Patents by Inventor Naoki Kokubo
Naoki Kokubo 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).
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Publication number: 20170002699Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus includes: an urging member to which a set load is provided to act, to the cam shaft, an urging force from one of the most retard angle position and the most advance angle position toward the intermediate phase position; and a controller configured to sense, as the intermediate phase position, a position at which a relative rotational speed between the driving rotational member and the cam shaft is varied by the relative rotation of the cam shaft beyond a region in which the cam shaft is controlled by the set load of the urging member, when the cam shaft is controlled to be relatively rotated from the one of the most retard angle position and the most advance angle position beyond the intermediate phase position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2016Publication date: January 5, 2017Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Naoki KOKUBO, Shinichi KAWADA, Seiji TSURUTA
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Patent number: 9523295Abstract: A controller of a variable valve apparatus of an internal combustion engine has an engine start indication detecting circuit that detects an indication of an engine start. When the indication of the engine start is detected by the engine start indication detecting circuit in a state in which temperature of the engine is lower than a predetermined temperature, an electric motor provided in the variable valve apparatus is supplied with a current, and this current supply to the electric motor is maintained for a predetermined time from a time point of the detection of the indication of the engine start to an engine cranking start.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2014Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Shinichi Kawada, Naoki Kokubo
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Patent number: 9470118Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus includes: an urging member to which a set load is provided to act, to the cam shaft, an urging force from one of the most retard angle position and the most advance angle position toward the intermediate phase position; and a controller configured to sense, as the intermediate phase position, a position at which a relative rotational speed between the driving rotational member and the cam shaft is varied by the relative rotation of the cam shaft beyond a region in which the cam shaft is controlled by the set load of the urging member, when the cam shaft is controlled to be relatively rotated from the one of the most retard angle position and the most advance angle position beyond the intermediate phase position.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2013Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Naoki Kokubo, Shinichi Kawada, Seiji Tsuruta
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Publication number: 20150075475Abstract: A controller of a variable valve apparatus of an internal combustion engine has an engine start indication detecting circuit that detects an indication of an engine start. When the indication of the engine start is detected by the engine start indication detecting circuit in a state in which temperature of the engine is lower than a predetermined temperature, an electric motor provided in the variable valve apparatus is supplied with a current, and this current supply to the electric motor is maintained for a predetermined time from a time point of the detection of the indication of the engine start to an engine cranking start.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2014Publication date: March 19, 2015Inventors: Shinichi KAWADA, Naoki KOKUBO
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Patent number: 8899197Abstract: A valve-timing control apparatus includes a drive rotator configured to receive a rotation from a crankshaft; a driven rotator fixed to a cam shaft; and an electric motor. The electric motor includes a stator fixed to the driven rotator, a rotor that rotates relative to the stator, a coil provided to at least one of the stator and the rotor, and a motor output shaft fixed to the rotor.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2011Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Naoki Kokubo, Shinichi Kawada, Seiji Tsuruta
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Patent number: 8868316Abstract: In a valve timing control apparatus configured to execute phase-control via a phase converter, a controller is configured to control a phase angle of a camshaft relative to a crankshaft during an engine stopping period to a target phase angle differing from a required phase angle suited for an engine operating condition. The controller is further configured to change the phase angle of the camshaft toward the required phase angle during a time period from a point of time when cranking starts to a point of time when detection of a rotational position of the camshaft initiates during an engine restarting period. The controller is still further configured to start feedback-control for the phase angle of the camshaft from the point of time of initiation of detection of the rotational position of the camshaft for bringing the phase angle of the camshaft closer to the required phase angle.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2011Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Naoki Kokubo, Shinichi Kawada
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Patent number: 8752515Abstract: A variable valve timing control apparatus has a drive rotary member, a driven rotary member fixed to a camshaft, an electric motor relatively rotating a motor drive shaft with respect to the drive rotary member, a speed reduction mechanism transmitting rotation of the motor drive shaft to the driven rotary member a housing connected integrally with the drive rotary member and housing therein the electric motor, a cover member fixed to an engine so as to cover at least a front end part of the housing, a power feed mechanism having a slip ring and a power-feed brush that touches the slip ring and feeding power to the electric motor, and a ring-shaped member. The ring-shaped member is fixed to either one side of the cover member and the motor drive shaft, and makes sliding contact with the other side of the cover member and the motor drive shaft.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2012Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Atsushi Yamanaka, Naoki Kokubo, Ryo Tadokoro, Shinichi Kawada
