Patents by Inventor Kokichi Shimizu

Kokichi Shimizu 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: 9002573
    Abstract: A VIN storage electronic control unit stores a vehicle identification number (VIN). A standby RAM that holds data constantly with an electric power supplied by a battery stores failure diagnosis related information and a rewriting history flag. When the VIN storage electronic control unit rewrites the VIN upon receiving a request signal for rewriting the VIN, the standby RAM updates the rewriting history flag so as to switch into a set status indicating the rewriting is made. When receiving a request signal for eliminating the failure diagnosis related information, the failure diagnosis related information stored in the standby RAM is reset and the rewriting history flag is switched into a reset status. In addition, while the rewriting history flag is in the set status, a malfunction indicator lamp is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshikuni Kawamura, Kokichi Shimizu, Kazunori Okada, Masayoshi Kondo
  • Patent number: 8918228
    Abstract: An engine ECU compares an acceleration value with a reference value, which corresponds to an accelerator operation value inputted in response to a user operation on an accelerator pedal, and stores vehicle behavior data when the acceleration value exceeds the reference value. After determining that the acceleration value is larger than the reference value and storing the vehicle behavior data, the reference value is changed to a larger value. After determining that the acceleration value is smaller than the reference value and, for example, a period in which the acceleration value remains lower than the reference value, reaches a set period, the reference value is changed to a smaller value. Thus, the number of times of storing the vehicle behavior data is equalized among vehicle users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Nagai, Yuuji Nagano, Yoshinori Ban, Yoshio Nakagaki, Kokichi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8412405
    Abstract: A vehicle diagnosis system includes an electronic control unit, which executes a diagnosing process for determining whether any abnormality is present in a vehicle based on signals from vehicle devices. When any abnormality is detected, the electronic control unit stores in an EEPROM a diagnosis result indicative of the abnormality when a storage permission flag in the EEPROM is in the on-state. The storage permission flag is turned on from the off-state when receiving a storage permission command from an external unit. Thus, the storage of the diagnosis result into the EEPROM may be permitted at the time of transmitting the storage permission command externally to the ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Enomoto, Kokichi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8346406
    Abstract: A first microcomputer in an ECU outputs a CID of the ECU in response to a request from a scan tool when the ECU has multiple microcomputers implemented therein. Each of the multiple microcomputers has an additive value stored therein for counting an update of the software. The additive values from the multiple microcomputers are added as a sum total of the ECU that is further added to a CID base value. The sum total of the ECU added to the CID base value is then output as the CID of the ECU from the first microcomputer to the scan tool. Therefore, information stored in the first microcomputer is not necessarily changed for outputting an updated CID (e.g., software product number information) from the ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Mikio Teramura, Kokichi Shimizu, Motohiro Yasue
  • Publication number: 20120209452
    Abstract: A first microcomputer in an ECU outputs a CID of the ECU in response to a request from a scan tool when the ECU has multiple microcomputers implemented therein. Each of the multiple microcomputers has an additive value stored therein for counting an update of the software. The additive values from the multiple microcomputers are added as a sum total of the ECU that is further added to a CID base value. The sum total of the ECU added to the CID base value is then output as the CID of the ECU from the first microcomputer to the scan tool. Therefore, information stored in the first microcomputer is not necessarily changed for outputting an updated CID (e.g., software product number information) from the ECU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mikio Teramura, Kokichi Shimizu, Motohiro Yasue
  • Publication number: 20120209450
    Abstract: An engine ECU compares an acceleration value with a reference value, which corresponds to an accelerator operation value inputted in response to a user operation on an accelerator pedal, and stores vehicle behavior data when the acceleration value exceeds the reference value. After determining that the acceleration value is larger than the reference value and storing the vehicle behavior data, the reference value is changed to a larger value. After determining that the acceleration value is smaller than the reference value and, for example, a period in which the acceleration value remains lower than the reference value, reaches a set period, the reference value is changed to a smaller value. Thus, the number of times of storing the vehicle behavior data is equalized among vehicle users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki NAGAI, Yuuji NAGANO, Yoshinori BAN, Yoshio NAKAGAKI, Kokichi SHIMIZU
  • Patent number: 8185253
    Abstract: A first microcomputer in an ECU outputs a CID of the ECU in response to a request from a scan tool when the ECU has multiple microcomputers implemented therein. Each of the multiple microcomputers has an additive value stored therein for counting an update of the software. The additive values from the multiple microcomputers are added as a sum total of the ECU that is further added to a CID base value. The sum total of the ECU added to the CID base value is then output as the CID of the ECU from the first microcomputer to the scan tool. Therefore, information stored in the first microcomputer is not necessarily changed for outputting an updated CID (e.g., software product number information) from the ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Mikio Teramura, Kokichi Shimizu, Motohiro Yasue
