Acceleration Or Full Load Condition Responsive Patents (Class 123/492)
  • Patent number: 8689768
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel injection control apparatus for controlling fuel injection and a method therefor in an engine having first and second intake passages provided with first and second fuel injection valves, respectively. Fuel injection modes using the two injection valves include an alternative injection mode in which the first and second fuel injection valves are alternately operated every predetermined number of cycles and a combined injection mode in which both the first and second fuel injection valves are used for each cycle. Then, the combined injection mode is selected in a full load range. In a partial load range, the alternative injection mode is selected in a cold state and the combined injection mode is selected after warm-up. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce an equilibrium amount of adhering fuel to an inner wall of an intake passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Saruwatari
  • Patent number: 8670866
    Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a transport drive and control system arranged for autonomous movement of the robot over a floor for performing cleaning operations. The robot chassis carries a first cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arranged to suction loose particulates up from the cleaning surface and a second cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arraigned to apply a cleaning fluid onto the surface and to thereafter collect the cleaning fluid up from the surface after it has been used to clean the surface. The robot chassis carries a supply of cleaning fluid and a waste container for storing waste materials collected up from the cleaning surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Ziegler, Duane Gilbert, Christopher John Morse, Scott Pratt, Paul Sandin, Nancy Dussault, Andrew Jones
  • Patent number: 8639431
    Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying alcohol content of a fuel in an engine. In one example approach, a method comprises adjusting fuel injection to the engine based on fuel alcohol content identified from crankshaft acceleration. For example, the crankshaft acceleration may be generated by modulating an air/fuel ratio in a selected cylinder across a range of air/fuel ratios while keeping the engine at stoichiometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Roy Jentz, John Eric Rollinger, Brandon M. Dawson, Michael Igor Kluzner
  • Patent number: 8560209
    Abstract: The present invention includes an automobile including an enrichment delivery system. The enrichment delivery system includes an engine, a catalytic converter, multiple sensors, a memory, and a control unit. The engine includes an enrichment delivery unit, which delivers base fuel and enrichment to the engine. The engine generates an output which can be received by the catalytic converter. Reactions occur within the catalytic converter, and are outputted by the catalytic converter. The sensors detect an air-fuel ratio from the output of the engine, and the output of a catalytic converter. The sensors detect temperature data for the catalytic converter. The memory stores an enrichment curve indicating that an amount of enrichment supplied to the engine should be gradually increased based on the enrichment curve until a target enrichment amount is reached, or a predetermined target enrichment time is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Heraldo F. Stefanon
  • Patent number: 8538644
    Abstract: A minimum torque module selectively determines a first minimum propulsion torque based on second and third minimum propulsion torques when a torque converter clutch is in unlocked and locked states, respectively. A zero pedal torque module selectively sets a zero pedal torque equal to the first minimum propulsion torque. A pedal request module determines a pedal torque request based on an accelerator pedal position, a vehicle speed, and the zero pedal torque. A driver request module determines a driver axle torque request based on the pedal torque request. A shaping module selectively shapes the driver axle torque request into a shaped driver axle torque request. A conversion module converts the first minimum propulsion torque into a minimum axle torque. A final driver request module sets a final driver axle torque request equal to a greater of the shaped driver axle torque request and the minimum axle torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Robert C. Simon, Jr., William L. Aldrich, III, Jun Lu, Birendra P. Bhattarai, Adam J Heisel, Ning Jin
  • Patent number: 8468999
    Abstract: A fuel injection control system of an internal combustion engine includes a required injection setting mechanism, a rapid rotational speed change detector, and an injection controller. The required injection setting mechanism calculates a required number of injections and required injection times with regard to a plurality of fuel injections, based on operating conditions of the engine. The rapid rotational speed change detector determines whether the amount of change of the engine speed is equal to or larger than a predetermined value. When it is determined that the amount of change of the engine speed is equal to or larger than the predetermined value, the injection controller controls a fuel injection valve so as to reduce or eliminate differences between the actual injection times and the required injection times. Thereby, even when the engine speed changes rapidly, deteriorations in the driveability and exhaust emissions are prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Demura
