Patent ID: 8606490

Claim:
A device for controlling an internal combustion engine, said internal combustion engine including a plurality of variable valve timing mechanisms and a plurality of sensors for detecting respective operation positions of said plurality of variable valve timing mechanisms, comprising: a command portion for outputting a command signal for returning an operation position of each of said plurality of variable valve timing mechanisms to a corresponding initial position when a request for stopping said internal combustion engine is issued; a permission portion for determining whether the operation positions of all of said plurality of variable valve timing mechanisms have actually returned to said corresponding initial positions in response to said command signal based on outputs from said plurality of sensors and permitting stop of said internal combustion engine when determination that the operation positions of all of said plurality of variable valve timing mechanisms have actually returned to said corresponding initial positions has continued for a first time period; and a stop portion for causing said internal combustion engine to stop when the request for stopping said internal combustion engine is issued and when stop of said internal combustion engine is permitted.