Patents by Inventor Kotaro OKI

Kotaro OKI 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: 11852093
    Abstract: Low noise control of a high-pressure fuel pump is performed by reducing noise generated by an anchor colliding with a fixing core. A control device 800 for a high-pressure fuel pump controls a suction valve that opens and closes an inflow port through which fuel flows to a pressurizing chamber by performing energization to a solenoid 205 in synchronization with a reciprocating motion of a plunger. A current energized to the solenoid 205 includes a peak current for giving a force to start closing a valve to the suction valve in a stationary state and a holding current for performing switching in a range smaller a maximum value of the peak current in order to hold the suction valve in a valve closing state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Aono, Osamu Mukaihara, Kenichiro Tokuo, Hirotaka Nakai, Kotaro Oki, Shunsuke Aritomi, Akiyasu Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20230193843
    Abstract: To provide a control device capable of calculating a cam phase equal to an actual cam angle even when a corresponding cam angle signal detection range is exceeded by changing a cam phase by a variable valve mechanism. In addition to the conventional cam angle measuring function, a cam angle measuring means for advancing or retarding beyond a cam angle measurement reference position, and a means for determining that the cam angle signal advances or retards beyond the cam angle measurement reference position are provided. By switching the cam angle measuring function according to a determination result as to whether the cam angle signal exceeds the cam angle measurement reference position, it is possible to improve the time resolution of the angle measurement while maintaining the cam phase change amount at the same wide angle as the conventional one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Kotaro OKI, Osamu MUKAIHARA
  • Publication number: 20230038318
    Abstract: Low noise control of a high-pressure fuel pump is performed by reducing noise generated by an anchor colliding with a fixing core. A control device 800 for a high-pressure fuel pump controls a suction valve that opens and closes an inflow port through which fuel flows to a pressurizing chamber by performing energization to a solenoid 205 in synchronization with a reciprocating motion of a plunger. A current energized to the solenoid 205 includes a peak current for giving a force to start closing a valve to the suction valve in a stationary state and a holding current for performing switching in a range smaller a maximum value of the peak current in order to hold the suction valve in a valve closing state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2020
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Toshihiro AONO, Osamu MUKAIHARA, Kenichiro TOKUO, Hirotaka NAKAI, Kotaro OKI, Shunsuke ARITOMI, Akiyasu MIYAMOTO
  • Patent number: 11293371
    Abstract: Provided is a technique for identifying a variation in an injection amount by estimating a valve opening start timing in an extremely small injection region of a half lift region. Therefore, a fuel injection control device according to the present invention estimates a valve opening start timing of a fuel injection valve by referring to a characteristic of a reference fuel injection valve acquired in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Kotaro Oki, Osamu Mukaihara, Fumihiro Itaba, Akira Iizuka
  • Patent number: 11215133
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel injection control apparatus that can suppress variations in fuel injection amounts in a very small fuel injection region. For this purpose, the fuel injection control apparatus includes a fixed injection pulse generator 10 and a drive current interruption unit 31. The fixed injection pulse generator 10 generates a fixed injection pulse having a valve opening timing at which a drive current is supplied to an electromagnetic coil 19 in an electromagnetic fuel injection valve 18 and a first valve closing timing at which the drive current to the electromagnetic coil 19 is interrupted. Within a period in which the fixed injection pulse is generated, the drive current interruption unit 31 determines an electric energy amount of a drive current supplied to the electromagnetic coil in response to a valve opening timing of the fixed injection pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kotaro Oki, Osamu Mukaihara
  • Publication number: 20210239063
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel injection control apparatus that can suppress variations in fuel injection amounts in a very small fuel injection region. For this purpose, the fuel injection control apparatus includes a fixed injection pulse generator 10 and a drive current interruption unit 31. The fixed injection pulse generator 10 generates a fixed injection pulse having a valve opening timing at which a drive current is supplied to an electromagnetic coil 19 in an electromagnetic fuel injection valve 18 and a first valve closing timing at which the drive current to the electromagnetic coil 19 is interrupted. Within a period in which the fixed injection pulse is generated, the drive current interruption unit 31 determines an electric energy amount of a drive current supplied to the electromagnetic coil in response to a valve opening timing of the fixed injection pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kotaro OKI, Osamu MUKAIHARA
  • Publication number: 20210164414
    Abstract: Provided is a technique for identifying a variation in an injection amount by estimating a valve opening start timing in an extremely small injection region of a half lift region. Therefore, a fuel injection control device according to the present invention estimates a valve opening start timing of a fuel injection valve by referring to a characteristic of a reference fuel injection valve acquired in advance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kotaro OKI, Osamu MUKAIHARA, Fumihiro ITABA, Akira IIZUKA