Patents by Inventor Masato Amano

Masato Amano 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: 9020692
    Abstract: A diagnostic apparatus of a hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, an electricity storage device, a motor generating a driving force for a vehicle travel using at least electricity from the electricity storage device, a diagnostic unit diagnosing a vehicle state when an output of the internal combustion engine is zero, a state detection unit detecting a state of the electricity storage device, a remaining time acquisition unit acquiring a remaining time required until diagnostic completion, when the vehicle state is diagnosed by the diagnostic unit, a determination unit determining whether or not the diagnosis of the vehicle state is continued by the diagnostic unit, based on the state of the electricity storage device and the remaining time when the vehicle state is diagnosed by the diagnostic unit, and a control unit that controls continuation or stop of the vehicle state diagnosis according to the determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Amano, Yuki Oshitani, Yutaka Tsuji, Atsushi Izumiura, Akihiro Shinjo, Keisuke Minatoya
  • Patent number: 8812185
    Abstract: A diagnostic apparatus of a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a motor, and a diagnostic unit that diagnoses a vehicle state by motoring the internal combustion engine using the motor in a zero output state. A detection unit detects a required driving force of a driver. A determination unit determines whether or not a remaining time required until a diagnostic completion is a predetermined time or less, in a case where the required driving force with a predetermined lower limit value or more is detected by the required driving force detection unit when the vehicle state is diagnosed by the diagnostic unit. A control device causes the motor to output the driving force, when the remaining time is the predetermined time or less, and continues the vehicle state diagnosis using the diagnostic unit by motoring the engine when the output of the internal combustion engine is zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Amano, Yuki Oshitani, Yutaka Tsuji, Akihiro Shinjo, Atsushi Izumiura, Keisuke Minatoya
  • Publication number: 20140067200
    Abstract: A diagnostic apparatus of a hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, an electricity storage device, a motor generating a driving force for a vehicle travel using at least electricity from the electricity storage device, a diagnostic unit diagnosing a vehicle state when an output of the internal combustion engine is zero, a state detection unit detecting a state of the electricity storage device, a remaining time acquisition unit acquiring a remaining time required until diagnostic completion, when the vehicle state is diagnosed by the diagnostic unit, a determination unit determining whether or not the diagnosis of the vehicle state is continued by the diagnostic unit, based on the state of the electricity storage device and the remaining time when the vehicle state is diagnosed by the diagnostic unit, and a control unit that controls continuation or stop of the vehicle state diagnosis according to the determination result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masato Amano, Yuki Oshitani, Yutaka Tsuji, Atsushi Izumiura, Akihiro Shinjo, Keisuke Minatoya
  • Publication number: 20140067179
    Abstract: A diagnostic apparatus of a hybrid vehicle has an internal combustion engine, a motor that generates a driving force for vehicle travel, and a diagnostic unit that diagnoses a vehicle state by motoring the internal combustion engine using the motor in a state where an output of the internal combustion engine is zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masato Amano, Yuki Oshitani, Yutaka Tsuji, Akihiro Shinjo, Atsushi Izumiura, Keisuke Minatoya
  • Patent number: 8151346
    Abstract: A disclosed unauthorized usage prevention system enables execution of at least one software item including an identification information item uniquely associated with the software item, based on a key information item in a key module. An information processing apparatus includes a key information storage unit, a control unit, an unauthorized usage prevention controller, and a port. The unauthorized usage prevention controller includes a connection recognition unit and a key information copying unit. When the unauthorized usage prevention controller recognizes that the key module is connected to the port, the unauthorized usage prevention controller copies the key information item in the key module into the key information storage unit, and the control unit enables execution of all of the software items with identification information items associated with the key information items held in the key information storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masato Amano
  • Publication number: 20080072318
    Abstract: A disclosed unauthorized usage prevention system enables execution of at least one software item including an identification information item uniquely associated with the software item, based on a key information item in a key module. An information processing apparatus includes a key information storage unit, a control unit, an unauthorized usage prevention controller, and a port. The unauthorized usage prevention controller includes a connection recognition unit and a key information copying unit. When the unauthorized usage prevention controller recognizes that the key module is connected to the port, the unauthorized usage prevention controller copies the key information item in the key module into the key information storage unit, and the control unit enables execution of all of the software items with identification information items associated with the key information items held in the key information storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventor: Masato Amano
  • Patent number: 7188468
    Abstract: A controller for cylinder cut-off for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine including a partially operable cylinder that can be cutoff by a cut-off cylinder mechanism provided therewith and a full operating cylinder that is not cut off, the controller for cylinder cut-off including a partially operable cylinder side catalyst temperature estimating section, a full operating cylinder side catalyst temperature estimating section, and a cylinder cut-off authorization determining section for determining whether to authorize or prohibit a cut-off of the partially operable cylinder based on a partially operable cylinder side catalyst temperature estimated by the partially operable cylinder side catalyst temperature estimating section: and a full operating cylinder side catalyst temperature estimated by the full operating cylinder side catalyst temperature estimating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Fukusako, Haruhiko Yamada, Tatsuro Isono, Masato Amano, Toshiaki Ichoda
  • Publication number: 20050022509
    Abstract: A controller for cylinder cut-off for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine including a partially operable cylinder that can be cutoff by a cut-off cylinder mechanism provided therewith and a full operating cylinder that is not cut off, the controller for cylinder cut-off including a partially operable cylinder side catalyst temperature estimating section, a full operating cylinder side catalyst temperature estimating section, and a cylinder cut-off authorization determining section for determining whether to authorize or prohibit a cut-off of the partially operable cylinder based on a partially operable cylinder side catalyst temperature estimated by the partially operable cylinder side catalyst temperature estimating section: and a full operating cylinder side catalyst temperature estimated by the full operating cylinder side catalyst temperature estimating section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Fukusako, Haruhiko Yamada, Tatsuro Isono, Masato Amano, Toshiaki Ichoda
  • Publication number: 20040261755
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders and a switching mechanism for switching between an all-cylinder operation in which all of the cylinders is operated and a partial-cylinder operation in which at least one of the plurality of cylinders is halted. Operating parameters of a vehicle driven by the engine is detected. The all-cylinder operation or the partial-cylinder operation is performed according to the detected operating parameters. An oxygen concentration sensor is provided in an exhaust system corresponding to the at least one cylinder which is halted during the partial-cylinder operation. A failure of the oxygen concentration sensor is diagnosed in a predetermined operating condition including a fuel-cut operation of the engine upon deceleration. The partial-cylinder operation is permitted after completion of the failure diagnosis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Segawa, Haruhiko Yamada, Masato Amano, Yuichi Tamura
  • Patent number: 6830027
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders and a switching mechanism for switching between an all-cylinder operation in which all of the cylinders is operated and a partial-cylinder operation in which at least one of the plurality of cylinders is halted. Operating parameters of a vehicle driven by the engine is detected. The all-cylinder operation or the partial-cylinder operation is performed according to the detected operating parameters. An oxygen concentration sensor is provided in an exhaust system corresponding to the at least one cylinder which is halted during the partial-cylinder operation. A failure of the oxygen concentration sensor is diagnosed in a predetermined operating condition including a fuel-cut operation of the engine upon deceleration. The partial-cylinder operation is permitted after completion of the failure diagnosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Segawa, Haruhiko Yamada, Masato Amano, Yuichi Tamura