Patents by Inventor Makoto Toriyama

Makoto Toriyama 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).

  • Publication number: 20170045025
    Abstract: An ignition device at least equipped with a DC power source, an ignition coil unit, a spark plug, an ignition switch, and an auxiliary power source, wherein the auxiliary power source is at least equipped with a discharge energy accumulating means, a discharge switch, and a discharge driver. The ignition device is further equipped with a secondary-current feedback controlling means comprising a secondary current detecting means for detecting a secondary current flowing during the ignition coil unit discharge period, and a secondary current feedback control circuit-for determining an upper limit and a lower limit for the secondary current from binary threshold values, and driving so as to open and close the discharge switch on the basis of the determination results. Furthermore, energy is introduced from the auxiliary power source without switching the polarity of the secondary current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Satoru NAKAYAMA, Makoto TORIYAMA, Akimitsu SUGIURA, Masahiro ISHITANI, Atsuya MIZUTANI, Kouji ANDOH, Naoto HAYASHI, Kaori DOI
  • Publication number: 20170030319
    Abstract: When an abnormality judgement section judges that there is a failure of an energy inputting circuit, an energy inputting line, through which electrical energy is inputted from the energy inputting circuit to a primary winding, is changed over to a disconnected state by output halt switching means. As a result, since inputting of electrical energy to the primary winding is thereby halted, problems arising due to continuation of inputting electrical energy to the energy inputting circuit can be prevented, even in the event of a failure of the energy inputting circuit, so that reliability can be enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Makoto TORIYAMA, Satoru NAKAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20170022961
    Abstract: According to an ignition device, a first switching unit applies a voltage between electrodes of by spark plug by turning on/off energization from an on-vehicle battery to a primary coil. Further, a second switching unit applies a voltage having the same direction as a spark discharge generated by turning on/off the first switching unit between the electrodes of the spark plug by supplying electrical energy accumulated in a booster circuit into a primary coil. Accordingly, it is possible to greatly reduce a complexity of the on/off switching of the first and second switching units compared to a conventional technology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto TORIYAMA, Shunichi TAKEDA, Kanechiyo TERADA, Satoru NAKAYAMA, Takashi OONO
  • Publication number: 20170022957
    Abstract: An ignition apparatus inputs energy during a predetermined energy input period after the interruption of a primary electric current by an ignition switch and a discharge of an ignition plug caused by a secondary electric current. Moreover, the ignition apparatus includes a blow-off detection unit that detects, during the energy input period IGW after the start of the discharge by the ignition plug, occurrence of blow-off of the discharge. When the secondary electric current I2 drops below a blow-off detection electric current threshold value Ibo at a time instant tbo in a “second region” where it is impossible to perform a re-discharge after blow-off, the blow-off detection unit determines that blow-off has occurred and the ignition apparatus stops the energy input from an energy input unit to an ignition coil. By preventing unnecessary energy input, it is possible to suppress unnecessary electric power consumption and wear of electrodes of the ignition plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Naoto HAYASHI, Makoto TORIYAMA, Kaori DOI, Kenechiyo TERADA, Kenta KYOUDA, Satoru NAKAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20160146176
    Abstract: An ignition control device includes a control unit to control first to third switching elements so that during ignition discharge, which is started by turning off the first switching element, energy stored on a capacitor is discharged by turning off the third switching element and turning on the second switching element for supplying a primary current to an end of a primary winding opposite to an end thereof connected to a direct-current power supply. During inductive discharge of a spark plug, the control unit non-intermittently turns on the second switching element so that the second switching element is turned on over a successive energy input time period, according to the operating conditions of an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Masahiro ISHITANI, Akimitsu SUGIURA, Makoto TORIYAMA, Satoru NAKAYAMA, Yuuki KONDOU
  • Publication number: 20160102648
    Abstract: An ignition control apparatus for engines is provided. The ignition control apparatus is designed to control a switch to release energy stored in a capacitor during spark discharge, thereby supplying a primary current to an other end side opposite a one end of a primary winding of an ignition coil connected to a dc power supply. This provides the ignition control apparatus which is capable of minimizing an increase in size or manufacturing cost and stabilizing the state of combustion of an air-fuel mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru NAKAYAMA, Makoto TORIYAMA, Akimitsu SUGIURA, Masahiro ISHITANI, Yuuki KONDOU
  • Publication number: 20160084213