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Publication number: 20140076253Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus includes: an urging member to which a set load is provided to act, to the cam shaft, an urging force from one of the most retard angle position and the most advance angle position toward the intermediate phase position; and a controller configured to sense, as the intermediate phase position, a position at which a relative rotational speed between the driving rotational member and the cam shaft is varied by the relative rotation of the cam shaft beyond a region in which the cam shaft is controlled by the set load of the urging member, when the cam shaft is controlled to be relatively rotated from the one of the most retard angle position and the most advance angle position beyond the intermediate phase position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2013Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Naoki KOKUBO, Shinichi Kawada, Seiji Tsuruta
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Publication number: 20130206087Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, including a drive rotation member, a follower rotation member, an electric motor, and a speed reducer including an internal gear portion, an eccentric cam on an inner peripheral side of the internal gear portion, rollers disposed between the internal gear portion and the eccentric cam, and a cage rotatable relative to the internal gear portion by rotation of the eccentric cam. A motor output shaft is arranged in series relative to the eccentric cam in an axial direction thereof. A needle bearing is rollably disposed on a part of an outer peripheral surface of the follower rotation member. The eccentric cam and the motor output shaft are press-fitted onto an outer peripheral portion of the needle bearing. The needle bearing extends over both the eccentric cam and the motor output shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2012Publication date: August 15, 2013Inventors: Ryo TADOKORO, Naoki Kokubo, Atsushi Yamanaka, Shinichi Kawada
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Patent number: 8452519Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus includes a phase varying mechanism arranged to vary a relative rotational phase of a cam shaft with respect to a crank shaft; a driving mechanism arranged to provide a driving force to the phase varying mechanism by energization; a control mechanism configured to control a current applied to the driving mechanism; and a phase angle sensing mechanism arranged to sense the relative rotational phase of the cam shaft with respect to the crank shaft, and to have a detection period longer than a control period of the control mechanism in accordance with an engine operating state. The control mechanism is configured to repeat increasing and decreasing of the current applied to the driving mechanism when the phase varying mechanism continuously varies the relative rotational phase of the cam shaft with respect to the crank shaft by a predetermined angle or more.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2009Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Naoki Kokubo, Yoshiyuki Kobayashi, Masahiko Watanabe, Takahumi Oowada
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Patent number: 8443772Abstract: A drive rotation member is driven by a crankshaft of the engine, and a driven rotation member is rotatable relative to the drive rotation member and secured to a cam shaft of the engine. An electric motor is arranged to rotate together with the drive rotation member and produces a dynamic power when fed with an electric current through brushes. A hollow control shaft is rotatable relative to the drive rotation member and forces the driven rotation member to rotate relative to the drive rotation member when rotated by the power of the electric motor. A bearing device is arranged between the driven rotation member and the hollow control shaft for smoothing a relative rotation therebetween. The bearing device includes a plurality of rollers. A lubrication oil feeding structure is provided for causing the rollers of the bearing device to be submerged in a lubrication oil at least when the engine is in operation.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2010Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Naoki Kokubo, Atsushi Yamanaka, Shinichi Kawada, Michinori Saito, Koichiro Ono, Kazuhiko Takayanagi
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Publication number: 20120312259Abstract: A variable valve timing control apparatus has a drive rotary member, a driven rotary member fixed to a camshaft, an electric motor relatively rotating a motor drive shaft with respect to the drive rotary member, a speed reduction mechanism transmitting rotation of the motor drive shaft to the driven rotary member a housing connected integrally with the drive rotary member and housing therein the electric motor, a cover member fixed to an engine so as to cover at least a front end part of the housing, a power feed mechanism having a slip ring and a power-feed brush that touches the slip ring and feeding power to the electric motor, and a ring-shaped member. The ring-shaped member is fixed to either one side of the cover member and the motor drive shaft, and makes sliding contact with the other side of the cover member and the motor drive shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2012Publication date: December 13, 2012Inventors: Atsushi YAMANAKA, Naoki Kokubo, Ryo Tadokoro, Shinichi Kawada
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Publication number: 20120174883Abstract: In a valve timing control apparatus configured to execute phase-control via a phase converter, a controller is configured to control a phase angle of a camshaft relative to a crankshaft during an engine stopping period to a target phase angle differing from a required phase angle suited for an engine operating condition. The controller is further configured to change the phase angle of the camshaft toward the required phase angle during a time period from a point of time when cranking starts to a point of time when detection of a rotational position of the camshaft initiates during an engine restarting period. The controller is still further configured to start feedback-control for the phase angle of the camshaft from the point of time of initiation of detection of the rotational position of the camshaft for bringing the phase angle of the camshaft closer to the required phase angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2011Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Naoki Kokubo, Shinichi Kawada
