Patents by Inventor Kenji Kataoka

Kenji Kataoka 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: 7096840
    Abstract: In a method of starting an internal combustion engine, a combustion energy is generated by combusting a fuel that has been injected into a cylinder in an expansion stroke when the internal combustion engine is stopped. In the aforementioned method, the combustion energy generated by combusting the fuel is obtained based on a state of an air/fuel mixture within the cylinder to which the fuel has been injected. Based on the obtained combustion energy, a kinetic energy to be supplied to the internal combustion engine from a primary energy supply source is estimated. A difference between a predetermined target kinetic energy required for starting the internal combustion engine subsequent to the start of combustion and the estimated kinetic energy to be supplied from the primary energy supply source is obtained. The kinetic energy corresponding to the obtained difference is supplied from a secondary energy supply source in the form of a starter motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Asada, Shinichi Mitani, Kimitoshi Tsuji, Yasushi Kusaka, Kenji Kataoka
  • Patent number: 7093670
    Abstract: An impact drill minimizing transmission of vibration to a handle gripped by a user's hand. A spindle extends through a main frame and is movable in its axial direction and rotatable about its axis. A first ratchet is rotatable and axially movable together with the spindle. A second ratchet is axially movable but unrotatable. In an impact drilling mode, the first ratchet is brought into abutment with the second ratchet so that the spindle is reciprocally moved in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuma Saito, Shinki Ohtsu, Jyunichi Toukairin, Kenji Kataoka, Kazuhide Ohzeki, Shigeru Ishikawa, Hideki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7079939
    Abstract: A stop position control apparatus of an internal combustion engine is applied to a vehicle having of a motor or a generator connected to a crankshaft of the engine, such as an economic-running vehicle and a hybrid vehicle. A rotation position of a motor generator is detected by a motor angle sensor, and a crank angle of the engine is detected by a crank angle sensor. A stop position of the internal combustion engine, at the time of stoppage is estimated based on the rotation position of the motor generator and the crank angle. By utilizing the results, the stop position of the internal combustion engine can be accurately estimated. By detecting a rotation direction of the crankshaft, the stop position of the engine can be accurately estimated even when the engine is rotated in the reverse direction at the time of the engine stopping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Kataoka, Yasushi Kusaka
  • Patent number: 7059297
    Abstract: A stop control apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided with a valve mechanism capable of operating at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve independently a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, and a valve controlling device for controlling an operation of the valve mechanism so that the internal combustion engine is stopped in a predetermined state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Kataoka, Toshiaki Asada, Shuichi Ezaki, Kimitoshi Tsuji, Yasushi Kusaka
  • Patent number: 7061744
    Abstract: An electrostatic breakdown prevention apparatus is disclosed which allows an electronic apparatus connected to a connector to bidirectionally transfer data at a high speed on the same signal line and prevents an electrostatic breakdown of the electronic apparatus without relying upon the structure of the connector. A signal line on an electronic apparatus body side is provided with an electrostatic breakdown preventing smoothing circuit for smoothing a signal inputted to the signal line. A connector for connection of the signal line is provided with a switching mechanism for stopping the smoothing function of the electrostatic breakdown preventing smoothing circuit when the connector is connected, but restoring the smoothing function of the electrostatic breakdown preventing smoothing circuit when the connector is disconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Kataoka
  • Publication number: 20060112919
    Abstract: A valve-driving system, which is applied to an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, for driving an intake or exhaust valve provided in each cylinder, comprising: a plurality of valve-driving apparatuses, each of which is provided for at least each one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve, each valve-driving apparatus having an electrical motor as a driving source for generating rotation motion and a power transmission mechanism provided with a transmitting section for transmitting the rotation motion generated by the electrical motor and a converting section for converting the rotation motion transmitted from the transmitting section into opening and closing motion of the valve to be driven; and a motor control device which controls operations of electric motors of the respective valve-driving apparatuses in accordance with the operation state of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiaki Asada, Shuichi Ezaki, Kimitoshi Tsuji, Yasushi Kusaka, Kenji Kataoka
  • Patent number: 7047922
    Abstract: A valve-driving system, which is applied to an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, for driving an intake or exhaust valve provided in each cylinder, comprising: a plurality of valve-driving apparatuses, each of which is provided for at least each one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve, each valve-driving apparatus having an electrical motor as a driving source for generating rotation motion and a power transmission mechanism provided with a transmitting section for transmitting the rotation motion generated by the electrical motor and a converting section for converting the rotation motion transmitted from the transmitting section into opening and closing motion of the valve to be driven; and a motor control device which controls operations of electric motors of the respective valve-driving apparatuses in accordance with the operation state of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Asada, Shuichi Ezaki, Kimitoshi Tsuji, Yasushi Kusaka, Kenji Kataoka
