Patents by Inventor Noboru Takagi

Noboru Takagi 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: 20070227482
    Abstract: A convergence determination of intake valve phase control is made by comparing a phase deviation of an intake valve from a target phase with a convergence determination value. At the time of convergence, it is determined that the intake valve phase has reached the target phase, so that the required phase-change amount of a camshaft is set to zero and therefore the actuator operation amount is also set to zero. At the time of engine stop when the target phase has a fixed value, after convergence of the intake valve phase control, the operation of the actuator is stopped. In addition, during the course of engine stop, the convergence determination value is set to be switched from the time of engine operation so that the convergence determination of the intake valve phase control is made in more relaxed conditions compared with at the time of engine operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasumichi Inoue, Zenichiro Mashiki, Noboru Takagi, Haruyuki Urushihata
  • Publication number: 20070175427
    Abstract: When an ignition switch is turned off, an ECU executes a program including the steps of: stopping an engine; setting a phase of an intake camshaft (or a phase in which an intake valve opens/closes) to be a maximally retarded phase; advancing the phase of the intake camshaft; detecting the phase of the intake camshaft as based on a number or rotations of an electric motor of an intake VVT mechanism changing the phase of the intake camshaft; and, if the phase detected as based on the number or rotations of the electric motor is advanced to a target phase, stopping changing the phase of the intake camshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasumichi Inoue, Yuu Yokoyama, Zenichiro Mashiki, Noboru Takagi, Haruyuki Urushihata
  • Publication number: 20070125332
    Abstract: In the case where an intake valve has its phase in a first region between a most retarded angle and CA(1), the rotational speed of relative rotation between an output shaft of an electric motor and a sprocket is reduced at a reduction gear ratio R(1) to change the phase of the intake valve. In the case where the intake valve has its phase in a second region between CA(2) and a most advanced angle, the rotational speed of relative rotation is reduced at a reduction gear ratio R(2) to change the phase of the intake valve. As long as the rotational direction of relative rotation is the same, the phase of the intake valve is changed in the same direction for both of the first region between the most retarded angle and CA(1) and the second region between CA(2) and the most advanced angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION, NIPPON SOKEN, INC.
    Inventors: Yasumichi Inoue, Zenichiro Mashiki, Noboru Takagi, Yoshihito Moriya, Haruyuki Urushihata, Akihiko Takenaka, Eiji Isobe, Takayuki Inohara
  • Patent number: 7204215
    Abstract: A valve characteristic controller for an engine including variable valve actuation mechanisms, one for a first valve and another for a second valve, to vary the opening and closing timings of the valves. The controller executes main control to calculate a target timing of the first valve in accordance with an operation state of the engine and has the corresponding variable valve actuation mechanism adjust the timing of the first valve to the target timing. Further, the controller executes sub-control to calculate a target timing of the second valve based on a target valve overlap amount and the actual timing of the first valve and has the corresponding variable valve actuation mechanism adjust the valve timing of the second valve to the target timing. The main control is executed on the one of the two variable valve actuation mechanisms having a lower response speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadao Hasegawa, Yoshihito Moriya, Noboru Takagi
  • Publication number: 20060243231
    Abstract: A valve characteristic controller for an engine including variable valve actuation mechanisms, one for a first valve and another for a second valve, to vary the opening and closing timings of the valves. The controller executes main control to calculate a target timing of the first valve in accordance with an operation state of the engine and has the corresponding variable valve actuation mechanism adjust the timing of the first valve to the target timing. Further, the controller executes sub-control to calculate a target timing of the second valve based on a target valve overlap amount and the actual timing of the first valve and has the corresponding variable valve actuation mechanism adjust the valve timing of the second valve to the target timing. The main control is executed on the one of the two variable valve actuation mechanisms having a lower response speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadao Hasegawa, Yoshihito Moriya, Noboru Takagi
  • Patent number: 7121260
    Abstract: An ignition timing control apparatus for an engine includes a controller that sets an ignition timing considering a change of a temperature or a pressure in a combustion chamber at a time when an opening/closing characteristic of an intake valve is changed, the opening/closing characteristic including a valve opening timing and a valve closing timing at least one of which is changed by a variable valve mechanism for the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Miyanoo, Kiyoo Hirose, Noboru Takagi, Keizo Hiraku
  • Patent number: 7100383
