| US 7,458,347 B2 | ||
| Apparatus and method for controlling variable valve operating mechanism | ||
| Kenichi Machida, Atsugi (Japan) | ||
| Assigned to Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo-To (Japan) | ||
| Filed on May 24, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/851,140. | ||
| Application 10/851140 is a continuation of application No. 10/101413, filed on Mar. 20, 2002, granted, now 6,739,296. | ||
| Claims priority of application No. 2001-090972 (JP), filed on Mar. 27, 2001. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2004/0216708 A1, Nov. 04, 2004 | ||
| Int. Cl. F01L 1/34 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 123—90.16 [123/90.15; 123/90.17; 123/346; 123/348] | 18 Claims |
| 1. An apparatus for controlling a variable valve operating mechanism that performs a valve lift amount control on at least
one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve of an internal combustion engine to successively vary a valve lift amount of said
intake valve or said exhaust valve, comprising:
a first inputting section that is configured to input a valve timing operating condition of said intake valve or said exhaust
valve controlled by a variable valve timing mechanism provided in said internal combustion engine;
a second inputting section that is configured to input an operating condition of a valve lift amount of said intake valve
or said exhaust valve controlled by said variable valve operating mechanism;
a storage section that is configured to store a first limit value and a second limit value,
the first limit value setting a lift amount to a smaller lift amount as the valve timing operating condition of said intake
valve approaches the most advanced angle position when the valve timing operating condition of said intake valve is within
a range of from an intermediate advance angle position to the most advanced angle position, or as the valve timing operating
condition of said exhaust valve approaches the most retarded angle position when the valve timing operating condition of said
exhaust valve is within a range of from an intermediate retarded angle position to the most retarded angle position, and the
first limit value limiting a lift amount to such a lift amount that an interference between a piston and said intake valve
or said exhaust valve does not occur; and
the second limit value setting a lift amount to a larger lift amount than said first limit value when the inputted valve timing
operating condition of said intake valve is at an angle position more retarded than the intermediate advanced angle position,
or when the valve timing operating condition of said exhaust valve is at an angle position more advanced than the intermediate
retarded angle position, and the second limit value limiting a lift amount to such a lift amount that an interference between
a piston and said intake valve or said exhaust valve does not occur;
a limit value setting section that is configured to set a limit value for limiting a control range of said valve lift amount
by referring to said storage section on the basis of the inputted valve timing operating condition during feedback-controlling
of said variable valve operating mechanism in accordance with the inputted operating condition of the valve lift amount; and
a control section that is configured to feedback-control said valve lift amount within the control range set by said limit
value setting section.
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