Patents by Inventor Yoshinori Futonagane

Yoshinori Futonagane 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).

  • Patent number: 8917058
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to make the charging power as high as possible in a battery charging control system for selectively charging a plurality of batteries having different voltages with energy generated by an alternator. To achieve the object, the battery charging control system according to the invention includes an alternator having a variable generation voltage and a plurality of batteries having different charging voltages, wherein maximum generation power defined as the highest power that the alternator can generate and maximum charging power defined as the highest power that each battery can accept are obtained, and a battery for which the charging power is highest is selected to be charged based on a comparison of the maximum generation power and the maximum charging power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Hirai, Yuichi Shimasaki, Yoshinori Futonagane
  • Patent number: 8818627
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to increase the recovered kinetic energy as much as possible in a regeneration control system for a vehicle that converts the kinetic energy of a wheel into electrical energy while the vehicle is decelerating. To achieve the object, in the invention, the electric energy generated by a generator is decreased at the time when the wheel slips. In consequence, the recovered kinetic energy can be made larger as compared to the case where the electric energy generated by the generator is decreased based on an anticipation of slippage of the wheel made in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Shimasaki, Yoshinori Futonagane, Takuya Hirai
  • Patent number: 8744677
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to suppress a change in a braking force due to a change in the magnitude of friction of an internal combustion engine, in a regenerative control system for a vehicle in which kinetic energy of wheels is made to be converted (regenerated) to electrical energy, at the time of deceleration running of the vehicle with the internal combustion engine mounted thereon. In order to solve this subject, the present invention is constructed such that the change in friction of the internal combustion engine is offset by adjustment of a regenerative braking force by regulating an amount of excitation current supplied to an electric generator according to the magnitude of friction in the internal combustion engine, at the time of deceleration running of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Shimasaki, Yoshinori Futonagane, Takuya Hirai
  • Patent number: 8739757
    Abstract: In a lubrication system of an internal combustion engine provided with a generator that generates electricity by making use of the power generated by the engine, and a heating mechanism that heats lubricating oil of the engine by making use of the energy generated when the generator carries out a power generation operation, a comparison is made between an amount of decrease of an engine load in cases where the heating mechanism heats the lubricating oil and an amount of increase of the engine load in cases where the generator carries out the power generation operation for the purpose of the operation of the heating mechanism, and permits the power generation operation of the generator in order to supply energy to the heating mechanism in cases where the amount of decrease of the engine load exceeds the amount of increase of the engine load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Futonagane, Yuichi Shimasaki, Takuya Hirai
  • Patent number: 8532913
    Abstract: An object is to provide a technology that enables starting of fuel injection under a condition that allows injected fuel to ignite and burn at the time of start-up of an internal combustion engine. To achieve the object, a start-up control system for an internal combustion engine according to the invention estimates, at the time of start-up of the internal combustion engine, the amount of rotation of a crankshaft in a period since the start of cranking until a crank position sensor outputs an effective pulse signal and determines, based on the stopping position of the crankshaft specified by the value thus estimated, whether or not fuel is to be injected at the first fuel injection time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Hirai, Yoshinori Futonagane
  • Publication number: 20130042825
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to reduce the friction of an internal combustion engine in a suitable manner when the internal combustion engine is in a cold state, thereby to attain the reduction of fuel consumption as well as the reduction of exhaust emission. In order to achieve this object, a lubrication system of an internal combustion engine of the present invention is provided with a generator which is capable of carrying out heat exchange with lubricating oil in the internal combustion engine, wherein an amount of electric power generated by the generator is increased when the temperature of the lubricating oil is lower than a target temperature. According to this lubrication system of an internal combustion engine, it becomes possible to quickly raise the temperature of the lubricating oil to the target temperature with the heat produced by the generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Shimasaki, Yoshinori Futonagane, Takuya Hirai
  • Publication number: 20130030647
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to increase the recovered kinetic energy as much as possible in a regeneration control system for a vehicle that converts the kinetic energy of a wheel into electrical energy while the vehicle is decelerating. To achieve the object, in the invention, the electric energy generated by a generator is decreased at the time when the wheel slips. In consequence, the recovered kinetic energy can be made larger as compared to the case where the electric energy generated by the generator is decreased based on an anticipation of slippage of the wheel made in advance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Shimasaki, Yoshinori Futonagane, Takuya Hirai
