To provide a control device capable of calculating a cam phase equal to an actual cam angle even when a corresponding cam angle signal detection range is exceeded by changing a cam phase by a variable valve mechanism. In addition to the conventional cam angle measuring function, a cam angle measuring means for advancing or retarding beyond a cam angle measurement reference position, and a means for determining that the cam angle signal advances or retards beyond the cam angle measurement reference position are provided. By switching the cam angle measuring function according to a determination result as to whether the cam angle signal exceeds the cam angle measurement reference position, it is possible to improve the time resolution of the angle measurement while maintaining the cam phase change amount at the same wide angle as the conventional one.

A valve train device includes a shaft, wherein a number of actuation contours for actuating at least one actuation means of a valve of a combustion engine is arranged on the shaft so as to rotate therewith. A sensor unit with a number of sensors is provided, and each sensor of the number of sensors has a spatial sensing area for sensing a physical variable. In at least one axial position, at least one actuation contour of the number of actuation contours is arranged at least in part in the spatial sensing area of at least one sensor of the number of sensors.

An apparatus and method of controlling an electronic continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) is provided. The apparatus includes a sensor disposed in a motor facing a reducer and an intelligent motor controller. The sensor determines a rotation speed of a first and second projection of a first and second rotation member and generates a sensing signal that corresponds to an output waveform of each rotation speed and inputs the signal to an intelligent motor controller coupled to the motor. The intelligent motor controller receives the signal and separates a crank shaft and cam shaft position signal. The signals are compared to detect an actual phase angle of the suction or exhaust valve. A phase deviation between the detected, actual and predetermined target phase angle is calculated.

A method of determining a sliding camshaft actuator pin position based on engine crankshaft angle includes commanding a sliding camshaft actuator to perform a valve step shift, and monitoring an actuator's pin position during the valve step shift command. At least one crank angle is measured when the actuator pin position reaches or exceeds at least one predetermined pin position threshold and at least one remedial action is performed when the actuator pin position does not correlate to the at least one measured crank angle.

A sensor for a motor vehicle, the vehicle including a combustion engine and an engine control computer. The engine includes at least one drive shaft able to be driven in rotation, the at least one drive shaft having at least one magnetic element, the sensor being disposed facing the at least one magnetic element, the computer being configured to determine the angular position of the at least one drive shaft in relation to a predefined reference angular position on the basis of an output signal supplied by the sensor, the sensor being characterized in that it is able to generate a square wave output signal. Each square wave is characterized by an initial instant and a temporal width, by associating each initial instant with a predefined angular position of the drive shaft.

A vehicle system includes a vehicle engine, a plurality of intake and exhaust valves coupled to the vehicle engine configured to adjust performance of the vehicle engine, and a camshaft coupled to the plurality of intake and exhaust valves and configured to control timing of the intake and exhaust valves. The vehicle system also includes a camshaft phaser configured to adjust the position of an engine's camshaft. Moreover, the vehicle system includes a vehicle processor. The vehicle processor is configured to store data including vehicle data, and apply increased oil pressure to the camshaft phaser based on vehicle data such that oil pressure is increased at a predetermined vehicle data range of camshaft phaser instability to prevent future camshaft position instability.

A control device has two modes as control modes of an electric power supply to an electromagnetic solenoid, which are used when a first determining unit determines that a difference between a sensed value of a phase and a target value of the phase exceeds a permissible range. One of the modes is a special mode that is used when a second determining unit determines that the sensed value of the phase reaches a threshold value. Another one of the modes is a normal mode that is used when the second determining unit determines that the sensed value of the phase does not reach the threshold value. In the special mode, the control device controls supply of the electric power to the electromagnetic solenoid in such a manner that an opening degree of an advancing port is larger than the opening degree of the advancing port in the normal mode.

A continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) control device is provided. The CVVT control device includes an engine controlling unit (ECU) configured to output an actual phase angle and a target phase angle of an intake valve or an exhaust valve. The CVVT control device further includes an intellectual motor controller configured to receive the actual phase angle and the target phase angle from the ECU through digital communication in a vehicle. A driving current is generated for adjusting an output torque of a motor based on a phase deviation between the received actual phase angle and target phase angle.

A control device for an internal combustion engine includes an ECU. The internal combustion engine includes an oil pump, a crankshaft, a camshaft, and a variable valve timing mechanism. The ECU is configured to: calculate a required engine torque, which is an engine torque requested by a driver, based on accelerator operation amount information; calculate a future target phase of the variable valve timing mechanism based on a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine and the required engine torque; calculate an anticipated deviation that is a difference between the future target phase and a current actual phase; and control a discharge amount of oil from the oil pump based on the anticipated deviation.

A method for predicting a future camshaft position includes approximating a regulating circuit or a part of a regulating circuit that includes at least an adjusting device by a transfer function, and ascertaining a future camshaft position on the basis of the transfer function. An engine control unit is also provided.