Patents by Inventor Masao Tsuzuki

Masao Tsuzuki 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: 10961888
    Abstract: A NOx sensor control device is connected to a NOx sensor mounted in an internal combustion engine. The NOx sensor has a detection cell configured to detect a NOx concentration and having a solid electrolyte body and a pair of electrodes provided on a surface of the solid electrolyte body and a heater heating the detection cell. The NOx sensor control device has a heater control unit. The heater control unit is configured to, at a time when an operation of the internal combustion engine stops, perform a recovery control of the NOx sensor which is an electric current control of the heater for removing SOx adsorbed to the NOx sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Kato, Yuuya Nakayama, Hirotaka Onogi, Masao Tsuzuki, Takumi Nishiyama
  • Publication number: 20190376425
    Abstract: A NOx sensor control device is connected to a NOx sensor mounted in an internal combustion engine. The NOx sensor has a detection cell configured to detect a NOx concentration and having a solid electrolyte body and a pair of electrodes provided on a surface of the solid electrolyte body and a heater heating the detection cell. The NOx sensor control device has a heater control unit. The heater control unit is configured to, at a time when an operation of the internal combustion engine stops, perform a recovery control of the NOx sensor which is an electric current control of the heater for removing SOx adsorbed to the NOx sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji KATO, Yuuya Nakayama, Hirotaka Onogi, Masao Tsuzuki, Takumi Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 9869663
    Abstract: A gas sensor apparatus including a gas sensor (10) which outputs an output value corresponding to the concentration of a specific gas component, and a computation section (30) which calculates a specific component concentration based on the output value output and a pressure value representing the pressure of the gas. The computation section (30) includes pressure change rate calculation means (31), pressure change rate judgment means (32), correction amount calculation means (33), and output correction means (34). Also disclosed is a concentration measurement method using the gas sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masao Tsuzuki, Toyohiro Tsukahara
  • Publication number: 20170226972
    Abstract: An intake sensor includes a detection element, a heater, a housing, and a protector. The protector has two or more tubular portions spaced from one another in the radial direction. Of any two adjacent tubular portions, a second tubular portion on the outer side has tubular walls present in the penetration direction of first through holes of a first tubular portion on the inner side. Second through holes of the second tubular portion have an area equal to or greater than that of the first through hole. When the intake sensor is disposed in a model gas mixture of butane and air having air-fuel ratio of about 13, pressure of about 0.11 MPa, temperature of about 20° C., and flow rate of about 0 m/sec, and the heater heats the solid electrolyte member to the target temperature, no combustion flame is visually recognized on the outer surface of the protector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: NGK Spark Plug Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Masao TSUZUKI, Kentaro MORI, Hirotoshi YOSHIZAKI, Keisuke YOKOI, Ginjiro ITO
  • Publication number: 20160077072
    Abstract: A gas sensor apparatus including a gas sensor (10) which outputs an output value corresponding to the concentration of a specific gas component, and a computation section (30) which calculates a specific component concentration based on the output value output and a pressure value representing the pressure of the gas. The computation section (30) includes pressure change rate calculation means (31), pressure change rate judgment means (32), correction amount calculation means (33), and output correction means (34). Also disclosed is a concentration measurement method using the gas sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masao TSUZUKI, Toyohiro TSUKAHARA
  • Patent number: 9032779
    Abstract: A gas sensor (1) has an inner protector (120) and an outer protector (110); the inner protector (120) has an inner wall portion (160) having an inner gas inlet (170) for introducing gas to be measured into the interior of the inner protector (120); the outer protector (110) has an outer wall portion (130) having an outer gas inlet (140) for introducing the gas to be measured into the interior of the outer protector (110); a clearance of 1.35 mm or less is provided between the detection portion (11) and at least a portion of the inner wall portion (160); and when the gas sensor (1) is in use, the inner protector (120) is higher in temperature than the outer protector (110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Otsubo, Takaya Yoshikawa, Tomohiro Tajima, Masao Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 9003866
