Patents by Inventor Yuichi Kitahara

Yuichi Kitahara 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: 20020159926
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification apparatus for use in an internal combustion engine comprises an exhaust gas duct connected to the engine through which the exhaust gas containing NOx gas passes and a catalyst so disposed in the exhaust gas duct that it contacts with the exhaust gas. The catalyst chemically adsorbs NOx under the condition that a stoichiometric amount of a gaseous oxidizing agent present in the exhaust gas is larger than that of a gaseous reducing agent present in the exhaust gas for reducing NOx, while NOx being adsorbed is catalytically reduced in the presence of the reducing agent under the condition that the stoichiometric amount of the oxidizing agent is not larger than that of the reducing agent. Thereby, NOx, the lean burn exhaust gas in the engine can be effectively made harmlessly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hanaoka, Osamu Kuroda, Ryouta Doi, Hidehiro Iizuka, Toshio Ogawa, Hisao Yamashita, Shigeru Azuhata, Yuichi Kitahara, Toshifumi Hiratsuka, Kojiro Okude, Norihiro Shinotsuka, Toshio Manaka
  • Patent number: 6401454
    Abstract: An engine control device provided with a lean NOx catalyst comprises means for estimating a condition of the lean NOx catalyst, means for performing reactivation control of the lean NOx catalyst based on the result, and means for controlling the termination of the reactivation control. The lean NOx catalyst is constantly made usable in a favorable condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiya Takano, Takeshi Atago, Seiji Suda, Yuichi Kitahara
  • Patent number: 6397582
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification apparatus for use in an internal combustion engine comprises an exhaust gas duct connected to the engine through which the exhaust gas containing NOx gas passes and a catalyst so disposed in the exhaust gas duct that it contacts with the exhaust gas. The catalyst chemically adsorbs NOx under the condition that a stoichiometric amount of a gaseous oxidizing agent present in the exhaust gas is larger than that of a gaseous reducing agent present in the exhaust gas for reducing NOx, while NOx being adsorbed is catalytically reduced in the presence of the reducing agent under the condition that the stoichiometric amount of the oxidizing agent is not larger that of the reducing agent. Thereby, NOx the lean burn exhaust gas in the engine can be effectively made harmlessly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hanaoka, Osamu Kuroda, Ryouta Doi, Hidehiro Iizuka, Toshio Ogawa, Hisao Yamashita, Shigeru Azuhata, Yuichi Kitahara, Toshifumi Hiratsuka, Kojiro Okude, Norihiro Shinotsuka, Toshio Manaka
  • Patent number: 6305161
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for purifying an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine comprising an NOx purifying catalyst arranged in an exhaust gas passage, wherein the NOx purifying catalyst is made of a composite material containing at least one kind of element selected from alkaline metals and alkaline earth metals, at least one kind of element selected from rare earth metals, at least one kind of element selected from platinoid metals, and titanium (Ti), the NOx purifying catalyst adsorbing NOx in the exhaust gas onto the surface when the exhaust gas is lean, and reducing the adsorbed NOx to N2 when the exhaust gas is stoichiometric or rich, and wherein the exhaust gas is purified by adsorbing NOx in the exhaust gas in the NOx purifying catalyst when the internal combustion engine is being operated under a lean condition, and by setting, after the adsorption, the exhaust gas to a stochiometric state or a rich state for 0.5 second to 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshikatsu Takanohashi, Hiroshi Oono, Osamu Kuroda, Hisao Yamashita, Hidehiro Iizuka, Yuichi Kitahara
  • Patent number: 6272848
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of highly efficiently purifying nitrogen oxides are provided. An NOx chemisorption reduction catalyst chemically absorbs NOx under a condition that an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine is an oxidizing atmosphere and deoxidizes adsorbed NOx under a reducing atmosphere. An SOx absorbent absorbs SOx contained in the exhaust gas of the oxidizing atmosphere, and deoxidizes and release SOx absorbed in the reducing atmospheric exhaust gas. The catalyst and absorbent are arranged in the exhaust path to purify the exhaust gas while preventing or suppressing SOx-poisoning of the NOx chemisorption reduction catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kojiro Okude, Hidehiro Iizuka, Osamu Kuroda, Ryouta Doi, Toshio Ogawa, Hisao Yamashita, Shigeru Azuhata, Yuichi Kitahara, Toshifumi Hiratsuka, Norihiro Shinotsuka
  • Publication number: 20010009094
    Abstract: An engine control device provided with a lean NOx catalyst comprises means for estimating a condition of the lean NOx catalyst, means for performing reactivation control of the lean NOx catalyst based on the result, and means for controlling the termination of the reactivation control. The lean NOx catalyst is constantly made usable in a favorable condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Publication date: July 26, 2001
    Applicant: Hitachi Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiya Takano, Takeshi Atago, Seiji Suda, Yuichi Kitahara
  • Patent number: 6212880
    Abstract: An engine control device provided with a lean NOx catalyst comprises means for estimating a condition of the lean NOx catalyst, means for performing reactivation control of the lean NOx catalyst based on the result, and means for controlling the termination of the reactivation control. The lean NOx catalyst is constantly made usable in a favorable condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiya Takano, Takeshi Atago, Seiji Suda, Yuichi Kitahara
