Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Ngk Insulators, Inc.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Keihin Corporation

Hidetaka Ozawa

Toshihiro Yamaki

Minoru Nakamura

Toshiaki Kobayashi

Kenji Abe

Masaki Ueyama

Yasuo Shimizu

Keizo Iwama

Masanobu Miki

Makoto Hattori

Tatsuya Okayama

Yoshitomo Kouno

Hisao Sakai

Takayuki Sakurai

Shoji Yokoi

Hiroyuki Murase

Yasuji Nozawa

Takahumi Mizorogi

Takeshi Sakuma

Atsuo Kondo

Tsuyoshi Okada

Koji Okazaki

Toshio Yokoyama

Chihaya Sugimoto

Kazuhito Kakimoto

Masahiro Tokuda

Takashi Egami

Masayuki Toyokawa

Masakazu Kinoshita

Yasuharu Hourai

Tsukasa Naganuma

Tadao Tsuchiya

Mitsuhito Yamazaki

Jirou Fujimoto

Kenichi Omori

Manabu Shouji

Kenji Torii

The apparatus is provided with an abnormality determination means for determining abnormality of the apparatus where two different combinations of two electrodes are selected from the three electrodes, an alternating-current voltage is applied to an electrode in one combination by the voltage-applying portion to measure a value of a current flowing to the other electrode via the dielectric body by electrostatic coupling, an alternating-current voltage is applied to an electrode in another combination out of the at least two different combinations by the voltage-applying portion to measure a value of a current flowing to the other electrode via the dielectric body by electrostatic coupling, and an abnormality of the apparatus is determined from the current values measured.

Apparatus with abnormality determination function and method for determining abnormality

The particulate matter detection device of the present invention is a particulate matter detection deviceincluding an electrode portionand detection meansfor detecting an electrical characteristic of the electrode portion, whereby a particulate mattercontained in an exhaust gasis detected on the basis of a change of the electrical characteristic due to the particulate matterattached to the electrode portion. The particulate matter detection device ifurther includes removal meansand abnormality judgment meansfor comparing an initial electrical characteristic in a use initial state of the device with the electrical characteristic measured in a state where the particulate matterattached to the surface of the electrode portionis removed by the removal means, to judge whether or not the particulate matter detection device ihas an abnormality.

Particulate matter detection device and inspection method of the particulate matter detection device

A PM sensor is provided having high responsiveness and capable of long term detection. A PM sensor includes a sensor element that has particulate collection electrodes to which a particulate collection voltage for causing particulate matter contained in exhaust to adhere to a sensor element is applied, and measurement electrodes to which a measurement voltage for measuring an electrical characteristic of the sensor element is applied, in which, after a particulate collection voltage is applied to the particulate collection electrodes application of the particulate collection voltage is stopped in response to a predetermined condition being satisfied, the measurement voltage is applied to the measurement electrodes and the electrical characteristic of the sensor element is measured.

Particulate matter detection device

To provide a fuel injection device for controlling a fuel injection valve including a solenoid and a magnetostrictive element to generate a drive force for driving the fuel injection valve, the fuel injection device including: a solenoid power source () for driving the solenoid, a solenoid drive circuit () adapted to control the electrification to the solenoid by the solenoid power source (), a plurality of magnetostrictive element driving power sources () for driving the magnetostrictive element, and a magnetostrictive element drive circuit () adapted to control the electrification to a magnetostrictive coil of the magnetostrictive element by the magnetostrictive element driving power sources. Since the plurality of the magnetostrictive element driving power sources can be respectively used when performing a valve-opening operation and when performing a valve-closing operation of the fuel injection valve of the fuel injection device, the opening/closing operation of the fuel injection valve of the fuel injection device can be properly performed.

Fuel injection device, fuel injection control device, and control method of fuel injection device

A variable lift valve operating system for an internal combustion engine, including a variable lift mechanism capable of changing a lift amount of an engine valve in accordance with rotation of a control shaft rotatably supported in a cylinder head, and an actuator which has an electric motor and power transmission means interposed between the electric motor and the control shaft, and which is connected to the control shaft. The actuator is constructed to have an oilless structure without oil supply, thereby always stably and rotationally driving the control shaft.

Variable lift valve operating system for internal combustion engine

In a variable lift valve operating system for an internal combustion engine, an actuator for rotatably driving a control shaft of a variable lift mechanism is mounted on an engine body. The actuator includes an electric motor, a deceleration mechanism, a transmission mechanism interposed between the control shaft and the deceleration mechanism, and a default mechanism. A deceleration mechanism accommodation part for accommodating the deceleration mechanism and a default mechanism accommodation part for accommodating the default mechanism are formed in a casing of the actuator so as to sandwich therebetween a thermally vulnerable part which is directly connected to the control shaft. Therefore, it is possible to enhance the degree of freedom of amounting position of the actuator while heat damage is prevented from generating in the thermally vulnerable part of the actuator.

A valve control apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided which is capable of optimally setting the closing timing of an engine valve according to operating conditions of the engine while suppressing an increase in the inertial mass of the engine valve to the minimum, thereby attaining improvement of fuel economy, and realization of higher engine rotational speed and higher power output in a compatible fashion, and reducing costs and weight thereof. The valve control apparatus controls opening and closing operations of an engine valve. A cam-type valve actuating mechanism actuates the engine valve to open and close the engine valve, by a cam which is driven in synchronism with rotation of the engine. An actuator makes blocking engagement with the engine valve having been opened, to thereby hold the engine valve in an open state. An ECU controls operation of the actuator to thereby control closing timing of the engine valve.

