Patents by Inventor Shizuo Sasaki

Shizuo Sasaki 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: 20100042284
    Abstract: An air-flow based control system for an internal combustion engine has various sensors that are used to calculate various control commands. By comparing pairs of values calculated from different sensors, errors in connection with the sensors can be detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventor: Shizuo Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20090306877
    Abstract: A method of controlling combustion of an internal combustion engine that use fuel injection and that uses lean and rich modes of operation. Combustion control values, such as for fuel injection timing and quantity are determined by a torque representative value. This value is obtained from estimated in-cylinder conditions and from engine speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Southwest Research Insititute
    Inventors: Shizuo Sasaki, Gary D. Neely, Jayant V. Sarlashkar
  • Publication number: 20090277259
    Abstract: A method and system for estimating engine-out NOx from a diesel engine. The estimation is calculated from a mathematical model that expresses engine-out NOx as functions of cylinder pressure, intake oxygen, and effective temperature, respectively. Input data for each of these functions may be obtained from fuel quantity data and from measured data, the latter including intake pressure, cylinder pressure, intake oxygen concentration, coolant temperature, and intake manifold temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Shizuo Sasaki, Jayant V. Sarlashkar, Gary D. Neely
  • Publication number: 20090255499
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to combusting fuel during cold start. A glow-plug may be provided within a combustion chamber having a volume including a piston, wherein the glow plug may provide a localized heated region. Air may then be provided into the chamber and compressed. A mass of fuel may also be provided into the combustion chamber, wherein an amount of the fuel mass may be directed towards the localized heated region of the glow plug, wherein the heated region of the glow plug may have a temperature T1, and the equivalence ratio of the fuel in the heated region achieves a value that the temperature T1 provides auto-ignition. All or a portion of the mass of fuel directed towards the heated region of said glow plug may be ignited, and then the remainder of the fuel may be ignited by auto-ignition and/or flame propagation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Shizuo Sasaki, Gary Dale Neely
  • Patent number: 7562649
    Abstract: Combustion control of a diesel engine is achieved, such that the engine has a monotonic relation between intake manifold pressure and engine torque. For a given engine speed, fuel injection parameters are primarily determined by intake manifold pressure. However, the determination of the fuel injection parameters is also secondarily based on correction factors such as oxygen concentration, intake manifold temperature, and coolant temperature. In effect, the fuel injection parameters reflect the in-cylinder gas mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Jayant V. Sarlashkar, Shizuo Sasaki, Gary D. Neely
  • Publication number: 20090007888
    Abstract: Combustion control of a diesel engine is achieved, such that the engine has a monotonic relation between intake manifold pressure and engine torque. For a given engine speed, fuel injection parameters are primarily determined by intake manifold pressure. However, the determination of the fuel injection parameters is also secondarily based on correction factors such as oxygen concentration, intake manifold temperature, and coolant temperature. In effect, the fuel injection parameters reflect the in-cylinder gas mass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Jayant V. Sarlashkar, Shizuo Sasaki, Gary D. Neely
  • Publication number: 20080046128
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine, wherein in the control system, an in-cylinder oxygen amount is calculated and a compression end temperature, which is a temperature of the pressurized air-fuel mixture, is calculated according to an intake air temperature. A fuel injection parameter is determined according to the compression end temperature, the in-cylinder oxygen amount, and an engine rotational speed. The fuel injector is controlled based on the determined fuel injection parameter. By determining the fuel injection parameter according to the compression end temperature in addition to the in-cylinder oxygen amount, the combustion state is adjusted when the compression end temperature is low, thereby maintaining a stable combustion state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Shizuo Sasaki, Jayant Sarlashkar, Gary Neely
  • Patent number: 7266439
