Patents by Inventor Hirokazu Ando
Hirokazu Ando 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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Publication number: 20240024636Abstract: A medical introducer sheath having a steerable distal end portion and a proximal end portion fixed with a hub having a side port is provided with: an inner sheath elongated from the distal end portion to the proximal end portion and opened on the distal end portion and the proximal end portion, the inner sheath defining a main lumen in fluid communication with the side port; and an outer sheath running along an outer face of the inner sheath and defining one or more sub-lumens, each sub-lumen being elongated from the distal end portion and terminating at any position anterior to a proximal end of the inner sheath, the outer sheath covering the inner sheath throughout from the distal end portion to the proximal end portion and, at least at the proximal end portion, being in gas-tightly contact with or being formed in a unitary body with the inner sheath.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2023Publication date: January 25, 2024Applicant: TOGO MEDIKIT CO., LTD.Inventors: Hirokazu ANDO, Takahiro SHIBATA
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Publication number: 20230372672Abstract: A medical device that can prevent the rotating operation part from rotating more than the operator's intention and improve the operability to control the direction of the head of the tubular member is provided. The medical device includes a flexible tubular member and a rotating operation part that deflects the head of the tubular member in a first direction when rotating in positive rotation direction and deflects the head of the tubular member in a second direction when rotating in negative rotation direction opposite to the positive direction. A handle case is gripped when the rotating operation part is rotated. An O-ring that is placed between the rotating operation part and the handle case produces frictional force between the rotating operation part and the handle case when the rotating operation part is rotated.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2021Publication date: November 23, 2023Inventors: Hirokazu ANDO, Takahiro SHIBATA
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Patent number: 11639704Abstract: A controller executes a fuel introduction process when stopping combustion in a cylinder under a situation in which a crankshaft is rotating. The fuel introduction process causes a fuel injection valve to inject fuel and causes the fuel to flow out unburned from inside the cylinder to an exhaust passage. The opening degree of an exhaust gas recirculation valve at a point in time when a state in which the execution condition of the fuel introduction process is not satisfied is switched to a state in which the execution condition of the fuel introduction process is satisfied is a preliminary opening degree. During the execution of the fuel introduction process, the recirculation valve controlling section causes the opening degree of the exhaust gas recirculation valve to be smaller than the preliminary opening degree.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2020Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Eiji Ikuta, Yuki Nose, Yuto Ikeda, Keiichi Myojo, Yoshiyuki Shogenji, Hirokazu Ando
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Patent number: 11325579Abstract: A controller configured to control a hybrid vehicle includes a catalyst temperature increase control unit configured to execute a catalyst temperature increase control of increasing a temperature of a three-way catalyst device, a motoring control of rotating a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine with power of a motor in a state in which combustion of the internal combustion engine is stopped, and a fuel introduction process of introducing unburned air-fuel mixture into an exhaust passage by performing fuel injection in the internal combustion engine during the execution of the motoring control.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2019Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuki Nose, Yuto Ikeda, Hirofumi Hashinokuchi, Tatsuaki Suzuki, Eiji Ikuta, Keiichi Myojo, Hirokazu Ando
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Patent number: 11280285Abstract: A controller is configured to control an internal combustion engine. The controller is configured to execute a catalyst temperature-increasing control of increasing a temperature of the three-way catalyst device by introducing air-fuel mixture, which contains the fuel injected by a fuel injection valve, into an exhaust passage without burning the air-fuel mixture in a cylinder. The controller includes an air-fuel ratio control unit configured to control an air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture during the execution of the catalyst temperature-increasing control such that the air-fuel ratio becomes a richer air-fuel ratio during a first period from a beginning of the catalyst temperature-increasing control to a specified air-fuel ratio switching timing than during a second period from the air-fuel ratio switching timing to a completion of the catalyst temperature-increasing control.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2020Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuki Nose, Yuto Ikeda, Keiichi Myojo, Hirokazu Ando
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Patent number: 11199124Abstract: A cooling apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a pump, a radiator, a flow rate adjustment valve, a bypass passage, and a controller. The flow rate adjustment valve includes a valve member that rotates to change an open degree of the flow rate adjustment valve and a valve member biasing component that biases the valve member in a valve-closing direction in which the open degree decreases. The valve member rotates in a valve-opening direction in which the open degree increases when a pressure difference increases between positions upstream and downstream of the valve member in a flow direction of coolant in the circulation circuit and rotate in the valve-closing direction when the pressure difference decreases. The controller increases the pump discharge amount as a target radiator flow rate that is a target of an amount of coolant passing through the radiator increases.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2019Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Noboru Takagi, Hirokazu Kato, Rihito Kaneko, Naoto Hisaminato, Hirokazu Ando, Masaaki Yamaguchi, Hirotaka Watanabe, Masahiro Yoshida, Koji Nunami, Naoto Yumisashi, Masafumi Yoshida, Takahiko Aoyagi
