Patents by Inventor Mitsuru Koiwa

Mitsuru Koiwa 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: 7004155
    Abstract: An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine can be reduced in size and cost. A plurality of closed magnetic circuit cores (2) are built in a casing (8) and each have an excitation portion (2a) and non-excitation portions (2b). A plurality of coil parts (100) each includes a primary coil (4) and a secondary coil (6) which are arranged to surround the excitation parts (2a) of a corresponding one of the closed magnetic cores (2). The closed magnetic circuit cores (2) are arranged along an axial direction (A) of the coil parts (100) such that adjacent ones of the non-excitation portions (2b), which are those sides of adjacent cores (2) each of which extends from one end of a corresponding excitation portion (2a), overlap each other at least partially in the axial direction (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Mitusbishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigemi Murata, Takeshi Shimizu, Mitsuru Koiwa
  • Patent number: 6997171
    Abstract: An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine is capable of avoiding mis-ignition even if subject to external disturbances when a fail signal is transmitted through a common signal line on which an ignition signal can also be transmitted. An igniter is connected to receive the ignition signal from an ECU, and includes a waveform shaper connected with the signal line and having an input connected in parallel to an input resistance so as to make a voltage at the input higher than a prescribed voltage when the ignition signal flows into the input resistance, and a pulse output circuit connected to the input and having an output for generating the fail signal into which a secondary coil current is converted. The pulse output circuit adjusts a fail signal current such that the voltage at the input when the fail signal flows into the input resistance becomes less than the prescribed voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Naruse, Hisanori Nobe, Mitsuru Koiwa
  • Publication number: 20060027211
    Abstract: An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine is capable of avoiding mis-ignition even if subject to external disturbances when a fail signal is transmitted through a common signal line on which an ignition signal can also be transmitted. An igniter is connected to receive the ignition signal from an ECU, and includes a waveform shaper connected with the signal line and having an input connected in parallel to an input resistance so as to make a voltage at the input higher than a prescribed voltage when the ignition signal flows into the input resistance, and a pulse output circuit connected to the input and having an output for generating the fail signal into which a secondary coil current is converted. The pulse output circuit adjusts a fail signal current such that the voltage at the input when the fail signal flows into the input resistance becomes less than the prescribed voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Publication date: February 9, 2006
    Inventors: Yusuke Naruse, Hisanori Nobe, Mitsuru Koiwa
  • Patent number: 6925374
    Abstract: A misfire detection apparatus of an internal combustion engine for detecting combustion or a misfire of an air fuel mixture in the internal combustion engine based on an ion current generated at the combustion time of the air fuel mixture. The misfire detection apparatus includes ion current detection means and misfire determination means. The ion current detection means detects the ion current responsive to the amount of ions occurring in a cylinder just after combustion of the air fuel mixture in the cylinder in the internal combustion engine. The misfire determination means calculates a predetermined function based on the ion current detection value and determines that the condition is combustion when the magnitude exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Matsushita, Kimihiko Tanaya, Koichi Okamura, Mitsuru Koiwa
  • Patent number: 6880539
    Abstract: An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine can increase the degree of freedom of wiring paths of electroconductive wires as well as simplifying and miniaturizing a wiring module. Transformers (5A, 5B, 5C) are built into a casing (4) and each includes a core (6), a primary coil (8) and a secondary coil (10) arranged to surround the core for generating a high voltage in the secondary coil (10). A wiring module (20) built into the casing electrically connects the transformers and the switching module with one another. An insulating resin portion (11) fixedly attaches the transformers, the switching module and the wiring module to the casing. The wiring module (20) includes a module main body (22), which is formed by integrating a plurality of conductors (13, 14, 15) with one another through a resin, and flexible electroconductive wires (21) disposed along a surface of the module main body (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Maekawa, Takeshi Shimizu, Mitsuru Koiwa
  • Patent number: 6865929
    Abstract: Ion current detection signal output section for outputting an ion current detection signal including a failure determination signal of an ignition operation is provided, and a failure determination as well as a combustion state can be performed based on this ion current detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Okamura, Hisanori Nobe, Yasuhiro Takahashi, Mitsuru Koiwa
