Patents by Inventor Nobuhiko Matsuo

Nobuhiko Matsuo 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: 20230332551
    Abstract: A control device for an electric variable valve timing mechanism is provided that can reduce the influence of rotation variations of an engine on a VTC detection angle computation. The control device for a variable valve timing mechanism uses a crank sensor signal and a cam sensor signal of the engine to calculate a rotation phase of the VTC mechanism. A pulse interval of the crank sensor signal is used for a calculation of the rotation phase of the VTC mechanism, and a calculation method of the rotation phase of VTC mechanism is changed depending on the pulse interval of the crank sensor signal determined before the cam sensor signal is input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Makoto JITSUISHI, Nobuhiko MATSUO
  • Patent number: 11391234
    Abstract: In a variable valve control device, a variable valve control system and a method for controlling a variable valve mechanism according to the present invention, An ECM (201) transmits a phase detection value (RA1) computed based on a crank angle signal (CRANK) and a cam angle signal (CAM) to a VTC control unit (202) via a communication network (211), and VTC control unit (202) computes a phase detection value (RA2) based on a motor angle signal (MAS), controls a variable valve timing mechanism (114) based on phase detection value (RA2) in the transient state of an internal combustion engine, and controls variable valve timing mechanism (114) based on phase detection value (RA1) in the steady state of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Matsuo, Hirokazu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11230988
    Abstract: A control device and a control method for variable valve timing mechanism according to the present invention obtains a first measurement of a rotational phase based on a rotational angle of the motor, obtains a second measurement of the rotational phase based on a relative relationship between a rotational angle of the crankshaft and a rotational angle of the camshaft, calibrates the first measurement based on the second measurement, obtains a derivative term proportional to a rate of change in a deviation between the first measurement and a target value, reduces change in derivative term when calibrating the first measurement based on the second measurement, and controls the motor based on a manipulated variable including the derivative term.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Jitsuishi, Nobuhiko Matsuo
  • Publication number: 20210340887
    Abstract: A control device and a control method for a variable valve timing mechanism are provided so as to improve the accuracy of cam phase angle interpolation without using a motor rotation angle sensor. The control device for the variable valve timing mechanism includes a controller configured to detect a phase angle of a cam based on a cam signal and control the phase angle of the cam by using an electric motor. The controller is configured such that a motor torque estimation unit calculates a motor torque from a motor current based on motor characteristics, a motor rotation-angle estimation unit calculates a motor rotation angle at least based on the motor torque and an engine operating state, and a conversion unit and a feedback control unit interpolate the cam phase angle of the variable valve timing mechanism from the motor rotation angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Masaki KOSUDA, Hirokazu SHIMIZU, Nobuhiko MATSUO
  • Publication number: 20210246846
    Abstract: A control device and a control method for variable valve timing mechanism according to the present invention obtains a first measurement of a rotational phase based on a rotational angle of the motor, obtains a second measurement of the rotational phase based on a relative relationship between a rotational angle of the crankshaft and a rotational angle of the camshaft, calibrates the first measurement based on the second measurement, obtains a derivative term proportional to a rate of change in a deviation between the first measurement and a target value, reduces change in derivative term when calibrating the first measurement based on the second measurement, and controls the motor based on a manipulated variable including the derivative term.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Makoto JITSUISHI, Nobuhiko MATSUO
  • Publication number: 20200277914
    Abstract: In a variable valve control device, a variable valve control system and a method for controlling a variable valve mechanism according to the present invention, An ECM (201) transmits a phase detection value (RA1) computed based on a crank angle signal (CRANK) and a cam angle signal (CAM) to a VTC control unit (202) via a communication network (211), and VTC control unit (202) computes a phase detection value (RA2) based on a motor angle signal (MAS), controls a variable valve timing mechanism (114) based on phase detection value (RA2) in the transient state of an internal combustion engine, and controls variable valve timing mechanism (114) based on phase detection value (RA1) in the steady state of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Nobuhiko MATSUO, Hirokazu SHIMIZU
  • Patent number: 10584648
    Abstract: In a control device and a control method for a variable valve timing mechanism according to the present invention, the rotational phase of a camshaft is measured based on the cam angle signal and crank angle signal upon receiving each pulse of the cam angle signal, and the rotational phase change over time within a period of the cam angle signal is measured based on the motor angle signal. It is decided whether the cam angle signal and/or crank angle signal has a prescribed pulse pattern at a diagnostic timing that comes after the last pulse of the cam angle signal. When this decision result is positive, it is then decided whether the motor angle sensor operates normally or abnormally based on the rotational phase and the amount of rotational phase change that are measured when the last pulse of the cam angle signal is received before the diagnostic timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentaro Mikawa, Nobuhiko Matsuo, Naoki Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20190360407