    Abstract: During the period of deceleration of a vehicle, an air conditioning control unit modifies a target cooling temperature (TEO) of an evaporator to a temperature lower than that before the deceleration by ? ° C. in order to store cold in the evaporator (step S130). When the vehicle comes to rest, the air conditioning control unit sets an upwardly-modified target temperature TEOK, which is a temperature modified toward more or less higher temperatures from the target cooling temperature TEO, and brings a compressor to rest and keeps the resting state of the compressor until a detected temperature TE of an evaporator discharge temperature sensor exceeds TEOK (step S180). Therefore, it is possible to effectively utilize the cold heat stored in the evaporator 6 during the period of deceleration of the vehicle with a good feeling of passengers being maintained while the vehicle is at rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Naoshi Sugesawa, Takeshi Wakisaka, Kenji Miura, Tadashi Nakagawa, Noboru Takagi
  • Patent number: 7096680
    Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner having a variable displacement compressor, a control unit calculates a target cooling temperature of air to be cooled by an evaporator, and controls a discharge capacity of the compressor such that a detected air temperature of the evaporator approaches the target cooling temperature. When a deceleration running state of the vehicle is detected, the control unit sets a corrected target cooling temperature lower than the target cooling temperature by a predetermined temperature, and controls the discharge capacity of the compressor such that the detected air temperature approaches the corrected target cooling temperature when the detected air temperature is lower than the corrected target cooling temperature, or controls the discharge capacity of the compressor approximately at the maximum capacity regardless of the corrected target cooling temperature when the detected air temperature is not lower than the corrected target cooling temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Naoshi Sugesawa, Takeshi Wakisaka, Tadashi Nakagawa, Noboru Takagi
  • Patent number: 7082923
    Abstract: An controller detects a change in a load generation state of an accessory device that generates a load on the internal combustion engine during operation, and the controller in turn controls a variable valve mechanism to change at least one of an operation angle and a valve lift of an intake valve of the internal combustion engine, as well as changing an amount of an intake air drawn into the internal combustion engine, in response to the detected change in the load generation state of the accessory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Yui, Noboru Takagi, Kiyoo Hirose, Keizo Hiraku, Hirohiko Yamada
  • Publication number: 20060107924
    Abstract: An ignition timing control apparatus for an engine includes a controller that sets an ignition timing considering a change of a temperature or a pressure in a combustion chamber at a time when an opening/closing characteristic of an intake valve is changed, the opening/closing characteristic including a valve opening timing and a valve closing timing at least one of which is changed by a variable valve mechanism for the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Inventors: Yuji Miyanoo, Kiyoo Hirose, Noboru Takagi, Keizo Hiraku
  • Publication number: 20050178357
    Abstract: An controller detects a change in a load generation state of an accessory device that generates a load on the internal combustion engine during operation, and the controller in turn controls a variable valve mechanism to change at least one of an operation angle and a valve lift of an intake valve of the internal combustion engine, as well as changing an amount of an intake air drawn into the internal combustion engine, in response to the detected change in the load generation state of the accessory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Publication date: August 18, 2005
    Inventors: Takashi Yui, Noboru Takagi, Kiyoo Hirose, Keizo Hiraku, Hirohiko Yamada
  • Patent number: 6910461
    Abstract: Based on results of a knock control for adjusting ignition timing in accordance with the occurrence of knocking, an electronic control unit computes deposit required ignition timing akgrg, which is ignition timing determined by taking adhesion of deposits in an internal combustion engine into consideration. Based on the deposit required ignition timing akgrg, the electronic control unit reduces a vvt allowable variable range of a target VVT advancement amount, which is a control target value of a variable valve timing mechanism. The electronic control unit corrects a required ignition timing based on the actual VVT advancement amount vt, which is chanted according to the reduction of the allowable variable range of the target VVT advancement amount. As a result, problems resulting from the adhesion of deposits are effectively avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Tanei, Masanao Idogawa, Rihito Kaneko, Kenji Kasashima, Noboru Takagi, Isao Takagi
  • Publication number: 20050086953
    Abstract: During the period of deceleration of a vehicle, an air conditioning control unit modifies a target cooling temperature (TEO) of an evaporator to a temperature lower than that before the deceleration by ? ° C. in order to store cold in the evaporator (step S130). When the vehicle comes to rest, the air conditioning control unit sets an upwardly-modified target temperature TEOK, which is a temperature modified toward more or less higher temperatures from the target cooling temperature TEO, and brings a compressor to rest and keeps the resting state of the compressor until a detected temperature TE of an evaporator discharge temperature sensor exceeds TEOK (step S180). Therefore, it is possible to effectively utilize the cold heat stored in the evaporator 6 during the period of deceleration of the vehicle with a good feeling of passengers being maintained while the vehicle is at rest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Inventors: Naoshi Sugesawa, Takeshi Wakisaka, Kenji Miura, Tadashi Nakagawa, Noboru Takagi
