Patents by Inventor Shouta Hamane
Shouta Hamane 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).
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Patent number: 11859588Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, fuel injection is stopped to automatically stop the engine when automatic stop conditions are met. When there is a request to restart the engine while an engine speed is decreasing due to automatic stoppage, the engine is started by resuming fuel injection if the engine speed is equal to or greater than a combustion recoverable rotational speed threshold, at which restarting is possible only by fuel injection. When there is a request to restart the engine while an engine speed is decreasing due to automatic stoppage, the engine is started using a starter motor if the engine speed is less than the combustion recoverable rotational speed threshold. When there is a request to restart the engine in a brake ON state, the engine is not started by resuming fuel injection, but rotated and started using the starter motor.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2020Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shouta Hamane, Tadashi Iwamoto
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Patent number: 11788482Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, fuel injection is stopped to automatically stop the engine when automatic stop conditions are met. The engine is started in response to a request to restart the engine while an engine speed is decreasing due to an automatic stoppage by resuming fuel injection if the engine speed is equal to or greater than a combustion recoverable rotational speed threshold, and by using an electric motor if the engine speed is less than the combustion recoverable rotational speed threshold. When the engine speed of the internal combustion engine falls below the combustion recoverable rotational speed threshold while the engine speed is decreasing due to an automatic stoppage, an amount of air entering cylinders is reduced to be less than before the engine speed fell below the combustion recoverable rotational speed threshold.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2020Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shouta Hamane, Tadashi Iwamoto
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Publication number: 20230304464Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, fuel injection is stopped to automatically stop the engine when automatic stop conditions are met. When there is a request to restart the engine while an engine speed is decreasing due to automatic stoppage, the engine is started by resuming fuel injection if the engine speed is equal to or greater than a combustion recoverable rotational speed threshold, at which restarting is possible only by fuel injection. When there is a request to restart the engine while an engine speed is decreasing due to automatic stoppage, the engine is started using a starter motor if the engine speed is less than the combustion recoverable rotational speed threshold. When there is a request to restart the engine in a brake ON state, the engine is not started by resuming fuel injection, but rotated and started using the starter motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2020Publication date: September 28, 2023Inventors: Shouta HAMANE, Tadashi IWAMOTO
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Publication number: 20230304453Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, fuel injection is stopped to automatically stop the engine when automatic stop conditions are met. The engine is started in response to a request to restart the engine while an engine speed is decreasing due to an automatic stoppage by resuming fuel injection if the engine speed is equal to or greater than a combustion recoverable rotational speed threshold, and by using an electric motor if the engine speed is less than the combustion recoverable rotational speed threshold. When the engine speed of the internal combustion engine falls below the combustion recoverable rotational speed threshold while the engine speed is decreasing due to an automatic stoppage, an amount of air entering cylinders is reduced to be less than before the engine speed fell below the combustion recoverable rotational speed threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2020Publication date: September 28, 2023Inventors: Shouta HAMANE, Tadashi IWAMOTO
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Patent number: 11204009Abstract: If an internal combustion engine that has been automatically stopped is to be restarted under a decreased engine speed, a control unit of the internal combustion engine starts cranking when a crank angle of a cylinder in compression stroke of the internal combustion engine is closer to bottom dead center than a threshold value set in advance. More specifically, if an engine speed of the internal combustion engine is in forward rotation, the cranking is begun when the crank angle of the cylinder in compression stroke is closer to the bottom dead center than a threshold value set in advance. If the engine speed of the internal combustion engine is in backward rotation, the cranking is begun when the crank angle of the cylinder in compression stroke is closer to the bottom dead center than another threshold value set in advance.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2018Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Shouta Hamane
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Publication number: 20210047992Abstract: If an internal combustion engine that has been automatically stopped is to be restarted under a decreased engine speed, a control unit of the internal combustion engine starts cranking when a crank angle of a cylinder in compression stroke of the internal combustion engine is closer to bottom dead center than a threshold value set in advance. More specifically, if an engine speed of the internal combustion engine is in forward rotation, the cranking is begun when the crank angle of the cylinder in compression stroke is closer to the bottom dead center than a threshold value set in advance. If the engine speed of the internal combustion engine is in backward rotation, the cranking is begun when the crank angle of the cylinder in compression stroke is closer to the bottom dead center than another threshold value set in advance.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2018Publication date: February 18, 2021Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Shouta HAMANE
