Patents by Inventor Masatoshi Hidaka

Masatoshi Hidaka 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: 20220260024
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided, which includes a variable phase mechanism configured to change rotational phases of intake and exhaust camshafts so that a valve overlap is made. An intake cam lobe is formed such that an open period of the intake valve is 210° or larger and 330° or smaller of a crank angle. The exhaust cam lobe is formed such that, during the overlap period with the rotational phase of the intake camshaft advanced to the maximum and the rotational phase of the exhaust camshaft retarded to the maximum, an effective valve lift amount (Lift(CA)) of the exhaust valve which is a function of a crank angle from the open timing (CAIVO) of the intake valve to a middle timing (CAcenter) of the overlap period, an inner circumferential length (L_ex) of a valve seat, and a swept volume (V) per cylinder satisfy the following formula: 0 . 0 ? 1 ? 5 ? L_ex V × ? C ? A IVO C ? A c ? e ? n ? t ? e ? r ? ? Lif ? t ? ? ( CA ) ? d ? C ? A .
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Tomonori Urushihara, Masanari Sueoka, Yusuke Kawai, Atsushi Inoue, Masatoshi Hidaka, Kota Matsumoto, Tota Tanii, Michiharu Kawano, Toru Miyamoto, Tsubasa Ito
  • Patent number: 11415066
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided, which includes a variable phase mechanism configured to change rotational phases of intake and exhaust camshafts so that a valve overlap is made. An intake cam lobe is formed such that an open period of the intake valve is 210° or larger and 330° or smaller of a crank angle. The exhaust cam lobe is formed such that, during the overlap period with the rotational phase of the intake camshaft advanced to the maximum and the rotational phase of the exhaust camshaft retarded to the maximum, an effective valve lift amount (Lift(CA)) of the exhaust valve which is a function of a crank angle from the open timing (CAIVO) of the intake valve to a middle timing (CAcenter) of the overlap period, an inner circumferential length (L_ex) of a valve seat, and a swept volume (V) per cylinder satisfy the following formula: 0 . 0 ? 1 ? 5 ? L ? _ ? ex V × ? C ? A IVO C ? A c ? e ? n ? t ? e ? r ? Lift ? ( CA ) ? d ? C ? A .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Tomonori Urushihara, Masanari Sueoka, Yusuke Kawai, Atsushi Inoue, Masatoshi Hidaka, Kota Matsumoto, Tota Tanii, Michiharu Kawano, Toru Miyamoto, Tsubasa Ito
  • Patent number: 10767577
    Abstract: A method of implementing control logic of a compression-ignition engine is provided. A controller outputs a signal to a injector and a variable valve operating mechanism so that a gas-fuel ratio (G/F) becomes leaner than a stoichiometric air fuel ratio, and an air-fuel ratio (A/F) becomes equal to or richer than the stoichiometric air fuel ratio, and to an ignition plug so that unburnt mixture gas combusts by self-ignition after the ignition plug ignites mixture gas inside a combustion chamber. The method includes steps of determining a geometric compression ratio and determining the control logic defining an intake valve close timing IVC. IVC (deg.aBDC) is determined so that the following expression is satisfied: if the geometric compression ratio ? is 10??<17, 0.4234?2?22.926?+207.84+C?IVC??0.4234?2+22.926??167.84+C where C is a correction term according to an engine speed NE (rpm), C=3.3×10?10NE3?1.0×10?6NE2+7.0×10?4NE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Masanari Sueoka, Atsushi Inoue, Keiji Maruyama, Takuya Ohura, Tomohiro Nishida, Yusuke Kawai, Tetsuya Chikada, Masatoshi Hidaka, Toshiaki Takahashi, Tatsuhiro Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 10612474
    Abstract: Disclosed is a control device for a multi-cylinder engine having a combustion chamber (19) to which an intake port (16) and an exhaust port (17) are connected. The control device comprises: an intake-side variable valve operating mechanism (71) for controlling a lift timing of two intake valves (21a, 21b) of the intake port (16); an exhaust-side variable valve operating mechanism (72) for controlling a lift timing of an exhaust valve (22a); and an exhaust-side valve operating mechanism (73) for driving an exhaust valve (22b) at a fixed timing. The control device is operable, when executing cylinder deactivation in a low engine load and low engine speed operating range, to cause the exhaust-side variable valve operating mechanism (72) to open the exhaust valve (22a) during downward movement of a piston (14) in a cylinder (18) being subjected to the cylinder deactivation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keitaro Ezumi, Kazuhiro Takemoto, Tomokuni Kusunoki, Atsushi Inoue, Akitomo Takagi, Masanari Sueoka, Masami Nishida, Kazufumi Kumakura, Kota Matsumoto, Tomohiro Hasegawa, Tadasu Hashiguchi, Toshiaki Takahashi, Masatoshi Hidaka
  • Publication number: 20200095903
