Patent ID: 8180552

Claim:
A variable valve timing apparatus for changing a timing of opening/closing at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve provided in an engine, comprising: an actuator; a changing mechanism configured to change the opening/closing timing, by changing difference in rotation phase of a camshaft driving the valve, of which opening/closing timing is to be changed, from rotation phase of a crankshaft by an amount of change in accordance with an operation amount of said actuator while said engine is in operation; target value setting means for setting, after issuance of an engine stop instruction, a target value of said opening/closing timing by said changing mechanism to a prescribed value; determining means for determining, after issuance of said engine stop instruction, whether current opening/closing timing of said valve has reached said prescribed value or not; stop permitting means for permitting, when it is determined by said determining means that the current opening/closing timing has reached said prescribed value, a process of stopping said engine; stop process delaying means for delaying, when it is not determined by said determining means that the current opening/closing timing has reached said prescribed value within a prescribed time period from issuance of said engine stop instruction, permission of the engine stop process; termination forcing means for forcing, after the lapse of said prescribed time period from issuance of said engine stop instruction, permission of the engine stop process by said stop permitting means, regardless of said current opening/closing timing; storage means for storing, at least when said engine stop process is permitted by said termination forcing means, said opening/closing timing at the time point of engine stop; and means for setting fuel injection amount at a start of operation for variably setting an amount of fuel injection of said engine based on contents stored in said storage means, when the engine is started next time.