Patents by Inventor Takanobu Ichihara

Takanobu Ichihara 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: 20080319636
    Abstract: An engine control system for an internal combustion engine with a fuel injector, comprises a combustion fuel quantity computing means for computing a combustion fuel quantity in a combustion cycle; and a residual fuel quantity computing means for computing a residual fuel quantity in the combustion cycle based on a difference between an injection fuel quantity of the fuel injector and the combustion fuel quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji NAKAGAWA, Kazuhiko Kanetoshi, Kozo Katogi, Takanobu Ichihara, Minoru Osuga
  • Publication number: 20080228383
    Abstract: Exhaust emission control is exercised to restrict the exhaust amounts [g] of HC, CO, NOx, and the like. However, since the intake air amount for startup unduly increases due to an engine speed overshoot for startup, the exhaust amounts of HC, CO, and NOx increase excessively. Therefore, there is a need for optimizing the intake air amount for startup. The present invention proposes an engine startup control method that assures excellent startability and low exhaust emissions (small gas amount). Disclosed is an engine control device for starting an engine (from its stop state). The engine control device includes a section for setting a target engine operating state of each combustion; a section for detecting an actual engine operating state of each combustion; and a section for computing a control parameter for each subsequent combustion in accordance with the target engine operating state of each combustion and the actual engine operating state of each combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Kazuhiko Kanetoshi, Kozo Katogi, Takanobu Ichihara, Minoru Osuga
  • Publication number: 20070261671
    Abstract: An engine controller comprises a combustion state detection or estimation means for detecting or estimating a combustion state in the combustion chamber, a combustion air-fuel ratio estimation means for estimating a combustion air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber according to an exhaust air-fuel ratio and the detected or estimated combustion state, and a means for calculating engine control parameters according to the estimated combustion air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Kazuhiko Kanetoshi, Kozo Katogi, Takanobu Ichihara, Minoru Ohsuga
  • Patent number: 7270118
    Abstract: In an engine having a premixed combustion mode, an EGR flow rate estimating precision is deteriorated at a transient time, and a torque fluctuation and an exhaust gas deterioration are caused. In an engine control apparatus having a premixed combustion mode and a diffusion combustion mode, a sensor detecting an EGR flow rate is arranged in an EGR flow path of the engine, and a cylinder state of the engine is estimated by using an output value of the sensor detecting the EGR flow rate at a time when the engine is in the premixed combustion mode. Since it is possible to accurately detect the EGR flow rate at the transient time and feed back the EGR flow rate at a high response, it is possible to prevent a torque fluctuation and an exhaust gas deterioration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiro Yamaoka, Yoshihiro Sukegawa, Noboru Tokuyasu, Shinya Igarashi, Katsuaki Fukatsu, Takashi Kadohiro, Hidefumi Iwaki, Takanobu Ichihara
  • Publication number: 20070169757
    Abstract: An engine control apparatus which can ensure and maintain a stability and constant exhaust emission characteristics even in such a condition that a nature of a fuel used as present is unsure, and which is robust among different fuel natures, comprising a plurality of different nature fuel quantity computing means and an operating condition detecting means for detecting an operating condition of an engine, wherein a first nature fuel quantity computing means among the plurality of different nature fuel quantity computing means is used as a fuel quantity computing means during an engine start, and the first nature fuel quantity computing means is forcibly changed over into a second nature fuel quantity computing means if an engine operating condition detected by the operating condition detecting means satisfies a predetermined term.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Kazuhiko Kanetoshi, Kozo Katogi, Takanobu Ichihara, Minoru Ohsuga
  • Publication number: 20070000473
    Abstract: In an engine having a premixed combustion mode, an EGR flow rate estimating precision is deteriorated at a transient time, and a torque fluctuation and an exhaust gas deterioration are caused. In an engine control apparatus having a premixed combustion mode and a diffusion combustion mode, a sensor detecting an EGR flow rate is arranged in an EGR flow path of the engine, and a cylinder state of the engine is estimated by using an output value of the sensor detecting the EGR flow rate at a time when the engine is in the premixed combustion mode. Since it is possible to accurately detect the EGR flow rate at the transient time and feed back the EGR flow rate at a high response, it is possible to prevent a torque fluctuation and an exhaust gas deterioration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiro Yamaoka, Yoshihiro Sukegawa, Noboru Tokuyasu, Shinya Igarashi, Katsuaki Fukatsu, Takashi Kadohiro, Hidefumi Iwaki, Takanobu Ichihara
  • Patent number: 7093426
