ENGINE VALVE TIMING CONTROL APPARATUS

摘要

In order to achieve an intermediate lock state in a short period when an engine is stopped and improve the accuracy of confirmation of the intermediate lock state, an engine valve timing control apparatus includes a variable valve timing mechanism capable of varying valve timing of an intake/exhaust valve, and an intermediate lock mechanism capable of restricting relative rotation positions of a first and a second rotor of the variable valve timing mechanism at an intermediate lock position for starting the engine. When an engine stop request is detected, the variable valve timing mechanism and the intermediate lock mechanism are driven and controlled such that an intermediate lock state is established before the engine is stopped (S12). When the intermediate lock state is detected within a predetermined period from the detection of the engine stop request, or when the predetermined period has expired from the detection of the engine stop request, an engine stopping process is performed (S13 to S16). Even after the engine stopping process is performed, monitoring of the intermediate lock state is continued, until the engine speed is less than a predetermined value NEmin (S17 to S19).