    Abstract: A gas sensor including a detecting element; and a protector having a tube portion surrounding the detecting portion, and a bottom portion the protector having a first opening disposed at the tube portion and a second opening at the bottom portion. The bottom portion includes first and second bottom wall portions, the second bottom wall portion protrudes toward the leading end side, and at least a part of the inner face thereof is located at the leading end side with respect to the outer face of the first bottom wall portion. The second opening is provided on a side opposite the inner space of the tube portion in a communication passage formed by the inner face of the second bottom wall portion, and an opening area of the second opening is larger than an area of the largest imaginary circle that can be placed inside the first opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Tsuzuki, Takaya Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 8806918
    Abstract: A gas sensor (200) includes a gas sensor element (10) extending in an axial direction (O), having a detection portion (11) provided at a front end thereof, and having electrode pads (12a) provided at a rear end thereof; connection terminals (31, 32) electrically connected to the respective electrode pads; and a cover (60, 61) covering the rear end of the gas sensor element and the connection terminals. The cover integrally has a connector portion (63) having an opening (63b) which allows an external connector to be inserted thereinto and removed therefrom in a predetermined direction, and has a connector terminal member (120) which can be inserted into the opening. The connector terminal member has a plurality of connector terminals (70) to be electrically connected to the respective connection terminals, and an insulator (121) integrally molded with the connector terminals. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing the gas sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Yonezu, Hisaharu Nishio, Takaya Yoshikawa, Tomohiro Tajima, Masao Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 8764955
    Abstract: A gas sensor (200) includes a gas sensor element (10) extending in the direction of an axis O, and a housing (50) made of metal, radially surrounding the gas sensor element, and adapted for inserting at least partially into a sensor-mounting hole (350) of a mounting body (300). The gas sensor (200) further includes a resin member (60, 61) which radially surrounds the housing at least partially and having a contact portion (C) in contact with the housing that is at least partially disposed axially frontward with respect to the outer surface of the mounting body (300) around the sensor-mounting hole, and a heat sink member (80) that is in contact with the housing at an axial position the same as or located frontward of the axial position of the front end of the contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaya Yoshikawa, Tomohiro Tajima, Hisaharu Nishio, Masao Tsuzuki, Kunihiko Yonezu
  • Patent number: 8702934
    Abstract: A gas sensor including a gas sensor element that extends in an axial direction and has a detection section at a front-end side thereof, and an electrode pad at a rear-end side thereof; a connection terminal that is electrically connected to the electrode pad; and an insulated separator that extends along the axial direction and has an inserting hole into which the connection terminal is inserted. An element side section is arranged within the inserting hole and is connected the electrode pad, and an external circuit side section extends further to the outside in a diametrical direction than an outer surface of the separator through one or more first bending sections from the element side section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Tsuzuki, Tomohiro Tajima, Tomoki Fujii, Hisaharu Nishio, Takaya Yoshikawa, Kunihiko Yonezu
  • Patent number: 8594908
    Abstract: An intake system for an internal combustion engine includes an intake passage connected with an intake port of the internal combustion engine; an EGR passage merged with the intake passage at a junction portion; a gas sensor attached to the intake passage and configured to detect a concentration of specific gas; and a control section configured to control the internal combustion engine on the basis of an output signal of the gas sensor. A diameter-enlarged portion having an inner diameter larger than an inner diameter of the junction portion is formed at a portion of the intake passage which is located on a downstream side of the junction portion. The gas sensor is located downstream from the diameter-enlarged portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaya Yoshikawa, Tomohiro Tajima, Masao Tsuzuki
  • Publication number: 20120118039