  • Publication number: 20030230293
    Abstract: An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine can increase the degree of freedom of wiring paths of electroconductive wires as well as simplifying and miniaturizing a wiring module. Transformers (5A, 5B, 5C) are built into a casing (4) and each includes a core (6), a primary coil (8) and a secondary coil (10) arranged to surround the core for generating a high voltage in the secondary coil (10). A wiring module (20) built into the casing electrically connects the transformers and the switching module with one another. An insulating resin portion (11) fixedly attaches the transformers, the switching module and the wiring module to the casing. The wiring module (20) includes a module main body (22), which is formed by integrating a plurality of conductors (13, 14, 15) with one another through a resin, and flexible electroconductive wires (21) disposed along a surface of the module main body (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Maekawa, Takeshi Shimizu, Mitsuru Koiwa
  • Publication number: 20030217741
    Abstract: An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine can be reduced in size and cost. A plurality of closed magnetic circuit cores (2) are built in a casing (8) and each have an excitation portion (2a) and non-excitation portions (2b). A plurality of coil parts (100) each includes a primary coil (4) and a secondary coil (6) which are arranged to surround the excitation parts (2a) of a corresponding one of the closed magnetic cores (2). The closed magnetic circuit cores (2) are arranged along an axial direction (A) of the coil parts (100) such that adjacent ones of the non-excitation portions (2b), which are those sides of adjacent cores (2) each of which extends from one end of a corresponding excitation portion (2a), overlap each other at least partially in the axial direction (A).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigemi Murata, Takeshi Shimizu, Mitsuru Koiwa
  • Publication number: 20030200023
    Abstract: A misfire detection apparatus of an internal combustion engine for detecting combustion or a misfire of an air fuel mixture in the internal combustion engine based on an ion current generated at the combustion time of the air fuel mixture. The misfire detection apparatus includes ion current detection means and misfire determination means. The ion current detection means detects the ion current responsive to the amount of ions occurring in a cylinder just after combustion of the air fuel mixture in the cylinder in the internal combustion engine. The misfire determination means calculates a predetermined function based on the ion current detection value and determines that the condition is combustion when the magnitude exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Matsushita, Kimihiko Tanaya, Koichi Okamura, Mitsuru Koiwa
  • Publication number: 20030196481
    Abstract: Ion current detection signal output section for outputting an ion current detection signal including a failure determination signal of an ignition operation is provided, and a failure determination as well as a combustion state can be performed based on this ion current detection signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Okamura, Hisanori Nobe, Yasuhiro Takahashi, Mitsuru Koiwa
  • Patent number: 6575151
    Abstract: An ignition coil for an internal combustion engine with a compact height and width includes an actuated magnetic portion of an iron core around which a primary coil is wound having an axis line crossing an ignition plug axis line of the internal combustion engine at a right angle; and a switching unit which is disposed at an end of the actuated magnetic portion vertically to the axis line of the actuated magnetic portion and intercepts a primary current flowing through the primary coil. This ignition coil can be manufactured at a greatly reduced cost, compared to the conventional ignition coil in which only one of the height or width is made compact, by reducing the required size of the press mold for the case and by reducing the initial investment for the equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigemi Murata, Mitsuru Koiwa
  • Patent number: 6550456
    Abstract: A combustion state detection apparatus for an internal combustion engine has a detection period limit section, which limits a detection period of an ion current processed in misfire detection section or knock detection section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Uchida, Yasuhiro Takahashi, Koichi Okamura, Mitsuru Koiwa
  • Patent number: 6474302
    Abstract: To obtain a knock control apparatus for internal-combustion engine having a function of judging whether or not the causes for failure have been solved for returning to normal knock control at the time of the solution, and capable of easily judging failure even in a failure mode in which it is difficult to raise the filter value and it is difficult to judge the failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Takahashi, Koichi Okamura, Mitsuru Koiwa, Tsutomu Morishita
  • Patent number: 6427662