    Abstract: A control device for engine comprising; a variable valve operating mechanism (72) which comprises a cam (72d) and a pressure chamber (72c) internally filled with engine oil; and a hydraulic valve (72b) associated with the pressure chamber (72c) and configured to be opened and closed to control the oil pressure to be applied to an intake valve (22). When the engine load falls within a given low engine load range, the valve opening timing of the intake valve (22) is increasingly retarded according to the engine load and as the engine load becomes higher, within a limit of a given timing, and, when the engine load is increased beyond the given low engine load range, the valve opening timing of the intake valve is fixed to the given timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanari SUEOKA, Masatoshi HIDAKA, Toshiaki TAKAHASHI, Tadasu HASHIGUCHI
  • Patent number: 10513990
    Abstract: A PCM (100) selects one of a CI mode or an SI mode based on the operating conditions of the engine (1). In the CI mode, the engine (1) is operated by compression ignition combustion. In the SI mode, the engine (1) is operated by spark ignition combustion. if, while the engine (1) is being operated in the CI mode, a determination is made that an estimated value (Tc) of the catalyst temperature is lower than or equal to a warming start temperature (Ts), the PCM (100) further performs first warming control to assign four cylinders (18) as CI and SI cylinders, which perform the compression ignition combustion and the spark ignition combustion, respectively, such that the four cylinders (18) alternately perform the compression ignition combustion and the spark ignition combustion in accordance with the order of combustion of the cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takahashi, Masanari Sueoka, Masatoshi Hidaka
  • Publication number: 20190360368
    Abstract: A method of implementing control logic of a compression-ignition engine is provided. A controller outputs a signal to a injector and a variable valve operating mechanism so that a gas-fuel ratio (G/F) becomes leaner than a stoichiometric air fuel ratio, and an air-fuel ratio (A/F) becomes equal to or richer than the stoichiometric air fuel ratio, and to an ignition plug so that unburnt mixture gas combusts by self-ignition after the ignition plug ignites mixture gas inside a combustion chamber. The method includes steps of determining a geometric compression ratio and determining the control logic defining an intake valve close timing IVC. IVC (deg.aBDC) is determined so that the following expression is satisfied: if the geometric compression ratio ? is 10??<17, 0.4234?2?22.926?+207.84+C?IVC??0.4234?2+22.926??167.84+C where C is a correction term according to an engine speed NE (rpm), C=3.3×10?10NE3?1.0×10?6NE2+7.0×10?4NE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Masanari Sueoka, Atsushi Inoue, Keiji Maruyama, Takuya Ohura, Tomohiro Nishida, Yusuke Kawai, Tetsuya Chikada, Masatoshi Hidaka, Toshiaki Takahashi, Tatsuhiro Tokunaga
  • Publication number: 20190101064
    Abstract: Disclosed is a control device for a multi-cylinder engine having a combustion chamber (19) to which an intake port (16) and an exhaust port (17) are connected. The control device comprises: an intake-side variable valve operating mechanism (71) for controlling a lift timing of two intake valves (21a, 21b) of the intake port (16); an exhaust-side variable valve operating mechanism (72) for controlling a lift timing of an exhaust valve (22a); and an exhaust-side valve operating mechanism (73) for driving an exhaust valve (22b) at a fixed timing. The control device is operable, when executing cylinder deactivation in a low engine load and low engine speed operating range, to cause the exhaust-side variable valve operating mechanism (72) to open the exhaust valve (22a) during downward movement of a piston (14) in a cylinder (18) being subjected to the cylinder deactivation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keitaro EZUMI, Kazuhiro TAKEMOTO, Tomokuni KUSUNOKI, Atsushi INOUE, Akitomo TAKAGI, Masanari SUEOKA, Masami NISHIDA, Kazufumi KUMAKURA, Kota MATSUMOTO, Tomohiro HASEGAWA, Tadasu HASHIGUCHI, Toshiaki TAKAHASHI, Masatoshi HIDAKA
  • Publication number: 20190085772
    Abstract: A engine control device includes an variable exhaust valve mechanism 72 which varies an opening and closing timing of an exhaust valve 22, and a PCM 10 which controls the variable exhaust valve mechanism 72 such that the opening and closing timing of the exhaust valve 22 is varied, wherein the variable exhaust valve mechanism 72 is configured such that a lift amount of the exhaust valve 22 becomes smaller as a retarded degree of the valve opening timing increases, and the PCM 10 is configured to set a maximum retarded valve opening timing in an exhaust stroke based on the lift amount at an exhaust top dead center, and to control the variable exhaust valve mechanism 72 so as to open the exhaust valve 22 in advance of the maximum retarded valve opening timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanari SUEOKA, Toshiaki TAKAHASHI, Masatoshi HIDAKA, Tadasu HASHIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20180252169
    Abstract: A PCM (100) selects one of a CI mode or an SI mode based on the operating conditions of the engine (1). In the CI mode, the engine (1) is operated by compression ignition combustion. In the SI mode, the engine (1) is operated by spark ignition combustion. if, while the engine (1) is being operated in the CI mode, a determination is made that an estimated value (Tc) of the catalyst temperature is lower than or equal to a warming start temperature (Ts), the PCM (100) further performs first warming control to assign four cylinders (18) as CI and SI cylinders, which perform the compression ignition combustion and the spark ignition combustion, respectively, such that the four cylinders (18) alternately perform the compression ignition combustion and the spark ignition combustion in accordance with the order of combustion of the cylinders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki TAKAHASHI, Masanari SUEOKA, Masatoshi HIDAKA