  • Patent number: 8442742
    Abstract: The prevention of the occurrence of a shock during acceleration is enabled without impairing acceleration response as to a control apparatus for a vehicle driving unit. By changing a control amount of a specific one or specific ones of the plurality of the control elements when a torque-up request is issued, the output torque of the vehicle driving unit is increased toward a target output torque. In this case, a torque gradient upon changing the control amount of the specific one or the specific ones of the control elements is estimated and calculated on the basis of a current output torque of the vehicle driving unit according to a calculation rule formulated in advance. The control amounts of the respective control elements including the specific one or the specific ones of the control elements are set such that the estimated torque gradient coincides with a predetermined target torque gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Aso
  • Patent number: 8437943
    Abstract: A method of controlling a diesel engine connected to a load, the method including the steps of detecting an increased torque requirement and matching a fuel flow with an airflow. The detecting an increased torque requirement step detects an increased torque requirement for the engine, the increased torque requirement taking place during a period of time. The matching a fuel flow step matches a fuel flow with an airflow going to the engine during the increased torque requirement, the matching step keeps the airflow and the fuel flow during the period of time at a substantially stoichiometric level enabling the use of a three-way catalyst to reduce NOx emissions during transients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Richard E. Winsor, Erik L. Piper, Kirby J. Baumgard
  • Patent number: 8401764
    Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying alcohol content of a fuel in an engine. In one example approach, a method comprises adjusting fuel injection to the engine based on fuel alcohol content identified from crankshaft acceleration. For example, the crankshaft acceleration may be generated by modulating an air/fuel ratio in a selected cylinder across a range of air/fuel ratios while keeping the engine at stoichiometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Roy Jentz, John Eric Rollinger, Brandon M. Dawson, Michael Igor Kluzner
  • Patent number: 8380422
    Abstract: A primary opening amount setting device sets a primary throttle valve opening amount based on an accelerator-pedal operation amount determined by an accelerator operation amount determination device. An injection amount calculation device sets a fuel injection amount based on the primary throttle valve opening amount. A first index value determination device determines a first index value that indicates a state of combustion of an air-fuel mixture in a cylinder of an engine. A secondary opening amount setting device sets a secondary throttle valve opening amount, which is a final target value of an opening amount of a throttle valve, based on the first index value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidenori Moriya, Ryusuke Ogino
  • Patent number: 8340888
    Abstract: A control system for a powertrain includes an energy determination module and a speed control module. The energy determination module determines a rotational energy input to the powertrain during a first period of a negative lash event of the powertrain. The speed control module selectively limits an increase in a rotational speed of the engine to a first predetermined rate based on the rotational energy during a second period of the negative lash event following the first period. The rotational energy is based on an acceleration rate of the rotational speed, and the speed control module limits the increase when the acceleration rate is greater than a predetermined acceleration rate. The speed control module further selectively increases the rotational speed at a second predetermined rate during a third period beginning at an end of the second period. A related method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Inventors: Michael L. Kociba, Ning Jin, Andrew W. Baur, Daniel N Wehrwein
  • Patent number: 8272367
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine for driving a vehicle, which controls an output torque of the engine, is provided. In this control system, a rapid change in a demand torque of the engine is detected, and a feedforward correction amount is generated during a correction period which is substantially equal to a resonance period of a powertrain of the vehicle, from a time when the rapid change in the demand torque is detected. An output torque control amount of the engine is corrected with the feedforward correction amount. A torque change amount integrated value is calculated by integrating an amount of change in the demand torque, and the feedforward correction amount is generated according to the torque change amount integrated value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mahito Shikama, Ryuji Kohno, Eisei Yamazaki, Hidekazu Hironobu
