VARIABLE VALVE TIMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

摘要

In valve timing control after issuance of an engine stop instruction (YES at S100) with a prescribed value (CA#) set as a target phase (S110), an ECU delays permission of an engine stop process (S130) within a prescribed time period (NO at step S140) while an intake valve phase (IV(q)) has not yet reached the target value (CA#) (NO at S120), so that a valve timing control operation is continued (S150) while the engine operation is continued in an idle state. After the lapse of a prescribed time period from the issuance of the engine stop instruction (YES at S140), however, the ECU permits the engine stop process (S130) no matter whether the intake valve phase has reached the target value (CA#) or not. As a result, the amount of valve timing that can be changed by the valve timing control in the engine stop operation can be increased, without causing any uncomfortable feeling of the driver.