    Abstract: A fuel property adaptive control system for controlling the performance of an engine, such as an internal combustion engine. An on-board fuel classifier classifies the fuel that the engine is running. Based on stored properties for that fuel, the system selects optimal engine control parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Junmin Wang, Gary D. Neely, Shizuo Sasaki, Thomas W. Ryan, III
  • Patent number: 7208078
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and formula for producing a fuel having reduced particulate emissions from an internal combustion engine. The fuel taught herein is characterized as having a cetane number ranging from about 45 to about 65, a T95 distillation property of less than about 370° C., and having NR, AR, cetane number and T95 defined by the relation: PEI=156+Z1×(cetane#?49)+Z2×(NR?14)+Z3×(AR?25)+Z4×(T95?315° C.) Where Z1 ranges from abut 0.67 to about 1.06, Z2 ranges from about 0.9 to about 1.28, Z3 ranges from about 2.54 to about 2.80, Z4 ranges from about 0.1 to about 0.4, NR is a defined correlation of the naphthene rings content in the fuel, and AR is a defined correlation of the aromatic rings content in the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Walter Weissman, John T. Farrell, Shizuo Sasaki, Kazuhiro Akihama, Kiyomi Nakakita
  • Patent number: 7197867
    Abstract: High exhaust gas temperatures whereby sulfur is removed from a lean NOx traps simultaneously with regeneration of a Diesel particulate filter is provided by alternating engine operation in respectively defined lean and rich combustion modes. The duration and frequency of the respective lean and rich operating modes, as well as the air/fuel ratio during the respective modes, are preferably controlled by the sensed temperature of the lean NOx trap substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Yiqun Huang, Shizuo Sasaki, Gary D. Neely, Jeffrey A. Leet
  • Patent number: 7163007
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of optimally controlling fuel injection by an injector even in a transient state of the engine. An ECU 2 of the engine provided with an EGR system (14) controls the amount (Fa) of air drawn into cylinders (3a) via an intake system (4). An air flow sensor (27) detects the intake air amount (Fa). The ECU 2 estimates a flow rate (Fe_hat) of EGR gases according to response delay of recirculation of the EGR gases by the EGR system (14), estimates the amount (mo2) of oxygen existing in the cylinder (3a), based on the detected intake air amount (Fa) and the estimated flow rate (Fe_hat) of the EGR gases, determines a fuel injection parameter (Q*) based on the engine speed (Ne) and the estimated in-cylinder oxygen amount (mo2), and controls an injector (6) based on the determined fuel injection parameter (Q*).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shizuo Sasaki, Junmin Wang, Gary D Neely
  • Patent number: 7137379
    Abstract: A combustion control method for the rich pulse control of Diesel engines with Lean NOX Trap systems includes identifying areas within a Diesel engine operating regime in which reduced recirculated exhaust gas and air with increased pre-mixed combustion is effective in providing fuel rich combustion, and a second, lower load, region in which low temperature combustion is particularly desirable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Shizuo Sasaki, Gary D. Neely
  • Publication number: 20060080025
    Abstract: A fuel property adaptive control system for controlling the performance of an engine, such as an internal combustion engine. An on-board fuel classifier classifies the fuel that the engine is running. Based on stored properties for that fuel, the system selects optimal engine control parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Inventors: Junmin Wang, Gary Neely, Shizuo Sasaki, Thomas Ryan
  • Publication number: 20060070373
    Abstract: High exhaust gas temperatures whereby sulfur is removed from a lean NOx traps simultaneously with regeneration of a Diesel particulate filter is provided by alternating engine operation in respectively defined lean and rich combustion modes. The duration and frequency of the respective lean and rich operating modes, as well as the air/fuel ratio during the respective modes, are preferably controlled by the sensed temperature of the lean NOx trap substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Yiqun Huang, Shizuo Sasaki, Gary Neely, Jeffrey Leet
  • Publication number: 20060037307
    Abstract: A combustion control method for the rich pulse control of Diesel engines with Lean NOX Trap systems includes identifying areas within a Diesel engine operating regime in which reduced recirculated exhaust gas and air with increased pre-mixed combustion is effective in providing fuel rich combustion, and a second, lower load, region in which low temperature combustion is particularly desirable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Publication date: February 23, 2006