    Abstract: To improve startability and reduce the amount of HC emission at start-up with the aid of a construction where vaporized fuel is supplied to the bypass passage that bypasses the main passage. The main air control valve 16 is installed near the intake port 10 of the main air passage 3, and the main air control valve is closed or throttled at the time of start-up or additional injection from the port injection valve 5 is given in the beginning of start-up cranking. With a apparatus equipped with the main air control valve, vaporization of the fuel injected from the auxiliary injection valve 6 is facilitated in the beginning of cranking and also intake delay of the vaporized fuel is reduced, and hence startability can improve and the amount of HC emission at the time of start-up can decrease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanobu Ichihara, Masami Nagano, Kozo Katogi, Hiroaki Saeki
  • Publication number: 20060086080
    Abstract: An engine exhaust gas cleaning method and system, which can effectively reduce emission amounts of particular components, such as NOx, contained in exhaust gas by adding an additive, such as urea water or light oil, into an exhaust passage, which is adaptable for a reduction of the cleaning rate caused by deterioration of a catalyst, which can always maintain a high cleaning rate during acceleration and deceleration as well, and which can minimize environmental pollution with use of the additive in the least necessary amount. The engine exhaust gas cleaning system comprises a catalyst for removing a particular component, represented by NOx, contained in exhaust gas of an engine, an additive adding unit for adding, to the exhaust gas, an additive for reducing the particular component represented by NOx, and an EGR amount adjusting unit for adjusting an EGR amount. An addition amount of the additive and the EGR amount are set depending on an operating state and deterioration of the catalyst with time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Applicant: Hitachi Ltd.
    Inventors: Kozo Katogi, Takanobu Ichihara
  • Patent number: 7013869
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electronically-controlled fuel injector, for an internal combustion engine, comprising a downstream fuel injection valve located near an air intake port of each cylinder or inside a cylinder, an air intake passage which bypasses the throttle valve located upstream of a downstream fuel injection valve, and a fuel vaporizing section including an upstream fuel injection valve, and a heater which vaporizes fuel injected from the upstream fuel injection valve; and further having an air intake port located upstream of the throttle valve, air flow control section for controlling an amount of air, said fuel vaporizing section, vaporized-fuel branch section for supplying vaporized fuel to each cylinder, and a vaporized-fuel distribution passage which extends from the vaporized-fuel branch section to an opening located in each air intake pipe located downstream of the throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Nagano, Takanobu Ichihara, Hiroaki Saeki
  • Publication number: 20050268891
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for use in an internal combustion engine, comprising: an intake passage; a downstream fuel injection valve near the port of each cylinder of the engine and downstream of the intake passage; and a controller, wherein the intake passage includes a fuel injection/evaporation device which has an upstream fuel injection valve; a heater for evaporating injected fuel; and an air passage for supplying the injected fuel with air. The controller is adapted to control the amount of fuel injected from the downstream fuel injection valve and the upstream fuel injection valve, thereby controlling the fuel-air ratio of the injected fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Nagano, Takanobu Ichihara
  • Publication number: 20050066939
    Abstract: To offer a fuel supply system and fuel supply method for direct injection engine that realizes higher output. In a fuel supply system for direct injection engine of the present invention, equipped with a primary fuel injector that injects fuel directly into the cylinder of the direct injection engine and supercharger that increase the intake air quantity of the engine, a secondary fuel injector is installed in addition to the primary fuel injector. In a specified engine load area, fuel is supplied using the primary fuel injector and secondary fuel injector. Even though the fuel quantity injected from the primary fuel injector into the cylinder is limited, the fuel supply system for direct injection engine constructed as above can increase the engine output because the fuel insufficiency can be supplied by the secondary fuel injector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventors: Kosaku Shimada, Takanobu Ichihara
  • Publication number: 20050022783
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electronically-controlled fuel injector, for an internal combustion engine, comprising a downstream fuel injection valve located near an air intake port of each cylinder or inside a cylinder, an air intake passage which bypasses the throttle valve located upstream of a downstream fuel injection valve, and a fuel vaporizing section including an upstream fuel injection valve, and a heater which vaporizes fuel injected from the upstream fuel injection valve; and further having an air intake port located upstream of the throttle valve, air flow control section for controlling an amount of air, said fuel vaporizing section, vaporized-fuel branch section for supplying vaporized fuel to each cylinder, and a vaporized-fuel distribution passage which extends from the vaporized-fuel branch section to an opening located in each air intake pipe located downstream of the throttle valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Masami Nagano, Takanobu Ichihara, Hiroaki Saeki
  • Patent number: 6820864