  • Patent number: 9650984
    Abstract: When a specific condition requiring a rise in exhaust gas temperature is satisfied, a required fuel amount to be injected from an injector (21) is injected in a split manner, such that the fuel injection is divided to: a main injection (X1) to be initiated a given period before a compression top dead center; an auxiliary injection (X2) to be initiated after initiation of auto-ignited combustion of an air-fuel mixture consisting of air and the fuel injected by the main injection (X1) and before an assumed peak timing (Pk?) of a heat release rate (RH) from the combustion based on the main injection (X1); and a post injection (X3) to be initiated after the assumed peak timing (Pk?) and before completion of combustion based on the main injection (X1) and the auxiliary injection (X2). This makes it possible to raise an exhaust gas temperature while sufficiently ensuring auto-ignitability and fuel economy performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Nagatsu, Masatoshi Hidaka, Takashi Kaminaga, Masahisa Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 8930118
    Abstract: Disclosed is an engine control system which is designed to allow homogeneous-charge compression ignition combustion to be performed in an HCCI region (R) defined as an engine operating region including at least a partial-load range of an engine. In a low load zone (R1) of the HCCI region (R), a lift amount of an intake valve (11) is set to a first predetermined value, and an exhaust valve (12) is allowed to start being opened during an intake stroke at a given timing later than an opening timing of the intake valve (11). Further, in the medium load zone of the HCCI region, the lift amount of the intake valve (11) is gradually increased up to a second predetermined value greater than the first predetermined value, along with an increase in an engine load. The engine control system is capable of adequately controlling an amount of burned gas to be introduced into a cylinder, depending on the engine load to allow the HCCI combustion to be adequately performed in a wider engine load range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Nagatsu, Masatoshi Hidaka, Takashi Kaminaga, Masahisa Yamakawa
  • Publication number: 20130019828
    Abstract: Disclosed is an engine control system which is designed to allow homogeneous-charge compression ignition combustion to be performed in an HCCI region (R) defined as an engine operating region including at least a partial-load range of an engine. In a low load zone (R1) of the HCCI region (R), a lift amount of an intake valve (11) is set to a first predetermined value, and an exhaust valve (12) is allowed to start being opened during an intake stroke at a given timing later than an opening timing of the intake valve (11). Further, in the medium load zone of the HCCI region, the lift amount of the intake valve (11) is gradually increased up to a second predetermined value greater than the first predetermined value, along with an increase in an engine load. The engine control system is capable of adequately controlling an amount of burned gas to be introduced into a cylinder, depending on the engine load to allow the HCCI combustion to be adequately performed in a wider engine load range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Nagatsu, Masatoshi Hidaka, Takashi Kaminaga, Masahisa Yamakawa
  • Publication number: 20130008416
    Abstract: When a specific condition requiring a rise in exhaust gas temperature is satisfied, a required fuel amount to be injected from an injector (21) is injected in a split manner, such that the fuel injection is divided to: a main injection (X1) to be initiated a given period before a compression top dead center; an auxiliary injection (X2) to be initiated after initiation of auto-ignited combustion of an air-fuel mixture consisting of air and the fuel injected by the main injection (X1) and before an assumed peak timing (Pk?) of a heat release rate (RH) from the combustion based on the main injection (X1); and a post injection (X3) to be initiated after the assumed peak timing (Pk?) and before completion of combustion based on the main injection (X1) and the auxiliary injection (X2). This makes it possible to raise an exhaust gas temperature while sufficiently ensuring auto-ignitability and fuel economy performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Nagatsu, Masatoshi Hidaka, Takashi Kaminaga, Masahisa Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 7958720