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Patent number: 9399960Abstract: A road surface slope estimating device includes a forward/backward sensor that outputs a detected forward/backward of a vehicle, a forward/backward estimator that calculates an estimated forward/backward of the vehicle, and a road surface slope estimating device that calculates an estimated road surface slope value using the detected forward/backward and the estimated forward/backward. The road surface slope estimating device implements a momentarily rough terrain determination step to determine whether the vehicle is traveling on momentarily rough terrain or continuously rough terrain. When it is determined that the vehicle is traveling on momentarily rough terrain, the road surface slope estimating device fixes the estimated road surface slope value to an estimated road surface slope value obtained immediately before the determination is made.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2013Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shouta Hamane, Takashi Matsuda
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Patent number: 9365110Abstract: While a vehicle speed is between a first certain vehicle speed and a second certain vehicle speed lower than the first certain vehicle speed, it is determined whether to perform vehicle control in accordance with conditions excluding a condition based on the estimated road surface slope.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2013Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Takashi Matsuda, Shouta Hamane, Motoyuki Hattori, Kouichi Mori
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Patent number: 8731791Abstract: When an internal combustion engine is cranked up from a stopped position of a piston in a restart-time first ignition cylinder which is scheduled to start a combustion at the time of an automatic restart of the engine under an automatic stop of the engine during an idling-stop control, a restart-time ignition time interval between a time point when the cranking of the engine is started and a time point when the restart-time first ignition cylinder is initially ignited is calculated. A drive-start timing of a starter motor is delayed according to this restart-time ignition time interval. Thereby, the cranking of the engine is carried out by the starter motor under a state where the hydraulic pressure supplied from the electric oil pump has increased. Thus, the slip in the clutch of the CVT can be suppressed when the gas mixture in the restart-time first ignition cylinder is initially ignited.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2009Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shouta Hamane, Takayuki Iwasaki, Yoshikazu Hirato
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Publication number: 20130261931Abstract: A road surface slope estimating device includes a forward/backward sensor that outputs a detected forward/backward of a vehicle, a forward/backward estimator that calculates an estimated forward/backward of the vehicle, and a road surface slope estimating device that calculates an estimated road surface slope value using the detected forward/backward and the estimated forward/backward. The road surface slope estimating device implements a momentarily rough terrain determination step to determine whether the vehicle is traveling on momentarily rough terrain or continuously rough terrain. When it is determined that the vehicle is traveling on momentarily rough terrain, the road surface slope estimating device fixes the estimated road surface slope value to an estimated road surface slope value obtained immediately before the determination is made.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2013Publication date: October 3, 2013Inventors: Shouta Hamane, Takashi Matsuda
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Publication number: 20130245923Abstract: While a vehicle speed is between a first certain vehicle speed and a second certain vehicle speed lower than the first certain vehicle speed, it is determined whether to perform vehicle control in accordance with conditions excluding a condition based on the estimated road surface slope.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2013Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Takashi Matsuda, Shouta Hamane, Motoyuki Hattori, Kouichi Mori
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Patent number: 8511270Abstract: An ECM 2 performs an idle-stop operation on a vehicle internal combustion engine 4 in an idle operation state. The ECM 2 is supplied with power from a battery 3. The ECM 2 restarts the internal combustion engine 4 upon request by supplying power from the battery 3 to the starter motor 5. The ECM 2 is programmed to determine if the ECM 2 has experienced an unexpected restart during an engine start-up operation (S1, S2), and prevent the idle-stop operation from being executed on the internal combustion engine 4 when the determination is affirmative. Thus, starting failure of the internal combustion engine 4 from an operation-ceased state can be prevented without preventing the idle-stop operation from being executed excessively.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2011Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Shouta Hamane
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Publication number: 20120209480Abstract: [Problem] To suppress a slip of clutch in an automatic transmission when an internal combustion engine is automatically restarted. [Solution] In a case that the internal combustion engine 1 is cranked up from a stopped position of piston 10 in a restart-time first ignition cylinder which is scheduled to firstly start a combustion at the time of automatic restart of internal combustion engine 1 under an automatic stop of internal combustion engine 1 during an idling-stop control, a restart-time ignition time interval between a time point when the cranking of internal combustion engine 1 is started and a time point when a restart-time first ignition cylinder is initially ignited is calculated. A drive-start timing of starter motor 19 is delayed according to this restart-time ignition time interval. Thereby, the cranking of internal combustion engine 1 is carried out by the starter motor 19 under a state where hydraulic pressure supplied from the electric oil pump 27 has increased.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2009Publication date: August 16, 2012Inventors: Shouta Hamane, Takayuki Iwasaki, Yoshikazu Hirato