  • Patent number: 8267076
    Abstract: The present invention performs correction appropriately according to errors in the fuel system and air system respectively and corrects both variations in the air-fuel ratio and torque. When the difference between a target air-fuel ratio and a real air-fuel ratio is equal to or below a predetermined value when feedback control based on the air-fuel ratio of an exhaust manifold 10A is in progress, the air-fuel ratio of a cylinder cyl—1 having the largest variation of angular acceleration is corrected to the rich side, for example, by increasing the amount of fuel. Angular acceleration per cylinder is then detected again and when the variation in angular acceleration among cylinders is not eliminated, it is judged that there is an error in the amount of air control of the cylinder having the largest variation and the amount of air, amount of fuel, ignition timing or the like are corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Kazuhiko Kanetoshi, Kouzou Katogi, Takanobu Ichihara, Minoru Ohsuga
  • Patent number: 8256217
    Abstract: An ECU for determining whether a request for acceleration is made to a supercharged internal combustion engine includes an acceleration request determining unit that determines whether a pressure difference between the upstream pressure and downstream pressure of a throttle valve disposed in an intake system is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, and determines that a request for acceleration is made when the pressure difference is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value. The ECU also includes a variable valve actuating mechanism control unit that controls an InVVT and an ExVVT so that the intake charging efficiency and output torque of the engine become equal to the maximum intake charging efficiency and output torque at a certain downstream pressure when the acceleration request determining unit determines that a request for acceleration is made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 8140242
    Abstract: Systems and methods involving multiplexed engine control signals are provided. In this regard, a representative engine control system for a gas turbine engine includes: a signal relay device operative to receive multiplexed signals from an engine electronic control (EEC), demultiplex the signals, and provide demultiplexed signals to corresponding ones of multiple control devices of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Thomas G. Cloft
  • Patent number: 8108124
    Abstract: In a method for determining an uncontrolled acceleration of an internal combustion engine, a valve opening cross section is allocated to each load state of the internal combustion engine. In the event that a controller value is outside a limit range, an uncontrolled acceleration of the internal combustion engine is thereby detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Jung, Janos Radeczky, Michael Wirkowski
  • Patent number: 8068944
    Abstract: The present application relates to a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine. It is an object of the present application to prevent an excessive reaction of a throttle valve when the opening of the throttle valve is controlled on the basis of a plurality of required torques. The control apparatus includes: required torque consolidation means for calculating an after-consolidation required torque; first torque control means which causes an actual torque to follow variation of the after-consolidation required torque by changing the opening of the throttle valve in accordance with the variation of the after-consolidation required torque; and second torque control means which fixes the opening of the throttle valve and causes the actual torque to follow variation of the after-consolidation required torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8037870
    Abstract: A fuel economy improvement assist device (1) has: accelerator operation amount detection means (12); and display control means (15a) for displaying, on a display device (20), a target value corresponding to a target accelerator operation amount and a deviation value of the detected accelerator operation amount from the target accelerator operation amount (14a). The display control means (15a) calculates an accelerator depression speed based on the detected accelerator operation amount, and variably displays the deviation value in accordance with the calculated accelerator depression speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kan Saito, Osamu Komeda
  • Patent number: 8006672
