Patent ID: 8683968
Filing Date: 2014-04-01
Classification: F01L,F02B,F02D

Abstract:
1. A variable valve actuation device for an internal combustion engine, the device comprising an output rotating body, which drives an engine valve, and an input rotating body, which drives the output rotating body, the variable valve actuation device having a function for changing a relative rotational phase, which is a rotational phase of the output rotating body with respect to that of the input rotating body, and a function for fixing the input rotating body and the output rotating body to each other when the relative rotational phase is a specific phase, the variable valve actuation device further comprising an input angle sensor, which detects a rotational phase of the input rotating body and outputs an input angle signal, and an output angle sensor, which detects the rotational phase of the output rotating body and outputs an output angle signal as a rising signal and a falling signal, wherein the output angle sensor is provided for detecting a timing rotor, which includes a first phase detection portion forming the rising signal and a second phase detection portion corresponding to the falling signal, the first phase detection portion is provided near a location where a variation amount of a torque of the output rotating body becomes zero in a torque reducing process of the output rotating body, the second phase detection portion is provided near a location where the variation amount of the torque of the output rotating body becomes zero in a torque increasing process of the output rotating body, and a phase variation amount, which is a variation amount of the relative rotational phase, is calculated based on the input angle signal and on the rising signal and the falling signal of the output angle sensor, and it is determined whether the input rotating body and the output rotating body are fixed to each other based on the phase variation amount.