    Abstract: A knock control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a knock detector for extracting a vibration component superposed on an ion current, and waveform shaping it at a predetermined threshold value to generate a train of knock pulses (Kp) of which the number of pulses indicates a knock intensity of a knock generated in the internal combustion engine, and an engine control unit for counting the number of knock pulses (npn) in the knock pulse train (Kp) output from the knock detector. The engine control unit judges, based on the number of knock pulses (npn), whether or not a knock is occurring. The engine control unit performs a peak hold of the number of knock pulses to calculate the knock judgement threshold value (BGL) by multiplying the number of pulses by (&agr;). Thus, precision in knock judgement is improved by performing knock judgement based on a maximum value (MAX) of the number of knock pulses (npn).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kimihiko Tanaya, Yasuyoshi Hatazawa, Koichi Okamura, Mitsuru Koiwa
  • Patent number: 6418785
    Abstract: A misfire detecting apparatus for an internal combustion engine detects only an ion current due to combustion of an air/fuel mixture regardless of a leakage current when combustion: takes place normally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuyoshi Hatazawa, Koichi Okamura, Mitsuru Koiwa, Yutaka Ohashi, Hisanori Nobe
  • Publication number: 20020069696
    Abstract: A misfire detecting apparatus for an internal combustion engine which is capable of detecting only an ion current due to combustion of an air/fuel mixture regardless of occurrence of a leak current so far as the combustion takes place normally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventors: Yasuyoshi Hatazawa, Koichi Okamura, Mitsuru Koiwa, Yutaka Ohashi, Hisanori Nobe
  • Patent number: 6378494
    Abstract: To obtain a knock detection apparatus which may obtain a good knock pulse S/N even if an ionic current generation amount is changed by the change of a kind of fuel or plugs, a knock detection apparatus for detecting a knock generated, in an internal combustion engine, in which a vibratory component superimposed on an ionic current generated by combustion of fuel is extracted, the component that is equal to or more than a knock detection threshold value is shaped in waveform into a pulse waveform, a knock strength is calculated through counting and calculation process of the number of pulses of the pulse waveform by an engine controlling unit, an ignition timing is controlled on the basis of the knock strength, comprises a knock detection threshold value adjusting unit for changing the knock detection threshold value on the basis of information of an ionic current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuyoshi Hatazawa, Koichi Okamura, Hisanori Nobe, Mitsuru Koiwa
  • Patent number: 6360586
    Abstract: A device for detecting the knocking of an internal combustion engine, which maintains the background level at an optimum value irrespective of the knocking level, and features improved reliability by preventing the erroneous detection of noise or knocking when the knocking level is shifted. The device includes a counter 12 for operating signals N of the knocking level from the ionic current, an averaging circuit 13A for operating an average knocking level AVE, a circuit 14A for operating a background level BGLA by using an offset value, a comparator 15 for judging the knocking by comparing the signals of the knocking level with the background level, a circuit 16 for judging the average knocking level that lies in a predetermined region, and a circuit 17 for correcting the offset value depending on the result of judging the predetermined region, wherein the offset value is corrected toward a direction to cancel the increment or the decrement of the average knocking level depending on the predetermined region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsutomu Morishita, Yasuhiro Takahashi, Koichi Okamura, Kimihiko Tanaya, Mitsuru Koiwa
  • Patent number: 6348797
    Abstract: A combustion state detecting apparatus for an internal combustion engine which can ensure adequate thermal insulation between a transformer and a bias circuit and which can be manufactured in a miniaturized structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Shimizu, Mitsuru Koiwa, Yutaka Ohashi
  • Publication number: 20020007828
    Abstract: Comparing a conventional ignition coil, both the height and the width become compact and only one type can be used in substitution for a conventional multiple type of the ignition coil. Furthermore, it may be mounted in a severe layout limited by the width and the height. Accordingly, it allows the cost to be greatly reduced by reducing the kind of the press mold for case and investment for the equipment, and reducing the labor cost for a production process and increasing a production quantity for each piece of equipment. An ignition coil for an internal combustion engine includes: an actuated magnetic portion 1b of an iron core 1 which has an axis line crossing an ignition plug axis line of the internal combustion engine at a right angle and around which a primary coil 2 is wound; and a switching unit 4 which is disposed at an end of the actuated magnetic portion 1b vertically to the axis line of the actuated magnetic portion 1b and flows and intercepts a primary current flowing through the primary coil 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventors: Shigemi Murata, Mitsuru Koiwa