Patents by Inventor Minoru Osuga

Minoru Osuga 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: 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: 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: 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
  • Patent number: 6519513
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle control apparatus which is capable of improving the deterioration of the emission performance unique to the hybrid vehicle during idle stop by purifying the exhaust gas remaining in the engine intake pipe, the cylinders, the exhaust pipe and the catalyst. The apparatus comprises two drive sources including an engine operated by fuel combustion and an electric motor/generator operated by electric energy. A residual exhaust gas purifier purifies the gas remaining in the intake pipe, the cylinders, the exhaust pipe and the catalyst of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Minoru Osuga, Masami Nagano, Hiroyuki Takamura
  • Patent number: 6502549
    Abstract: A combustion control device for an internal combustion engine, establishes an optimum combustion condition by detecting the combustion pressure in the cylinder and controlling the exhaust gas reflux rate, the ignition timing and the fuel injection timing or the injection rate at the intake stroke in order to improve the fuel economy and the quality of the exhaust gas in the engine. The device is provided with an in-cylinder pressure detector for detecting the in-cylinder pressure in connection with the combustion in the engine, and apparatus for estimating the heat generation rate with respect to the angle of the crank shaft of the cylinder according to the output from the in-cylinder pressure detection means, the ignition timing and the fuel injection timing control the control variables such as EGR control parameters related to the combustion so that the in-cylinder combustion state pattern obtained by the heat generation rate estimation apparatus may be reshaped into a predefined waveform pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Hoshino, Nobuo Kurihara, Minoru Osuga, Toshiharu Nogi, Yutaka Takaku
  • Publication number: 20020123831
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle control apparatus which is capable of improving the deterioration of the emission performance unique to the hybrid vehicle during idle stop by purifying the exhaust gas remaining in the engine intake pipe, the cylinders, the exhaust pipe and the catalyst. The apparatus comprises two drive sources including an engine operated by fuel combustion and an electric motor/generator operated by electric energy. A residual exhaust gas purifier purifies the gas remaining in the intake pipe, the cylinders, the exhaust pipe and the catalyst of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Minoru Osuga, Masami Nagano, Hiroyuki Takamura
  • Patent number: 5937637
    Abstract: A system for purifying an exhaust gas for use in an automobile is disclosed which does not externally discharge unburnt hydrocarbons until a catalyst becomes active. An adsorbent is provided upstream of the catalyst. A heat exchanger is disposed between an upstream portion of the adsorbent and a portion between the adsorbent and the catalyst for controlling the elevation of the temperature of the adsorbent and for promoting the elevation of the temperature of the catalyst. The unburnt hydrocarbons are absorbed by the adsorbent 4 in the initial period of time from starting of an engine until the catalyst 8 becomes active. Temperature control is made in such a manner that the unburnt hydrocarbons which are adsorbed by the adsorbent 4 begins to be desorbed therefrom substantially simultaneously with the time when the catalyst 8 begins to function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakatsu Fujishita, Takeshi Atago, Akio Honji, Osamu Kuroda, Toshio Ogawa, Noriko Watanabe, Minoru Osuga
  • Patent number: 5560201
    Abstract: A system for purifying an exhaust gas for use in an automobile is disclosed which does not externally discharge unburnt hydrocarbons until a catalyst becomes active. An adsorbent is provided upstream of the catalyst. A heat exchanger is disposed between an upstream portion of the adsorbent and a portion between the adsorbent and the catalyst for controlling the elevation of the temperature of the adsorbent and for promoting the elevation of the temperature of the catalyst. The unburnt hydrocarbons are absorbed by the adsorbent in the initial period of time from starting of an engine until the catalyst becomes active. Temperature control is made in such a manner that the unburnt hydrocarbons which are adsorbed by the adsorbent begins to be desorbed therefrom substantially simultaneously with the time when the catalyst begins to function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakatsu Fujishita, Takeshi Atago, Akio Honji, Osamu Kuroda, Toshio Ogawa, Noriko Watanabe, Minoru Osuga
  • Patent number: 5388405
    Abstract: A system for purifying an exhaust gas for use in an automobile is disclosed which does not externally discharge unburnt hydrocarbons until a catalyst becomes active. An adsorbent is provided upstream of the catalyst. A heat exchanger is disposed between an upstream portion of the adsorbent and a portion between the adsorbent and the catalyst for controlling the elevation of the temperature of the adsorbent and for promoting the elevation of the temperature of the catalyst. The unburnt hydrocarbons are absorbed by the adsorbent in the initial period of time from starting of an engine until the catalyst becomes active. Temperature control is made in such a manner that the unburnt hydrocarbons which are adsorbed by the adsorbent begins to be desorbed therefrom substantially simultaneously with the time when the catalyst begins to function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakatsu Fujishita, Takeshi Atago, Akio Honji, Osamu Kuroda, Toshio Ogawa, Noriko Watanabe, Minoru Osuga
  • Patent number: 4951212
    Abstract: In order to provide information for searching for a desired destination on the basis of the purpose of use of a facility at that destination and for selecting an optimum destination out of several candidates for a distination at which are located facilities having the same purpose of use an automobile driving guide apparatus is so configured that search information indicating the relations between the purposes of use and various destinations which satisfy that purpose is memorized in memory means, and candidates for a desired destination are indicated on a display when the driver inputs a purpose of use and a destination is indicated on the display when the driver selects and inputs a selected destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: Hitachi Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo Kurihara, Minoru Osuga, Hideharu Takahashi, Akira Endo
  • Patent number: 4882030
