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).
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Patent number: 9002573Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 13, 2011Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Yoshikuni Kawamura, Kokichi Shimizu, Kazunori Okada, Masayoshi Kondo
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Patent number: 8918228Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 14, 2012Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Takayuki Nagai, Yuuji Nagano, Yoshinori Ban, Yoshio Nakagaki, Kokichi Shimizu
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Patent number: 8412405Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 21, 2010Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Enomoto, Kokichi Shimizu
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Patent number: 8346406Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 25, 2012Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Mikio Teramura, Kokichi Shimizu, Motohiro Yasue
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Publication number: 20120209452Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2012Publication date: August 16, 2012Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Mikio Teramura, Kokichi Shimizu, Motohiro Yasue
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Publication number: 20120209450Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2012Publication date: August 16, 2012Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Takayuki NAGAI, Yuuji NAGANO, Yoshinori BAN, Yoshio NAKAGAKI, Kokichi SHIMIZU
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Patent number: 8185253Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 23, 2009Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Mikio Teramura, Kokichi Shimizu, Motohiro Yasue
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Patent number: 8180521Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 16, 2009Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Enomoto, Kokichi Shimizu
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Patent number: 8103403Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 7, 2008Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: DENSO CorporationInventors: Masayoshi Kondoh, Yoshinori Ban, Kokichi Shimizu
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Patent number: 8095263Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 6, 2009Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Motohiro Yasue, Kokichi Shimizu, Kazunori Okada
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Patent number: 8095262Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 2, 2008Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Yoshinori Ban, Kokichi Shimizu, Masayoshi Kondoh
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Publication number: 20110304448Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2011Publication date: December 15, 2011Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yoshikuni Kawamura, Kokichi Shimizu, Kazunori Okada, Masayoshi Kondo
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Publication number: 20100292892Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2010Publication date: November 18, 2010Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroyuki Enomoto, Kokichi Shimizu
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Patent number: 7809481Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 5, 2006Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Kazunori Okada, Kokichi Shimizu
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Patent number: 7788005Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 28, 2008Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Enomoto, Kokichi Shimizu
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Publication number: 20090271063Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2009Publication date: October 29, 2009Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Motohiro Yasue, Kokichi Shimizu, Kazunori Okada
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Publication number: 20090271064Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2009Publication date: October 29, 2009Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroyuki ENOMOTO, Kokichi SHIMIZU
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Publication number: 20090187289Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2009Publication date: July 23, 2009Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Mikio Teramura, Kokichi Shimizu, Motohiro Yasue
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Publication number: 20090132117Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2008Publication date: May 21, 2009Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Masayoshi Kondoh, Yoshinori Ban, Kokichi Shimizu
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Publication number: 20090088923Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2008Publication date: April 2, 2009Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yoshinori Ban, Kokichi Shimizu, Masayoshi Kondoh