    Abstract: A method for starting an internal combustion engine under cold conditions. The intake manifold throttle valve is held closed and spark ignition is suspended. Fuel and air are admitted into the cylinders and the pistons are cranked for a plurality of revolutions. During each engine revolution cycle, the fuel/air mixture is compressed and heated adiabatically by the energy of the engine starter motor, and the mixture is exhausted into the exhaust manifold. During valve overlap a portion of the mixture is withdrawn into the cylinder and recompressed in the next cycle. Additional fuel may be injected to replace lost fuel. After several engine cycles, the fuel/air mixture becomes heated to a temperature above the flashpoint of the mixture. Sparking is re-established to fire the warmed mixture, and the intake throttle valve is re-enabled. The first firing can provide sufficient heat to continue spark-firing of newly-introduced mixture thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Roberto G. Krenus, Frans M. M. Theunissen
  • Patent number: 7953542
    Abstract: A computer implemented method and control device for regulating a gasoline engine is provided. A control device automatically records a characteristic of Lambda values and loads a test phase during an operation of the gasoline engine having activated transition compensation. It automatically extracts relevant load changes as a function of the determined characteristics, a load change describing a change from a first load to a second load that differs from the first load. Further, the control device automatically implements a classification of the extracted load changes as a function of specifiable classification criteria and assigns at least one Lambda value to each of the load changes. The control device automatically determines a quality value for each of extracted load changes as a function of a deviation of the at least one assigned Lambda value from a specifiable setpoint Lambda value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Plagge, Marcus Boumans
  • Patent number: 7918212
    Abstract: A method and control system for controlling an engine includes an instantaneous crankshaft acceleration determining module determining an instantaneous crankshaft acceleration. An engine parameter adjustment module adjusts an engine parameter in response to the instantaneous crankshaft acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Inventors: Julian R. Verdejo, Michael R. Grimes, Nicholas John Kalweit, David S. Mathews
  • Publication number: 20100313854
    Abstract: In a common rail internal combustion engine having a pressure increase mechanism, when the pressure increase mechanism is activated, fuel is injected according to a target injection quantity determined by adding an increase in injection quantity calculated depending on a load on a supply pump to a demanded injection quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI FUSO TRUCK AND BUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiki Tanabe, Shinji Nakayama, Fumitaka Komatsu, Masaki Sugiura
  • Patent number: 7806212
    Abstract: A vehicle, such as a motorcycle, includes an air intake assembly having a fixed funnel for introducing air to an intake port of an engine, and a movable funnel that selectively cooperates with the fixed funnel to introduce air to the intake port. The vehicle also includes a rotary shaft and a parallel linkage located on a first side of the movable funnel for movably supporting the movable funnel, and a drive source, such as a motor, located on a second side of the movable funnel generally opposite the first side for driving the parallel linkage. In one arrangement, the rotary shaft and parallel linkage are located on a forward side of the movable funnel and the drive source is located on the rearward side of the movable funnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehiko Sudoh, Makoto Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7761220
    Abstract: The invention precisely achieves an air fuel ratio control precision in each of operating regions of an engine, particularly a demand air fuel ratio at a time of an engine transition. In a fuel control system correcting a basic fuel amount in such a manner as to estimate a fuel adhered to an air intake pipe of an engine and an evaporated fuel from the adhered fuel so as to achieve a demanded air fuel ratio, a temperature of a fuel adhered portion is estimated on the basis of an amount relation between the fuel to be adhered and the already adhered fuel, or a heat quantity balance. A fuel adhesion amount and a fuel evaporation amount are determined on the basis of the estimated temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Asano, Mitsuru Nagase, Hiroshi Sekine
  • Patent number: 7735471
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling a light-duty combustion engine and, more particularly, a method and system that use an engine speed governor to limit the engine speed to a level that is less than a clutch-in speed of a centrifugal clutch. If it is determined that an operator is attempting to throttle or accelerate the engine, the engine speed governor is disengaged so that normal operation can commence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Walbro Engine Management, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Martin N. Andersson, George M. Pattullo, Thomas L. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20100101537
