Patent ID: 6973901

Claim:
A variable valve control apparatus in an internal combustion engine, that varies an open/close characteristic of an intake valve, comprising: an intake side variable valve mechanism that varies the open/close characteristic of said intake valve; an operating condition detector detecting operating conditions of the internal combustion engine; and a control unit that receives a detection signal from said operating condition detector, and outputs a control signal to said intake side variable valve mechanism based on said detection signal, wherein said control unit is configured to: determine a target open/close characteristic and a control speed of the intake valve at a time when the intake valve is controlled to have said target open/close characteristic, based on the operating conditions of the internal combustion engine, to control said intake side variable valve mechanism; and make said control speed of the intake valve to be lower in the engine operating condition where a response of engine power torque to a change in the open/close characteristic of the intake valve is quick, as compared to the engine operating condition where the response of engine power torque to a change in the open/close characteristic of the intake valve is slow.