Patents by Inventor Kenichi Machida

Kenichi Machida 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).

  • Publication number: 20120016569
    Abstract: A fuel injection control system provided with a throttle by wire (TBW) system detecting an operation condition of a throttle grip and controlling, via an actuator, a throttle valve. The control system detects the throttle valve opening and controls an injector. An increased quantity correction value is determined based upon of an output of a throttle valve opening sensor and an operation condition of the throttle grip. When an acceleration condition of a vehicle is detected according to the output of the throttle valve opening sensor, an increased quantity correction of fuel is performed. The increased quantity correction value is brought to an attenuation condition in which the increased quantity correction value is gradually decreased, or a stop condition in which the increased quantity correction value is made to zero, when the throttle grip is not in drive in an opening direction, even though an acceleration condition is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Asada, Kenichi Machida
  • Patent number: 8055433
    Abstract: A fuel injection control device includes a basic-injection-use map for deriving a basic injection amount and an additional-injection-use map for deriving an additional injection amount, each corresponding to the throttle opening. During operation of the engine, in each engine cycle, a first calculation stage for calculating the basic injection amount, and a second calculation stage provided after the first calculation stage are set. A first injection amount and a second injection amount obtained by applying the throttle opening measured in the first calculation stage and the second calculation stage, respectively, are compared. When the second injection amount is greater than the first injection amount, an additional injection amount is calculated by subtracting the first injection amount from the second injection amount; and when the first injection amount is greater than the second injection amount, the basic injection amount calculated in the first calculation stage is corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiya Omuro, Kenichi Machida
  • Patent number: 8044531
    Abstract: An engine starting device includes an ignition switch configured to cause turning-on and off of a main power source line connecting a power source for a vehicle and an engine control unit (ECU). The ignition switch includes a stationary contact and a movable contact that is rotatable relative to the stationary contact. The stationary contact includes a main contact configured to be connected to a power source input section of the ECU and a starter contact configured to be connected to a starter. The engine starting device also includes a relay provided on a sub power source line that is connected in parallel to the main power source line, the relay connecting the power source of the vehicle and a sub power source input section of the ECU, the relay being excited by the start of the ECU and providing electric continuity between the power source and the ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Kobayashi, Kenichi Machida
  • Patent number: 7997255
    Abstract: An engine ignition control apparatus for controlling ignition of a multi-cylinder, 4-cycle engine includes dual ignition coils for controlling ignition timing of the respective cylinders during engine operation. The engine ignition control apparatus includes a stroke determination unit for determining a stroke based on crank pulses and on an output signal of an intake pressure sensor. The engine ignition control apparatus also includes an ignition map allocation unit for allocating ignition maps to the respective cylinders of two ignition systems, each having a pair of cylinders with a same phase, before the stroke determination. The ignition map allocation unit also allocates ignition maps independently to each of the respective cylinders after the stroke determination. The engine ignition control apparatus also includes an ignition timing calculation unit for calculating ignition timing of the respective ignition coils based on the ignition maps allocated to the respective cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Asada, Kenichi Machida
  • Publication number: 20110172900
    Abstract: When a request for re-start of an engine or a request for start occurs during inertial revolution of the engine by fuel cut at the time of request for idle stop, an operation of starting by re-start of fuel injection and an operation of driving the starter overlap, and a problem is likely to occur in wear resistance and durability of a ring gear and a pinion gear. Further, since collision torque becomes large, a collision sound of the ring gear and the pinion gear and a mesh sound which occurs at the instant of connection are likely to occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu MUKAIHARA, Kenichi MACHIDA
  • Publication number: 20110100331
    Abstract: A fuel injection controlling system includes an accelerator manipulator. An accelerator manipulated variable detection sensor is configured to detect a manipulated variable of the accelerator manipulator. A rotation speed sensor is configured to detect a rotation speed of an engine. A throttle valve drive motor is configured to open and close the throttle valve in response to the manipulated variable. A controller is configured to control the throttle valve drive motor and to compute basic injection time (Ti) of fuel. A memory is configured to memorize, as a carbon adhesion judgment value (IXREF), a throttle opening degree (?TH) at a moment when a rotation speed (Ne) detected with the rotation speed sensor reaches a target idle rotation speed (NeIdle) by increasing the throttle opening degree (?TH). A corrector is configured to correct Ti with IXREF to correct an air-fuel ratio toward a leaner side as IXREF increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukihiro ASADA, Kenichi MACHIDA
  • Patent number: 7930091
    Abstract: An engine control system and an engine control method for improving the ability to start an engine by changing the execution timings of predetermined sumchecks in ROM to shorten the time required for initialization of the system. Upon starting an ECU with a power supply supplied from an AC generator as a result of an operation of a kick starter, a CPU initialization, which includes a hardware reset and a software initialization, is executed. An ignition timing calculation sumcheck, which is required for the calculation of an ignition timing, and injection timing calculation sumcheck, which is required for the calculation of an injection timing, are not executed in a period of the software initialization. Instead, they are executed during BG (background) processing after a movement to routine processing, which upon completion of the software initialization, starts the ECU to permit driving and controlling an igniter and a fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasutaka Usukura, Kenichi Machida