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine. With reference to FIG. 1, fuel is supplied to charge air using an injector (116) which in each operation delivers a set amount of fuel. The amount of fuel supplied to the charge air in each engine cycle is controlled by how many times the injector (116) operates in each cycle. A desired fuel demand is calculated as a number of operations of the injector per cycle, calculated to at least one decimal place. The desired fuel demand is rounded to a near integer to provide an output fuel demand for the injector as a number of operations of the injector for the next operating cycle in varying operating conditions of the engine. The controller calculates an aggregate number of operations for a plurality of engine cycles which is closer to an aggregated desired fuel demand for the plurality of cycles than if for each cycle of the plurality of output cycles the output fuel demand is calculated independently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: Scion-Sprays Limited
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen, Paul Bartholomew Ravenhill, Steven Barraclough, Benjamin David Smither, Timothy Guy Drake
  • Patent number: 7706950
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission 18 changes a speed-change ratio ? so that an actual rotation speed NIN of an input shaft 36 coincides with a target rotation speed NIN* set based on a target output P*. A target output calculating portion 156 calculates a first target drive force related value P1* based on both an acceleration required amount Acc and a load of an auxiliary machine AUX, calculates a second target drive force related value P2* based on the acceleration required amount without considering the auxiliary machine load, and sets the second drive force related value as the drive force related value P* upon a vehicle regular running. Even when the auxiliary machine load fluctuates in the vehicle regular running the target output does not fluctuate, and prevention of fluctuation of the target output rotation speed increases the drivability in the vehicle regular running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Hino, Takashi Yumoto, Naoya Inoue
  • Patent number: 7677222
    Abstract: In a diesel engine control device, a normal injection mode that implements normal combustion and a premixed injection mode that implements premixed combustion are set, the normal injection mode is implemented when the actual engine operating conditions are in the normal region, and the premixed injection mode is implemented when the actual engine operating conditions are in the premixed region. When one control mode is being implemented in the corresponding engine operating region, the control mode is forcibly switched to the other control mode when the engine enters a predetermined transition state. This makes it possible to switch earlier than normal, and in particular when accelerating, the desired acceleration performance can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventor: Naoya Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20090118976
    Abstract: A fuel injection control system corrects the amount of fuel injected by fuel injection valves toward an increased side when an acceleration state resulting from operation of a throttle occurs. A control unit includes a detector, an acceleration state determinor, and an acceleration corrector. When an increase in the detected value is a predetermined value or more within a first predetermined time period, the acceleration state determiner determines that a state is an acceleration state and inputs a signal inducing fuel-amount-increase correction to the acceleration corrector. When the state where an amount of change in the detected value reaches a predetermined value or more in an increasing or decreasing direction within a first predetermined time period continuously occurs a predetermined number of times or more before a second predetermined time period expires, determination of the acceleration state is stopped until a third predetermined time period passes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventors: Tomoki FUKUSHIMA, Hayato Matsuda, Takashi Hashizume, Shigeru Saito
  • Patent number: 7497191
    Abstract: A system for producing, dispensing, using and monitoring a hydrogen enriched fuel includes a producing system configured to produce the hydrogen enriched fuel, a vehicle having an engine configured to use the hydrogen enriched fuel, and a dispensing system configured to store and dispense the hydrogen enriched fuel into the vehicle. The system also includes a fuel delivery system on the vehicle configured to deliver the hydrogen enriched fuel to the engine, and a control system configured to control the producing system and to monitor the use of the hydrogen enriched fuel by the vehicle. A method includes the steps of producing hydrogen gas and a hydrocarbon fuel, blending the hydrogen gas and the hydrocarbon fuel into the hydrogen enriched fuel, using the hydrogen enriched fuel in the engine, and tracking emissions during the producing step and during the using step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Eden Innovations Ltd.
