Patents by Inventor Naoto Kato

Naoto Kato 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: 20190135103
    Abstract: A vehicle control system, in which that maintains a reaction force against the backward movement of a vehicle while preventing an overheating of a motor due to phase lock of the motor. When a thermal load on a specific phase of the motor exceeds a threshold value, a controller execute a phase shift control to reduce a thermal load on a specific phase of the motor by changing a rotational angle of the motor, while interrupting torque transmission between the motor and wheels and generating the torque to stop the vehicle by the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro KUZE, Naoya TAKAGI, Teruhiko MIYAKE, Naoto KATO, Takayoshi KAWAI, Teppei YOSHIOKA
  • Patent number: 10273898
    Abstract: A controller for an internal combustion engine includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to increase an air amount that is suctioned into a cylinder while maintaining the lean air-fuel ratio as a first torque increasing operation in a case where target torque is increased during the operation at the lean air-fuel ratio such that torque is increased. The electronic control unit is configured to compute limit torque as an upper limit of the torque that can be realized in a case where the lean air-fuel ratio is kept for a certain time from a current time point. The electronic control unit is configured to switch to the operation at the theoretical air-fuel ratio and increase the torque as a second torque increasing operation in a case where the target torque becomes higher than the limit torque during execution of the first torque increasing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigehiro Sugihira, Naoto Kato, Satoshi Yoshizaki
  • Patent number: 10190519
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control device for an internal combustion engine that includes a turbocharger, and an actuator that changes a turbocharging pressure by regulating exhaust energy for use in drive of the turbocharger. When a target torque is increased during execution of a lean burn operation, the control device switches an operation mode of the internal combustion engine from the lean burn operation to a stoichiometric operation. When the operation mode switching is performed in a turbocharging state, the control device determines whether a target torque is within a range of a torque realizable under the lean air-fuel ratio. When the target torque is within the range, the control device operates the actuator so as to keep the turbocharging pressure at a magnitude equal to or larger than a magnitude at a time point at which the operation mode is switched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigehiro Sugihira, Naoto Kato, Satoshi Yoshizaki
  • Patent number: 9936931
    Abstract: In image data obtained, the radius and the ulna, and interosseous soft tissue between two bones are identified. A midpoint (Ygk) of the length of the interosseous soft tissue in a Y axis direction in (Xk) coordinates is determined. This midpoint is determined in multiple coordinates, and an approximate straight line of these midpoints is determined and set as a reference line. The foot of the perpendicular from the ulna styloid process to the reference line is set as a reference position. A region of interest is set in a position at a predetermined distance from the reference position along the reference line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryutaro Adachi, Yasuo Nakamura, Naoto Kato
  • Publication number: 20180016995
    Abstract: A failure diagnosis apparatus according to the present disclosure is applied to a variable compression ratio mechanism that can switch the compression ratio of an internal combustion engine between at least a first compression ratio and a second compression ratio lower than the first compression ratio. When the variable compression ratio mechanism is controlled so as to set the compression ratio of the internal combustion engine to the second compression ratio, the failure diagnosis apparatus advances the ignition timing of one cylinder to a knock inducing ignition timing more advanced than the MBT that does not lead to the occurrence of knock if the actual compression ratio of that cylinder is the second compression ratio but leads to the occurrence of knock if the actual compression ratio of that cylinder is the first compression ratio and diagnoses failure of the variable compression ratio mechanism on the basis of whether knock occurs or not.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Shigehiro SUGIHIRA, Naoto KATO, Ryutaro MORIGUCHI, Yushi SHIBAIKE
  • Patent number: 9845741
    Abstract: An abnormality detection device is mounted on an engine control device that calculates a target load factor by using a target torque, converts the target load factor to a target throttle opening, calculates a target ignition timing by using a target efficiency, and controls an engine based on the target throttle opening and the target ignition timing. In the abnormality detection device, a target efficiency for monitoring is calculated by using the target ignition timing, a target torque for monitoring is calculated by using the target efficiency for monitoring and the target load factor, a torque deviation between the target torque for monitoring and the target torque is calculated, and the presence or absence of an abnormality is detected by using the torque deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigehiro Sugihira, Naoto Kato, Yoshitaka Ukawa
  • Publication number: 20170350338
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control device for an internal combustion engine that includes a turbocharger, and an actuator that changes a turbocharging pressure by regulating exhaust energy for use in drive of the turbocharger. When a target torque is increased during execution of a lean burn operation, the control device switches an operation mode of the internal combustion engine from the lean burn operation to a stoichiometric operation. When the operation mode switching is performed in a turbocharging state, the control device determines whether a target torque is within a range of a torque realizable under the lean air-fuel ratio. When the target torque is within the range, the control device operates the actuator so as to keep the turbocharging pressure at a magnitude equal to or larger than a magnitude at a time point at which the operation mode is switched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigehiro SUGIHIRA, Naoto KATO, Satoshi YOSHIZAKI