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Patent number: 11187172Abstract: An engine controller executes a fuel introduction process of introducing, in a state in which the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine is rotating, air-fuel mixture that contains fuel injected by a fuel injection valve into the exhaust passage without burning the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder. When the oxygen concentration of exit gas that has passed through a three-way catalyst decreases during the execution of the fuel introduction process, the engine controller executes a stopping process of stopping the fuel introduction process.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2021Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuto Ikeda, Yuki Nose, Yoshiyuki Shogenji, Hirokazu Ando
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Patent number: 11143327Abstract: A cooling apparatus includes a circulation circuit, a pump, a flow rate adjustment valve, and a controller. The flow rate adjustment valve includes a valve member that rotates to change an open degree of the flow rate adjustment valve and a stopper that moves between a restriction position and a retraction position. The controller is configured to execute, when maintaining the open degree of the flow rate adjustment, a preparatory process of moving the stopper to the restriction position after arranging the stopper at the retraction position and arranging the valve member further in the valve-closing direction than the stopper through control of the pump discharge amount.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2019Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Noboru Takagi, Hirokazu Kato, Rihito Kaneko, Naoto Hisaminato, Hirokazu Ando, Masaaki Yamaguchi, Hirotaka Watanabe, Takahiko Aoyagi, Masahiro Yoshida, Koji Nunami, Naoto Yumisashi, Masafumi Yoshida
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Patent number: 11067027Abstract: A controller for an internal combustion engine is configured to control the internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine includes an in-cylinder injection valve, an ignition device, an exhaust passage, and a three-way catalyst. The controller includes a fuel introduction processor configured to execute a fuel introduction process of introducing air-fuel mixture of fuel and air, which has been introduced into a cylinder, into the exhaust passage without burning the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder. The fuel introduction processor is configured to execute the fuel introduction process in a state in which only a port injection valve of the in-cylinder injection valve and the port injection valve performs fuel injection.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2019Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuki Nose, Yuto Ikeda, Yoshiyuki Shogenji, Hirokazu Ando
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Patent number: 11028747Abstract: A controller for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel introduction process of introducing an air-fuel mixture containing fuel injected by a fuel injection valve into an exhaust passage without burning the air-fuel mixture in a cylinder. The fuel introduction processor is configured to perform, during the execution of the fuel introduction process, a determination process of determining whether afterfire, in which the air-fuel mixture burns at an upstream side of a three-way catalyst device in the exhaust passage, has occurred and a stopping process of stopping the fuel introduction process when determining in the determination process that the afterfire has occurred.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2019Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuki Nose, Yuto Ikeda, Hirofumi Hashinokuchi, Tatsuaki Suzuki, Eiji Ikuta, Yoshiyuki Shogenji, Hirokazu Ando
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Patent number: 11000650Abstract: To provide a protector that is detachable with one hand and that eliminates the need of re-gripping a medical needle to perform puncture; and a medical needle assembly constituted by a combination of the protector and a medical needle. A protector 1 is a protector that is detachably fitted and attached to a medical needle 2. When a proximal end portion of the protector 1 is pressed in a state in which the protector 1 is attached to the medical needle 2, the fitted state thereof is thereby released, and the protector 1 is detached from the medical needle 2.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2018Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: MEDIKIT CO., LTD.Inventors: Hirokazu Ando, Masahiro Umeda
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Publication number: 20210131369Abstract: An engine controller executes a fuel introduction process of introducing, in a state in which the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine is rotating, air-fuel mixture that contains fuel injected by a fuel injection valve into the exhaust passage without burning the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder. When the oxygen concentration of exit gas that has passed through a three-way catalyst decreases during the execution of the fuel introduction process, the engine controller executes a stopping process of stopping the fuel introduction process.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2021Publication date: May 6, 2021Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuto Ikeda, Yuki Nose, Yoshiyuki Shogenji, Hirokazu Ando
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Publication number: 20210108583Abstract: A controller is configured to control an internal combustion engine. The controller is configured to execute a catalyst temperature-increasing control of increasing a temperature of the three-way catalyst device by introducing air-fuel mixture, which contains the fuel injected by a fuel injection valve, into an exhaust passage without burning the air-fuel mixture in a cylinder. The controller includes an air-fuel ratio control unit configured to control an air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture during the execution of the catalyst temperature-increasing control such that the air-fuel ratio becomes a richer air-fuel ratio during a first period from a beginning of the catalyst temperature-increasing control to a specified air-fuel ratio switching timing than during a second period from the air-fuel ratio switching timing to a completion of the catalyst temperature-increasing control.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2020Publication date: April 15, 2021Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuki NOSE, Yuto IKEDA, Keiichi MYOJO, Hirokazu ANDO
