Patents by Inventor Kozo Katogi

Kozo Katogi 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: 8229647
    Abstract: Provided is a control apparatus for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine equipped with fuel injection valves provided respectively for the cylinders including: a revolution measuring means for measuring a revolution speed for a predetermined angle for each cylinder; an inter-cylinder revolution-difference calculating means for calculating, from the measured revolution speed, a difference in revolution speed between a cylinder of current explosion and a cylinder of the previous explosion; an injection amount correcting means for adjusting the average amount of injection of the fuel injection valves of all the cylinders in accordance with the inter-cylinder differences in revolution speed after the cold start of the engine calculated by the inter-cylinder revolution-difference calculating means; an inter-cylinder revolution-difference averaging means for averaging the differences in revolution speed, calculated by the inter-cylinder revolution-difference calculating means, each between the cylinder of cu
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanobu Ichihara, Kazuhiko Kanetoshi, Kozo Katogi, Hiroyuki Takamura
  • Patent number: 8150598
    Abstract: An engine controller capable of optimizing both the air-fuel ratio and the ignition timing to provide HC-minimized performance under the relevant driving conditions (environmental conditions) in order to minimize the amount of HC emitted from an engine at the time of start-up (before catalyst activation) is provided. The engine controller includes: air-fuel ratio control means for controlling the air-fuel ratio to be within a predetermined range (for example, 14.5 to 16.5) when the engine is operated at a certain driving condition (for example, in a state in which the catalyst is not activated such as the time of starting a cooler, or idling time); and ignition timing correction means for correcting the ignition timing to the retard side when the engine is operated at the certain driving condition and the air-fuel ratio is within the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Kazuhiko Kanetoshi, Kozo Katogi, Takanobu Ichihara, Minoru Ohsuga
  • Patent number: 8033267
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an engine including a unit for retarding an ignition timing from an MBT by a predetermined value or more during cranking at engine starting or during a period from a first combustion up to an idling engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Kazuhiko Kanetoshi, Kozo Katogi, Takanobu Ichihara, Minoru Ohsuga
  • Patent number: 7840334
    Abstract: An engine control system for an internal combustion engine with a fuel injector, comprises a combustion fuel quantity computing means for computing a combustion fuel quantity in a combustion cycle; and a residual fuel quantity computing means for computing a residual fuel quantity in the combustion cycle based on a difference between an injection fuel quantity of the fuel injector and the combustion fuel quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Kazuhiko Kanetoshi, Kozo Katogi, Takanobu Ichihara, Minoru Osuga
  • Patent number: 7809494
    Abstract: An engine control apparatus for controlling the amount of the air flowing into each cylinder in accordance with the amount of the fuel flowing into the cylinder at the time of starting the engine is disclosed. Further, at the engine starting time, the target amount of the air flowing into the cylinder is calculated and/or the amount of the air flowing into the cylinder is controlled, based on the amount of the fuel flowing into the cylinder. The amount of the fuel remaining in the neighborhood of the engine intake port or in the intake pipe is calculated by being separated into a balanced liquid film amount and unbalanced liquid film amount. Based on the unbalanced liquid film amount, the injection fuel amount is corrected so that the amount of the fuel flowing into the cylinder is controlled with high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Kazuhiko Kanetoshi, Kozo Katogi, Takanobu Ichihara, Minoru Ohsuga
  • Patent number: 7664591
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method of control of the engine for separating and detecting the fuel remaining in the engine and in the intake passages before the start of the engine and also detecting the fuel property, and calculating a parameter such as an optimum fuel injection quantity when the engine is started, and thus enabling an efficient exhaust performance and a good running performance to be compatible at start-up. The engine control apparatus has a unit for detecting or estimating a burned fuel quantity of the engine, and a unit for separating and detecting a burned fuel quantity supplied from the fuel injection valve and a burned quantity of fuel other than the fuel supplied from the injection valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Kozo Katogi, Minoru Oosuga
  • Patent number: 7650225
    Abstract: An engine controller comprises a combustion state detection or estimation means for detecting or estimating a combustion state in the combustion chamber, a combustion air-fuel ratio estimation means for estimating a combustion air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber according to an exhaust air-fuel ratio and the detected or estimated combustion state, and a means for calculating engine control parameters according to the estimated combustion air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Kazuhiko Kanetoshi, Kozo Katogi, Takanobu Ichihara, Minoru Ohsuga
  • Publication number: 20090292448