    Inventors: Justin Fulton, Roger W. Marmaro, Gregory J. Egan
  • Patent number: 7481207
    Abstract: A method of controlling an amount of fuel to an engine is disclosed. The method includes determining first and second fuel limits. The first fuel limit is indicative of a higher value than the second fuel limit. The method also includes determining an amount of fuel to be delivered to an engine as a function of at least one engine parameter. The method further includes controlling the amount of fuel to be less than or equal to the first fuel limit in a first set of operating conditions and controlling the amount of fuel to be less than or equal to the second fuel limit in a second set of operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond G. Evans
  • Patent number: 7475677
    Abstract: A method and apparatus, and vehicle on which the apparatus is mounted, for controlling combustion of a fuel-injection, internal-combustion engine with two or more cylinders are provided. The method includes determining a deceleration condition of a vehicle being driven by the engine, and thinning the fuel-injection of the engine when the deceleration condition is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Mori, Takeshi Ikeda, Takuya Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 7471003
    Abstract: A protection operation control part switches a gate signal interruption switch for protection of power elements to a gate signal interruption side, and invalidates a switching signal from a hybrid control unit to place transistors into a nonconducting operation. A motor current signal from a motor current detector is converted into a current value by a motor current calculation unit, and is inputted to a short-circuit abnormality detection unit through a motor control arithmetic part, and a short-circuit abnormality is detected. At a time of detecting the short-circuit abnormality, an internal combustion engine operation instruction unit gives an instruction to an internal combustion engine control unit so as to limit output of an internal combustion engine, and releases a conduction state of an abnormal motor current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaru Kobayashi, Hirotoshi Maekawa, Ryoji Nishiyama, Yuji Kuramoto, Kiyoharu Anzai
  • Publication number: 20080283023
    Abstract: A system for an engine of a vehicle traveling on the road, the system comprising a cylinder of the engine; an emission control device coupled in an exhaust downstream of the cylinder; a first injector configured to directly inject into the cylinder and coupled in a cylinder of the engine; a second injector configured to inject into a port of the cylinder and coupled to a port of the cylinder; and a controller for, in response to a driver pedal tip-in condition, increasing an amount of injection from the first injector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald J. Lewis, John D. Russell
  • Patent number: 7444994
    Abstract: In order that the acceleration mode hydrogen adding rate “RAcc” used during acceleration increases above the hydrogen adding base rate “RBase” predefined according to a particular operating state, the acceleration mode hydrogen adding rate “RAcc” is set to be the value obtained by adding the hydrogen adding base rate “RBase” and an acceleration incremental value “a”. During acceleration, at least hydrogen is supplied on the basis of the acceleration mode hydrogen adding rate “RAcc”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasushi Ito
  • Publication number: 20080262702
    Abstract: In a fuel supply amount control system, during a period of engine startup from the time when a crankshaft starts to rotate by a starter motor to the time when the crankshaft stably rotates by fuel combustion, a fuel supply amount is controlled independently before and after a cylinder stroke determination. This enables determination of the fuel supply amount independently before and after the cylinder stroke determination. Accordingly, the required fuel amounts are provided respectively before and after the cylinder stroke determination. As a result, even if the required fuel amounts are different before and after the cylinder stroke determination, engine startup can be achieved in a short time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: Yamaha Marine Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takaaki Bamba
  • Patent number: 7438056
    Abstract: A method for setting an initial compensation value of a sensor complex module, the method including the steps of: reading a preset sensitivity value and an offset; detecting an acceleration value; calculating an accelerating-force sensitivity value using the acceleration value and the offset value; calculating an accelerating-force error value using the accelerating-force sensitivity value and the sensitivity value; calculating a gradient error value using the accelerating-force error value and the acceleration of gravity; setting a polarity value according to the accelerating-force sensitivity value; and setting the accelerating-force error value, the gradient error value and the polarity as the initial compensation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoung Soo Chae, Ghun Hahm, Hyun Joon Kim, Sung Whan Cho
  • Patent number: 7438048
