  • Patent number: 7159567
    Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including the step of detecting an engine coolant temperature (THW), the step of selecting a map for a warm state as the map for calculating a fuel injection ratio (or a DI ratio) (r) when the engine coolant temperature (THW) is equal to or higher than a temperature threshold value (THW(TH)), the step of selecting a map for a cold state as the map for calculating the fuel injection ratio (or the DI ratio) (r) when the engine coolant temperature (THW) is lower than the temperature threshold value (THW(TH)), and the step of calculating the fuel injection ratio between the in-cylinder injector and the-intake manifold injector (or the DI ratio) (r) based on the engine speed, load factor, and the selected map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Sadakane, Shizuo Abe, Kazuhiro Iwahashi, Tomihisa Tsuchiya, Masanori Sugiyama, Jun Harada, Takuya Ikoma, Fumikazu Satou
  • Publication number: 20060150951
    Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including the steps of: detecting an engine speed NE, a throttle angle THA and an amount of intake air GA; estimating an amount of intake air GAINI from the engine speed NE and the throttle angle THA; if the estimated amount of intake air GAINI minus the detected amount of intake air GA is larger than a predetermined deviation ?GA(0) (YES at S104), then causing an intake manifold injector to inject fuel to clear a deposit, as controlled, at the exhaust stroke when an intake valve is closed and at the intake stroke when the intake valve is opened and an exhaust valve is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Applicants: Nippon Soken, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masatoshi Basaki, Tatsushi Nakashima, Fumikazu Satou, Motoki Ohtani
  • Publication number: 20060096572
    Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including the step of detecting an engine coolant temperature (THW), the step of selecting a map for a warm state as the map for calculating a fuel injection ratio (or a DI ratio) r when the engine coolant temperature (THW) is equal to or higher than a temperature threshold value (THW(TH)) (YES in S110), the step of selecting a map for a cold state as the map for calculating the fuel injection ratio (or the DI ratio) r when the engine coolant temperature (THW) is lower than the temperature threshold value (THW(TH)) (NO in S110), and the step of calculating the fuel injection ratio between the in-cylinder injector and the intake manifold injector (or the DI ratio) r based on the engine speed, load factor, and the selected map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Fumikazu Satou, Takuya Ikoma
  • Publication number: 20060016430
    Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including the step of detecting an engine coolant temperature (THW), the step of selecting a map for a warm state as the map for calculating a fuel injection ratio (or a DI ratio) (r) when the engine coolant temperature (THW) is equal to or higher than a temperature threshold value (THW(TH)), the step of selecting a map for a cold state as the map for calculating the fuel injection ratio (or the DI ratio) (r) when the engine coolant temperature (THW) is lower than the temperature threshold value (THW(TH)), and the step of calculating the fuel injection ratio between the in-cylinder injector and the-intake manifold injector (or the DI ratio) (r) based on the engine speed, load factor, and the selected map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinji Sadakane, Shizuo Abe, Kazuhiro Iwahashi, Tomihisa Tsuchiya, Masanori Sugiyama, Jun Harada, Takuya Ikoma, Fumikazu Satou
  • Patent number: 6988490
    Abstract: A system for controlling fuel injection in an engine. The engine includes an intake passage, an intake passage injector, a cylinder having a combustion chamber, and a cylinder injector for injecting a target amount of fuel into the combustion chamber. The system includes a controller for controlling the intake passage and cylinder injectors to permit fuel injection, each with an injection ratio, while said engine operates in a condition in which said engine permits fuel injection from said cylinder injector, a sensor for sensing the amount of fuel injected from the cylinder injector, a detector for detecting the difference between the target injection amount and the amount of fuel injected and an adjuster for adjusting the injection ratio based on the result of the detection by the detector so that the intake passage injector performs fuel injection together with the fuel injection performed by the cylinder injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Fumikazu Satou
  • Publication number: 20050178360
    Abstract: A system for controlling fuel injection in an engine. The engine includes an intake passage, an intake passage injector, a cylinder having a combustion chamber, and a cylinder injector for injecting a target amount of fuel into the combustion chamber. The system includes a controller for controlling the intake passage and cylinder injectors to permit fuel injection, each with an injection ratio, while said engine operates in a condition in which said engine permits fuel injection from said cylinder injector, a sensor for sensing the amount of fuel injected from the cylinder injector, a detector for detecting the difference between the target injection amount and the amount of fuel injected and an adjustor for adjusting the injection ratio based on the result of the detection by the detector so that the intake passage injector performs fuel injection together with the fuel injection performed by the cylinder injector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Publication date: August 18, 2005
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Fumikazu Satou
  • Patent number: 6334426
    Abstract: A direct fuel injection-type spark-ignition internal combustion engine is disclosed. The engine comprises a spark plug, a cavity formed on the top surface of the piston, and a fuel injection valve for injecting fuel into the cavity in nearly the flat fan shape having a relatively small thickness. An opposing side wall of the cavity opposite to the fuel injection valve, for leading the fuel to the vicinity of the spark plug, has an arcuate portion having a plurality of arcuate shapes in a plan view. The radius of arcuate shape at the both side parts of the arcuate portion in a plan view is smaller than the radius of arcuate shape at the center part of the arcuate portion in a plan view. The opposing side wall has a deflecting portion to deflect the fuel toward the inside of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouichi Sasaki, Shizuo Abe, Fumikazu Satou, Sigemitu Iisaka, Makoto Koike, Yoshihiro Nomura
  • Patent number: 6311667
    Abstract: An engine includes a variable valve timing mechanism to adjust the valve overlap of intake valves and exhaust valves in accordance with the running state of the engine. The engine operates either in stratified charge combustion mode or in homogenous charge combustion mode in accordance with the running state of the engine. When, for example, the VVT cannot operate normally due to lack of hydraulic pressure, an ECU judges that the state of the VVT is not suitable for stratified combustion and forces the engine to operate in the homogenous combustion mode regardless of the running state of the engine. As a result, the combustion state of the engine does not deteriorated and the amount of NOx in the exhaust gas does not increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumikazu Satou, Senji Kato, Yusuke Kamijyo