In a control device for an engine, the engine includes combustion chambers, ports connected to the combustion chambers, and valves that open and close areas between the combustion chambers and the ports. The control device includes an electronic control unit that is configured to execute an anti-freezing operation of performing control to fully close the valves or make the valves be in a state of being opened with a lift amount of 1 mm or more, in a case where temperatures around the valves are lowered to a predetermined temperature range after the engine is stopped, or in a case where an outside air temperature when the engine is stopped is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature. The predetermined temperature range is a temperature range in which an upper limit value is lower than 10 C., and the predetermined temperature is lower than 5 C.

A phase-shifting device, a so-called cam phaser, is arranged between a crankshaft and at least one camshaft to change the at least one camshaft's rotational position in relation to the crankshaft and thus push forward or defer at least one inlet valve's and/or at least one exhaust valve's opening and closing time. The phase-shifting device is connected to an accumulator that can be charged by an oil pump. The oil pressure may be increased with the help of a pressure medium controlled cylinder before or during a phase-shifting process.

An object of the present invention is to obtain a controller device for a variable valve timing apparatus capable of controlling a phase to an arbitrary fixed valve timing from immediately before an internal combustion engine stops until after the internal combustion engine has stopped. The controller device for the variable valve timing apparatus according to the present invention performs, during engine stop processing of the internal combustion engine, normal control of changing the relative rotational phase of a camshaft to a most advanced position or a most retarded position when the rotational speed of a crankshaft is equal to or more than a first threshold, and low-speed control of fixing a current or a voltage supplied to the motor to be constant to maintain the relative rotational phase of the camshaft at the most advanced position or the most retarded position in a period from when the rotational speed of the crankshaft is lower than the first threshold until the rotational speed becomes zero.

An object of the present invention is to obtain a controller device for a variable valve timing apparatus capable of controlling a phase to an arbitrary fixed valve timing from immediately before an internal combustion engine stops until after the internal combustion engine has stopped. The controller device for the variable valve timing apparatus according to the present invention performs, during engine stop processing of the internal combustion engine, normal control of changing the relative rotational phase of a camshaft to a most advanced position or a most retarded position when the rotational speed of a crankshaft is equal to or more than a first threshold, and low-speed control of fixing a current or a voltage supplied to the motor to be constant to maintain the relative rotational phase of the camshaft at the most advanced position or the most retarded position in a period from when the rotational speed of the crankshaft is lower than the first threshold until the rotational speed becomes zero.

A stop control device for an internal combustion engine is structured that stops the engine in a state suitable for starting and that does not cause a crank angle to change after the engine is stopped. A four-cycle internal combustion engine includes an electric valve opening and closing timing control device that sets an opening and closing timing of either or both of an intake valve and an exhaust valve. Stop control of stopping the internal combustion engine is performed when a stop signal for stopping the internal combustion engine is acquired, and post-stop phase control of displacing the opening and closing timing of the valve opening and closing timing control device in either an advancing direction or a retarding direction is performed after the internal combustion engine is stopped by the stop control.

A stop control device for an internal combustion engine is structured that stops the engine in a state suitable for starting and that does not cause a crank angle to change after the engine is stopped. A four-cycle internal combustion engine includes an electric valve opening and closing timing control device that sets an opening and closing timing of either or both of an intake valve and an exhaust valve. Stop control of stopping the internal combustion engine is performed when a stop signal for stopping the internal combustion engine is acquired, and post-stop phase control of displacing the opening and closing timing of the valve opening and closing timing control device in either an advancing direction or a retarding direction is performed after the internal combustion engine is stopped by the stop control.

When a stop request to the engine is issued, it is determined whether or not all of the drive cams are large cams. When it is determined that at least one of the small cams is included in the drive cams, the engine is continued to drive for a while and a switch control for switching the drive cams from the small cams to the large cams is executed within the duration. A self-holding type solenoid is used to switch between the small cams and the large cams. In the switch control, a permission to stop the engine is output at a timing when the pin protrudable section of the final cylinder #2 has elapsed.

When a stop request to the engine is issued, it is determined whether or not all of the drive cams are large cams. When it is determined that at least one of the small cams is included in the drive cams, the engine is continued to drive for a while and a switch control for switching the drive cams from the small cams to the large cams is executed within the duration. A self-holding type solenoid is used to switch between the small cams and the large cams. In the switch control, a permission to stop the engine is output at a timing when the pin protrudable section of the final cylinder #2 has elapsed.

A method may include restricting cam movement while the vehicle is moving in response to an oil pressure below a threshold oil pressure, and an engine speed below a threshold engine speed, and during a vehicle stopped condition, overriding the restricted cam movement. In one example, the vehicle stopped condition may include the oil over-temperature and the load above the threshold load.

A method may include restricting cam movement while the vehicle is moving in response to an oil pressure below a threshold oil pressure, and an engine speed below a threshold engine speed, and during a vehicle stopped condition, overriding the restricted cam movement. In one example, the vehicle stopped condition may include the oil over-temperature and the load above the threshold load.