Patent ID: 7178494

Claim:
A variable valve timing controller for an automobile, the valve timing controller varying rotational phase of a camshaft relative to a crankshaft to adjust valve timing of an intake valve and/or an exhaust valve, the valve timing controller comprising: a crank angle sensor outputting a crank angle signal when the crankshaft rotates through a predetermined crank angle; a cam angle sensor outputting a cam angle signal when the camshaft rotates through a predetermined cam angle; speed calculation means for calculating speed information which is related to rotational speed of the crankshaft based on the crank angle signal; camshaft phase calculation means for calculating camshaft phase representing rotational phase of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft based on the crank angle signal, a cam angle signal, and the speed information; and sampling angle varying means for varying a sampling angle based on the speed information or fluctuation of the speed information, wherein the speed information is calculated by the speed calculation means when the crankshaft rotates through the sampling angle.