    Inventors: Shizuo Sasaki, Gary Neely
  • Patent number: 6994077
    Abstract: Cylinders of a diesel engine 1 are provided with cylinder pressure sensors 29a to 29d for detecting combustion chamber pressures. An electronic control unit (ECU) 20 of the engine selects optimum combustion parameters in accordance with a fuel injection mode of fuel injectors 10a to 10d of the engine and a combustion mode determined by the amount of EGR gas supplied from the EGR valve 35 from among a plurality of types of combustion parameters expressing the combustion state of the engine calculated based on the cylinder pressure sensor output and feedback controls the fuel injection amount and fuel injection timing so that the values of the combustion parameters match target values determined in accordance with the engine operating conditions. Due to this, the engine combustion state is controlled to the optimum state at all times regardless of the fuel injection mode or combustion mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuki Kobayashi, Shizuo Sasaki, Taro Aoyama, Kouji Yoshizaki, Hiroki Murata, Yoshiki Hashimoto, Kazuhisa Inagaki, Kiyomi Nakakita, Shoji Nakahara, Yoshihiro Hotta
  • Patent number: 6988365
    Abstract: A catalyst bed temperature of an aftertreatment device is maintained and the operational regime for stable and smokeless rich combustion is expanded by use of a dual loop exhaust gas recirculation system. Under light load conditions, at least a portion of the exhaust gas is recirculated through a relatively high pressure exhaust gas recirculation loop, wherein there is no substantial reduction in recirculated exhaust gas temperature or pressure. When operating in relatively medium or higher load operating regimes of the engine, at least a portion of the exhaust gas is passed through a relatively low pressure recirculation mode in which work is extracted from the recirculated gas by the turbine stage of a turbocharger and an exhaust gas recirculation cooler prior to reintroduction into the intake manifold of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventor: Shizuo Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20060011180
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of optimally controlling fuel injection by an injector even in a transient state of the engine. An ECU 2 of the engine provided with an EGR system (14) controls the amount (Fa) of air drawn into cylinders (3a) via an intake system (4). An air flow sensor (27) detects the intake air amount (Fa). The ECU 2 estimates a flow rate (Fe_hat) of EGR gases according to response delay of recirculation of the EGR gases by the EGR system (14), estimates the amount (mo2) of oxygen existing in the cylinder (3a), based on the detected intake air amount (Fa) and the estimated flow rate (Fe_hat) of the EGR gases, determines a fuel injection parameter (Q*) based on the engine speed (Ne) and the estimated in-cylinder oxygen amount (mo2), and controls an injector (6) based on the determined fuel injection parameter (Q*).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Inventors: Shizuo Sasaki, Junmin Wang, Gary Neely
  • Patent number: 6976934
    Abstract: A shift control system for hybrid vehicles which is constructed to transmit a motive energy of the prime mover to a wheel via a clutch and a transmission, comprises an electric power generating means for generating an electric power by the motive energy of the prime mover, and for supplying the generated electric power to an electric motor, when executing a gear shift of the transmission and transmitting the motive energy of the motor to the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Komeda, Shizuo Sasaki, Yoshiki Hashimoto, Hiroki Murata, Yuichiro Kitamura, Yoshihide Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20050229903
    Abstract: Cylinders of a diesel engine 1 are provided with cylinder pressure sensors 29a to 29d for detecting combustion chamber pressures. An electronic control unit (ECU) 20 of the engine selects optimum combustion parameters in accordance with a fuel injection mode of fuel injectors 10a to 10d of the engine and a combustion mode determined by the amount of EGR gas supplied from the EGR valve 35 from among a plurality of types of combustion parameters expressing the combustion state of the engine calculated based on the cylinder pressure sensor output and feedback controls the fuel injection amount and fuel injection timing so that the values of the combustion parameters match target values determined in accordance with the engine operating conditions. Due to this, the engine combustion state is controlled to the optimum state at all times regardless of the fuel injection mode or combustion mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuki Kobayashi, Shizuo Sasaki, Taro Aoyama, Kouji Yoshizaki, Hiroki Murata, Yoshiki Hashimoto, Kazuhisa Inagaki, Kiyomi Nakakita, Shoji Nakahara, Yoshihiro Hotta