With Microprocessor Patents (Class 123/406.65)
  • Patent number: 11326535
    Abstract: A CPU substitutes a difference between a crank-side speed that is a rotation speed of a crankshaft and a downstream-side speed that is a speed of a portion, opposite from the crankshaft, in a damper into a differential speed. The CPU calculates a torsion speed component that is a speed component of the crankshaft due to torsion of the damper based on a physical model of which an input is the differential speed, and calculates a time that is a variable indicating a speed of the crankshaft, used to determine a misfire, based on the torsion speed component. The CPU delays acquisition time of the downstream-side speed used to calculate the differential speed, with respect to acquisition time of the crank-side speed according to the rotation speed of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hitoki Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 11248547
    Abstract: A powertrain engine control method may include: acquiring period information based on tooth information of an engine crank target wheel by using a timer (T); subdividing the period information by a division rate value (R) by using a timer (D) so as to enable the timer (D) to operate R times; carrying out synchronization with the timer (D) and carrying out counting by using a timer (A) from a zero (0) to 720 degrees for a four-stroke engine operation cycle; and correcting, by using a timer (V), an angle counter which is not generated at the time of deceleration of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: HYUNDAI AUTOEVER CORP.
    Inventor: Hye Rim Kwak
  • Patent number: 10810806
    Abstract: A system and method that includes collecting vehicle sensor data, wherein prioritizing vehicle sensor data includes identifying a level of importance for each of a plurality of vehicle sensor data types included in the vehicle sensor data; generating a vehicle sensor data schedule, wherein generating the vehicle data schedule includes one or more of (i) identifying a transmission order for each of the plurality of vehicle sensor data types and (ii) identifying a storage scheme selected from a hierarchy of data storage types for each of the plurality of vehicle sensor data types; transforming vehicle sensor data into message data, wherein the transforming includes selectively converting one or more of the vehicle sensor data types of the vehicle sensor data to a messaging format based on the prioritization; and transmitting, via one or more selected communication networks, the message data according to the vehicle sensor data schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Renovo Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Ioannis Petousis, Christopher Heiser, Owen Davis
  • Patent number: 10717341
    Abstract: A vehicular heat management system includes a heat medium circuit, a heat source portion, and a device. A heat medium cooling an engine circulates in the heat medium circuit. The heat source portion heats the heat medium. The device is configured to function and heat the heat medium when the heat medium flowing into the device is at or above a predetermined temperature. When the engine is being warmed up, heat generated by the heat source portion is supplied to the device in preference to the engine. According to this, since the heat generated by the heat source portion is supplied to the device in preference to the engine when the engine is being warmed up, the engine can be warmed up early.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kengo Sugimura, Yoshiki Kato, Masayuki Takeuchi, Keigo Sato, Koji Miura, Norihiko Enomoto, Ariel Marasigan, Nobuyuki Hashimura
  • Patent number: 10715064
    Abstract: A control device for controlling a stepping motor includes at least one processor which function as a control unit configured to control the stepping motor through a first control method or a second control method by using a control signal, wherein the memory configured to store a plurality of locus data indicating a relationship between an advance angle and a rotation speed of the stepping motor at each waveform of the control signal, the advance angle being a phase difference between a phase corresponding to a rotation position of the stepping motor and a phase of the control signal, and wherein the control unit select one piece of locus data from the plurality of locus data stored in the memory before switching a control method between the first control method and the second control method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirofumi Honda
  • Patent number: 10704521
    Abstract: An electronic ignition system for a portable gasoline tool includes a voltage boosting device, a spark plug connected with an output of the voltage boosting device, a DC power source, and a controller electrically connected with the DC power source and connected with the voltage boosting device. The controller controls an ignition voltage and an ignition advance angle. A related portable gasoline tool includes a body, a cylinder located in the body, a piston movable to and fro within the cylinder, a crankshaft co-moved with the piston, and a flywheel located on the body and driven by the crankshaft to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Inventors: Zhao Kong, Fei Chen
  • Patent number: 10655550