    Abstract: In an ignition control apparatus, a control unit controls switching elements so as to supply a primary current to the other end side of a primary winding opposite to one end thereof connected to a DC power source by discharging (which is performed by turning on a second switching element stored energy from a capacitor during ignition discharge (which is started by turning off a first switching element. In particular, the control unit controls the second switching element or the third switching element so as to provide variability to the amount of stored energy discharged from the capacitor according to an operating state of an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Applicant: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru NAKAYAMA, Makoto TORIYAMA, Akimitsu SUGIURA, Masahiro ISHITANI, Yuuki KONDOU
  • Publication number: 20160084215
    Abstract: An ignition apparatus includes an adjuster. The adjuster adjusts, according to at least one of a primary voltage and a secondary voltage detected by a voltage detector, at least one of an application timing and an application level of auxiliary electrical energy to an ignition coil while main electrical energy is applied to a spark plug by the ignition coil. The application timing includes whether the auxiliary electrical energy is applied to the ignition coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Applicant: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yuuki KONDOU, Masahiro ISHITANI, Satoru NAKAYAMA, Akimitsu SUGIURA, Makoto TORIYAMA, Takashi OONO
  • Publication number: 20160061177
    Abstract: An ignition control apparatus of the present embodiment controls operation of an ignition plug provided so as to ignite an air-fuel mixed gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Masahiro ISHITANI, Akimitsu SUGIURA, Makoto TORIYAMA, Satoru NAKAYAMA, Yuuki KONDOU, Hisaharu MORITA, Naoto HAYASHI, Yuuto TAMEI, Takashi OONO, Shunichi TAKEDA
  • Publication number: 20160047352
    Abstract: It is possible to adjust electromagnetic energy introduced from a low-voltage side of a primary winding 20 of an ignition coil 2 after start discharging to a spark plug 1 from the ignition coil 2 in the correct proportion by threshold-determining either one or both of a primary voltage V1 applied to a primary side of the ignition coil 2 and a secondary current I2 flowing in a secondary side of the ignition coil 2, and by opening and closing a discharging switch 32 disposed between an auxiliary power supply 3 including an energy storage coil 330 and a low-voltage side terminal 201 of the ignition coil 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Satoru NAKAYAMA, Makoto TORIYAMA, Akimitsu SUGIURA, Masahiro ISHITANI, Yuuki KONDOU, Kanechiyo TERADA
  • Patent number: 7685999
    Abstract: An ignition control device for controlling a multi-spark operation comprises: a secondary electric energy generator generating an electric energy to reignite an air fuel-mixture associated with an internal combustion engine during the multi-spark operation; a switching element capable of controlling the supplying of the electric energy to a primary coil of an ignition coil, the controlling causing a secondary current in a secondary coil of the ignition coil; an ignition timing signal generator generating an ignition timing signal based on a driving state of the engine; a multi-spark period setting element setting a multi-spark period of the multi-spark operation based on the ignition timing signal; and an ignition control element setting an amount of electric power supplied to the secondary electric energy generator based on the multi-spark period before the performing of the multi-spark operation is started, and for controlling the switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Toriyama, Yuhki Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 7404396
    Abstract: In a multiple discharge ignition control apparatus, a battery, an energy storage coil and a first IGBT are connected in series. Further, the energy storage coil, a diode, a primary coil and a second IGBT are connected in series. The energy storage coil is connected with a capacitor through the diode, and a secondary coil is connected with a spark plug and a resistor for current detection. An ignition control circuit switches the IGBTs between ON and OFF each time the secondary current detected by the resistor reaches a positive or negative discharge holding current in multiple discharge operation. A booster circuit is provided in addition to the energy storage coil and its output is feedback-controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Toriyama, Yuki Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20080127937
    Abstract: An ignition control device for controlling a multi-spark operation comprises: a secondary electric energy generator generating an electric energy to reignite an air fuel-mixture associated with an internal combustion engine during the multi-spark operation; a switching element capable of controlling the supplying of the electric energy to a primary coil of an ignition coil, the controlling causing a secondary current in a secondary coil of the ignition coil; an ignition timing signal generator generating an ignition timing signal based on a driving state of the engine; a multi-spark period setting element setting a multi-spark period of the multi-spark operation based on the ignition timing signal; and an ignition control element setting an amount of electric power supplied to the secondary electric energy generator based on the multi-spark period before the performing of the multi-spark operation is started, and for controlling the switching element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto TORIYAMA, Yuhki YAMAUCHI
  • Publication number: 20070181110
