Patents by Inventor Hiromu Sugano

Hiromu Sugano 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: 11761412
    Abstract: Provided is a start controller for an engine capable of reducing torque of a starter consumed to start the engine. The start controller includes a stop position sensor that detects a position of a piston in each cylinder at an engine stop time, an intake pressure sensor that detects an intake pressure in an intake passage, and a processor that determines whether the position of the piston in each of the cylinders detected by the stop position sensor is within a specified target range after the engine is stopped. In the case where it is determined that the position of the piston in each of the cylinders after the engine stop is out of the target range and the intake pressure detected by the intake pressure sensor is lower than an atmospheric pressure, the engine is started by a motor even when an engine start condition is not satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotaka Yamakawa, Hiromu Sugano, Kenji Tanimura, Toru Kobayashi, Daisuke Shimo
  • Patent number: 11542907
    Abstract: An intake variable valve timing mechanism (VVT) that collectively changes an intake valve close timing as a close timing of a plurality of intake valves and a control device that controls an engine including a plurality of injectors and the intake VVT are provided. When a specified engine stop condition is satisfied, a fuel cut is performed to stop a fuel supply into a plurality of cylinders by the injector. After the fuel cut, the intake VVT is controlled such that a retarded amount of the intake valve close timing immediately before a stop of a stop-time compression stroke cylinder as a cylinder stopped in a compression stroke from intake bottom dead center is larger than a retarded amount of the intake valve close timing immediately before a stop of a stop-time expansion stroke cylinder as a cylinder stopped in an expansion stroke from the intake bottom dead center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotaka Yamakawa, Hiromu Sugano, Kenji Tanimura, Toru Kobayashi, Daisuke Shimo
  • Publication number: 20220307456
    Abstract: Provided is a start controller for an engine capable of reducing torque of a starter consumed to start the engine. The start controller includes a stop position sensor that detects a position of a piston in each cylinder at an engine stop time, an intake pressure sensor that detects an intake pressure in an intake passage, and a processor that determines whether the position of the piston in each of the cylinders detected by the stop position sensor is within a specified target range after the engine is stopped. In the case where it is determined that the position of the piston in each of the cylinders after the engine stop is out of the target range and the intake pressure detected by the intake pressure sensor is lower than an atmospheric pressure, the engine is started by a motor even when an engine start condition is not satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Hirotaka Yamakawa, Hiromu Sugano, Kenji Tanimura, Toru Kobayashi, Daisuke Shimo
  • Publication number: 20220307457
    Abstract: An intake variable valve timing mechanism (VVT) that collectively changes an intake valve close timing as a close timing of a plurality of intake valves and a control device that controls an engine including a plurality of injectors and the intake VVT are provided. When a specified engine stop condition is satisfied, a fuel cut is performed to stop a fuel supply into a plurality of cylinders by the injector. After the fuel cut, the intake VVT is controlled such that a retarded amount of the intake valve close timing immediately before a stop of a stop-time compression stroke cylinder as a cylinder stopped in a compression stroke from intake bottom dead center is larger than a retarded amount of the intake valve close timing immediately before a stop of a stop-time expansion stroke cylinder as a cylinder stopped in an expansion stroke from the intake bottom dead center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Hirotaka Yamakawa, Hiromu Sugano, Kenji Tanimura, Toru Kobayashi, Daisuke Shimo
  • Patent number: 11168631
    Abstract: A system for controlling a compression ignition engine includes: a speed obtaining section which detects or estimates an engine speed achieved by combustion in an n-th cycle; and an injection amount setting section which sets, in a start period after the start of cranking, a fuel injection amount to be injected by injectors in an (n+1)-th cycle. If the engine speed achieved by the combustion in the n-th cycle falls in the resonance range, the injection amount setting section sets the fuel injection amount for an (n+1)-th cycle to be larger than the fuel injection amount injected when the engine speed is higher than or equal to an upper limit of the resonance range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kanae Fuki, Kotaro Takahashi, Toru Kobayashi, Hiromu Sugano, Masahiro Tateishi, Ryohei Karatsu, Takamitsu Miyahigashi, Jiro Yamasaki