  • Publication number: 20130018548
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to suppress a change in a braking force due to a change in the magnitude of friction of an internal combustion engine, in a regenerative control system for a vehicle in which kinetic energy of wheels is made to be converted (regenerated) to electrical energy, at the time of deceleration running of the vehicle with the internal combustion engine mounted thereon. In order to solve this subject, the present invention is constructed such that the change in friction of the internal combustion engine is offset by adjustment of a regenerative braking force by regulating an amount of excitation current supplied to an electric generator according to the magnitude of friction in the internal combustion engine, at the time of deceleration running of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Shimasaki, Yoshinori Futonagane, Takuya Hirai
  • Publication number: 20120293124
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to make the charging power as high as possible in a battery charging control system for selectively charging a plurality of batteries having different voltages with energy generated by an alternator. To achieve the object, the battery charging control system according to the invention includes an alternator having a variable generation voltage and a plurality of batteries having different charging voltages, wherein maximum generation power defined as the highest power that the alternator can generate and maximum charging power defined as the highest power that each battery can accept are obtained, and a battery for which the charging power is highest is selected to be charged based on a comparison of the maximum generation power and the maximum charging power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya Hirai, Yuichi Shimasaki, Yoshinori Futonagane
  • Publication number: 20120222647
    Abstract: In a lubrication system of an internal combustion engine provided with a generator that generates electricity by making use of the power generated by the engine, and a heating mechanism that heats lubricating oil of the engine by making use of the energy generated when the generator carries out a power generation operation, a comparison is made between an amount of decrease of an engine load in cases where the heating mechanism heats the lubricating oil and an amount of increase of the engine load in cases where the generator carries out the power generation operation for the purpose of the operation of the heating mechanism, and permits the power generation operation of the generator in order to supply energy to the heating mechanism in cases where the amount of decrease of the engine load exceeds the amount of increase of the engine load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Futonagane, Yuichi Shimasaki, Takuya Hirai
  • Publication number: 20120124978
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification system is provided with an exhaust gas purification device (19) for trapping particulate matter, and a control system that performs a regeneration control process to the exhaust gas purification device (19), wherein in cases where the regeneration control process is interrupted in accordance with stop of an internal combustion engine (10), during the stop of the internal combustion engine (10) (or at the time of starting thereof), the control system determines, based on a temperature (catalyst bed temperature) and an amount of PM deposition of the exhaust gas purification device (19), whether the exhaust gas purification device (19) is in a state where the regeneration control process can not be carried out efficiently, and does not resume the regeneration control process at the time of starting of the internal combustion engine (10), in cases where the exhaust gas purification device (19) is in the state where the regeneration control process can not be carried out efficiently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Futonagane, Takuya Hirai, Hiroyuki Haga
  • Publication number: 20120101708
    Abstract: An object is to provide a technology that enables starting of fuel injection under a condition that allows injected fuel to ignite and burn at the time of start-up of an internal combustion engine. To achieve the object, a start-up control system for an internal combustion engine according to the invention estimates, at the time of start-up of the internal combustion engine, the amount of rotation of a crankshaft in a period since the start of cranking until a crank position sensor outputs an effective pulse signal and determines, based on the stopping position of the crankshaft specified by the value thus estimated, whether or not fuel is to be injected at the first fuel injection time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya Hirai, Yoshinori Futonagane
  • Publication number: 20100163000
    Abstract: A control device (5) for an internal combustion engine including a fuel injection device (3) is provided. The fuel injection device (3) includes an injection hole (31b, 31c), and is configured to inject fuel from the injection hole (31b, 31c) into a combustion chamber (21). The control device (5) includes an actual injection amount output section (53), an injection amount deviation output section (51a), and an abnormality treatment direction section (51a). The injection amount deviation output section (51a) outputs a signal that indicates the deviation between an actual injection amount and a command fuel injection amount. The abnormality treatment direction section (51a) outputs a signal to enable treatment if the deviation exceeds a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Yoshinori Futonagane, Fumihiro Okumura
