Patents by Inventor Osamu MUKAIHARA

Osamu MUKAIHARA 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: 20250230776
    Abstract: An intake air flow rate into an intake passage is detected with an internal combustion engine as a control device, and atmospheric pressure and temperature are estimated or detected. An intake passage internal average pressure and an intake passage internal average temperature in a region up to a throttle valve of the intake passage as one region are estimated. Distributions of a pressure and a temperature inside the intake passage are estimated based on the estimated intake passage internal average pressure, the intake passage internal average temperature, and a model of energy change caused by a constituent element included in the intake passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Publication date: July 17, 2025
    Inventors: Ryutaro KOIWAI, Osamu MUKAIHARA, Kazuhiro ORYOJI
  • Patent number: 12234787
    Abstract: A rotation speed or a rotation time of a crankshaft at a certain angle is calculated on a basis of a change in a detection signal of a sensor of the crankshaft. Then, when a combustion cylinder is switched, information on the rotation speed or the rotation time for at least two combustion cycles is obtained, and a combustion phase is calculated on the basis of the rotation speed or the rotation time. Accordingly, by using the that measures rotation of the crankshaft, it becomes possible to detect a combustion state of the internal combustion engine with high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Aono, Osamu Mukaihara, Kotaro Oki
  • Publication number: 20250027460
    Abstract: A processor (CPU 40e) of a control device (ECU 0) for an internal combustion engine identifies a first throttle valve opening degree ?A and a second throttle valve opening degree ?B at which a change rate (differential value) of an index (a deposit thickness, a decrease rate of an effective opening area, a flow rate decrease rate, and the like) correlated with a decrease rate of an effective opening area of a throttle valve changes (s109). The processor (CPU 40e) estimates an index at any throttle valve opening degree from the first throttle valve opening degree ?A and the second throttle valve opening degree ?B (s110), and calculates an effective opening area of the throttle valve from the estimated index (s112).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Inventors: Ryutaro KOIWAI, Osamu MUKAIHARA
  • Patent number: 12196146
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel injection control device capable of improving the execution frequency and accuracy of individual difference detection of a plurality of fuel injection valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Itaba, Osamu Mukaihara
  • Publication number: 20240426257
    Abstract: A rotation speed or a rotation time of a crankshaft at a certain angle is calculated on a basis of a change in a detection signal of a sensor of the crankshaft. Then, when a combustion cylinder is switched, information on the rotation speed or the rotation time for at least two combustion cycles is obtained, and a combustion phase is calculated on the basis of the rotation speed or the rotation time. Accordingly, by using the that measures rotation of the crankshaft, it becomes possible to detect a combustion state of the internal combustion engine with high accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: Toshihiro AONO, Osamu MUKAIHARA, Kotaro OKI
  • Patent number: 12000349
    Abstract: To provide a control device capable of calculating a cam phase equal to an actual cam angle even when a corresponding cam angle signal detection range is exceeded by changing a cam phase by a variable valve mechanism. In addition to the conventional cam angle measuring function, a cam angle measuring means for advancing or retarding beyond a cam angle measurement reference position, and a means for determining that the cam angle signal advances or retards beyond the cam angle measurement reference position are provided. By switching the cam angle measuring function according to a determination result as to whether the cam angle signal exceeds the cam angle measurement reference position, it is possible to improve the time resolution of the angle measurement while maintaining the cam phase change amount at the same wide angle as the conventional one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kotaro Oki, Osamu Mukaihara
  • Publication number: 20240151189
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel injection control device capable of improving the execution frequency and accuracy of individual difference detection of a plurality of fuel injection valves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Fumihiro ITABA, Osamu MUKAIHARA
  • Patent number: 11885275
    Abstract: In abnormality determination of determining whether fuel injection has been executed normally, making an erroneous determination is prevented. A fuel injection control device 127 that controls a plurality of fuel injection valves each having a coil for energization includes a drive state detection unit 211 that detects a drive state of a fuel injection valve, from an energization current or an applied voltage of the coil of the fuel injection valve, an injection abnormality detection unit 213 that detects an injection abnormality of the fuel injection valve by comparing a fuel injection instruction with the drive state of the fuel injection valve, and an injection abnormality detection execution determining unit 212 that based on a state of an internal combustion engine, determines whether or not to permit execution of injection abnormality detection by the injection abnormality detection unit 213.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Itaba, Osamu Mukaihara
  • Patent number: 11873775
    Abstract: An injection amount variation of a plurality of fuel injection valves is reduced regardless of a state of an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Itaba, Osamu Mukaihara, Takao Miyake, Takuya Watai
  • Patent number: 11859584
    Abstract: Provided is a solenoid valve control device capable of detecting a motion of a valve body in response to a drive command without adding a special circuit. According to the present invention, a solenoid valve control device controls opening and closing of a solenoid valve in an internal combustion engine system including: a fuel pump including a plunger that that increases or decreases a volume of a pressurizing chamber by moving up and down with rotation of a pump drive cam, a solenoid valve for sucking fuel into the pressurizing chamber, and a discharge valve for discharging fuel in the pressurizing chamber; and a fuel rail (common rail) that accumulates fuel discharged by the fuel pump. The solenoid valve control device includes a control unit that determines whether or not closing of the solenoid valve has succeeded based on fuel pressure 604 of the fuel rail, or calculates a discharge amount by closing the solenoid valve based on the fuel pressure of the fuel rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Nakai, Osamu Mukaihara, Toshihiro Aono
  • Patent number: 11852093