  • Publication number: 20210102508
    Abstract: A system for controlling a compression ignition engine includes: a speed obtaining section which detects or estimates an engine speed achieved by combustion in an n-th cycle; and an injection amount setting section which sets, in a start period after the start of cranking, a fuel injection amount to be injected by injectors in an (n+1)-th cycle. If the engine speed achieved by the combustion in the n-th cycle falls in the resonance range, the injection amount setting section sets the fuel injection amount for an (n+1)-th cycle to be larger than the fuel injection amount injected when the engine speed is higher than or equal to an upper limit of the resonance range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Kanae Fuki, Kotaro Takahashi, Toru Kobayashi, Hiromu Sugano, Masahiro Tateishi, Ryohei Karatsu, Takamitsu Miyahigashi, Jiro Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 10890122
    Abstract: At start of an engine, a fuel injection amount is set to a jump-over injection amount if the engine speed obtained in each cycle is higher than or equal to a determination threshold value, which is set lower than a lower limit of a resonance speed range of powertrain by a predetermined reference value. If the engine speed is lower than the value, the fuel injection amount is set to a step-over injection amount that is smaller than the jump-over injection amount. This setting makes it possible to increase the engine speed such that the engine speed approaches the lower limit of the resonance speed range causing resonance in the powertrain, up to a predetermined range, and then causes the engine speed to jump straight to an engine speed which exceeds the resonance speed range, while in the process of increasing the engine speed by executing the combustion cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kanae Fuki, Kotaro Takahashi, Toru Kobayashi, Hiromu Sugano, Masahiro Tateishi, Ryohei Karatsu, Takamitsu Miyahigashi, Jiro Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 10883464
    Abstract: A system for controlling a compression ignition engine includes: a speed obtaining section which obtains an engine speed; and an injection amount setting section which sets, in a start period after the start of cranking, a fuel injection amount to be injected by injectors in next and subsequent cycles. If an engine speed achieved by combustion in an (n?1)-th cycle is higher than or equal to a determination threshold value and lower than a lower limit of the resonance range, the injection amount setting section sets the fuel injection amount for the n-th cycle to a jump-over injection amount, and sets the fuel injection amount for the (n+1)-th cycle to a resonance induction reducing amount, which is smaller than the jump-over injection amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kanae Fuki, Kotaro Takahashi, Toru Kobayashi, Hiromu Sugano, Masahiro Tateishi, Ryohei Karatsu, Takamitsu Miyahigashi, Jiro Yamasaki
  • Publication number: 20190345906
    Abstract: A system for controlling a compression ignition engine includes: a speed obtaining section which obtains an engine speed; and an injection amount setting section which sets, in a start period after the start of cranking, a fuel injection amount to be injected by injectors in next and subsequent cycles. If an engine speed achieved by combustion in an (n?1)-th cycle is higher than or equal to a determination threshold value and lower than a lower limit of the resonance range, the injection amount setting section sets the fuel injection amount for the n-th cycle to a jump-over injection amount, and sets the fuel injection amount for the (n+1)-th cycle to a resonance induction reducing amount, which is smaller than the jump-over injection amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Kanae Fuki, Kotaro Takahashi, Toru Kobayashi, Hiromu Sugano, Masahiro Tateishi, Ryohei Karatsu, Takamitsu Miyahigashi, Jiro Yamasaki
  • Publication number: 20190293005
    Abstract: At start of an engine, a fuel injection amount is set to a jump-over injection amount if the engine speed obtained in each cycle is higher than or equal to a determination threshold value, which is set lower than a lower limit of a resonance speed range of powertrain by a predetermined reference value. If the engine speed is lower than the value, the fuel injection amount is set to a step-over injection amount that is smaller than the jump-over injection amount. This setting makes it possible to increase the engine speed such that the engine speed approaches the lower limit of the resonance speed range causing resonance in the powertrain, up to a predetermined range, and then causes the engine speed to jump straight to an engine speed which exceeds the resonance speed range, while in the process of increasing the engine speed by executing the combustion cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Kanae Fuki, Kotaro Takahashi, Toru Kobayashi, Hiromu Sugano, Masahiro Tateishi, Ryohei Karatsu, Takamitsu Miyahigashi, Jiro Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 9845753
