Patent ID: 8511266

Claim:
A valve control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, the apparatus comprising: a variable phase angle mechanism configured to continuously change a valve opening phase angle of a valve, the variable phase angle mechanism being configured to set the valve opening phase angle at a retarded phase angle in a startup operation as compared with a normal phase angle in a normal operation; a variable valve mechanism configured to continuously change at least one of a valve opening duration and a valve lift of the valve, the variable valve mechanism cooperatively engaging the variable phase angle mechanism such that an increase in one or both of the valve opening duration and the valve lift of the valve increases the driving force on the variable phase angle mechanism in the retard direction; and a controller configured to control the variable phase angle mechanism and the variable valve mechanism; wherein the controller is programmed to control the variable valve mechanism, after an engine stop command is generated, such that an integrated valve opening value is increased to be larger than an idle state integrated valve opening value in an idle state and larger than a stop state integrated valve opening value in a stop state, thereby increasing the driving force on the variable phase angle mechanism in the retard direction.