  • Publication number: 20050066669
    Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner having a variable displacement compressor, a control unit calculates a target cooling temperature of air to be cooled by an evaporator, and controls a discharge capacity of the compressor such that a detected air temperature of the evaporator approaches the target cooling temperature. When a deceleration running state of the vehicle is detected, the control unit sets a corrected target cooling temperature lower than the target cooling temperature by a predetermined temperature, and controls the discharge capacity of the compressor such that the detected air temperature approaches the corrected target cooling temperature when the detected air temperature is lower than the corrected target cooling temperature, or controls the discharge capacity of the compressor approximately at the maximum capacity regardless of the corrected target cooling temperature when the detected air temperature is not lower than the corrected target cooling temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventors: Naoshi Sugesawa, Takeshi Wakisaka, Tadashi Nakagawa, Noboru Takagi
  • Publication number: 20050005908
    Abstract: Based on results of a knock control for adjusting ignition timing in accordance with the occurrence of knocking, an electronic control unit computes deposit required ignition timing akgrg, which is ignition timing determined by taking adhesion of deposits in an internal combustion engine into consideration. Based on the deposit required ignition timing akgrg, the electronic control unit reduces a vvt allowable variable range of a target VVT advancement amount, which is a control target value of a variable valve timing mechanism. The electronic control unit corrects a required ignition timing based on the actual VVT advancement amount vt, which is chanted according to the reduction of the allowable variable range of the target VVT advancement amount. As a result, problems resulting from the adhesion of deposits are effectively avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Tanei, Masanao Idogawa, Rihito Kaneko, Kenji Kasashima, Noboru Takagi, Isao Takagi
  • Patent number: 6679206
    Abstract: The invention relates to valve condition control system and method for an internal combustion engine including a first variable valve drive mechanism for changing a valve condition of one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve, a second variable valve drive mechanism for changing a valve condition of the other of the intake valve and the exhaust valve, and a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Toyota Jidohsa Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noboru Takagi
  • Patent number: 6647949
    Abstract: A fuel-injected engine is operated in a compression stroke injection mode or an intake stroke injection mode. The intake flow rate appropriate for the compression stroke injection mode is greater than that of the intake stroke injection mode. When the engine is cold, the ECU determines the amount of fuel injected in accordance with the actual intake flow rate. The ECU controls a throttle valve such that the intake flow rate is appropriate for the selected fuel injection mode before the fuel injection mode is actually switched. As a result, fluctuations of the engine speed caused by switching the fuel injection mode are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Hosokawa, Noboru Takagi, Takahide Kyuuma
  • Patent number: 6647952
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a cylinder injection type internal combustion engine in which the fuel injection mode of the engine is switched between a compression stroke injection and an intake stroke injection. When the engine is cold, the compression stroke injection is selected for the fuel injection mode so that injected fuel collides with the top surface of a piston and is directed toward the vicinity of a spark plug. When the fuel injection mode is switched from the compression stroke injection to the intake stroke injection, the ignition timing is delayed during the execution of the intake stroke injection from when the fuel injection mode is switched until a predetermined period elapses compared with a case when the fuel injection mode is not switched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanao Idogawa, Hirohisa Kishi, Noboru Takagi, Osamu Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 6647948
    Abstract: An engine has an injector, which directly injects fuel into a combustion chamber. When the coolant temperature during the cranking of the engine is low, an ECU controls the injector such that the engine is operated in a compression stroke injection mode. When the engine is operated in the compression stroke injection mode, the ECU controls the injector to advance the fuel injection timing in accordance with an increase of the coolant temperature. As a result, the engine reduces the amount of unburned discharge gas, provides improved ignition and combustion, and provides stable idling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahide Kyuuma, Noboru Takagi, Osamu Hosokawa
  • Publication number: 20030196619
    Abstract: The invention relates to valve condition control system and method for an internal combustion engine including a first variable valve drive mechanism for changing a valve condition of one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve, a second variable valve drive mechanism for changing a valve condition of the other of the intake valve and the exhaust valve, and a controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noboru Takagi