Patent ID: 7761221

Claim:
A variable valve controller for an internal combustion engine, comprising: a first variable valve mechanism which changes a valve timing; a second variable valve mechanism which changes a valve lift, the first and second variable valve mechanisms being provided at least at one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve; an operation limiting unit that controls at least one of the first and second variable valve mechanisms on the basis of a limit value of the one of the first and second variable valve mechanisms, with the limit value being set on the basis of a control condition of the other one of the first and second variable valve mechanisms; and an error detecting unit that detects an error of the variable valve controller to cause fail-safe control to be performed, wherein the limit value set with the operation limiting unit is a limit value including a displacement by which the other one of the first and second variable valve mechanisms is displaceable within a time necessary for detecting the error with the error detecting unit.