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Patent number: 8219071Abstract: An information acquisition section acquires application halfway information, user preference, updated date and time, real-timeness, usage frequency, usage history, radio wave state, remaining battery level, billing information or other information. A controller calculates recommendation values indicating recommended degrees to recommend the use to a user for each of a plurality of applications and for each of the contents of each of the applications, using the information that the information acquisition section acquired. Then, for example, when a specific button is pressed, the controller gives priorities to the plurality of applications and contents based on the recommendation values, causing the applications and contents to be displayed on a display of a display section 15 in the order of priority. Thus, of the various applications and contents, it makes it possible to select one that is more matched to the user preference and suitable for the terminal usage pattern.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2006Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Sony Mobile Communications Japan, Inc.Inventors: Takeshi Kokubo, Naoki Kokubo, legal representative
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Patent number: 8215833Abstract: When the driving wind and the cooling wind are generated, based on the phenomenon in which the temperature difference is generated between the front surface and the rear surface of the radiator (14), the temperature difference between the detection value of the rear temperature sensor (22) and the detection value of the front temperature sensor (21) is compared with the abnormality determination value so that it is determined whether the front temperature sensor (21) and the rear temperature sensor (22) are properly fixed on the radiator (14), whereby it is determined whether the abnormality (unauthorized alteration) exists. By setting the abnormality determination value according to the ambient temperature and the vehicle speed, corresponding to a variation in temperature difference between the front surface and the rear surface of the radiator (14), the abnormality determination value is varied to be set at a proper value.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2009Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Akinori Kouda, Naoki Kokubo
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Patent number: 8151627Abstract: An output signal of a knock sensor is converted by an A/D conversion part in a specified knock determination range. In a time-frequency analysis part, data of frequency, time, and vibration intensity are extracted at the same time from an output signal of the knock sensor, and the time-varying patterns of vibration intensities in multiple frequency ranges are extracted. A knock determination part computes the number of time-varying patterns of vibration intensity which rise at same time. The knock determination part executes a knock determination based on whether the number of the time-varying patterns of vibration intensity is greater than a knock determination threshold.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2009Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.Inventors: Satoshi Masuda, Hirohiko Yamada, Naoki Kokubo, Shuhei Oe
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Patent number: 8096166Abstract: An output signal of a knock sensor is converted by an A/D conversion part in a specified knock determination range. In a time-frequency analysis part, data of frequency, time, and vibration intensity are extracted at the same time from an output signal of the knock sensor and the time-varying patterns of vibration intensities in multiple frequency ranges are extracted. A knock determination part computes lengths (crank angle, or time period) from a starting point to a latest terminating point of the time-varying patterns of vibration intensity in at least two frequency ranges, which rise at a same time. The knock determination part executes a knock determination based on whether the lengths are greater than a knock determination threshold.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2009Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignees: DENSO Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.Inventors: Satoshi Masuda, Hirohiko Yamada, Naoki Kokubo, Shuhei Oe
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Patent number: 8056396Abstract: An output of a knock sensor is A/D converted in a specified knock determination range. In a time-frequency analysis part, data of frequency, time, and vibration intensity are extracted at the same time from the knock sensor output signal and the time-varying patterns of vibration intensities in multiple frequency ranges are extracted. An edge direction and an edge intensity are computed by an edge extraction processing. A correlation value expressing a correlation between time-varying patterns of vibration intensities in multiple frequency ranges and a reference model expressing the feature of knock is computed in a mutual correlation/knock determination part. The correlation value is compared with a determination threshold. When the correlation value is larger than the determination threshold, it is determined that knock is caused. When the correlation value is not larger than the determination threshold, it is determined that knock is not caused.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2009Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.Inventors: Satoshi Masuda, Hirohiko Yamada, Shuhei Oe, Naoki Kokubo
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Publication number: 20110253085Abstract: A valve-timing control apparatus includes a drive rotator configured to receive a rotation from a crankshaft; a driven rotator fixed to a cam shaft; and an electric motor. The electric motor includes a stator fixed to the driven rotator, a rotor that rotates relative to the stator, a coil provided to at least one of the stator and the rotor, and a motor output shaft fixed to the rotor.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2011Publication date: October 20, 2011Inventors: Naoki KOKUBO, Shinichi Kawada, Seiji Tsuruta
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Patent number: 7912599Abstract: An internal combustion engine control apparatus includes: a fuel injector; a cooling fan of a radiator that radiates the heat of coolant in a coolant passage in the internal combustion engine; a flow rate control mechanism that variably controls the flow rate of the coolant; an abnormality detector that detects an abnormality of the cooling fan; and a controller that controls the amount of fuel injected from the fuel injector to the internal combustion engine and the operation of the flow rate control mechanism in accordance with the result of the abnormality detector.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2008Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso CorporationInventors: Akira Eiraku, Naoki Kokubo