Valve control apparatus for internal combustion engine

A controller for an electromagnetic actuator comprises a pair of springs acting on opposite directions, and an armature connected to the springs. The armature is held in a neutral position given by the springs when the armature is not activated. The actuator also comprises a pair of electromagnets for driving the armature between two end positions. In response to a release of the armature held in one of the end positions, the controller applies brake to the armature according to a load condition of the armature. In high-load conditions, the valve can surely be opened without additional electric power. In low-load conditions, the armature is prevented from colliding with a yoke of the electromagnet. The application of brake includes over-excitation operation, flywheel operation and suspension of power supply. In the over-excitation operation, voltage is applied to the electromagnet corresponding to one of the end positions from which the armature is released for a first period. The first period may be determined according to a load condition of the armature. After the first period elapses, flywheel current is supplied to the electromagnet for a second period. After the second period elapses, power supply to the electromagnet is suspended. Appropriate combination of over-excitation operation, flywheel operation and suspension of power supply allows the braking force to be adjusted according to a load condition of the armature.

Controller for controlling an electromagnetic actuator

A valve timing control system for an internal combustion engine is provided which is capable of ensuring reliable holding of a valve by an actuator, and attaining energy saving by efficient operation of the actuator. The valve timing control system controls valve-closing timing of a valve opened by a cam provided on a camshaft, by temporarily holding the valve. A response delay of the actuator is predicted as a response delay prediction value. Output timing is set in which a drive signal for driving the actuator is output, according to the predicted response delay prediction value. Holding timing is controlled in which the valve is held by the actuator, by outputting the drive signal to the actuator, based on the set output timing.

Valve timing control system for internal combustion engine

A controller for an electromagnetic actuator comprises a pair of spring acting in opposite directions, and an armature coupled to a mechanical element. The armature is connected to the springs and held in a neutral position given by the springs when the actuator is not activated. The actuator includes a pair of electromagnets for driving the armature between two end positions. The controller includes voltage application means for applying voltage to an electromagnet providing one end position for a first predetermined period so as to attract the armature to the end position. The controller also includes a peak current detector for detecting the peak of current flowing through the electromagnet in the first predetermined period. In accordance with the peak value, a decision means decides the application period of voltage that is to be applied to the electromagnet after the first application period has elapsed. Thus, the armature can make a stable seating at a controlled speed without generating substantial noise.

Electromagnetic actuator controller

A controller for an electromagnetic actuator is provided that enables detection of a minute movement of the armature leaving the seating position and carries out pullback operation responsive to such detection. The electromagnetic actuator has a pair of springs acting on opposite directions, and an armature coupled to a mechanical element such as a exhaust/intake valve of an automobile engine. The armature is held in a neutral position given by the springs when the actuator is not activated. The actuator includes a pair of electromagnets for driving the armature between two end positions. The controller having current supplying means for supplying holding current to the electromagnet corresponding to one of the end positions when holding the armature in said one of the end positions. The controller includes determining that the armature is leaving (falling or lifting) the seated position when the holding current increases more than a predetermined value while the holding current is supplied to the electromagnet corresponding to said end position. Leaving armature is detected based on the variation of the holding current, which allows earlier detection of the leaving armature.

An electromagnetic actuator for driving a valve of an engine comprises a pair of springs which act in opposite directions, an armature which is connected to the springs and is supported in a neutral position provided by the pair of springs in an inactivated state, the armature being coupled to the valve, a pair of electromagnets which drive the armature between a valve open position and a valve closed position, estimating means for estimating magnetic flux to be generated by the electromagnet attracting the armature when the armature is driven from one of the positions to the other of the positions, and means for switching the electromagnet from the attractive operation to the holding operation in response to the magnetic flux reaching the target overshoot value.

Actuator controller

An electromagnetic actuator is equipped with two springs which act in opposite directions, and an armature that is connected to the springs and is supported in an unactivated state in a neutral position provided by the two springs. The armature is coupled to a mechanical element such as a valve of an engine. The actuator includes a pair of electromagnets that drive the armature between a first terminal position and a second terminal position, and a power supply device that controls the voltage supplied to the electromagnet attracting the armature to a constant voltage when the armature is driven from one of the terminal positions to the other terminal position. The voltage supplied to the electromagnets is maintained at a constant value and the larger current flows in the larger is the gap between the armature and the yoke and smaller is the counter electromotive force.

Electromagnetic actuator

A fault diagnosis method and apparatus for a control system that includes a plurality of actuators and a plurality of sensors for controlling the operation of the actuators in accordance with the output signals of the sensors, wherein even in the case where a fault occurs in any of the actuators or any of the sensors constituting the nucleus of the system, the faulty point can be easily and inexpensively identified. In the fault diagnosis, the transmission characteristics between the individual actuators and the individual sensors are measured. On the basis of the measurements, a fault is decided on for all the transmission paths between the individual actuators and the individual sensors, thereby estimating a faulty point from the pattern of the fault decision of the transmission paths.

Fault diagnosis method and apparatus for control system

A mounting member fixed to an engine and a mounting member fixed to a vehicle body are interconnected by a hollow elastomeric block which has a variable-volume primary fluid chamber defined therein. A subsidiary fluid chamber having a diaphragm on a portion of an outer wall thereof communicates with the primary fluid chamber through two fluid passages. A movable plate forming a portion of the outer wall of the primary fluid chamber is connected to a voice coil motor, and by one example, is driven at the same phase as a vibration applied from the engine. During a normal traveling, both the fluid chambers communicate with each other through the fluid passage having a smaller length. During idling or during a low speed traveling, a switch-over valve is operated to permit both the fluid chamber to be put into communication with each other through the fluid passage having a larger length. With the above construction, it is possible to stably exhibit the performance of the vibration-isolating mount device in a wide frequency region.

Growing community of inventors

Wako, Japan

Hidetaka Ozawa