A method for determining a position of a movable element of a linear actuator of a motor vehicle includes supplying a current to a coil of the linear actuator so as to move and/or hold the movable element by a magnetic field of the coil generated by the supplied current; modulating the current supplied to the coil with an electrical alternating variable having a predetermined frequency; determining an impedance or an admittance of the coil at the predetermined frequency by measuring a further variable at the predetermined frequency; and determining the position of the movable element as a function of the determined impedance or admittance.

A valve opening and closing timing control device includes a drive-side rotating body that rotates synchronously with a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, a driven-side rotating body that rotates with a camshaft of the internal combustion engine, an electric motor that controls a relative rotation phase of the drive-side rotating body and the driven-side rotating body, a motor control unit that controls a current supplied to the electric motor, a current sensor that detects the current flowing into the electric motor, a regulation unit that determines a regulation phase in which the relative rotation phase is mechanically limited in an advanced angle direction and in a delayed angle direction, and a regulation phase detection unit that detects the regulation phase based on when the relative rotation phase in which a change is stopped by the regulation unit is reached and a current value detected by the current sensor increases.

A valve opening and closing timing control device includes a drive-side rotating body that rotates synchronously with a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, a driven-side rotating body that rotates with a camshaft of the internal combustion engine, an electric motor that controls a relative rotation phase of the drive-side rotating body and the driven-side rotating body, a motor control unit that controls a current supplied to the electric motor, a current sensor that detects the current flowing into the electric motor, a regulation unit that determines a regulation phase in which the relative rotation phase is mechanically limited in an advanced angle direction and in a delayed angle direction, and a regulation phase detection unit that detects the regulation phase based on when the relative rotation phase in which a change is stopped by the regulation unit is reached and a current value detected by the current sensor increases.

A method for controlling an engine having a continuous variable valve duration (CVVD) apparatus is provided. The method includes: correcting a torque required by a driver; transmitting, by a hybrid control unit (HCU), a start signal to an engine control unit (ECU) when the corrected torque satisfies conditions required to drive the engine; determining a target CVVD value for operation of an intake CVVD apparatus corresponding to the corrected torque; determining a target current value corresponding to the target CVVD value; and changing the target CVVD value to a synchronizing CVVD value when a current state of the engine is in a cranking interval, wherein the synchronizing CVVD value is configured to synchronize starting revolutions per minute (RPM) of the engine with RPM of an automatic transmission or RPM of a motor generator.

A method for controlling an engine having a continuous variable valve duration (CVVD) apparatus is provided. The method includes: correcting a torque required by a driver; transmitting, by a hybrid control unit (HCU), a start signal to an engine control unit (ECU) when the corrected torque satisfies conditions required to drive the engine; determining a target CVVD value for operation of an intake CVVD apparatus corresponding to the corrected torque; determining a target current value corresponding to the target CVVD value; and changing the target CVVD value to a synchronizing CVVD value when a current state of the engine is in a cranking interval, wherein the synchronizing CVVD value is configured to synchronize starting revolutions per minute (RPM) of the engine with RPM of an automatic transmission or RPM of a motor generator.

An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder head and a valvetrain including a poppet valve, a cam shaft on which is mounted a cam, and a rocker arm assembly. The rocker arm assembly includes a rocker arm and a cam follower configured to engage the cam as the cam shaft rotates. The rocker arm assembly is operative to transmit force from the cam to actuate the valve and includes an electrical device mounted to the rocker arm. A first electrical circuit includes the electrical device and a first conductor mounted to the rocker arm and a second electrical circuit includes a second conductor mounted off the rocker arm. The first and second conductors are inductively coupled to an extent that enables effective power transfer or communication between them. Inductive power transfer avoids the use of wires that could become caught, clipped, or fatigued and consequently short out.

A continuously variable valve timing apparatus may include a camshaft, a first and a second cam portions having two cams formed thereto, of which the camshaft is inserted thereinto, and of which relative phase angles with respect to the camshaft are variable. First and second inner brackets transmit rotation of the camshaft to the first and second cam portions respectively. First and second slider housings having first and second inner brackets are rotatably inserted thereinto, respectively, and have relative positions with respect to the camshaft that are variable. A cam cap rotatably supports the first and second cam portions together with a cylinder head, and the slider housings are slidably mounted thereto. A control shaft is disposed parallel with the camshaft and selectively moves the first and the second slider housings, and a control portion selectively rotates the control shaft so as to change positions of the inner brackets.

A method for determining a position of a movable element of a linear actuator of a motor vehicle includes supplying a current to a coil of the linear actuator so as to move and/or hold the movable element by a magnetic field of the coil generated by the supplied current; modulating the current supplied to the coil with an electrical alternating variable having a predetermined frequency; determining an impedance or an admittance of the coil at the predetermined frequency by measuring a further variable at the predetermined frequency; and determining the position of the movable element as a function of the determined impedance or admittance.

An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder head and a valvetrain including a poppet valve, a cam shaft on which is mounted a cam, and a rocker arm assembly. The rocker arm assembly includes a rocker arm and a cam follower configured to engage the cam as the cam shaft rotates. The rocker arm assembly is operative to transmit force from the cam to actuate the valve and includes an electrical device mounted to the rocker arm. A first electrical circuit includes the electrical device and a first conductor mounted to the rocker arm and a second electrical circuit includes a second conductor mounted off the rocker arm. The first and second conductors are inductively coupled to an extent that enables effective power transfer or communication between them. Inductive power transfer avoids the use of wires that could become caught, clipped, or fatigued and consequently short out.

An electromagnetic actuator (1) includes sensor magnets (21a, 21b) disposed correspondingly to plungers (11a, 11b), respectively. The electromagnetic actuator (1) further includes a sensor core (22) made of a magnetic material and disposed in a position through which magnetic fluxes from the plurality of sensor magnets (21a, 21b) can flow, and a magnetic sensor (23) that is disposed in a part of the sensor core (22) through which the magnetic fluxes of the plurality of sensor magnets (21a, 21b) can flow in common, and that detects the magnetic flux, which varies in accordance with respective positions of the plurality of plungers (11a, 11b).