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a prediction module that, during an exhaust stroke of a first cylinder of an engine, determines a predicted intake manifold pressure at an end of a next intake stroke of a second cylinder following the first cylinder in a firing order of the cylinders. An air per cylinder (APC) module determines a predicted mass of air that will be trapped within the second cylinder at the end of the next intake stroke of the second cylinder based on the predicted intake manifold pressure. A fueling module controls fueling of the second cylinder during the next intake stroke based on the predicted mass of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Layne K. Wiggins, Rafat F. Hattar, Gary Robert Cygan, Jr., Ning Jin, Gregory P. Matthews
  • Patent number: 10619585
    Abstract: A method for controlling starting of a vehicle upon a failure of a camshaft position sensor includes performing a fuel injection and ignition at a particular timing for starting an engine of the vehicle; measuring a battery voltage of the vehicle after the performing of the fuel injection and ignition for starting the engine; and when the battery voltage rises over a predetermined value, determining that the fuel injection and the ignition are performed at a normal timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hyeok-Jun Kwon, Chang-Jin Oh, Chang-Hyun Lim, Jung-Suk Han
  • Patent number: 10465646
    Abstract: A start control system for an engine is provided. The engine is a direct injection engine, and the engine is provided with a starter motor. The start control system includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to execute fuel injection and ignition in a cylinder in an expansion stroke so as to start the engine without using the starter motor, when the electronic control unit determines that a restart condition of the engine is satisfied immediately before the engine is stopped. The electronic control unit is configured to control an ignition delay time based on at least one of a rotational direction and a rotational speed of a crankshaft, during execution of the fuel injection. The ignition delay time is a period of time from fuel injection into the cylinder in the expansion stroke to ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Enomoto
  • Patent number: 10432082
    Abstract: An electrical power input adapter coupled to a direct current (DC) bus in a power distribution system receives either an alternating current (AC) power signal or a DC power signal at a first voltage level to transmit to the DC bus. An electrical converter receives and converts the received signal to a DC power signal at a second fixed voltage. A second interface includes a current limiter to receive and limit an amperage of the DC power signal at the second voltage. A programmable switch coupled to the current limiter receives the DC power signal at the second voltage and at the limited amperage and transmits the DC power signal at the second voltage and at the limited amperage. A controller coupled to the programmable switch controls when, within a period of time, the programmable switch is to transmit the DC power signal at the second voltage and at the limited amperage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Katerra, Inc.
    Inventors: Bahman Sharifipour, Jumie Yuventi, Mark Thomas
  • Patent number: 10343879
    Abstract: A winch control system having a solid state winch contactor and a boost power supply for a vehicle equipped with an electric winch and especially for off-road vehicles, is disclosed. This invention automatically provides three winch speeds: a “slow start” (“creep”) speed for “parking” the hook and for “sneaking” up on a load, a normal speed for normal winch operation and a fast speed for taking less time to unwind and rewind the winch rope when there is no load on the winch. Protection features for the winch contactor and/or the winch include, but are not limited to, electronic winch motor braking, current limiting, over temperature, undervoltage and reverse battery. Winch current limiting is adjustable from 100 amps to 300 amps, chosen for the purpose of accommodating various winch sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: MotoAlliance
    Inventors: Jimmie Doyle Felps, Scott Charles Heupel
  • Patent number: 10254115
    Abstract: A circuit device includes a drive circuit which drives a vibrating reed; a detection circuit which outputs physical quantity information corresponding to the physical quantity, based on a detection signal according to a physical quantity that is output from the vibrating reed; and an arithmetic processing unit which performs arithmetic processing, based on the physical quantity information from the detection circuit and time interval information that is defined by a drive frequency of the drive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Haneda, Yasuhiro Sudo
  • Patent number: 10112492
    Abstract: A method for controlling a voltage step-down converter (20) including an inductive component (21), one terminal of which is connected to an electrical source (50) via a regulating switch (24), while its other terminal is connected to a capacitive component (22), the output of the voltage step-down converter being regulated by alternating connection intervals, during which the regulating switch is in an on state, with disconnection intervals, during which the regulating switch is in an off state, the regulating switch being switched from the on state to the off state when the value of the output voltage reaches a disconnection threshold. The disconnection threshold has a variable value which decreases progressively, during each connection interval, from a maximum value of the disconnection threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Stephane Saint-Macary
  • Patent number: 10029637