    Abstract: Atomization and vaporization of spray in a fuel supply system is promoted at the time of cold startup and the amount of fuel depositing on the inner wall of the intake manifold is reduced, thereby ensuring improved startability of an internal combustion engine of a car, reduced fuel costs and improved purification of exhaust gas. A very fine groove is formed on a heat transfer surface in a fuel vaporization promoting apparatus, wherein this groove is shaped in such a way that fuel is dispersed by the surface tension of the heat transfer surface and the fuel. This configuration ensures uniform dispersion of fuel on the heat transfer surface and effective promotion of vaporization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Amou, Yuzo Kadomukai, Hiroaki Saeki, Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Ichihara, Masami Nagano
  • Patent number: 6776142
    Abstract: On supplying fuel in an internal combustion engine, a control signal for changing a degree of vaporization of the fuel passing the air intake valve in accordance with the opening degree of the air intake valve or a load of the internal combustion engine so that the fuel of liquid state is restrained from existing in the combustion chamber is generated, and subsequently a vaporizing speed of the supplied fuel is changed in accordance with the control signal to adjust the degree of vaporization of the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Sukegawa, Toshiharu Nogi, Takanobu Ichihara, Hiroaki Saeki
  • Patent number: 6718960
    Abstract: A diagnostic apparatus for gas mixture supply apparatus and diagnostic method thereof characterized in that, when any trouble has occurred to gas mixture from a gas mixture supply apparatus, it can be identified as an error; and at least engine startup is ensured, continued operation of the engine can be made enabled without any problem which may cause stalling of the engine, and deterioration of exhaust gas can be prevented. The above object can be attained by the present invention comprising a gas mixture state detecting means for detecting the state of gas mixture when gas mixture is supplied from the aforementioned gas mixture supply means during the operation of the aforementioned evaporation means, and evaluation means for evaluating an error of the aforementioned gas mixture supply means based on the result of detection by the aforementioned gas mixture state detecting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Someno, Kiyoshi Amou, Takanobu Ichihara
  • Publication number: 20040045533
    Abstract: On supplying fuel in an internal combustion engine, a control signal for changing a degree of vaporization of the fuel passing the air intake valve in accordance with the opening degree of the air intake valve or a load of the internal combustion engine so that the fuel of liquid state is restrained from existing in the combustion chamber is generated, and subsequently a vaporizing speed of the supplied fuel is changed in accordance with the control signal to adjust the degree of vaporization of the fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Sukegawa, Toshiharu Nogi, Takanobu Ichihara, Hiroaki Saeki
  • Publication number: 20040040550
    Abstract: A diagnostic apparatus for gas mixture supply apparatus and diagnostic method thereof characterized in that, when any trouble has occurred to gas mixture from a gas mixture supply apparatus, it can be identified as an error; and at least engine startup is ensured, continued operation of the engine can be made enabled without any problem which may cause stalling of the engine, and deterioration of exhaust gas can be prevented. The above object can be attained by the present invention comprising a gas mixture state detecting means for detecting the state of gas mixture when gas mixture is supplied from the aforementioned gas mixture supply means during the operation of the aforementioned evaporation means, and evaluation means for evaluating an error of the aforementioned gas mixture supply means based on the result of detection by the aforementioned gas mixture state detecting means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicants: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Someno, Kiyoshi Amou, Takanobu Ichihara
  • Publication number: 20040031472
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for use in an internal combustion engine, comprising: an intake passage; a downstream fuel injection valve near the port of each cylinder of the engine and downstream of the intake passage; and a controller, wherein the intake passage includes a fuel injection/evaporation device which has an upstream fuel injection valve; a heater for evaporating injected fuel; and an air passage for supplying the injected fuel with air. The controller is adapted to control the amount of fuel injected from the downstream fuel injection valve and the upstream fuel injection valve, thereby controlling the fuel-air ratio of the injected fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Masami Nagano, Takanobu Ichihara
  • Publication number: 20040016416
    Abstract: To improve startability and reduce the amount of HC emission at start-up with the aid of a construction where vaporized fuel is supplied to the bypass passage that bypasses the main passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Applicants: HITACHI, LTD., HITACHI CAR ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takanobu Ichihara, Masami Nagano, Kozo Katogi, Hiroaki Saeki
  • Publication number: 20030217739
    Abstract: The present invention is to present a fuel-heating type fuel injection apparatus, at the startup of the engine, able to prevent fuel-attaching on the wall of the intake passage and eliminate hydro carbons in the exhaust.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Applicants: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Saeki, Takanobu Ichihara, Kenji Watanabe