  • Publication number: 20170342926
    Abstract: A controller for an internal combustion engine includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to increase an air amount that is suctioned into a cylinder while maintaining the lean air-fuel ratio as a first torque increasing operation in a case where target torque is increased during the operation at the lean air-fuel ratio such that torque is increased. The electronic control unit is configured to compute limit torque as an upper limit of the torque that can be realized in a case where the lean air-fuel ratio is kept for a certain time from a current time point. The electronic control unit is configured to switch to the operation at the theoretical air-fuel ratio and increase the torque as a second torque increasing operation in a case where the target torque becomes higher than the limit torque during execution of the first torque increasing operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigehiro SUGIHIRA, Naoto KATO, Satoshi YOSHIZAKI
  • Patent number: 9657677
    Abstract: An integrated control apparatus includes an internal combustion engine, a stepped automatic transmission, a power train manager, and an engine controller. The power train manager is configured to: output a target torque and a forenotice torque to the engine controller; start lowering of the target torque after a specified time elapses from a timing of an upshifting instruction; lower the forenotice torque prior to the lowering of the target torque. The engine controller is configured to: start a reduction in an air amount in accordance with a magnitude of lowering of the forenotice torque; start reducing the air amount from a time when the lowering of the forenotice torque is started until a time when the lowering of the target torque is started; and adjust an air-fuel ratio in accordance with a deviation between the target torque and a torque that is estimated from a lean air-fuel ratio and the air amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Yoshizaki, Naoto Kato, Shigehiro Sugihira
  • Patent number: 9638123
    Abstract: A controller for an engine controls a throttle opening degree. The controller includes a target opening degree calculating section that selects either a primary request value for a throttle opening degree that corresponds to a torque request or a secondary request value that corresponds to another request and that calculates a target throttle opening degree from the selected one of the first and secondary request values. If the primary request value has been selected, an abnormality occurrence determining section determines whether or not an abnormality has occurred, in accordance with a magnitude of a deviation of the primary request value from the target throttle opening degree. If the secondary request value has been selected, the abnormality occurrence determining section determines whether or not an abnormality has occurred, in accordance with whether or not the target throttle opening degree is greater than or equal to a predetermined upper limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Ukawa, Naoto Kato, Shigehiro Sugihira
  • Publication number: 20160312734
    Abstract: An integrated control apparatus includes an internal combustion engine, a stepped automatic transmission, a power train manager, and an engine controller. The power train manager is configured to: output a target torque and a forenotice torque to the engine controller; start lowering of the target torque after a specified time elapses from a timing of an upshifting instruction; lower the forenotice torque prior to the lowering of the target torque. The engine controller is configured to: start a reduction in an air amount in accordance with a magnitude of lowering of the forenotice torque; start reducing the air amount from a time when the lowering of the forenotice torque is started until a time when the lowering of the target torque is started; and adjust an air-fuel ratio in accordance with a deviation between the target torque and a torque that is estimated from a lean air-fuel ratio and the air amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi YOSHIZAKI, Naoto KATO, Shigehiro SUGIHIRA
  • Publication number: 20160242722
    Abstract: In image data obtained, the radius and the ulna, and interosseous soft tissue between two bones are identified. A midpoint (Ygk) of the length of the interosseous soft tissue in a Y axis direction in (Xk) coordinates is determined. This midpoint is determined in multiple coordinates, and an approximate straight line of these midpoints is determined and set as a reference line. The foot of the perpendicular from the ulna styloid process to the reference line is set as a reference position. A region of interest is set in a position at a predetermined distance from the reference position along the reference line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicant: HITACHI ALOKA MEDICAL, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryutaro Adachi, Yasuo Nakamura, Naoto Kato
  • Publication number: 20150377163
    Abstract: A controller for an engine controls a throttle opening degree. The controller includes a target opening degree calculating section that selects either a primary request value for a throttle opening degree that corresponds to a torque request or a secondary request value that corresponds to another request and that calculates a target throttle opening degree from the selected one of the first and secondary request values. If the primary request value has been selected, an abnormality occurrence determining section determines whether or not an abnormality has occurred, in accordance with a magnitude of a deviation of the primary request value from the target throttle opening degree. If the secondary request value has been selected, the abnormality occurrence determining section determines whether or not an abnormality has occurred, in accordance with whether or not the target throttle opening degree is greater than or equal to a predetermined upper limit value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshitaka UKAWA, Naoto KATO, Shigehiro SUGIHIRA
  • Publication number: 20150285167