    Abstract: A method for triggering a plurality of actuators of a safety system of a motor vehicle from an energy source, wherein, by using sensor signals, the requirement for triggering and the desired triggering time period are determined and a maximum group size of actuators to be triggered within a time window is predefined. For successive time windows, individual, at least partly different, maximum group sizes are respectively predefined and the maximum group size for the respective time window is determined adaptively by using the actuators already actually triggered in preceding time windows. Here, it is preferably also possible to take account of the situation in which different triggering time periods are predefined for actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Ludwig Ertl
  • Patent number: 10020663
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a circuit protection method. The method includes that: a voltage or a current sent by a sending end of a circuit protection apparatus is received, and a voltage value of the received voltage or a current value of the received current is sampled; when it is detected that the sampled voltage value or current value is in a first pre-set threshold range, a pre-set input control switch is controlled to be turned on, and an input of a voltage or a current of the sending end is received; the received voltage or the received current is converted and processed, and a voltage value of the processed received voltage or a current value of the processed received current is sampled; and when it is detected that the processed voltage value or the processed current value is in a second pre-set threshold range, a pre-set output control switch is controlled to be turned on, and the processed received voltage or the processed received current is allowed to be outputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: ZTE Corporation
    Inventors: Chen Liu, Chuan He, Jianping Zhou, Yong Luo, Jie Fan
  • Patent number: 9871525
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, in a semiconductor device, a connection block includes multiple unit configurations, in each of which a first line extends along a first direction. A second line is placed above the first line and extends along a second direction which intersects with the first direction. A first variable resistance element has one end electrically connected to the first line and another end electrically connected to the second line. The third line is placed above the second line and extends along the first direction. A second variable resistance element has One end electrically connected to the second line and another end electrically connected to the third line. A fourth line is placed above the third line. The fourth line extends along the second direction. A third variable resistance element has one end electrically connected to the third line and another end electrically connected to the fourth line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yutaka Yamada
  • Patent number: 9688277
    Abstract: If a predicted compression-time in-cylinder temperature Tp having a positive correlation with the intensity of predicted pre-ignition is equal to or higher than a pre-ignition threshold value Tig when a request for automatic start is made, a forward/reverse switching mechanism is placed in a released state, and an engine is automatically started. If the predicted compression-time in-cylinder temperature Tp is lower than the pre-ignition threshold value Tig, the forward/reverse switching mechanism is placed in an engaged state, and the engine is automatically started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Furuya
  • Patent number: 9614397
    Abstract: A battery charging apparatus for a vehicle includes a driver, a position detector, and a controller. The driver includes switching elements to convert three-phase AC power outputted from a winding of each phase of a stator of a three-phase AC generator into DC power to supply the DC power to a battery. The position detector is configured to output a position detection signal indicating a position of a rotor of the three-phase AC generator. The controller is configured to control the switching elements to be switched between an energized state and non-energized state. The controller is configured to have a maintenance period during a period until next input of the position detection signal if the period exceeds an energization period. The switching elements are to be maintained in the maintenance period in the energized state or non-energized state immediately before the period exceeding the energization period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Sonoda, Katsuhiro Ouchi, Kazuhiko Ono, Keishi Takayama
  • Patent number: 9379615
    Abstract: An electrical-energy harvesting system envisages a transducer for converting energy from an environmental energy source into a transduced signal, an electrical energy harvesting interface for receiving the transduced signal and for supplying a harvesting signal, and an energy storage element coupled to the electrical energy harvesting interface for receiving the harvesting signal. The electrical-energy harvesting system also includes a voltage converter connected to the electrical energy harvesting interface for generating a regulated voltage. The harvesting interface samples an open-circuit voltage value of the transduced signal, generates an optimized voltage value starting from the open-circuit voltage value, and generates an upper threshold voltage and a lower threshold voltage on the basis of the optimized voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Stefano Ramorini, Alessandro Gasparini, Alberto Cattani
  • Patent number: 9371766