  • Publication number: 20110048373
    Abstract: An electronic throttle control system and method are provided. The system includes a throttle valve, a motor configured to drive the throttle valve, and a throttle position sensor configured to detect an angle of the throttle valve. The system further includes an engine rotating speed detector, and a controller. The controller is configured to drive the motor to control the angle of the throttle valve. The controller is configured to initially set a lower limit value of the angle to an angle which is greater than a full closure angle of the throttle valve by a predetermined amount. The controller is further configured to, when a rise in an engine rotating speed is detected, re-set the lower limit value to reduce it by a predetermined amount to control the engine rotating speed to within a predetermined value from the preset idle speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru OKOSHI, Kenichi MACHIDA
  • Patent number: 7886584
    Abstract: A stroke detection apparatus performs a stroke detection of 4-cycle engine based on a rotary engine speed when a throttle opening is large. A first crank-pulse time interval between a crank pulse inputted before a top dead center by 30°, and a crank pulse of the top dead center is measured by a pulse-interval calculation unit, and at the same time, a second crank-pulse time interval between a crank pulse inputted after the top dead center by 60° and a crank pulse inputted after the top dead center 90° is measured. An interval difference calculation unit calculates time-interval difference by subtracting the second crank-pulse time interval from the first crank-pulse time interval, for two continuous top dead centers. A stroke detection unit determines whether two top dead centers are a compression top dead center or an exhaust top dead center based on magnitudes of the time-interval differences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Machida, Katsuhiro Ouchi
  • Publication number: 20100319666
    Abstract: A reverse rotation preventive device wherein an engine can be restarted without once stopping the vehicle even in the case where a reverse rotation preventive function is operated in response to momentary locking of a rear wheel. A plurality of reluctors are arranged at regular intervals, exclusive of a toothless part at one location with a crank pulse rotor rotated synchronously with a crankshaft of the engine, and a first and second pulse generators each of which outputs a pulse signal corresponding to the interval of the reluctors. Reverse rotation preventive means inhibits ignition of a spark plug by operating the reverse rotation preventive function when the interpulse time of the pulse signal exceeds a predetermined time and cancels the inhibition of the ignition when it is detected that a crankshaft is in normal rotation after the ignition is inhibited by the operation of the reverse rotation preventive function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Yasutaka USUKURA, Kenichi Machida
  • Patent number: 7823561
    Abstract: An engine ignition control apparatus includes a standard ignition map for use in retarding ignition timing when a throttle opening is within a predetermined range, and when an engine speed is within a predetermined region; and an acceleration-time advance angle correction quantity map for performing advance angle correction when the engine speed is within the predetermined region; an engine accelerometer for detecting a rate of change of the engine rotary speed; and an acceleration-time advance angle correction quantity setting unit for correcting an advance angle of the ignition timing. When the engine speed is within the predetermined range, and the rate of change of engine rotary speed is greater than or equal a predetermined rate, the acceleration-time advance angle correction quantity setting unit performs attenuation processing for deriving an advance angle correction quantity; and increases an attenuation quantity of the advance angle quantity for every ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiya Omuro, Kenichi Machida
  • Patent number: 7824506
    Abstract: In known methods, an improvement of the coercive force is realized by allowing the Dy metal or the like to present selectively in crystal grain boundary portions of a sintered magnet. However, since these are based on a physical film formation method, e.g., sputtering, through the use of a vacuum vessel, there is a mass productivity problem when a large number of magnets are treated. Furthermore, there is a magnet cost problem from the viewpoint that, for example, an expensive, high-purity Dy metal or the like must be used as a raw material for film formation. The method for modifying grain boundaries of a Nd—Fe—B base magnet includes the step of allowing an M metal component to diffuse and penetrate from a surface of a Nd—Fe—B base sintered magnet body having a Nd-rich crystal grain boundary phase surrounding principal Nd2Fe14B crystals to the grain boundary phase through a reduction treatment of a fluoride, an oxide, or a chloride of an M metal element (where M is Pr, Dy, Tb, or Ho).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignees: Japan Science and Technology Agency, Osaka University
    Inventors: Kenichi Machida, Shunji Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20100242908
    Abstract: When cranking starts by turning on a starter switch 14, the ignition timing is first corrected to a fixed value on a retard side. When an IACV 6 reaches a fully opened position, the ignition timing is corrected to the retard side once, and thereafter corrected to an advance side. The correction to the advance side is performed in accordance with a difference between the number of idling target steps and the current number of steps, and the amount of advance correction is reduced as the difference is reduced. Upon completion of the initialization of the IACV 6, the ignition timing correction amount is then restored to the initial value by increasing the amount of advance by a predetermined amount in a stepwise manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukihiro ASADA, Kenichi MACHIDA
  • Publication number: 20100242905
