Patent ID: 7584729

Claim:
A variable valve timing controller adjusting a valve timing of an intake valve and/or an exhaust valve by varying a speed of an electric motor relative to a rotational speed of a camshaft in a manner as to vary a camshaft phase representing a rotational phase of the camshaft relative to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, the variable valve timing controller comprising: a target motor speed computing means for computing a target motor speed based on a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine and a deviation between a target camshaft phase and an actual camshaft phase; a motor drive control means for feedback controlling a motor current representing a driving current of the motor in a manner as to decrease a deviation between the target motor speed and an actual motor speed; a motor current estimating means for estimating the motor current based on at least the target motor speed and the actual motor speed; and a motor current restricting means for restricting the motor current when the motor current estimated by the motor current estimating means exceeds an upper limit value, wherein the upper limit value is established in a manner that the estimated motor current exceeds the upper limit value and a restriction operation of the motor current by the motor current restricting means is continued when it is continued that the deviation between the target motor speed and the actual motor speed is not less than a specified value.