    Abstract: A method to control a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) having a compression ignition engine includes operating the engine based on an engine-on request and performing an exhaust aftertreatment procedure based on a completion time for the aftertreatment procedure compared to a predicted engine-on time determined using a driving pattern. An HEV is provided with a compression ignition engine with an aftertreatment system, and a controller. The controller is configured to: (i) operate the engine based on an engine-on request, and (ii) perform an exhaust aftertreatment procedure for the vehicle based on a completion time for the aftertreatment procedure compared to a predicted engine-on time determined using a driving pattern. A computer readable medium having stored data representing instructions executable by a controller to control a vehicle is provided with instructions for operating the engine based on an engine-on request, and instructions for performing an exhaust aftertreatment procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Qing Wang, Hai Yu, Ryan Abraham McGee, Fling Tseng
  • Patent number: 9291677
    Abstract: Method and system that produce requisite drive signals to fully exercise and test electromechanical elements of a liquid rocket stage including solenoid valve drives, DC motor drives and actuator drive signals. The electrical driver tester includes a signal processor, power driver circuits, and A/D and D/A circuits to monitor and control the drive circuitry. Drive current is monitored and a signal proportional to the current is produced for the purpose of analyzing current profiles as part of the test regimen for the device under test. Actuator speed and positioning are controlled in real time with a tailored lead lag control algorithm implemented with digital signal processor hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Advanced Testing Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Emery Korpi, Eli Levi, Peter F Britch
  • Patent number: 9278746
    Abstract: Systems and methods are for drive-by-wire control of a marine engine. An input device is manually operated to provide operator inputs to an engine control unit (ECU) located with the engine. The ECU has a main processor that controls speed of the engine based upon the inputs. The ECU also has a watchdog processor that receives the inputs and that monitors operations of the main processor based upon the inputs. The operations of the main processor are communicated to the watchdog processor via a communication link. When communication between the main processor and watchdog processor fails, the watchdog processor determines whether the main processor is properly functioning based upon the speed of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Jason S. Arbuckle, Matthew W. Snyder, John R. Boatman, Michael P. Dengel
  • Patent number: 9091242
    Abstract: A starting system for an internal combustion engine comprising a pressure medium source, means for connecting the pressure medium source to at least two of the cylinders of the engine, a starting valve in connection with each cylinder that is connected to the pressure medium source for controlling the admission of the pressure medium into the cylinder, a control unit for controlling the operation of the starting valves, and an absolute rotary encoder for determining the crank angle of the engine. The system further comprises coupling means arranged between the engine and the absolute rotary encoder for releasably coupling the encoder to the engine. The invention also concerns a method for starting an internal combustion engine and an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Wärtsilä Finland Oy
    Inventors: Dan Björklund, Jukka Mäntylä
  • Patent number: 8176896
    Abstract: A control module for a vehicle includes a time recording module that stores timestamps that correspond to each of N teeth of a target wheel of the vehicle in memory. N is an integer. A position module generates M angular positions based on the timestamps. M is an integer greater than one. Each of the M angular positions corresponds to a space between adjacent ones of the N teeth. A position estimator determines position of the target wheel based on the M positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Inventors: Julian R. Verdejo, Nicholas John Kalweit, David S. Mathews, Michael R. Grimes
  • Patent number: 8166951
    Abstract: An engine includes an angular velocity detecting means 10 for detecting a rotation angular velocity of a crankshaft 11 of the engine, a torque generated by the engine detecting means for detecting a variability of the angular velocity amplitude obtained by the angular velocity detecting means 10 as the variability of the torque generated by the engine. The engine compensates a fuel injection quantity by comparing the angular velocity amplitude detected by the angular velocity detecting means with the adequate angular velocity amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Takahashi, Tooru Yoshizuka, Yukihiro Shinohara, Keiji Ooshima, Toshiro Itatsu
  • Patent number: 8141358
    Abstract: A method for controlling cylinder air charge of an engine having a compressor is presented. In one example, the description includes a method for coordinating the control of the throttle, turbo charger, and valves such that the desired cylinder air charge may be achieved while engine pumping work may be decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ilya Kolmanovsky, Alex Gibson, Donald Lewis
  • Patent number: 8032292
