IP Library Granted Patent US 10,544,729
Granted Patent B2
US 10,544,729 · App. 15/559,198 · Granted Jan 28, 2020

Abnormality determining valve control device and system

Inventors: Sachio Hojo (Tokyo, JP); Youichiro Shikine (Tokyo, JP); Tetsuo Yamashita (Hiroshima, JP); Shigeki Yoshitake (Tokyo, JP); Kensuke Yamamoto (Utsunomiya, JP); Akihito Inoue (Nasukarasuyama, JP)
Assignees: KEIHIN CORPORATION; HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
F02B37/186F02D41/062F02D41/221F02D41/222F02D2200/021
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,544,729
App. No.
15/559,198
Granted
Jan 28, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A valve control device controls a valve drive mechanism on the basis of a degree-of-opening signal for a valve and a startup signal for an engine, and includes: a drive signal generating unit that, when it is determined on the basis of the startup signal that the engine is stated, generates a test drive signal for test-driving the valve before the generation of a normal drive signal associated with normal driving of the valve; and an abnormality determining unit that, on the basis of the degree-of-opening signal during the test driving, determines whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the drive mechanism. The drive signal generating unit stops generating the test drive signal and the normal drive signal when the abnormality determining unit determines that the abnormality has occurred in the drive mechanism.

Claims (19)

1. A valve control device configured to control a drive mechanism of a valve on the basis of a degree-of-opening signal for the valve and a startup signal for an engine, the valve control device comprising:

a drive circuit configured to,

when it is determined on the basis of the startup signal that the engine is stopped, generate a drive signal that puts the valve in a fully closed state, and

when it is determined on the basis of the startup signal that the engine is started, generate a test drive signal for test-driving the valve before generation of a normal drive signal associated with normal driving of the valve; and

processor configured to determine, on the basis of the degree-of-opening signal during the test driving, whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the drive mechanism,

wherein, when the processor determines that the abnormality has occurred in the drive mechanism, the drive circuit stops generating the test drive signal and the normal drive signal, and

wherein the valve is a wastegate valve provided for a supercharger of the engine.

2. The valve control device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor determines whether or not a coolant temperature of the engine is lower than or equal to a freezing temperature on the basis of a temperature signal indicating the coolant temperature, and determines that a freezing abnormality has occurred in the drive mechanism when the coolant temperature is lower than or equal to the freezing temperature and the degree of opening of the valve does not follow a control target value during the test driving for a predetermined period.

3. The valve control device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor determines whether or not a temperature sensor for detecting a coolant temperature of the engine is abnormal on the basis of a sensor failure signal indicating an abnormality in the temperature sensor, and causes the drive circuit to generate a drive signal having a level at which the drive signal is able to be continuously supplied to the drive mechanism when the temperature sensor is abnormal.

4. The valve control device according to claim 2 , wherein, when the processor determines the freezing abnormality, the drive circuit stops generating the test drive signal and the normal drive signal, and then resumes the generation of the normal drive signal when it is determined on the basis of the temperature signal that the coolant temperature is higher than the freezing temperature.

5. A valve system comprising:

a valve;

a drive mechanism; and

the valve control device according to claim 1 .

6. A valve control device configured to control a drive mechanism of a valve on the basis of a degree-of-opening signal for the valve and a startup signal for an engine, the valve control device comprising:

a drive circuit configured to, when it is determined on the basis of the startup signal that the engine is started, generate a test drive signal for test-driving the valve before generation of a normal drive signal associated with normal driving of the valve; and

processor configured to determine, on the basis of the degree-of-opening signal during the test driving, whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the drive mechanism,

wherein, when the processor determines that the abnormality has occurred in the drive mechanism, the drive circuit stops generating the test drive signal and the normal drive signal,

wherein the processor determines whether or not a temperature sensor for detecting a coolant temperature of the engine is abnormal on the basis of a sensor failure signal indicating an abnormality in the temperature sensor, and causes the drive circuit to generate a drive signal having a level at which the drive signal is able to be continuously supplied to the drive mechanism when the temperature sensor is abnormal.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: KEIHIN CORPORATION
To: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
Reel/Frame 058951/0325 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2017
From: HOJO, SACHIO; SHIKINE, YOUICHIRO; YAMASHITA, TETSUO; YOSHITAKE, SHIGEKI; YAMAMOTO, KENSUKE; INOUE, AKIHITO
To: KEIHIN CORPORATION; HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 043613/0752 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2015-064674 · Mar 26, 2015 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180112592A1 · Apr 26, 2018