  • Patent number: 6200888
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprising an insulation film covering a semiconductor chip so as to expose electrodes or pads fabricated in the chip and wiring lines located on the insulation film and connected to the respective electrodes or pads is produced by a method which comprises: providing a semiconductor chip provided with an insulation film covering the chip so as to expose a conductor layer for electrodes or pads fabricated in the chip, ion milling the surface of the chip provided with the insulation film by a mixed gas of argon and hydrogen, forming a patterned conductor layer for wiring lines on the ion-milled surface of the chip, and dry etching the surface of the chip provided with the insulation film and the patterned conductor layer by nitrogen gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Ito, Yuichi Kitahara
  • Patent number: 6161378
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification apparatus for use in an internal combustion engine comprises an exhaust gas duct connected to the engine through which exhaust gas containing NO.sub.x gas passes, and a catalyst disposed in the exhaust gas duct such that it contacts the exhaust gas. The catalyst chemically adsorbs NO.sub.x when a stoichiometric amount of a gaseous oxidizing agent present in the exhaust gas is larger than that of a gaseous reducing agent present in the exhaust gas for reducing NO.sub.x, adsorbed NO.sub.x is catalytically reduced in the presence of a reducing agent when the stoichiometric amount of the oxidizing agent is not larger that of the reducing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hanaoka, Osamu Kuroda, Ryouta Doi, Hidehiro Iizuka, Toshio Ogawa, Hisao Yamashita, Shigeru Azuhata, Yuichi Kitahara, Toshifumi Hiratsuka, Kojiro Okude, Norihiro Shinotsuka, Toshio Manaka
  • Patent number: 6093377
    Abstract: Exhaust gas from internal combustion engines is treated with catalyst comprising an inorganic oxide supporter which supports at least one of noble metals selected from Rh, Pt, and Pd, alkali rare earth metals, rare earth metals, and magnesium in order to remove NOx effectively with superior durability of the catalyst notwithstanding the internal combustion engine is under a stoichiometric operation condition or a lean burning operation condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Iizuka, Osamu Kuroda, Toshio Ogawa, Akira Kato, Hiroshi Miyadera, Yuichi Kitahara, Hiroatsu Tokuda
  • Patent number: 6045764
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying catalyst is provided for purifying NOx contained in an exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine of a vehicle operated at a high air fuel ratio due to excessive oxygen, using unburnt HC or CO in the exhaust gas as a reducing agent. The catalyst comprises platinum, strontium and a rare earth metal, as active components, each supported on a support of inorganic oxide. The active components of the catalyst include platinum of 0.01-3.7 by wt ratio, strontium of 0.01-55 by wt ratio and a rare earth metal of 0.01-36 wt ratio, per the inorganic oxide of 100 by wt ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Iizuka, Osamu Kuroda, Toshio Ogawa, Hisao Yamashita, Shigeru Azuhata, Yuichi Kitahara, Takeshi Atago, Hiroatsu Tokuda, Takao Ishikawa, Hiroshi Hanaoka, Hiroshi Tobita, Shinichi Ichikawa, Toshifumi Hiratsuka
  • Patent number: 5972828
    Abstract: In order to remove nitrogen oxide in an exhaust gas released from a lean burn engine, a catalyst: supporting an rare earth metal, an alkali earth metal, titanium, a noble metal, and magnesium on the surface of a porous carrier made of inorganic oxides is provided. In order to manufacture the catalyst, the rare earth metal is supported onto the surface of the carrier first, subsequently the alkali earth metal other than magnesium and titanium are supported, the noble metal is supported, and magnesium is supported finally onto the surface of the carrier.The catalyst of the present invention is scarcely poisoned by SOx in the exhaust gas released from the lean burn engine, and has a heat resistivity durable against high speed driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryouta Doi, Hidehiro Iizuka, Hiroshi Hanaoka, Toshio Ogawa, Osamu Kuroda, Hisao Yamashita, Yuichi Kitahara, Toshifumi Hiratsuka
  • Patent number: 5968870
    Abstract: A catalyst being formed of a porous supporter supporting alkali metals, Ti and a noble metal, or further supporting at least one of rare earth metal and magnesium, being disposed in a flow passage of an internal combustion engine, and being used to purify NOx contained in the exhaust gas. The above catalyst has NOx resistance to exhaust gas burnt with a rich condition and with a lean condition and a high resistivity to poisoning by SOx.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Iizuka, Ryouta Doi, Hiroshi Hanaoka, Toshio Ogawa, Osamu Kuroda, Hisao Yamashita, Shigeru Azuhata, Yuichi Kitahara, Norihiro Shinotsuka
  • Patent number: 5791139
    Abstract: A fuel injection control method controls the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture to be supplied to an internal-combustion engine provided in its exhaust system with an NOx reducing catalytic converter so that the NOx reducing catalytic converter is able to give full play to its ability. A first air-fuel mixture of a stoichiometric or a fuel-rich air-fuel ratio and a second air-fuel mixture of a lean-fuel air-fuel ratio are supplied alternately for predetermined time intervals respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Atago, Toshio Hori, Yuichi Kitahara, Osamu Kuroda