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Patent number: 10968847Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to execute a purging process that draws the fuel vapor trapped in the canister into the intake passage by controlling the purge valve, a fuel feeding process that feeds the air-fuel mixture, which includes the fuel supplied to the cylinder, to the exhaust passage without burning the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder, and a fuel supply process that supplies fuel to the cylinder when the fuel feeding process is being performed. The processing circuitry is further configured to perform the fuel supply process by performing the purging process.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2019Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuto Ikeda, Yuki Nose, Yoshiyuki Shogenji, Hirokazu Ando
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Patent number: 10961898Abstract: A cooling device includes an inner passage, an outer passage, an engine-driven pump, an electromagnetic control valve, and a driving circuit that regulates current flowing through the electromagnetic control valve by activating and deactivating a switching element. A cooling controller for the cooling device includes a processing circuit configured to execute an operation process for operating, when the engine-driven pump is driven, the switching element by setting a duty cycle of an activation time to a switching cycle, which is a reciprocal of a switching frequency of the switching element, to be a larger value when a temperature of the internal combustion engine is low than when the temperature is high and a cycle varying process for setting a longer switching cycle when the temperature of the internal combustion engine is less than a preset temperature than when the temperature is greater than or equal to the preset temperature.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2019Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Rihito Kaneko, Noboru Takagi, Naoto Hisaminato, Mitsuru Yamaguchi, Hirokazu Ando, Masaaki Yamaguchi, Takahiko Aoyagi, Hirotaka Watanabe
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Publication number: 20210088008Abstract: A controller executes a fuel introduction process when stopping combustion in a cylinder under a situation in which a crankshaft is rotating. The fuel introduction process causes a fuel injection valve to inject fuel and causes the fuel to flow out unburned from inside the cylinder to an exhaust passage. The opening degree of an exhaust gas recirculation valve at a point in time when a state in which the execution condition of the fuel introduction process is not satisfied is switched to a state in which the execution condition of the fuel introduction process is satisfied is a preliminary opening degree. During the execution of the fuel introduction process, the recirculation valve controlling section causes the opening degree of the exhaust gas recirculation valve to be smaller than the preliminary opening degree.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Eiji IKUTA, Yuki NOSE, Yuto IKEDA, Keiichi MYOJO, Yoshiyuki SHOGENJI, Hirokazu ANDO
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Patent number: 10907560Abstract: An engine controller executes a fuel introduction process of introducing, in a state in which the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine is rotating, air-fuel mixture that contains fuel injected by a fuel injection valve into the exhaust passage without burning the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder. When the oxygen concentration of exit gas that has passed through a three-way catalyst decreases during the execution of the fuel introduction process, the engine controller executes a stopping process of stopping the fuel introduction process.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2019Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuto Ikeda, Yuki Nose, Yoshiyuki Shogenji, Hirokazu Ando
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Patent number: 10900429Abstract: A controller is configured to control an internal combustion engine. The controller is configured to execute a catalyst temperature-increasing control of increasing a temperature of the three-way catalyst device by introducing air-fuel mixture, which contains the fuel injected by a fuel injection valve, into an exhaust passage without burning the air-fuel mixture in a cylinder. The controller includes an air-fuel ratio control unit configured to control an air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture during the execution of the catalyst temperature-increasing control such that the air-fuel ratio becomes a richer air-fuel ratio during a first period from a beginning of the catalyst temperature-increasing control to a specified air-fuel ratio switching timing than during a second period from the air-fuel ratio switching timing to a completion of the catalyst temperature-increasing control.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2019Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuki Nose, Yuto Ikeda, Keiichi Myojo, Hirokazu Ando
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Patent number: 10890143Abstract: A controller executes a fuel introduction process when stopping combustion in a cylinder under a situation in which a crankshaft is rotating. The fuel introduction process causes a fuel injection valve to inject fuel and causes the fuel to flow out unburned from inside the cylinder to an exhaust passage. The opening degree of an exhaust gas recirculation valve at a point in time when a state in which the execution condition of the fuel introduction process is not satisfied is switched to a state in which the execution condition of the fuel introduction process is satisfied is a preliminary opening degree. During the execution of the fuel introduction process, the recirculation valve controlling section causes the opening degree of the exhaust gas recirculation valve to be smaller than the preliminary opening degree.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2019Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Eiji Ikuta, Yuki Nose, Yuto Ikeda, Keiichi Myojo, Yoshiyuki Shogenji, Hirokazu Ando
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Patent number: 10851701Abstract: An engine cooling system includes a coolant circulation path, which circulates coolant between the water jacket and the radiator of an internal combustion engine, a pump, a control valve, which is provided in the coolant circulation path, and a controller. The controller executes a warming-up promotion control and a pressure relaxation control. In the pressure relaxation control, the controller controls the aperture ratio of the radiator port such that the lower the temperature of the radiator, the lower becomes the engine rotational speed at which the aperture ratio of the radiator port is increased.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2018Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Naoya Kawamoto, Rihito Kaneko, Hirokazu Ando, Yusuke Niwa