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Publication number: 20110180031Abstract: An ECM 2 performs an idle-stop operation on a vehicle internal combustion engine 4 in an idle operation state. The ECM 2 is supplied with power from a battery 3. The ECM 2 restarts the internal combustion engine 4 upon request by supplying power from the battery 3 to the starter motor 5. The ECM 2 is programmed to determine if the ECM 2 has experienced an unexpected restart during an engine start-up operation (S1, S2), and prevent the idle-stop operation from being executed on the internal combustion engine 4 when the determination is affirmative. Thus, starting failure of the internal combustion engine 4 from an operation-ceased state can be prevented without preventing the idle-stop operation from being executed excessively.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2011Publication date: July 28, 2011Inventor: Shouta HAMANE
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Publication number: 20110061628Abstract: An internal combustion engine is ignition-combustion started with or without cranking by controlling the ignition-combustion based on combustion chamber pressure, or engine temperature, or piston position, or the time elapsed since the engine was stopped, or a combination of these considerations.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2005Publication date: March 17, 2011Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Hidehiro Fujita, Naoki Osada, Yoshitaka Matsuki, Masahiko Yuya, Atsushi Mitsuhori, Tadanori Yanai, Takatsugu Katayama, Shouta Hamane
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Patent number: 7415955Abstract: In one aspect, an internal combustion engine includes a fuel injector for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber to produce an air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber, a spark plug for igniting the air-fuel mixture to cause combustion in the combustion chamber and a controller controls the spark plug to cause combustion in the combustion chamber to apply a torque to start the engine from a stopped condition. The controller determines whether the operation of the engine will be stopped, and adjusts an operating condition of the engine if the controller determines the engine operation will be stopped.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2006Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshitaka Matsuki, Naoki Osada, Hidehiro Fujita, Masahiko Yuuya, Atsushi Mitsuhori, Tadanori Yanai, Takatsugu Katayama, Shouta Hamane
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Patent number: 7357109Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed to reliably carry out engine starting without cranking. Using an internal combustion engine 1, when an idle stop condition is established, a third path switching valve 28 that is provided at the connection of the compressed air supply path 25 and a first blow-by path 21, and a blow-by control valve 24 are “closed”. The connection of the crankcase to the inlet path 14 is blocked, idling for a designated time is carried out, and finally the engine is stopped. On the other hand, when the idle stop release condition is established, an inlet valve 8 is “opened”, and the first to third path switching valves 26 to 28 are “closed”, thereby operating a compressor 17 for a designated period of time. Compressed air is thereby supplied to the combustion chamber 2 and the crankcase via the compressed air supply path 25, allowing an increase in the internal cylinder pressure. Finally, the engine is started.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2005Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Atsushi Mitsuhori, Naoki Osada, Hidehiro Fujita, Yoshitaka Matsuki, Masahiko Yuuya, Tadanori Yanai, Takatsugu Katayama, Shouta Hamane
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Patent number: 7308880Abstract: A starting system rotates and starts an internal combustion engine by injecting fuel into a predetermined cylinder using an injector and igniting the fuel using an ignition plug, and upon starting the engine, the fuel pressure supplied to the injector is detected, and the engine is started by combustion in the predetermined cylinder only when the detected pressure is at or greater than the predetermined pressure, thereby guaranteeing the fuel pressure when combustion starting is employed, and consequently the engine can be securely started.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2006Date of Patent: December 18, 2007Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takatsugu Katayama, Naoki Osada, Yoshitaka Matsuki, Hidehiro Fujita, Masahiko Yuuya, Atsushi Mitsuhori, Tadanori Yanai, Shouta Hamane
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Patent number: 7233856Abstract: An internal combustion engine and control method therefor in which the engine is selectively started by combustion without cranking. The temperature in the combustion chamber of an engine cylinder is stabilized upon starting of the engine, thereby allowing secured staring without cranking. When predetermined idling stop conditions (or engine stop conditions) are established, the temperature in the combustion chamber is estimated based on engine operating conditions read before such establishment, and the period of maintaining a engine rotational speed in a predetermined low range before stopping the engine is calculated or estimated based on the estimated temperature in the combustion chamber. The engine is then stopped after the calculated or estimated period of maintaining the engine rotational speed in the predetermined low range.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2005Date of Patent: June 19, 2007Assignee: Nissaan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masahiko Yuya, Naoki Osada, Yoshitaka Matsuki, Hidehiro Fujita, Atsushi Mitsuhori, Tadanori Yanai, Takatsugu Katayama, Shouta Hamane
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Publication number: 20060185637Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed to reliably carry out engine starting without cranking. Using an internal combustion engine 1, when an idle stop condition is established, a third path switching valve 28 that is provided at the connection of the compressed air supply path 25 and a first blow-by path 21, and a blow-by control valve 24 are “closed”. The connection of the crankcase to the inlet path 14 is blocked, idling for a designated time is carried out, and finally the engine is stopped. On the other hand, when the idle stop release condition is established, an inlet valve 8 is “opened”, and the first to third path switching valves 26 to 28 are “closed”, thereby operating a compressor 17 for a designated period of time. Compressed air is thereby supplied to the combustion chamber 2 and the crankcase via the compressed air supply path 25, allowing an increase in the internal cylinder pressure. Finally, the engine is started.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2005Publication date: August 24, 2006Inventors: Atsushi Mitsuhori, Naoki Osada, Hidehiro Fujita, Yoshitaka Matsuki, Masahiko Yuuya, Tadanori Yanai, Takatsugu Katayama, Shouta Hamane