    Abstract: An engine controller capable of optimizing both the air-fuel ratio and the ignition timing to provide HC-minimized performance under the relevant driving conditions (environmental conditions) in order to minimize the amount of HC emitted from an engine at the time of start-up (before catalyst activation) is provided. The engine controller includes: air-fuel ratio control means for controlling the air-fuel ratio to be within a predetermined range (for example, 14.5 to 16.5) when the engine is operated at a certain driving condition (for example, in a state in which the catalyst is not activated such as the time of starting a cooler, or idling time); and ignition timing correction means for correcting the ignition timing to the retard side when the engine is operated at the certain driving condition and the air-fuel ratio is within the predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD
    Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Kazuhiko Kanetoshi, Kozo Katogi, Takanobu Ichihara, Minoru Ohsuga
  • Publication number: 20090292440
    Abstract: Provided is a control apparatus for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine equipped with fuel injection valves provided respectively for the cylinders including: a revolution measuring means for measuring a revolution speed for a predetermined angle for each cylinder; an inter-cylinder revolution-difference calculating means for calculating, from the measured revolution speed, a difference in revolution speed between a cylinder of current explosion and a cylinder of the previous explosion; an injection amount correcting means for adjusting the average amount of injection of the fuel injection valves of all the cylinders in accordance with the inter-cylinder differences in revolution speed after the cold start of the engine calculated by the inter-cylinder revolution-difference calculating means; an inter-cylinder revolution-difference averaging means for averaging the differences in revolution speed, calculated by the inter-cylinder revolution-difference calculating means, each between the cylinder of cu
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanobu ICHIHARA, Kazuhiko Kanetoshi, Kozo Katogi, Hiroyuki Takamura
  • Patent number: 7565238
    Abstract: Exhaust emission control is exercised to restrict the exhaust amounts [g] of HC, CO, NOx, and the like. However, since the intake air amount for startup unduly increases due to an engine speed overshoot for startup, the exhaust amounts of HC, CO, and NOx increase excessively. Therefore, there is a need for optimizing the intake air amount for startup. The present invention proposes an engine startup control method that assures excellent startability and low exhaust emissions (small gas amount). Disclosed is an engine control device for starting an engine (from its stop state). The engine control device includes a section for setting a target engine operating state of each combustion; a section for detecting an actual engine operating state of each combustion; and a section for computing a control parameter for each subsequent combustion in accordance with the target engine operating state of each combustion and the actual engine operating state of each combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Kazuhiko Kanetoshi, Kozo Katogi, Takanobu Ichihara, Minoru Osuga
  • Publication number: 20090159042
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an engine including a unit for retarding an ignition timing from an MBT by a predetermined value or more during cranking at engine starting or during a period from a first combustion up to an idling engine speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Kazuhiko Kanetoshi, Kozo Katogi, Takanobu Ichihara, Minoru Ohsuga
  • Publication number: 20090088948
    Abstract: An engine control apparatus for controlling the amount of the air flowing into each cylinder in accordance with the amount of the fuel flowing into the cylinder at the time of starting the engine is disclosed. Further, at the engine starting time, the target amount of the air flowing into the cylinder is calculated and/or the amount of the air flowing into the cylinder is controlled, based on the amount of the fuel flowing into the cylinder. The amount of the fuel remaining in the neighborhood of the engine intake port or in the intake pipe is calculated by being separated into a balanced liquid film amount and unbalanced liquid film amount. Based on the unbalanced liquid film amount, the injection fuel amount is corrected so that the amount of the fuel flowing into the cylinder is controlled with high accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji NAKAGAWA, Kazuhiko Kanetoshi, Kozo Katogi, Takanobu Ichihara, Minoru Ohsuga
  • Patent number: 7472692
    Abstract: An engine control apparatus which can ensure and maintain a stability and constant exhaust emission characteristics even in such a condition that a nature of a fuel used as present is unsure, and which is robust among different fuel natures, comprising a plurality of different nature fuel quantity computing means and an operating condition detecting means for detecting an operating condition of an engine, wherein a first nature fuel quantity computing means among the plurality of different nature fuel quantity computing means is used as a fuel quantity computing means during an engine start, and the first nature fuel quantity computing means is forcibly changed over into a second nature fuel quantity computing means if an engine operating condition detected by the operating condition detecting means satisfies a predetermined term.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Kazuhiko Kanetoshi, Kozo Katogi, Takanobu Ichihara, Minoru Ohsuga