    Abstract: A combustion control apparatus is configured for a direct-injection spark-ignition internal combustion engine. The combustion control apparatus selects an extremely retarded combustion mode while the internal combustion engine is in a predetermined operating state. In the extremely retarded combustion mode, the combustion control apparatus sets ignition timing to be after compression top dead center, and sets fuel injection timing to be before the ignition timing and after compression top dead center. The combustion control apparatus inhibits the extremely retarded combustion mode while an exhaust purifier of the internal combustion engine is in a predetermined cold state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Okamoto, Masayuki Tomita, Taizo Horikomi, Taro Sakai, Akira Nakajima, Hitoshi Ishii, Mitsuhiro Akagi, Takao Maitani, Tomoyuki Takeda, Masatoshi Hidaka, Tomoyuki Shigefuji
  • Patent number: 7954471
    Abstract: There is provided a spark ignited internal combustion engine having a geometric compression ratio of 13.0 or greater. The engine comprises combustion chambers having a cylinder stroke volume of 0.3 liter or greater, with the spark plug in the chamber ceiling having its spark point in the combustion chamber, and a cavity being formed on the top surface of the piston. At least part of the cavity defines a spherical surface that a hypothetical sphere having its center at the spark point contacts when the piston is at top dead center. The cavity is formed so that V2/V1?0.31, where V1 is top-dead-center combustion chamber volume, and V2 is the volume of the part of the hypothetical sphere not interfering with the combustion chamber floor or ceiling at top dead center. The flame thus spreads with less interference, shortening combustion duration and reducing fuel consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Nishimoto, Naoya Watanabe, Kazuhiro Nagatsu, Masatoshi Hidaka, Hiroaki Abe
  • Publication number: 20100000493
    Abstract: There is provided a spark ignited internal combustion engine having a geometric compression ratio of 13.0 or greater. The engine comprises combustion chambers having a cylinder stroke volume of 0.3 liter or greater, with the spark plug in the chamber ceiling having its spark point in the combustion chamber, and a cavity being formed on the top surface of the piston. At least part of the cavity defines a spherical surface that a hypothetical sphere having its center at the spark point contacts when the piston is at top dead center. The cavity is formed so that V2/V1?0.31, where V1 is top-dead-center combustion chamber volume, and V2 is the volume of the part of the hypothetical sphere not interfering with the combustion chamber floor or ceiling at top dead center. The flame thus spreads with less interference, shortening combustion duration and reducing fuel consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki NISHIMOTO, Naoya WATANABE, Kazuhiro NAGATSU, Masatoshi HIDAKA, Hiroaki ABE
  • Patent number: 7350504
    Abstract: In control apparatus and method for an inner cylinder spark ignited internal combustion engine having a fuel injection valve configured to directly inject fuel into an inside of an engine cylinder and a spark plug, a super retard combustion is executed to set an ignition timing after a compression stroke top dead center and to inject fuel before the ignition timing and after the compression stroke top dead center during a predetermined engine driving condition and at least part of fuel is injected before the compression stroke top dead center to decrease a fuel injection quantity after the compression stroke top dead center during an interval which is immediately after an engine start and in which a pressure of fuel is relatively low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Yasunaga, Tomoyuki Takeda, Akira Nakajima, Taizo Horikomi, Daisuke Takaki, Katsuaki Uchiyama, Masatoshi Hidaka, Hitoshi Ishii, Tomoyuki Shigefuji, Masayuki Tomita, Mitsuhiro Akagi
  • Patent number: 7194999
    Abstract: A combustion control apparatus configured to operate a direct-injection spark-ignition internal combustion engine in a top dead center injection operating mode. In the top dead center injection operating mode, a fuel injection start timing is set to be before compression top dead center, a fuel injection end timing is set to be after compression top dead center, and an ignition timing is set to be after compression top dead center. The combustion control apparatus is configured to promote incylinder fuel spray penetration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiya Kono, Hitoshi Ishii, Mitsuhiro Akagi, Katsuaki Uchiyama, Masayuki Tomita, Akira Nakajima, Taro Sakai, Masatoshi Hidaka
  • Publication number: 20060266326
    Abstract: In control apparatus and method for an inner cylinder spark ignited internal combustion engine having a fuel injection valve configured to directly inject fuel into an inside of an engine cylinder and a spark plug, a super retard combustion is executed to set an ignition timing after a compression stroke top dead center and to inject fuel before the ignition timing and after the compression stroke top dead center during a predetermined engine driving condition and at least part of fuel is injected before the compression stroke top dead center to decrease a fuel injection quantity after the compression stroke top dead center during an interval which is immediately after an engine start and in which a pressure of fuel is relatively low.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Inventors: Makoto Yasunaga, Tomoyuki Takeda, Akira Nakajima, Taizo Horikomi, Daisuke Takaki, Katsuaki Uchiyama, Masatoshi Hidaka, Hitoshi Ishii, Tomoyuki Shigefuji, Masayuki Tomita, Mitsuhiro Akagi