    Abstract: A gas sensor including a detecting element; and a protector having a tube portion surrounding the detecting portion, and a bottom portion the protector having a first opening disposed at the tube portion and a second opening at the bottom portion. The bottom portion includes first and second bottom wall portions, the second bottom wall portion protrudes toward the leading end side, and at least a part of the inner face thereof is located at the leading end side with respect to the outer face of the first bottom wall portion. The second opening is provided on a side opposite the inner space of the tube portion in a communication passage formed by the inner face of the second bottom wall portion, and an opening area of the second opening is larger than an area of the largest imaginary circle that can be placed inside the first opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masao TSUZUKI, Takaya YOSHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20120055234
    Abstract: A gas sensor (200) includes a gas sensor element (10) extending in an axial direction (O), having a detection portion (11) provided at a front end thereof, and having electrode pads (12a) provided at a rear end thereof; connection terminals (31, 32) electrically connected to the respective electrode pads; and a cover (60, 61) covering the rear end of the gas sensor element and the connection terminals. The cover integrally has a connector portion (63) having an opening (63b) which allows an external connector to be inserted thereinto and removed therefrom in a predetermined direction, and has a connector terminal member (120) which can be inserted into the opening. The connector terminal member has a plurality of connector terminals (70) to be electrically connected to the respective connection terminals, and an insulator (121) integrally molded with the connector terminals. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing the gas sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kunihiko YONEZU, Hisaharu NISHIO, Takaya YOSHIKAWA, Tomohiro TAJIMA, Masao TSUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20120018305
    Abstract: A gas sensor (200) includes a gas sensor element (10) extending in the direction of an axis O, and a housing (50) made of metal, radially surrounding the gas sensor element, and adapted for inserting at least partially into a sensor-mounting hole (350) of a mounting body (300). The gas sensor (200) further includes a resin member (60, 61) which radially surrounds the housing at least partially and having a contact portion (C) in contact with the housing that is at least partially disposed axially frontward with respect to the outer surface of the mounting body (300) around the sensor-mounting hole, and a heat sink member (80) that is in contact with the housing at an axial position the same as or located frontward of the axial position of the front end of the contact portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takaya YOSHIKAWA, Tomohiro TAJIMA, Hisaharu NISHIO, Masao TSUZUKI, Kunihiko YONEZU
  • Publication number: 20110209523
    Abstract: A gas sensor (1) has an inner protector (120) and an outer protector (110); the inner protector (120) has an inner wall portion (160) having an inner gas inlet (170) for introducing gas to be measured into the interior of the inner protector (120); the outer protector (110) has an outer wall portion (130) having an outer gas inlet (140) for introducing the gas to be measured into the interior of the outer protector (110); a clearance of 1.35 mm or less is provided between the detection portion (11) and at least a portion of the inner wall portion (160); and when the gas sensor (1) is in use, the inner protector (120) is higher in temperature than the outer protector (110).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Otsubo, Takaya Yoshikawa, Tomohiro Tajima, Masao Tsuzuki
  • Publication number: 20110174617
    Abstract: A gas sensor including a gas sensor element that extends in an axial direction and has a detection section at a front-end side thereof, and an electrode pad at a rear-end side thereof; a connection terminal that is electrically connected to the electrode pad; and an insulated separator that extends along the axial direction and has an inserting hole into which the connection terminal is inserted. An element side section is arranged within the inserting hole and is connected the electrode pad, and an external circuit side section extends further to the outside in a diametrical direction than an outer surface of the separator through one or more first bending sections from the element side section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masao TSUZUKI, Tomohiro TAJIMA, Tomoki FUJII, Hisaharu NISHIO, Takaya YOSHIKAWA, Kunihiko YONEZU
  • Publication number: 20100313863
    Abstract: An intake system for an internal combustion engine includes an intake passage connected with an intake port of the internal combustion engine; an EGR passage merged with the intake passage at a junction portion; a gas sensor attached to the intake passage and configured to detect a concentration of specific gas; and a control section configured to control the internal combustion engine on the basis of an output signal of the gas sensor. A diameter-enlarged portion having an inner diameter larger than an inner diameter of the junction portion is formed at a portion of the intake passage which is located on a downstream side of the junction portion. The gas sensor is located downstream from the diameter-enlarged portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takaya YOSHIKAWA, Tomohiro TAJIMA, Masao Tsuzuki