    Abstract: An ignition procedure for internal combustion engines using multiple coils of a generator coupled to and turning synchronously with the engine. A magnetic field flows through the coils and generates a sequence of alternating current half waves induced in the coils. The half waves are used for: (1) charging an energy storage element that is discharged by an ignition switch via the primary coil winding for triggering an ignition spark; (2) processing via a control device for activating the ignition switch at an ignition time in dependence on the processed alternating current half waves and/or on the state of the internal combustion engine; and (3) the power supply for the control device (U8), and an operating mode for switching combustion off for the engine, whereby by means of the control device, the ignition switch is guided over less than the time span that is needed for a complete revolution of the magnetic generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Prufrex-Elektro-Apparatebau, Inh. Helga Muller, Geb. Dutschke
    Inventors: Leo Kiessling, Stanislaw Cichon
  • Publication number: 20100083936
    Abstract: A control module for a vehicle includes a time recording module that stores timestamps that correspond to each of N teeth of a target wheel of the vehicle in memory. N is an integer. A position module generates M angular positions based on the timestamps. M is an integer greater than one. Each of the M angular positions corresponds to a space between adjacent ones of the N teeth. A position estimator determines position of the target wheel based on the M positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Julian R. Verdejo, Nicholas John Kalweit, David S. Mathews, Michael R. Grimes
  • Patent number: 7516732
    Abstract: A method detects the beginning of combustion in an internal combustion engine (1) having several cylinders (2, 3, 4, 5), form a rotation speed signal determined for a shaft (6) of the engine (1). A segment signal (SS), whose signal length corresponds to an integral multiple of one or more full rotation of the shaft (6), is extracted from the rotation speed signal. A cylinder signal (ZS1, ZS2, ZS3, ZS4), which reproduces the operational state in a cylinder (2, 3, 4, 5), is generated from the segment signal (SS). The cylinder signal is transformed into a cylinder frequency signal (FS1, FS2, FS3, FS4) in an angular frequency range. Signal information indicating the beginning of combustion in the associated cylinder is extracted from the cylinder frequency signal at least one predefined angular frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhold Hagel, Mehmet Tuna, Ernst Meyer
  • Patent number: 7290529
    Abstract: A spark advance controller capable of controlling spark advance in an internal combustion engine with high accuracy without requiring a larger number of data maps and performing laborious optimization tests using an actual engine. In the spark advance controller, map data for controlling the spark advance is computed by a numerical simulator simulating an internal combustion engine, and the map data for spark advance control is approximated with a regression model. The spark advance is computed by using the regression model depending on the detected operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Suzuki, Taizo Miyazaki, Mamoru Nemoto, Takuya Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 7267105
    Abstract: A distributor for an internal combustion engine and associated methods comprise a camshaft having a drive gear thereon, a trigger disk positioned on the camshaft so as to rotate coaxially therewith, the trigger disk having a plurality of tabs defining a window between adjacent tabs, an optical sensor positioned relative to the trigger disk so that the plurality of tabs passes within sensor range as the trigger disk rotates on the camshaft, the sensor generating signals responsive to detection of the plurality of tabs, and a microprocessor operatively linked with the optical sensor and programmed with one or more ignition curves providing predetermined rates of ignition advance responsive to signals from the optical sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Crane Cams Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Chamblin
  • Patent number: 7216627
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an engine control unit for setting a ratio of fuel injection quantity of both the injectors. The engine control unit includes a memory storing four sheets of ignition timing maps, with reference to which the maximum torque generation timing and knocking limit torque generation timing, at the direct injection injector (100%) and port fuel injection injector (100%), are calculated. The engine control unit further operates to calculate a correction amount from correction amount map, and calculates first interpolation value of the maximum torque generation timing at the above 100% operation time of both the injectors and second interpolation value of the knocking limit torque generation timing at the above 100% operation time of both the injectors. A value in which the correction amount is added to either one of the above first and second interpolation value on a delay angle side is calculated as ignition timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukikazu Ito, Yutaka Iwami, Masato Nishigaki
  • Patent number: 7062373
    Abstract: A misfire detection apparatus of an internal combustion engine. The misfire detection apparatus includes an angle sensor for detecting rotation angle of the internal combustion engine, an ECU for performing fuel injection and ignition control based on rotation information of the angle sensor, an ignition coil for generating a high voltage for ignition based on a drive signal from the ECU, and an spark plug, as the high voltage for ignition of the ignition coil is applied, for generating an ignition spark and igniting an air fuel mixture. The misfire detection apparatus applies a bias voltage to the spark plug, detects an ion current, makes a misfire determination based on the ion current detection, and makes a failure determination based on time change of rotation information of the internal combustion engine when misfires occur successively in a specific cylinder of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Takahashi, Koichi Okamura