    Abstract: In a multiple discharge ignition control apparatus, a battery, an energy storage coil and a first IGBT are connected in series. Further, the energy storage coil, a diode, a primary coil and a second IGBT are connected in series. The energy storage coil is connected with a capacitor through the diode, and a secondary coil is connected with a spark plug and a resistor for current detection. An ignition control circuit switches the IGBTs between ON and OFF each time the secondary current detected by the resistor reaches a positive or negative discharge holding current in multiple discharge operation. A booster circuit is provided in addition to the energy storage coil and its output is feedback-controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Toriyama, Yuki Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 7100589
    Abstract: A multi-spark type ignition system for an internal combustion engine has a compact energy storage coil. The multi-spark type ignition system includes a energy storage coil, an energy storage capacitor, a first power transistor that switches on or off supply of electric energy from a battery and the electric energy from the energy storage coil to the energy storage capacitor, a second power transistor connected to the energy storage capacitor and to an ignition coil and an external resistor, connected between the energy storage coil and the first power transistor so as to bypass the energy storage capacitor. The second power transistor switches on or off the primary current. The external resistor limits current flowing through the first power transistor, thereby limiting temperature rise of the first power transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Toriyama
  • Publication number: 20060021607
    Abstract: An engine ignition system has, in addition to a DC/DC converter for applying a first voltage to a primary winding of an ignition coil, a second DC/DC converter is provided for applying a second voltage higher than the first voltage to the primary winding. The second DC/DC converter operates only in a super lean-burn operation and causes a large secondary current having a magnitude of several hundreds of mA to flow through the secondary winding. Thus, the secondary current supplied to an ignition plug can be changed from a magnitude of several tens of mA in a normal operation to several hundreds of mA in the super lean-burn operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Applicant: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Toriyama
  • Publication number: 20050263144
    Abstract: A multi-spark type ignition system for an internal combustion engine has a compact energy storage coil. The multi-spark type ignition system includes a energy storage coil, an energy storage capacitor, a first power transistor that switches on or off supply of electric energy from a battery and the electric energy from the energy storage coil to the energy storage capacitor, a second power transistor connected to the energy storage capacitor and to an ignition coil and an external resistor, connected between the energy storage coil and the first power transistor so as to bypass the energy storage capacitor. The second power transistor switches on or off the primary current. The external resistor limits current flowing through the first power transistor, thereby limiting temperature rise of the first power transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Makoto Toriyama
  • Patent number: 6734677
    Abstract: A combustion condition detecting device detects combustion ions between opposing electrodes in a combustion chamber by ion current flowing between the electrodes in response to a.c. current voltage applied between the electrodes. A low pass filter for eliminating current components having high order frequencies of the a.c. voltage is disposed in a primary side of the transformer so that a waveform of the a.c. voltage approximates a sine wave. Thus, detection accuracy of the combustion ions is prevented from being affected by variation of capacitive current included in the current flowing between the electrodes, wherein the variation of the capacitive current is caused by distortion of the waveform of the a.c. voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Toriyama, Tohru Yoshinaga, Hiroshi Yorita
  • Patent number: 6725834
    Abstract: An ignition system has an ignition circuit and an ion current detecting circuit. The ignition circuit has an ignition coil that has relatively low inductance of about less than 10 henries (H) because it is used in conjunction with a separate energy accumulating coil, and a driving circuit for a multi-spark ignition sequence. The ion current detecting circuit detects a second harmonic component of engine knock. The components of the system are designed so that the resonance frequency of an ion current path substantially coincides with the second harmonic frequency component, so that the Q-value of the ion current path is greater than 1. As a result, it is possible to improve knock detecting accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignees: Nippon Soken, Inc., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yorita, Masatoshi Ikeda, Makoto Toriyama
  • Patent number: 6675784
    Abstract: In an engine ignition system having a fail-safe function, a battery, a coil and a transistor are connected in series. A capacitor is connected to the coil by way of a diode. The capacitor, a primary winding of an ignition coil and a transistor are connected in series. A transistor and a diode in serial connection are connected in parallel to the coil and diode in serial connection. A drive circuit turns on and off the transistor to charge the capacitor and operates the transistor to implement the ignition operation. The drive circuit, in the event of system failure, turns on and off the transistor, while retaining the transistor in the on state, thereby to feed energy of the battery to the primary winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Noboru Nagase, Tetsuya Miwa, Makoto Toriyama