Patent ID: 8165778
Filing Date: 2012-04-24
Classification: F01L,F02D,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A variable valve timing apparatus for changing a timing of opening/closing at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve provided in an engine, comprising: an actuator operating said variable valve timing apparatus; a changing mechanism for changing said opening/closing timing, by an amount of change in accordance with an operation amount of said actuator; reference position learning means configured to execute a learning operation by generating an actuator operation command so that said opening/closing timing is changed to a prescribed timing, and when said opening/closing timing reaches said prescribed timing, to learn the reference timing of opening/closing and to terminate said learning operation, in response; detecting means for detecting a lapse of a prescribed limit time from the start of said learning operation; and termination forcing means for forcing termination of said learning operation even when said opening/closing timing has not yet reached said prescribed timing, if the lapse of the limit time is detected by said detecting means, wherein said termination forcing means includes at least one of means for raising an alarm to a passenger over the forced termination of said learning operation and means for storing the forced termination as a piece of information for identifying the contents of failure.