Patent ID: 8511278
Filing Date: 2013-08-20
Classification: B60L,F01L,F02D,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A control unit for a variable valve timing mechanism that changes opening/closing timing of at least one of an intake valve or an exhaust valve of an internal combustion engine by a change amount that corresponds to an operation amount of an actuator, and that is configured such that a control range, in which the opening/closing timing is allowed to be controlled by the variable valve timing mechanism, includes a first region and a second region, and a ratio of allowable valve phase change amount of the opening/closing timing with respect to the operation amount of the actuator is lower when the opening/closing timing is within the first region than when the opening/closing timing is within the second region, the control unit comprising: a target idle speed setting unit that is configured to variably set a target idle speed for the internal combustion engine, which is used when the internal combustion engine is idling, based on a vehicle state; and a phase restriction unit that is configured to restrict a valve phase range in which the opening/closing timing is changed by the variable valve timing mechanism, within the first region, when the target rotational speed that is set by the target idle speed setting unit is lower than a predetermined rotational speed, wherein the phase restriction unit is configured to not restrict the valve phase range in which the opening/closing timing is changed by the variable timing valve mechanism when the target rotational speed that is set by the target idle speed setting unit is equal to or higher than the predetermined rotational speed.