  • Patent number: 6882926
    Abstract: A method and a device for controlling an internal combustion engine using at least two control units. One engine rotation is divided into a predefined number of subsegments of equal length. One or a plurality of subsegments are able to be combined in each case into one segment. Control data are calculated in all subsegments. Each control unit outputs the control data once per segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Thoss, Athanasios Hailas
  • Patent number: 6874472
    Abstract: A controlled variable and a target in each of a variable valve event and lift control apparatus and a variable valve timing control apparatus are input, to calculate target opening timing of an intake valve corresponding to the target and also to calculate actual opening timing of the intake valve corresponding to the controlled variable, to correct ignition timing based on a deviation between the target opening timing and the actual opening timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirokazu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6718250
    Abstract: A Method and an apparatus for providing control parameters to or within a control system for controlling a fuel injection system are described. The method is characterized in that a plurality of control parameters is transmitted to storage means (810) within the control system by transmission means (850). The transmitted control parameters are stored within the storage means (810). Selection parameters are transmitted to selection means (800) within the control system by transmission means (840). Stored control parameters are selected in accordance with transmitted selection parameters by the selection means (800). And the selected parameters are utilized for controlling elements within the control system. The apparatus is in particular eligible for usage with a inventive method and is characterized in that a control unit (D) and an activation IC (E) are connected to each other by transmission means (840, 850). Storage means (810) are implemented in the activation IC (E).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes-Jörg Rueger, Martin Thomas, Josef Newald, Udo Schulz
  • Patent number: 6688287
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine provided with a variable valve operating apparatus which variably changes a valve operating characteristic of at least one of intake and exhaust valves, a reference intake pipe pressure and a reference fresh air ratio corresponding to a reference operating condition of the variable valve operating apparatus are computed based on the detection value of the engine operating condition, a fresh air ratio correction amount corresponding to an operating condition of the variable valve operating apparatus is computed based on the detection value of the intake pipe pressure and the reference intake pipe pressure, the reference fresh air ratio is corrected based on the computed fresh air ratio correction amount to compute a final fresh air ratio, and an operating amount of the control object in the internal combustion engine is computed based on the final fresh air ratio to operate the control object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Unisia Jecs Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Machida
  • Patent number: 6678608
    Abstract: A system (12) and method for determining a value for a control variable for an engine (10) are provided. The system (12) includes an electronic control unit (ECU) (62) configured to obtain a plurality of pairs of programmed timing values for the opening and closing, respectively, of an intake valve (30) and exhaust valve (32) in a cylinder (14) of the engine (10) responsive to different sets of engine operating conditions. The ECU (62) is further configured to obtain a corresponding plurality of conditional values for the control variable responsive to the speed of, and load on, the engine (10) and the plurality of pairs of programmed timing values. Finally, the ECU (62) is configured to determine through interpolation the value for the control variable responsive to the plurality of conditional values. The system and method enable accurate determination of engine control variables during transient conditions using existing engine data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Stephen William Magner
  • Patent number: 6668799
    Abstract: A rotor has teeth on a rotor body. The teeth indicate fixed ignition timings for both of normal and reverse rotations. The teeth also indicate beginning positions of a calculation ignition sequence and an excess advanced ignition sequence for both of the normal and reverse rotations. One of the teeth is longer than the other teeth to provide a signal for determining a rotating direction based on a detected signal from a timing sensor. In a stable rotating condition, a countdown process begins when the beginning position located on the forward side in the rotating direction from the cylinder to be ignited is detected, and the spark plug of the target cylinder sparks when the counting process finished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeyuki Ohira
  • Patent number: 6577945