  • Patent number: 8180521
    Abstract: An electronic control unit performs self-diagnosis based on signals received from various sensors, and stores abnormality data in an EEPROM when abnormality is detected. The DTC is stored in a first memory area and a second memory area of the EEPROM, if a condition flag stored in the EEPROM is OFF and ON, respectively. The condition flag is switched from OFF (initial value) to ON, when service start data is received from a telematics service center in a period from the completion of assembling the electronic control unit to the vehicle to the start of use of the vehicle by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Enomoto, Kokichi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8103403
    Abstract: When a non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM has a trouble code storage area and a status information area, status information is stored in the status information area after completion of storage of a trouble code in the trouble code storage area. Even when storage of the trouble code in a second storage area is interrupted due to a power fault with a result of three area discrepancy, the storage of the trouble code in the storage area is determined as not complete based on the status information, thereby leading to an appropriate data recovery of the trouble code in the trouble code storage area for an improvement of storage reliability of a vehicular memory management apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Kondoh, Yoshinori Ban, Kokichi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8095263
    Abstract: When an electronic control unit receives a rewriting request of vehicle identification information, the electronic control unit writes state information indicating a rewriting state in a memory and rewrites the vehicle identification information into new vehicle identification information. The electronic control unit sends an erasing order to a peripheral electronic unit for erasing failure information stored in the peripheral electronic unit and determines whether the peripheral electronic control unit sends an erasing completion signal indicating that the erasing of the failure information is completed. The electronic control unit erases the state information indicating the rewriting state when the rewriting of the vehicle identification information is completed and the peripheral electronic control unit sends the erasing completion signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Motohiro Yasue, Kokichi Shimizu, Kazunori Okada
  • Patent number: 8095262
    Abstract: Whether an anomaly occurs in a data-rewritable second nonvolatile memory is determined by comparison between (i) a diagnosis code stored in the second nonvolatile memory and (ii) data contents stored as a diagnosis table in a first nonvolatile memory. The first nonvolatile memory previously stores the diagnosis table for listing diagnosis codes. If the diagnosis codes are appropriately registered in the diagnosis table, it is thereafter unnecessary to take into consideration whether the diagnosis codes are normally stored in the first nonvolatile memory. This configuration requires no further rewriting of information in the first nonvolatile memory unlike other memories, and thus decreases a possibility of an occurrence of an anomaly to garble the information in the first nonvolatile memory in comparison with other memories. Whether an anomaly occurs in the second nonvolatile memory can be thus performed more appropriately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ban, Kokichi Shimizu, Masayoshi Kondoh
  • Publication number: 20110304448
    Abstract: A VIN storage electronic control unit stores a vehicle identification number (VIN). A standby RAM that holds data constantly with an electric power supplied by a battery stores failure diagnosis related information and a rewriting history flag. When the VIN storage electronic control unit rewrites the VIN upon receiving a request signal for rewriting the VIN, the standby RAM updates the rewriting history flag so as to switch into a set status indicating the rewriting is made. When receiving a request signal for eliminating the failure diagnosis related information, the failure diagnosis related information stored in the standby RAM is reset and the rewriting history flag is switched into a reset status. In addition, while the rewriting history flag is in the set status, a malfunction indicator lamp is turned on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshikuni Kawamura, Kokichi Shimizu, Kazunori Okada, Masayoshi Kondo
  • Publication number: 20100292892
    Abstract: A vehicle diagnosis system includes an electronic control unit, which executes a diagnosing process for determining whether any abnormality is present in a vehicle based on signals from vehicle devices. When any abnormality is detected, the electronic control unit stores in an EEPROM a diagnosis result indicative of the abnormality when a storage permission flag in the EEPROM is in the on-state. The storage permission flag is turned on from the off-state when receiving a storage permission command from an external unit. Thus, the storage of the diagnosis result into the EEPROM may be permitted at the time of transmitting the storage permission command externally to the ECU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Enomoto, Kokichi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7809481