  • Publication number: 20100133361
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve (2) includes a first injection hole group (14), a second injection hole group (15), a control chamber (20), a first needle valve (12), and a second needle valve (13). The first needle valve (12) opens/closes an injection hole in the first injection hole group (14). The second needle valve (13) opens/closes an injection hole in the second injection hole group (15). Lifting of the first needle valve (12), and lifting of the second needle valve (13) are controlled by a pressure of fuel in the control chamber (20). An automatic valve (32) is further provided to change a flow rate at which the fuel flows into the control chamber (20), or a flow rate at which the fuel flows out from the control chamber (20), based on a common-rail pressure in a fuel supply source (1), when the needle valves (12, 13) are lifted. Thus, the fuel injection valve (2) injects fuel at the optimum fuel injection rate in various engine operating states.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Yoshinori Futonagane, Yoshimasa Watanabe, Shigeo Nomura, Yoshiaki Nishijima
  • Publication number: 20100094527
    Abstract: The temperature at the tip of a fuel injection valve (31) is estimated based on first to third parameters. The first parameter is a parameter that indicates the combustion temperature, such as the fuel injection amount and the combustion timing. The second parameter is a parameter that indicates the heat exposure timing and the heat exposure time. Examples of the second parameter include the engine speed and the combustion timing. The third parameter is a parameter that indicates the temperature increase of the fuel along with a decrease in pressure of the fuel at the injection hole (31b, 31c), such as the pressure of the fuel in the fuel injection device (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Yoshinori Futonagane, Kazuhiro Omae
  • Publication number: 20100070158
    Abstract: A fuel injection device (1) includes a fuel injection valve (2) that injects fuel, and is provided with a first nozzle hole (9) and the second nozzle hole (10), which are controlled independently of each other to inject the fuel. The fuel injection device further includes a controller (5) that performs a deposit removal fuel injection in accordance with an amount of deposits accumulated in the first nozzle hole and/or the second nozzle hole. The deposit removal fuel injection injects fuel to remove the deposits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Yoshinori Futonagane, Fumihiro Okumura
  • Publication number: 20100049421
    Abstract: A control device (engine control device 5) for an internal combustion engine (2) includes a carbon particulate matter amount output portion (smoke sensor 53) that produces an output that indicates the floating carbon particulate matter amount, and an accumulation amount output portion (CPU 51a) that produces an output that indicates the accumulation amount of an extraneous matter (deposit) in and around injection orifices (second injection orifices 31c) based on the output value of the floating carbon particulate matter amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Yoshinori Futonagane, Fumihiro Okumura
  • Publication number: 20100012092
    Abstract: An outer needle valve (42) and an inner needle valve (43) face on back sides thereof an outer control chamber (R2) and an inner control chamber (R3), which are independent of each other, respectively. An outer fuel outflow passage (C4) and an inner fuel outflow passage (C5) for causing fuel to flow out from the outer control chamber (R2) and the inner control chamber (R3) respectively meet at a meeting portion (Y). A control valve (45) for rendering in communication/shutting off a fuel discharge passage (C6) for connecting the meeting portion (Y) to a fuel tank (T) is interposed in the fuel discharge passage (C6). An automatic valve (44) as an open/close valve for shutting off the outer fuel outflow passage (C4) when a rail pressure (Pcr) is equal to or lower than a predetermined value and rendering in communication the outer fuel outflow passage (C4) when the rail pressure (Pcr) is higher than the predetermined value is interposed in the outer fuel outflow passage (C4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: Yoshinori Futonagane, Fumihiro Okumura, Shigeo Nomura
  • Publication number: 20090095824
    Abstract: When fuel injection is carried out, an amount of deposit produced newly around a second injection hole is estimated on the basis of an amount of fuel injected from at least the first injection hole. The amount of produced deposit estimated every time the first fuel injection is carried out is integrated. When the integrated value of the amount of deposit reaches a set value, fuel injection in which the second injection hole is used is carried out to remove the deposit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Futonagane, Fumihiro Okumura
  • Patent number: 7370636
    Abstract: A fuel injector (1) in an internal combustion engine, wherein an intermediate chamber control valve (26) operated by the fuel pressure in a common rail (2) is arranged in a fuel flow passage (25) connecting a two-position switching type three-way valve (8) and an intermediate chamber (20) of a booster piston (17). When the fuel pressure in the common rail (2) is in a high pressure side fuel region, the booster piston (17) is operated by this intermediate chamber control valve (26), while when the fuel pressure in the common rail (2) is in a low pressure side fuel region, the operation of the booster piston (17) is stopped by this intermediate chamber control valve (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Futonagane, Yoshimasa Watanabe