  • Publication number: 20080319636
    Abstract: An engine control system for an internal combustion engine with a fuel injector, comprises a combustion fuel quantity computing means for computing a combustion fuel quantity in a combustion cycle; and a residual fuel quantity computing means for computing a residual fuel quantity in the combustion cycle based on a difference between an injection fuel quantity of the fuel injector and the combustion fuel quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji NAKAGAWA, Kazuhiko Kanetoshi, Kozo Katogi, Takanobu Ichihara, Minoru Osuga
  • Publication number: 20080228383
    Abstract: Exhaust emission control is exercised to restrict the exhaust amounts [g] of HC, CO, NOx, and the like. However, since the intake air amount for startup unduly increases due to an engine speed overshoot for startup, the exhaust amounts of HC, CO, and NOx increase excessively. Therefore, there is a need for optimizing the intake air amount for startup. The present invention proposes an engine startup control method that assures excellent startability and low exhaust emissions (small gas amount). Disclosed is an engine control device for starting an engine (from its stop state). The engine control device includes a section for setting a target engine operating state of each combustion; a section for detecting an actual engine operating state of each combustion; and a section for computing a control parameter for each subsequent combustion in accordance with the target engine operating state of each combustion and the actual engine operating state of each combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Kazuhiko Kanetoshi, Kozo Katogi, Takanobu Ichihara, Minoru Osuga
  • Publication number: 20070261671
    Abstract: An engine controller comprises a combustion state detection or estimation means for detecting or estimating a combustion state in the combustion chamber, a combustion air-fuel ratio estimation means for estimating a combustion air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber according to an exhaust air-fuel ratio and the detected or estimated combustion state, and a means for calculating engine control parameters according to the estimated combustion air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Kazuhiko Kanetoshi, Kozo Katogi, Takanobu Ichihara, Minoru Ohsuga
  • Publication number: 20070169757
    Abstract: An engine control apparatus which can ensure and maintain a stability and constant exhaust emission characteristics even in such a condition that a nature of a fuel used as present is unsure, and which is robust among different fuel natures, comprising a plurality of different nature fuel quantity computing means and an operating condition detecting means for detecting an operating condition of an engine, wherein a first nature fuel quantity computing means among the plurality of different nature fuel quantity computing means is used as a fuel quantity computing means during an engine start, and the first nature fuel quantity computing means is forcibly changed over into a second nature fuel quantity computing means if an engine operating condition detected by the operating condition detecting means satisfies a predetermined term.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Kazuhiko Kanetoshi, Kozo Katogi, Takanobu Ichihara, Minoru Ohsuga
  • Publication number: 20070016357
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method of control of the engine for separating and detecting the fuel remaining in the engine and in the intake passages before the start of the engine and also detecting the fuel property, and calculating a parameter such as an optimum fuel injection quantity when the engine is started, and thus enabling an efficient exhaust performance and a good running performance to be compatible at start-up. The engine control apparatus has a unit for detecting or estimating a burned fuel quantity of the engine, and a unit for separating and detecting a burned fuel quantity supplied from the fuel injection valve and a burned quantity of fuel other than the fuel supplied from the injection valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Publication date: January 18, 2007
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Kozo Katogi, Minoru Oosuga
  • Patent number: 7093426
    Abstract: To improve startability and reduce the amount of HC emission at start-up with the aid of a construction where vaporized fuel is supplied to the bypass passage that bypasses the main passage. The main air control valve 16 is installed near the intake port 10 of the main air passage 3, and the main air control valve is closed or throttled at the time of start-up or additional injection from the port injection valve 5 is given in the beginning of start-up cranking. With a apparatus equipped with the main air control valve, vaporization of the fuel injected from the auxiliary injection valve 6 is facilitated in the beginning of cranking and also intake delay of the vaporized fuel is reduced, and hence startability can improve and the amount of HC emission at the time of start-up can decrease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanobu Ichihara, Masami Nagano, Kozo Katogi, Hiroaki Saeki
  • Patent number: 7080507
    Abstract: In order to improve the decrease of the catalytic action and the deterioration of the exhaust purification performance, a catalyst installed in the exhaust pipe of an engine and a secondary air pump for supplying secondary air into the exhaust pipe are provided, and the secondary air pump is operated even after the engine has stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kozo Katogi, Masami Nagano, Hiroshi Sekine, Hiroyuki Takamura, Shinji Nakagawa