    Abstract: An object is to prevent deterioration in both exhaust emission and fuel efficiency by suitably combining OTP boosting with power boosting. An electronic control unit (ECU) 30 of the present invention is arranged to control a fuel injection amount of an injector 7 to an engine 1 according to an operating condition of the engine 1, and perform OTP boosting of the fuel injection amount to prevent overheating of a discharge passage 3 and a catalyst converter 11 when the engine 1 comes into a high load and high rotation operating condition and perform power boosting that increases the fuel injection amount to enrich an air-fuel ratio to an output air-fuel ratio when the engine 1 comes into a high load operating condition. The ECU 30 executes the power boosting when the engine 1 comes into the high load and high rotation operating condition and executes the OTP boosting later from the start of the power boosting, delayed by a period attributable to at least an increased amount of fuel by the power boosting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignees: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Minoru Onobayashi, Hirokazu Konohara, Nobuhiro Ogasawara, Kunihiko Sato
  • Patent number: 7426917
    Abstract: A system and/or method of controlling smoke or noise emanating from a diesel engine wherein a throttle is drivingly coupled to the diesel engine, and wherein an operator of the engine changes a throttle position. The system may comprise a high pressure fuel pump in fluid communication with a fuel reservoir, a fuel accumulator, in fluid communication with the high pressure fuel pump, one or more injectors that are in fluid communication with the fuel accumulator and each of the fuel injectors. A main controller transmits a signal in response to a change in the throttle position. A fuel injection controller, in electrical communication with the main controller, in response to one or more signals relative to a transient operation, transmits one or more signals relative to fuel injection parameters of a fuel injection made during the transient operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Shawn Michael Gallagher
  • Publication number: 20080208438
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel injection control technique which maximizes engine power according to fuel evaporation characteristics. The fuel injection timing in the intake stroke is delayed according as a physical quantity affecting the fuel evaporation time changes such that the fuel evaporation time decreases. Further, the fuel injection timing when a physical quantity affecting the fuel evaporation time is such that the fuel evaporation time decreases is set closer to the end of the intake stroke than the fuel injection timing when the physical quantity is such that the fuel evaporation time increases. The fuel injection timing is controlled so as to maximize engine power according to fuel evaporation times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Sukegawa, Hiroshi Fujii
  • Publication number: 20080173278
    Abstract: Fuel management system for operation of a spark ignition gasoline engine. The system includes a gasoline engine powering the vehicle and a source of gasoline for introduction into the engine. A source of an anti-knock fuel such as ethanol is provided. An injector directly injects the anti-knock fuel into a cylinder of the engine and the control system shuts down the engine by stopping gasoline and anti-knock agent flow into the engine during vehicle deceleration and idling and restarts the engine upon driver demand. Direct ethanol injection and engine shutdown results in efficiencies similar to those of full hybrid vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: ETHANOL BOOSTING SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Leslie Bromberg, Paul N. Blumberg, Daniel R. Cohn, John Heywood
  • Publication number: 20080149073
    Abstract: A fuel injection control apparatus is provided with respect to a port-injection type engine that is configured to execute sequential fuel injection during normal operation and cut the fuel supply when a certain operating condition exists. The fuel injection control apparatus has a fuel injection control section that is configured such that upon determining that the deceleration rate of the engine speed is rapid when a fuel cut recovery condition is satisfied, then the fuel injection control section sets the fuel injection timings of the cylinders such that fuel is injected substantially simultaneously into at least a cylinder that was in an intake stroke and a cylinder that was in an exhaust stroke at the time when it was determined that the fuel cut recovery condition was satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi SETO
  • Patent number: 7373920
    Abstract: For controlling an internal combustion engine, the activation of an accelerator pedal is sensed and a setpoint value for the angle setting of the throttle valve is determined in dependence on the measured variable of an accelerator pedal value signal transmitter and on further influencing variables from a vehicle movement dynamics control device, a cruise controller device and/or a gearbox control device. The setpoint value is restricted to an unthrottled throttle valve angle of an unthrottled state of the engine. An over travel of the throttle valve, which corresponds to an adjustment range of the throttle valve between the unthrottled throttle valve angle and a fully open setting of the throttle valve is used, in dependence on the measured variable and at least one of the influencing variables, to open the throttle valve beyond the unthrottled throttle valve angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG
    Inventor: Thomas Gruenter
  • Patent number: 7293556
    Abstract: In a method of controlling an internal combustion engine wherein an injection begin is calculated depending at least on an actual engine speed and the injection begin is corrected, the injection begin correction is calculated from a deviation of a desired air mass flow from an actual air mass flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Baldauf, Jörg Remele, Michael Eckstein, Christian Rehm, Martin Schönle, Johannes Kech, Andreas Kunz