    Abstract: A vehicle control device, including a vehicle control unit that controls engagement between an engine and a starter motor for starting the engine, wherein the vehicle control unit, along with cutting off fuel supply to the engine and causing the engine to rotate inertially, also, in a state in which fuel supply to the engine is cut off and the starter motor is not engaged with the engine, rotates the starter motor, and thereafter controls supply of electrical power to the starter motor so as to causes the starter motor to rotate inertially, and engages the starter motor to the engine while both the engine and the starter motor are performing inertial rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Machida, Eiichi Otsu, Minoru Ohsuga, Shigenori Nakazato, Yoshiaki Nagasawa
  • Publication number: 20100242909
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide that an ignition is retarded when continuously occurring knocks are detected, while an ignition is not retarded when a singly occurring knock is detected. By detecting the number of occurrences of detection data pieces from a knock sensor 9 stored in a storage unit 14 in a predetermined time period, a distribution of the detection data pieces is created. When one detection data piece having a value not less than a knock determination value is inputted from the knock sensor 9, the distribution of the detection data pieces is checked. For example, when the detection data pieces spread in a wide range, or the knock level voltage of the total detection data pieces is not less than a predetermined value, a retard instruction is outputted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru OKOSHI, Kenichi MACHIDA
  • Publication number: 20100250094
    Abstract: An operation amount detecting unit 17 detects an operation amount of a throttle grip from a zero position. A basic throttle opening degree computing unit 18 computes a basic throttle opening degree corresponding to the operation amount. A throttle opening degree additional value computing unit 20 outputs as a target throttle opening degree a value obtained by adding the basic throttle opening degree with a throttle opening degree additional value corresponding to the operation amount when the operation of the throttle grip is performed within a small operation region corresponding to an idle operation. The throttle opening degree additional value computing unit 20 outputs as the target throttle opening degree the basic throttle opening degree when the operation of the throttle grip is performed without the small operation region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi TETSUKA, Makoto TSUYUGUCHI, Takeru ABE, Yukihiro ASADA, Kenichi MACHIDA
  • Patent number: 7790300
    Abstract: An R—Fe—B based thin film magnet including an R—Fe—B based alloy which contains 28 to 45 percent by mass of R element (where R represents at least one type of rare-earth lanthanide elements) and which is physically formed into a film, wherein the R—Fe—B based alloy has a composite texture composed of R2Fe14B crystals having a crystal grain diameter of 0.5 to 30 ?m and R-element-rich grain boundary phases present at boundaries between the crystals. The magnetization characteristics of the thin film magnet are improved. The R—Fe—B based thin film magnet can be prepared by heating to 700° C. to 1,200° C. during physical film formation or/and the following heat treatment, so as to grow crystal grains and form R-element-rich grain boundary phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignees: Japan Science and Technology Agency, Hitachi Metals, Ltd., Namiki Precision Jewel Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunji Suzuki, Kenichi Machida, Eiji Sakaguchi, Kazuya Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7783411
    Abstract: An engine control method, based on engine intake pressure, is operable to shorten a period from a start of cranking until a sequential fuel injection control is determined. Provisional and final stroke determinations are made for a plurality of cylinders from a synthetic manifold pressure waveform. The provisional stroke determination is made after a crankshaft is rotated 720 degrees after settlement of a crank reference position. The final stroke determination is made when the crankshaft rotates 1440 degrees after the provisional stroke determination. When the provisional stroke determination is made, fuel is injected into the cylinders based on a detected value of the engine intake pressure; and when the stroke determination is finally settled, the fuel injection and ignition of the engine are controlled based on the detected value of the engine intake pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Asada, Kenichi Machida
  • Publication number: 20100078994
    Abstract: An engine starting device includes an ignition switch configured to cause turning-on and off of a main power source line connecting a power source for a vehicle and an engine control unit (ECU). The ignition switch includes a stationary contact and a movable contact that is rotatable relative to the stationary contact. The stationary contact includes a main contact configured to be connected to a power source input section of the ECU and a starter contact configured to be connected to a starter. The engine starting device also includes a relay provided on a sub power source line that is connected in parallel to the main power source line, the relay connecting the power source of the vehicle and a sub power source input section of the ECU, the relay being excited by the start of the ECU and providing electric continuity between the power source and the ECU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Masasaki Kobayashi, Kenichi Machida
  • Publication number: 20100081547
    Abstract: A shift controller with a first clutch CL1 that connects/disconnects the torque to a first main shaft and a second clutch CL2 connects/disconnects the torque to a second main shaft. A transmission is configured so that dog clutches DC1, DC2 for first speed and for second speed are engaged in a predetermined turned position P1-2 of a shift drum. A linear solenoid valve that supplies clutch oil pressure, a shift solenoid that switches a destination of the supply oil pressure between both clutches and a controller that controls the supply oil pressure and the turning of the shift drum are provided. The controller supplies predetermined oil pressure P1 to the CL2 in neutral, switches the destination of supply oil pressure to the CL1 when the shift drum is turned to P1-2 according to a shift instruction to engage gears and supplies maximum oil pressure P3 to the CL1 in predetermined time ta.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Masaki KOBAYASHI, Kenichi Machida, Eiji Kittaka, Seiji Hamaoka