  • Publication number: 20060083251
    Abstract: In generation of an MPLS path which extends over plural routing areas or generation of a GMPLS path of a single routing area, a path originating node cannot conduct route computation of the whole path. Therefore, where plural paths are generated, there is a problem that reliability and communication quality cannot be secured. In a label switch path generation processing intended for MPLS and GMPLS networks, a path originating node is provided with a unit for setting restricted link information in a label allocation request message and sending it, and a node having received the label allocation request message is provided with a unit for selecting another route, which does not pass through the restricted link according to the restricted link information, and generating a path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Publication date: April 20, 2006
    Inventors: Kenji Kataoka, Kazuhiro Kusama
  • Patent number: 7028656
    Abstract: A start control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to the present invention is characterized by that in a port injection type internal combustion engine, fuel is supplied in the interior of a cylinder that is in its compression stroke or expansion stroke upon stoppage of the internal combustion engine, and upon the next start of the internal combustion engine, the fuel in the interior of the aforementioned cylinder is burned to rotate the engine output shaft utilizing the pressure generated when the fuel is burned. Thus, the torque required for cranking the internal combustion engine is reduced and the load applied on a starter apparatus such as a starter motor is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kimitoshi Tsuji, Yasushi Kusaka, Kenji Kataoka, Toshiaki Asada, Shinichi Mitani
  • Publication number: 20060048734
    Abstract: At a time of stopping an internal combustion engine, inertia energy of the engine is kept constant, for example, by controlling a number of engine revolution constant, while controlling combustion of the engine. By utilizing the controlled inertia energy, the engine is stopped at a predetermined crank angle position. Since the engine is stopped at the predetermined crank angle position by utilizing the controlled inertia energy, a large amount of energy for controlling the stop position of the energy is not needed, and the energy needed for the stop control can be reduced. Since the inertia energy utilized for the stop control is always controlled in a predetermined state, the engine can be stopped at a proper position reliably each time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Kataoka, Yasushi Kusaka, Hiroki Tasaki
  • Patent number: 6988477
    Abstract: An engine is cranked by a motor generator at a start time of the engine. An engine ECU opens an intake valve or an exhaust valve during a compression stroke using a valve control mechanism during a period from when cranking is started until when a predetermined crank angle position (detected by a crank angle sensor) is reached, thereby reducing a compression workload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Kataoka, Kimitoshi Tsuji, Yasushi Kusaka
  • Patent number: 6975249
    Abstract: Rotary electronic component of the invention has a contact board and an elastic contact. The contact board, including an annular contact having an arc-segmental portion split by a slit with a predetermined width and signaling contacts disposed at spaced positions and in electrical continuation with the arc-segmental portion, is fixed in a resin molding with the annular contact exposed on the top plane of the resin molding. The elastic contact slides on the contact board along the annular contact. In this rotary electronic component, a stress occurring when the annular contact is fixed by molding on to the contact board is relaxed owing to presence of the slit. Thus, a rotary electronic component generating an electric signal with a stabilized waveform over a long time can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Hashimoto, Seiki Miura, Kenji Kataoka, Jun Sato
  • Patent number: 6914515
    Abstract: In a motor-driven slide type variable resistor, the tensioning of a toothed loop belt joined to an operating lever is adjusted with a pin adjusted to change the distance between a toothed pulley and a follower pulley in order to adjust a traveling speed of the operating lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiki Miura, Yukio Hashimoto, Kenji Kataoka
  • Publication number: 20050115534
    Abstract: A start control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to the present invention is characterized by that in a port injection type internal combustion engine, fuel is supplied in the interior of a cylinder that is in its compression stroke or expansion stroke upon stoppage of the internal combustion engine, and upon the next start of the internal combustion engine, the fuel in the interior of the aforementioned cylinder is burned to rotate the engine output shaft utilizing the pressure generated when the fuel is burned. Thus, the torque required for cranking the internal combustion engine is reduced and the load applied on a starter apparatus such as a starter motor is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Publication date: June 2, 2005
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kimitoshi Tsuji, Yasushi Kusaka, Kenji Kataoka, Toshiaki Asada, Shinichi Mitani
  • Patent number: 6877470