  • Patent number: 7287514
    Abstract: The invention provides a fuel supply control method and apparatus in which an air fuel ratio does not become rich even if an acceleration and deceleration operation is repeated for a short time in the case that a time lag with respect to a response from a detection of an acceleration state to a fuel amount increase is large, and troubles such as a black smoke generation from an exhaust pipe, an engine stop and the like are not generated. In a fuel supply control method of an internal combustion chamber for increasing an amount of a fuel for acceleration so as to inject from an injection apparatus, at a time of detecting a transient state at an accelerating time or the like on the basis of data such as an opening degree of a throttle valve and/or an air suction pressure, the method inhibits the fuel amount increase for acceleration on the basis of the detection of the transient state, if a total amount of an injection fuel per a unit time is more than a fixed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Nikki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Kakinuma, Tsutomu Murakami
  • Patent number: 7281522
    Abstract: An acceleration sensor state detecting apparatus for detecting a state of an acceleration sensor provided at a vibrating body includes a calculating method for calculating a difference between measured results of the acceleration sensor obtained per first predetermined time that is shorter than a vibration period of the vibrating body, and a determining method for determining that the acceleration sensor is in an error state in a case that a state in which the difference calculated falls into a range between a predetermined upper limit value and a predetermined lower limit value continues for a second predetermined time or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignees: Aisin Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Sato, Kentaro Hirose, Hiroyuki Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20070215118
    Abstract: A fuel control system for an internal combustion engine having an intake passage, a compressor provided in the intake passage, a throttle valve disposed downstream of the compressor, a bypass passage connecting an upstream side of the compressor to a downstream side of the compressor, and an air bypass valve provided in the bypass passage. An intake air flow rate of the engine is calculated based on the engine rotational speed and the intake pressure, which are detected when the air bypass valve is determined to be in the opening operation state. An amount of fuel supplied to the engine is then controlled according to the calculated intake air flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Inventors: Takafumi Komori, Naoki Oie, Ryuji Kohno, Hirofumi Hara
  • Publication number: 20070193560
    Abstract: A method for setting an initial compensation value of a sensor complex module is provided. The method for setting the initial compensation value of the sensor complex module including an acceleration sensor, a memory, and a controller that performs the setting of the initial compensation value, includes the following steps. A preset sensitivity value and an offset value are read from the memory, and an acceleration value is detected using the acceleration sensor. Then, an accelerating-force sensitivity value is calculated using the acceleration value and the offset value, and an accelerating-force error value is calculated using the accelerating-force sensitivity value and the sensitivity value. A gradient error value is calculated using the accelerating-force error value and the acceleration of gravity, and a polarity value is set according to the accelerating-force sensitivity value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyoung Soo CHAE, Ghun HAHM, Hyun Joon KIM, Sung Whan CHO
  • Patent number: 7188603
    Abstract: From execution of fuel cut until restoration therefrom in response to a F/C flag being set, an ECU senses an intake air amount Q and engine speed NE, calculates the charging efficiency based on Q and NE, and calculates a basic injection amount TAU_B based on the charging efficiency. When the F/C flag is reset, the ECU calculates asynchronous injection requested amount TAU_REQ based on emission request, calculates upper guard injection amount ASY_MAX based on TAU_B, inserts ASY_MAX into asynchronous injection amount TAU_ASY when TAU_REQ is larger than ASY_MAX and inserts TAU_REQ into asynchronous injection amount TAU_ASY when TAU_REQ is equal to or below ASY_MAX.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Tsuji
  • Patent number: RE42609
    Abstract: The present invention is a dual-stage fuel injection strategy for compression ignition engines in which 15-40% of the fuel is injected into the combustion chamber no later than about ?20 to ?30 CA ATDC and as early as IVC. The remaining fuel is then injected in one or more fuel pulses, none of which start before about ?20 to ?30 CA ATDC. The fuel injected early in the compression stroke forms a lean mixture that burns with low soot and low NOx emissions. The combustion of that fuel serves to increase in-cylinder temperature such that the ignition delay of subsequent fuel injection pulses is short. This mode is utilized when it is predicted that a NOx spike is imminent. Various other alternative methods for reducing NOx spikes are also disclosed such as specialized EGR systems that can provide EGR with low manifold vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Kurtz, John H. Vanderslice