Patent ID: 6681733
Filing Date: 2004-01-27
Classification: F01L,Y10T

Abstract:
A valve opening/closing timing control apparatus, comprising:a camshaft whose rotation is synchronized with opening/closing timing of an intake valve or an exhaust valve of an internal combustion engine; a relative rotation angle adjustment mechanism which transmits torque of a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine to the camshaft, and which adjusts a relative rotation angle between the crankshaft and the camshaft; a lock mechanism which utilizes hydraulic fluid, and which selectively mechanically locks and unlocks the relative rotation angle that is adjusted by the relative rotation angle adjustment mechanism; and a controller which determines a duration of a time period from a start of the internal combustion engine until a start of relative rotation angle adjustment by the relative rotation angle adjustment mechanism, based upon an unlocking force of the hydraulic fluid that is applied to the lock mechanism when the lock mechanism is in a locked state and the internal combustion engine is started.