    Abstract: In a control device and a control method for a variable valve timing mechanism according to the present invention, the rotational phase of a camshaft is measured based on the cam angle signal and crank angle signal upon receiving each pulse of the cam angle signal, and the rotational phase change over time within a period of the cam angle signal is measured based on the motor angle signal. It is decided whether the cam angle signal and/or crank angle signal has a prescribed pulse pattern at a diagnostic timing that comes after the last pulse of the cam angle signal. When this decision result is positive, it is then decided whether the motor angle sensor operates normally or abnormally based on the rotational phase and the amount of rotational phase change that are measured when the last pulse of the cam angle signal is received before the diagnostic timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentaro MIKAWA, Nobuhiko MATSUO, Naoki OKAMOTO
  • Patent number: 9791213
    Abstract: A heat exchanger carries out heat exchange between a refrigerant that undergoes a phase change during heat exchange and another heating medium. The heat exchanger includes headers having the refrigerant flowing through interiors, a plurality of multi-hole first flat tubes, and a plurality of second flat tubes. The first flat tubes extend in a direction intersecting a lengthwise direction of the headers. The first flat tubes have a plurality of refrigerant flow channels with the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow channels. The second flat tubes are stacked alternately with respect to the first flat tubes, with the other heating medium flowing through the second flat tubes. The headers are arranged to extend along a horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shun Yoshioka, Nobuhiko Matsuo, Shougo Ohta, Kanji Akai, Kento Kagohara, Kaori Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9347341
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a variable valve timing mechanism includes an electronic controller which includes a microcomputer converges a valve timing of a variable valve timing mechanism to a target changing amount based on a deviation between the target changing amount and an output of a sensor for detecting a changing amount of the valve timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Matsuo, Kenichi Machida
  • Publication number: 20150338168
    Abstract: A heat exchanger carries out heat exchange between a refrigerant that undergoes a phase change during heat exchange and another heating medium. The heat exchanger includes headers having the refrigerant flowing through interiors, a plurality of multi-hole first flat tubes, and a plurality of second flat tubes. The first flat tubes extend in a direction intersecting a lengthwise direction of the headers. The first flat tubes have a plurality of refrigerant flow channels with the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow channels. The second flat tubes are stacked alternately with respect to the first flat tubes, with the other heating medium flowing through the second flat tubes. The headers are arranged to extend along a horizontal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Shun YOSHIOKA, Nobuhiko MATSUO, Shougo OHTA, Kanji AKAI, Kento KAGOHARA, Kaori YOSHIDA
  • Patent number: 9046010
    Abstract: A control unit for a variable valve timing mechanism for changing a cam phase by an electric actuator determines an influence on the operation of the variable valve timing mechanism based on the engine operating conditions. Then, based on the determination result, the control unit reduces the operation amount of the electric actuator in a predetermined range of the rotation angle of a camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Matsuo, Kentaro Mikawa
  • Publication number: 20140076251
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a variable valve timing mechanism includes an electronic controller which includes a microcomputer converges a valve timing of a variable valve timing mechanism to a target changing amount based on a deviation between the target changing amount and an output of a sensor for detecting a changing amount of the valve timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuhiko MATSUO, Kenichi MACHIDA
  • Publication number: 20130247850
    Abstract: A control unit for a variable valve timing mechanism for changing a cam phase by an electric actuator determines an influence on the operation of the variable valve timing mechanism based on the engine operating conditions. Then, based on the determination result, the control unit reduces the operation amount of the electric actuator in a predetermined range of the rotation angle of a camshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuhiko MATSUO, Kentaro MIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20130060452
    Abstract: Control apparatus and method for internal combustion engine includes a fuel injection valve that injects fuel into an intake pipe at the upstream side of intake valves. When a deposition amount VDEPO of the intake valves is estimated, and becomes greater than a second threshold value SL2, the current mode switches to a cleaning mode to clean deposits away by increasing the amount of fuel adhering to the intake valves and changing the fuel injected by the fuel injection valve to a fuel with a higher cleaning performance, or one of increasing and changing. The increasing of the amount of fuel adhering to the intake valves is achieved by the changing of the injecting timing, the increasing of the fuel pressure, the switching of the fuel injection valve, and the like. Furthermore, changing of the fuel with the higher cleaning performance is achieved by switching to additive-containing fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Masayuki SARUWATARI, Nobuhiko Matsuo, Tomoyuki Murakami