    Abstract: An abnormality detection device is mounted on an engine control device that calculates a target load factor by using a target torque, converts the target load factor to a target throttle opening, calculates a target ignition timing by using a target efficiency, and controls an engine based on the target throttle opening and the target ignition timing. In the abnormality detection device, a target efficiency for monitoring is calculated by using the target ignition timing, a target torque for monitoring is calculated by using the target efficiency for monitoring and the target load factor, a torque deviation between the target torque for monitoring and the target torque is calculated, and the presence or absence of an abnormality is detected by using the torque deviation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigehiro SUGIHIRA, Naoto KATO, Yoshitaka UKAWA
  • Patent number: 8874348
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided that can precisely reflect requirements relating to performance of the internal combustion engine in a control amount of each actuator by compensating for weaknesses in the so-called torque demand control. A requirement value of each of torque, efficiency, and an air-fuel ratio, and engine information are inputted to an engine inverse model. The engine inverse model is then used to calculate actuator requirement values for achieving those requirement values. An actuator direct requirement value directly required of each of actuators is also acquired. Control of the actuators is adapted to be changed between that according to the actuator requirement value and that according to the actuator direct requirement value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kaoru Ohtsuka, Shinichi Soejima, Keisuke Kawai, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Hayato Nakada, Naoto Kato
  • Patent number: 8794292
    Abstract: Provided is double-faced adhesive tape joining apparatus that allows accurate joining of a double-faced adhesive tape on a tape joining surface of a workpiece in a curved or bent shape with no damage on a surface of a separator joined to the double-faced adhesive tape and no floating of the separator. Specifically, a hand-operable base includes a tape guide for guiding the double-faced adhesive tape successively supplied, and a joining head for pressing against the joining surface of the workpiece the double-faced adhesive tape supplied to a front end of the base. The base and the joining head are configured as to rotate relatively about a support axis toward a longitudinal tape direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Inokuchi, Kazuhiko Kinpara, Naoto Kato, Isao Hirose
  • Patent number: 8744727
    Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine which can highly precisely realize required torque including a high-frequency component with high responsiveness. The control device sets torque with a low frequency included in the required torque as an air quantity controlling torque, and calculates a target air quantity for realizing the air quantity controlling torque based on data in which a relationship of the air quantity and torque is set. The control device controls the air quantity in accordance with the target air quantity. Further, the control device sets torque including both a low frequency and a high frequency as air-fuel ratio controlling torque, and calculates an air-fuel ratio corresponding to the air-fuel ratio controlling torque and a present air quantity as a target air-fuel ratio. The control device controls a fuel injection amount in accordance with the target air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoto Kato
  • Patent number: 8725382
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus that inhibits fuel efficiency from being aggravated as a result of ignition timing of the internal combustion engine being retarded. The vehicle control apparatus includes a drive system control unit and an engine control unit. The engine control unit adjusts an amount of intake air based on the demanded torque and adjusts ignition timing so as to compensate for any deviation between torque achievable through an adjustment of the amount of intake air and the demanded torque. The drive system control unit calculates desirable torque to be desirably output to the internal combustion engine for achieving a target operating state of the vehicle, and limits a change rate of the desirable torque by using a predetermined guard value determined from torque adjustment capacity of the internal combustion engine and outputs the desirable torque after the limiting as the demanded torque to the engine control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Soejima, Naoto Kato, Kiyonori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8688355
    Abstract: A required intake air flow rate is converted to a post-model required intake air flow rate (BMtsm) by a base-system normative model, and the inverse model of an intake system model is used to calculate a base-system required throttle opening degree (BTA) so as to achieve the post-model required intake air flow rate (BMtsm). On the other hand, the required in-take air flow rate (Mt) is converted to a post-model required intake air flow rate (HMtsm) by a high-response-system normative model, and the inverse model of the intake system model is used to calculate a high-response-system required throttle opening degree (HTA) so as to achieve the post-model required intake air flow rate (HMTsm). Then, a target throttle opening degree (TAt) is set so as to fall within the range from the base-system required throttle opening degree (BTA) to the high-response-system required throttle opening degree (HTA) and the reduce a variation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masakazu Yamamoto, Shinichi Soejima, Naoto Kato
  • Patent number: 8688357
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a control device for a spark-ignition internal combustion engine provided with a cylinder pressure sensor and aims to facilitate optimal control of a combustion state even in a situation where an operating condition is variable. A predetermined combustion-related parameter whose value is uniquely determined by behavior of a change in cylinder pressure relative to a crank angle is used as a control value. Ignition timing is calculated based on the control value in accordance with a calculation rule determined according to a current or target operating condition of the internal combustion engine. The control value resulting from calculation based on a target value of a predetermined physical quantity relating to torque of the internal combustion engine in accordance with a predetermined calculation rule is used as a base value and is corrected by feeding back an output value of the cylinder pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoto Kato, Shinichi Soejima, Kiyonori Takahashi