    Abstract: An engine control unit has a data memory for storing freeze frame data that is data indicating the operating status of vehicle equipment at the time when an abnormality of the vehicle equipment is detected. The engine control unit saves the freeze frame data stored in the data memory in a storage unit of a management station outside the vehicle through radio communication. The engine control unit determines the properness of the communication and performs a memory operation for erasing the relevant freeze frame data from the data memory based on a determination that the communication has been properly performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Okada, Kokichi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7788005
    Abstract: A vehicle diagnosis system includes an electronic control unit, which executes a diagnosing process for determining whether any abnormality is present in a vehicle based on signals from vehicle devices. When any abnormality is detected, the electronic control unit stores in an EEPROM a diagnosis result indicative of the abnormality when a storage permission flag in the EEPROM is in the on-state. The storage permission flag is turned on from the off-state when receiving a storage permission command from an external unit. Thus, the storage of the diagnosis result into the EEPROM may be permitted at the time of transmitting the storage permission command externally to the ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Enomoto, Kokichi Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20090271063
    Abstract: When an electronic control unit receives a rewriting request of vehicle identification information, the electronic control unit writes state information indicating a rewriting state in a memory and rewrites the vehicle identification information into new vehicle identification information. The electronic control unit sends an erasing order to a peripheral electronic unit for erasing failure information stored in the peripheral electronic unit and determines whether the peripheral electronic control unit sends an erasing completion signal indicating that the erasing of the failure information is completed. The electronic control unit erases the state information indicating the rewriting state when the rewriting of the vehicle identification information is completed and the peripheral electronic control unit sends the erasing completion signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Motohiro Yasue, Kokichi Shimizu, Kazunori Okada
  • Publication number: 20090271064
    Abstract: An electronic control unit performs self-diagnosis based on signals received from various sensors, and stores abnormality data in an EEPROM when abnormality is detected. The DTC is stored in a first memory area and a second memory area of the EEPROM, if a condition flag stored in the EEPROM is OFF and ON, respectively. The condition flag is switched from OFF (initial value) to ON, when service start data is received from a telematics service center in a period from the completion of assembling the electronic control unit to the vehicle to the start of use of the vehicle by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki ENOMOTO, Kokichi SHIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20090187289
    Abstract: A first microcomputer in an ECU outputs a CID of the ECU in response to a request from a scan tool when the ECU has multiple microcomputers implemented therein. Each of the multiple microcomputers has an additive value stored therein for counting an update of the software. The additive values from the multiple microcomputers are added as a sum total of the ECU that is further added to a CID base value. The sum total of the ECU added to the CID base value is then output as the CID of the ECU from the first microcomputer to the scan tool. Therefore, information stored in the first microcomputer is not necessarily changed for outputting an updated CID (e.g., software product number information) from the ECU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mikio Teramura, Kokichi Shimizu, Motohiro Yasue
  • Publication number: 20090132117
    Abstract: When a non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM has a trouble code storage area and a status information area, status information is stored in the status information area after completion of storage of a trouble code in the trouble code storage area. Even when storage of the trouble code in a second storage area is interrupted due to a power fault with a result of three area discrepancy, the storage of the trouble code in the storage area is determined as not complete based on the status information, thereby leading to an appropriate data recovery of the trouble code in the trouble code storage area for an improvement of storage reliability of a vehicular memory management apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayoshi Kondoh, Yoshinori Ban, Kokichi Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20090088923
    Abstract: Whether an anomaly occurs in a data-rewritable second nonvolatile memory is determined by comparison between (i) a diagnosis code stored in the second nonvolatile memory and (ii) data contents stored as a diagnosis table in a first nonvolatile memory. The first nonvolatile memory previously stores the diagnosis table for listing diagnosis codes. If the diagnosis codes are appropriately registered in the diagnosis table, it is thereafter unnecessary to take into consideration whether the diagnosis codes are normally stored in the first nonvolatile memory. This configuration requires no further rewriting of information in the first nonvolatile memory unlike other memories, and thus decreases a possibility of an occurrence of an anomaly to garble the information in the first nonvolatile memory in comparison with other memories. Whether an anomaly occurs in the second nonvolatile memory can be thus performed more appropriately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ban, Kokichi Shimizu, Masayoshi Kondoh