    Abstract: Low noise control of a high-pressure fuel pump is performed by reducing noise generated by an anchor colliding with a fixing core. A control device 800 for a high-pressure fuel pump controls a suction valve that opens and closes an inflow port through which fuel flows to a pressurizing chamber by performing energization to a solenoid 205 in synchronization with a reciprocating motion of a plunger. A current energized to the solenoid 205 includes a peak current for giving a force to start closing a valve to the suction valve in a stationary state and a holding current for performing switching in a range smaller a maximum value of the peak current in order to hold the suction valve in a valve closing state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Aono, Osamu Mukaihara, Kenichiro Tokuo, Hirotaka Nakai, Kotaro Oki, Shunsuke Aritomi, Akiyasu Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 11754033
    Abstract: Provided is an ignition control device capable of suppressing wear of an ignition plug due to occurrence of a re-strike without adding a component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayasu Matsushita, Osamu Mukaihara, Kohei Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11732667
    Abstract: Appropriate detection of an abnormality of voltage information, which is a basis for correcting a fuel injection amount, becomes possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Itaba, Osamu Mukaihara, Satoshi Kojima
  • Publication number: 20230228227
    Abstract: In abnormality determination of determining whether fuel injection has been executed normally, making an erroneous determination is prevented. A fuel injection control device 127 that controls a plurality of fuel injection valves each having a coil for energization includes a drive state detection unit 211 that detects a drive state of a fuel injection valve, from an energization current or an applied voltage of the coil of the fuel injection valve, an injection abnormality detection unit 213 that detects an injection abnormality of the fuel injection valve by comparing a fuel injection instruction with the drive state of the fuel injection valve, and an injection abnormality detection execution determining unit 212 that based on a state of an internal combustion engine, determines whether or not to permit execution of injection abnormality detection by the injection abnormality detection unit 213.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Fumihiro ITABA, Osamu MUKAIHARA
  • Publication number: 20230213013
    Abstract: Provided is an ignition control device capable of suppressing wear of an ignition plug due to occurrence of a re-strike without adding a component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Takayasu MATSUSHITA, Osamu MUKAIHARA, Kohei SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20230193843
    Abstract: To provide a control device capable of calculating a cam phase equal to an actual cam angle even when a corresponding cam angle signal detection range is exceeded by changing a cam phase by a variable valve mechanism. In addition to the conventional cam angle measuring function, a cam angle measuring means for advancing or retarding beyond a cam angle measurement reference position, and a means for determining that the cam angle signal advances or retards beyond the cam angle measurement reference position are provided. By switching the cam angle measuring function according to a determination result as to whether the cam angle signal exceeds the cam angle measurement reference position, it is possible to improve the time resolution of the angle measurement while maintaining the cam phase change amount at the same wide angle as the conventional one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Kotaro OKI, Osamu MUKAIHARA
  • Publication number: 20230193867
    Abstract: Provided is a solenoid valve control device capable of detecting a motion of a valve body in response to a drive command without adding a special circuit. According to the present invention, a solenoid valve control device controls opening and closing of a solenoid valve in an internal combustion engine system including: a fuel pump including a plunger that that increases or decreases a volume of a pressurizing chamber by moving up and down with rotation of a pump drive cam, a solenoid valve for sucking fuel into the pressurizing chamber, and a discharge valve for discharging fuel in the pressurizing chamber; and a fuel rail (common rail) that accumulates fuel discharged by the fuel pump. The solenoid valve control device includes a control unit that determines whether or not closing of the solenoid valve has succeeded based on fuel pressure 604 of the fuel rail, or calculates a discharge amount by closing the solenoid valve based on the fuel pressure of the fuel rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Hirotaka NAKAI, Osamu MUKAIHARA, Toshihiro AONO
  • Publication number: 20230038318
    Abstract: Low noise control of a high-pressure fuel pump is performed by reducing noise generated by an anchor colliding with a fixing core. A control device 800 for a high-pressure fuel pump controls a suction valve that opens and closes an inflow port through which fuel flows to a pressurizing chamber by performing energization to a solenoid 205 in synchronization with a reciprocating motion of a plunger. A current energized to the solenoid 205 includes a peak current for giving a force to start closing a valve to the suction valve in a stationary state and a holding current for performing switching in a range smaller a maximum value of the peak current in order to hold the suction valve in a valve closing state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2020
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Toshihiro AONO, Osamu MUKAIHARA, Kenichiro TOKUO, Hirotaka NAKAI, Kotaro OKI, Shunsuke ARITOMI, Akiyasu MIYAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20220412282
    Abstract: An injection amount variation of a plurality of fuel injection valves is reduced regardless of a state of an engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Fumihiro ITABA, Osamu MUKAIHARA, Takao MIYAKE, Takuya WATAI
  • Patent number: 11401879
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel injection control device capable of reducing variations in injection amounts of a plurality of fuel injection valves. Thus, the fuel injection control device of the present invention includes a control unit that controls voltages applied to coils of a plurality of fuel injection valves, the coils being adapted for energization. The control unit performs control such that the voltage being applied to the coil is cut off. The control unit changes a timing at which the cutoff of the voltage to the coil of at least one fuel injection valve is started or a timing at which the cutoff of the voltage to the coil of at least one fuel injection valve is ended, based on a valve closing time until closing of the fuel injection valve is completed or a valve opening time until opening of the fuel injection valve is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Itaba, Masahiro Toyohara, Osamu Mukaihara