Patent ID: 8468988

Claim:
A variable valve operating apparatus for an internal combustion engine, the variable valve operating apparatus that is used for the internal combustion engine executing an automatic stop in a case in which a predetermined stop condition is established during power-up of a vehicle system, while automatically restarting in a case in which a predetermined restart condition is established, and that is for changing operational states of at least one valve of an intake valve and an exhaust valve between a valve operable state and a valve stop state in each cylinder of the internal combustion engine, wherein the variable valve operating apparatus comprises an electrically-driven actuator which is arranged such that the operational state of the at least one valve becomes the valve operable state during de-energization and so as to maintain the valve stop state by keeping energized, wherein the variable valve operating apparatus comprises energization control means which performs energization of the electrically-driven actuator for each cylinder in a case in which fuel supply to the internal combustion engine is stopped in response to an establishment of the predetermined stop condition, and wherein the energization control means includes energization stop execution means that stops the energization of the electrically-driven actuator for each cylinder in a case in which a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine stops rotating during an energization time period of the electrically-driven actuator and in which the crankshaft is not driven by an external power.