    Abstract: A novel method and a suitable device for the cylinder-specific determination of spark failures on a reciprocating engine through a classifying unit based on measurement data that contain information about the number of crankshaft revolutions. For this process, the measurement data are subjected to a pre-processing procedure in the classifying unit and classified through a classification process, wherein within the framework of the pre-processing procedure the data are subjected to a principal axis transformation (HAT). Due to the utilization of this resource-saving method for detecting spark failures on reciprocating engines in accordance with the invention, the processing requirements for once cycle are less than 5 Kflops, despite a measurement vector v length of 240. Due to the fact that the invented device requires only a single measurement data recorder, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Fritzsche, Otto Loehlein, Joerg Remele
  • Patent number: 6520149
    Abstract: A knock control apparatus has a knock sensor and a signal processor. The signal processor integrates a knock sensor signal and differentiates the integrated signal. The signal processor detects a period in which the differentiated signal exceeds a threshold, and detects a peak of the differentiated signal. The signal processor then calculates a ratio between the detected signal generation period and the detected peak to determine a knock when the calculated ratio is within a predetermined range. Alternatively, the signal processor detects a peak generation time and calculates a ratio between the detected signal generation period and the detected peak generation time. In this instance, the signal processor determines the knock when the calculated ratio is within a predetermined range and the detected peak generation time is less than a predetermined time reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Kokubo, Hirohiko Yamada, Kenji Kasashima
  • Publication number: 20030033076
    Abstract: An engine speed control that avoid undesirable transmission conditions such as clutch chattering. This is done by sensing actual conditions, which are likely to result in the undesirable transmission conditions such as clutch chattering and only changing the engine output when these exact conditions are found. The conditions sensed are the determination of excessive acceleration in engine speed or in the speed of a shaft associated with the engine or the degree of rotational variation or rotational acceleration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Naoyo Isoda, Masahiko Enoyoshi
  • Patent number: 6483423
    Abstract: In a vehicle-use cooling fan driving apparatus, a circuit is connected to a drain terminal of a driver transistor in order to sense a current of two motors which are connected in parallel. The circuit amplifies voltages of the terminal and source terminal of the driver transistor by the amount of the forward voltage of a diode. A power source is provided for supplying a current in order to amplify a voltage by the amount of forward voltage of the diode. The transistor prevents the amplified signal from being input to a microcomputer during an off-period of the transistor. A trouble-sensor compares the current value of the motors with a reference value with respect to a corresponding pulse width modulated signal so that trouble occurring in either of the two motors can be sensed so as to prevent an overheating of the motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Halla Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung-Kuk Han
  • Patent number: 6374801
    Abstract: An ignition controller has a revolution rate detector, a crankshaft angle detector, a computer, a first read/write memory device for the computed ignition angles for all cylinders, an ignition cycle overlap detector, a FIFO memory for storing a computed ignition angle and a copier for copying the angle from the first memory to the second depending on the degree of overlap. An ignition output device outputs the ignition angle for the next cylinder to be ignited and the corresponding charging time and charging starting angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Haussmann, Harry Friedmann
  • Patent number: 6223119
    Abstract: Optimum control is performed in one cylinder of an internal combustion engine. By determining a desirable control operation stage for each cylinder in advance on the basis of engine parameters. Control operation is executed at the timing where the operation stage for each cylinder reaches the determined control operation stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventors: Miyoko Akasaka, Yoshiaki Hirakata, Masahiko Abe, Yasuo Iwata
  • Patent number: 6216669
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine adapted to precisely control an ignition position of the internal combustion engine in accordance with a revolution of the engine detected from an output of a pick up coil generating a signal in synchronism with a rotation of a crank shaft and an opening degree of a throttle valve by use of a microcomputer. Whenever an output of a throttle sensor is sampled, a three-dimensional map providing a relation among the revolution of the engine, the opening degree of the throttle valve and the ignition position is transferred into a two-dimensional map providing a relation between the revolution of the engine and the ignition position whereby the ignition position is determined by the two-dimensional map as soon as the revolution of the engine is detected so that the ignition is operated when the determined ignition position is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Narutoshi Aoki