    Abstract: An air-fuel detection system comprising a solid electrolyte, first and second electrodes formed on the surface of the solid electrolyte, a diffusion resistor formed on the first electrode for controlling the gas diffusion into the first electrode, and a detector circuit for detecting conditions of the engine exhaust gas to detect the air-fuel ratio thereof, wherein the detector circuit measures the electromotive force generated between the first and second electrodes during a first period, and controls a selected one of the voltage and current applied between the first and second electrodes to keep the electromotive force constant during a second period, the selected one of the voltage and current being produced as a signal representing the air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seikoo Suzuki, Masayuki Miki, Takao Sasayama, Minoru Osuga, Yoshishige Oyama
  • Patent number: 4825838
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, in which, during the lean-burn region of its operation, fuel supplied for the engine is controlled so as to make an acutal air/fuel ratio follow a predetermined lean air/fuel ratio, an air/fuel ratio control apparatus detects the amplitude of a pulsating component in an output voltage of an oxygen sensor. The pulsating component is caused by the occurence of a misfire. The control apparatus corrects a reference for the sensor output voltage in a feedback control of the air/fuel ratio in accordance with the detected amplitude of the pulsating component, whereby the stable operation of the engine can be secured irrespective of the aged change of the stable combustion limit of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Osuga, Yoshishige Oyama
  • Patent number: 4751907
    Abstract: In an A/F ratio sensor of mixture supplied for an internal combustion engine, which has a detector for detecting the concentration of residual oxygen in exhaust gas and determines the A/F ratio by retrieving an air excess ratio table with an output of the detector, there is further provided an additional air introducing device, which introduces a predetermined quantity of air into the engine for a certain period of time, under the condition that the velocity of air flowing through a throttle valve is equal to the sonic velocity. The oxygen concentration detector is calibrated by the comparison of the outputs thereof before and after introduction of the additional air. According to this invention, the A/F ratio of the mixture can be detected accurately without the influence of the aged deterioration of the oxygen concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1988
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadahiro Yamamoto, Eiichi Ohnishi, Tadaki Oota, Hiroaki Oogane, Minoru Osuga, Yoshishige Oyama
  • Patent number: 4748953
    Abstract: In feedback control for the air/fuel ratio based on a sensor producing an output signal proportional to a change in the air/fuel ratio, a control constant modifier is operative to vary the proportional component and the integration component in a feedback system in accordance with an air/fuel ratio set for controlling, thereby assuring stability of ultimate fuel control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Osuga, Yoshishige Oyama
  • Patent number: 4716760
    Abstract: A novel air-fuel detection system is disclosed, comprising a solid electrolyte with a diffusion resistor for controlling the oxygen diffusion to measure the air excess rate of an exhaust gas. A predetermined current is supplied to the solid electrolyte for a predetermined length of time to apply the oxygen into the diffusion resistor. Subsequently, a predetermined current of opposite polarity is supplied to the solid electrolyte for a predetermined length of time to draw the oxygen out of the diffusion resistor. The time required from the start of drawing to generation of an electromotive force due to the difference in oxygen component pressures between the sides of the solid electrolyte is measured and the above operations are alternatively repeated in the time sharing manner to determine the air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Osuga, Yoshishige Oyama
  • Patent number: 4629535
    Abstract: An air-fuel ratio detector including an oxygen ion conductive solid electrolyte, first and second electrodes provided on respective sides of the solid electrolyte, a porous diffusion resistor covering the first electrode, and a circuit arrangement for supplying a current between the first and second electrodes. In order to enable a detection of a wide range of air-fuel ratios, the current supplied between the first and second electrodes is controlled so as to feed oxygen from the second electrode to the first electrode through the solid electrolyte and then withdraw oxygen from the first electrode to the second electrode through the solid electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshishige Oyama, Minoru Osuga
  • Patent number: 4622125
    Abstract: An oxygen concentration control system comprising an electrolyte of the oxygen-ionconduction type exposed on its one surface to the interior of a chamber conducting gases under measurement through a diffusion resistance member, and the system controls the oxygen concentration of gases so that the voltage created across the electrolyte is equal to the predetermined voltage. The inventive system comprises a means for preventing the malfunctioning of the control system caused by the time lag in sensing the oxygen concentration which occurs when the oxygen concentration of the gases varies abruptly or the setting of the oxygen concentration is varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshishige Oyama, Tadashi Kirisawa, Minoru Osuga
  • Patent number: 4534330
    Abstract: A sensor for detecting an air/fuel ratio is fitted to an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine so as to effect feedback control and to keep the air/fuel ratio of the engine at a predetermined value. To improve the feedback control accuracy, the sensor response must be increased. If the response is increased too much, however, the sensor output is found deviated from the true air/fuel ratio, and the deviation quantity is also found proportional to the change of the air-fuel ratio with respect to time. The invention makes it possible to make appropriate air/fuel ratio control by compensating for the output signal of the sensor using the signal component based upon the change of the air/fuel ratio with time, among the sensor output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1985
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Osuga, Yoshishige Oyama
  • Patent number: 4424568
    Abstract: A method controls of the amount of fuel, ignition timing and the amount of exhaust reflux recirculation during transient operations of an internal combustion engine such as acceleration and/or deceleration. In this method, the present data of the intake air flow rate or intake negative pressure and previously-derived data with respect thereto are utilized to control the amount of fuel to be injected based on an extrapolation or correction method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1984
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutake Nishimura, Yoshishige Oyama, Hiroshi Kuroiwa, Minoru Osuga