    Abstract: In a starting control system for an internal combustion engine, an output shaft is rotated in a reverse direction at a predetermined direction upon start of the internal combustion engine, and then is rotated in a normal direction so as to start a cranking operation. The system serves to combust the fuel in a cylinder in an expansion stroke when the output shaft is rotated in the reverse direction, and the resultant combustion pressure is used for performing the cranking operation. This makes it possible to reduce the load exerted to the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Mitani, Toshiaki Asada, Yasushi Kusaka, Kenji Kataoka
  • Patent number: 6856261
    Abstract: A rotary encoder has housing case provided with common electrode and signal electrode disposed to an area narrower than the entire circumference, or an angular range of generally ½ of the circumference in concentrical with central hole of housing case, and sliding contact in a confronting manner to the electrodes, the sliding contact provided with four combinations of contacts points arranged at four equally divided angular positions, or every 90 degrees along the same circumference about the rotary axis, each of the combinations comprises contact point on inner side for connectively sliding on common electrode and two contact points on outer side for connectively sliding on signal electrode. The rotary encoder of this structure can reduce the cost by decreasing a width of material needed for fabrication of electrodes, and decrease distances for contact points to slide on electrodes, to thereby improve durability to sliding abrasion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yoritsune, Kenji Kataoka
  • Publication number: 20050028996
    Abstract: An impact drill minimizing transmission of vibration to a handle gripped by a user's hand. A spindle extends tends through a main frame and is movable in its axial direction rection and rotatablea about its axis. A first ratchet is rotatable and axially movable together with the spindle. A second ratchet is axially movable but unortatable. The first ratchet has a first serrated surface and the second ratchet has a second serrated surface in confrontation with the first serrated surface. In an impact drilling mode, the first serrated surfaces is brought into abutment with the second serrated surface so that the spindle is reciprocally moved in the axial direction. A spring is interposed between the main frame and the second ratchet to urge the second ratchet toward the first ratchet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Applicant: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jyunichi Toukairin, Kenji Kataoka, Kazuhide Ohzeki, Takuma Saito, Shinki Ohtsu, Shigeru Ishikawa, Hideki Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20050028995
    Abstract: An impact drill minimizing transmission of vibration to a handle gripped by a user's hand. A spindle extends through a main frame and is movable in its axial direction and rotatable about its axis. A first ratchet is rotatable and axially movable together with the spindle. A second ratchet is axially movable but unortatable. The first ratchet has a first serrated surface and the second ratchet has a second serrated surface in confrontation with the first serrated surface. In an impact drilling mode, the first serrated surfaces is brought into abutment with the second serrated surface so that the spindle is reciprocally moved in the axial direction. A first spring is interposed between the main frame and the second ratchet to urge the second ratchet toward the first ratchet. A second spring is interposed between the main frame and the second ratchet to urge the second ratchet away from the first ratchet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Applicant: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuma Saito, Shinki Ohtsu, Jyunichi Toukairin, Kenji Kataoka, Kazuhide Ohzeki, Shigeru Ishikawa, Hideki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6834632
    Abstract: A stop and start control apparatus of an internal combustion engine prevents fuel supplied in a specific cylinder at the time of stopping the engine from being discharged in an unburned state. When an ignition switch is turned off in a state that the unburned fuel is sealed in the combustion chamber of a specific cylinder during idling stop, the unburned fuel is combusted to prevent the unburned fuel from being discharged. The vibration occurring at that time can be suppressed by rotating the motor generator in the counter direction to the rotation direction of the crankshaft. After the unburned fuel is sealed in the combustion chamber of the specific cylinder, if it is estimated that the unburned fuel is discharged, the exhaust valve corresponding to the specific cylinder is closed at the predetermined timing, or the unburned fuel is combusted, whereby the unburned fuel is prevented from being discharged. Thus, deterioration of emission can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Kataoka, Yasushi Kusaka
  • Patent number: 6807934
    Abstract: When a crank angle is controlled to stop at an optimal crank angle stop position by an engine automatic stop control, such as idling stop, or when the crank angle stop position can be estimated with high accuracy, the automatic engine restart is performed by a motor generator serving as an electric motor or an electric generator, at the next time of restarting of the engine. On the other hand, when the crank angle is not controlled to stop at the optimal crank angle stop position, when the crank angle stop position cannot be estimated with the high accuracy, or when the crank angle stop position changes after the stop control, the engine is restarted by a DC starter having an output torque larger than that of a motor generator, at the next time of restarting of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Kataoka, Yasushi Kusaka