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an engine is provided. The control apparatus includes an intake control valve controller for fully closing, when an engine stop request is issued, an intake control valve for adjusting a flow rate of intake air passing through an intake passage of the engine, an engine speed increase controller for increasing an engine speed to reach a target speed after the intake control valve is fully closed by the intake control valve controller, and a fuel injection stopper for stopping a fuel injection after the engine speed is increased by the engine speed increase controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Tateishi, Toru Kobayashi, Hiromu Sugano, Sotaro Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20160090931
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an engine is provided. The control apparatus includes an intake control valve controller for fully closing, when an engine stop request is issued, an intake control valve for adjusting a flow rate of intake air passing through an intake passage of the engine, an engine speed increase controller for increasing an engine speed to reach a target speed after the intake control valve is fully closed by the intake control valve controller, and a fuel injection stopper for stopping a fuel injection after the engine speed is increased by the engine speed increase controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Masahiro Tateishi, Toru Kobayashi, Hiromu Sugano, Sotaro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8117833
    Abstract: A method of controlling a system having an internal combustion engine, a filter in an exhaust passage, a reduction catalyst downstream of said filter capable of reducing nitrate oxide contained in the exhaust gas with reductant supplied thereto is provided. The method may include, in a first mode, combusting a first amount of particulate matter trapped in said filter and supplying a first amount of reductant to said reduction catalyst when an amount of particulate matter trapped in said filter is less than a predetermined trapping amount (?). The method may further include, in a second mode, combusting a second amount of particulate matter that is greater than said first amount of particulate matter and supplying a second amount of reductant to said reduction catalyst when an amount of particulate matter trapped in said filter is equal to or greater than said predetermined trapping amount (?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Masatsugu Sakimoto, Hiromu Sugano, Masaru Yamamoto, Shoichi Toyokawa, Masashi Naono, Kouta Matsue, Chikara Ishihara, Hiroaki Ishida, Daisuke Higaki
  • Publication number: 20090120068
    Abstract: A method of controlling a system having an internal combustion engine, a filter in an exhaust passage, a reduction catalyst downstream of said filter capable of reducing nitrate oxide contained in the exhaust gas with reductant supplied thereto is provided. The method may include, in a first mode, combusting a first amount of particulate matter trapped in said filter and supplying a first amount of reductant to said reduction catalyst when an amount of particulate matter trapped in said filter is less than a predetermined trapping amount (?). The method may further include, in a second mode, combusting a second amount of particulate matter that is greater than said first amount of particulate matter and supplying a second amount of reductant to said reduction catalyst when an amount of particulate matter trapped in said filter is equal to or greater than said predetermined trapping amount (?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masatsugu Sakimoto, Hiromu Sugano, Masaru Yamamoto, Shoichi Toyokawa, Masashi Naono, Kouta Matsue, Chikara Ishihara, Hiroaki Ishida, Daisuke Higaki
  • Patent number: 6962140
    Abstract: A diesel engine control system and control method capable of conducting accurate fuel injection unaffected by variations in injector performance caused by differences among individual injectors or change with aging. The diesel engine control system includes an injector for directly injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of a diesel engine, injection quantity controller for controlling fuel injection quantity by varying a period of electric current supply to the injector, estimator for estimating that an electric current supply period when a prescribed (stable) combustion state is obtained is the current supply period for injecting the amount of fuel required for the prescribed combustion state, and control data correcting device for correcting control data of the injection quantity controller based on the estimated current supply period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Nakai, Naoki Okada, Tsunehiro Sato, Yoshiyuki Matsumoto, Masami Nakao, Masanori Sahara, Kouji Habu, Hiromu Sugano, Masaru Yamamoto, Tunehiro Mori