Apparatus and method for controlling variable valve timing mechanism

1. An apparatus for controlling a variable valve timing mechanism, comprising:

a sensor that detects a changing amount of valve timing produced by a variable valve timing mechanism; and

an electronic controller including a microcomputer, the electronic controller converging the valve timing to a target changing amount that facilitates start of an engine, based on a deviation between an output of the sensor and the target changing amount, wherein

the valve timing is converged during a period of time: i) beginning when a decision to start operation of the engine is made, and ii) ending when rotation of a crankshaft is detected.

2. The apparatus for controlling a variable valve timing mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to output a manipulated variable of the valve timing to an electric actuator of the variable valve timing mechanism.

3. The apparatus for controlling a variable valve timing mechanism according to claim 2 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to estimate a cam torque from a rotation angle of the crank shaft, a rotation angle of the cam shaft and a changing amount of the valve timing, and correct the manipulated variable of the valve timing according to the estimated cam torque.

4. The apparatus for controlling a variable valve timing mechanism according to claim 2 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to estimate a cam torque from a distortion of the cam shaft, and correct the manipulated variable of the valve timing according to the estimated cam torque.

5. The apparatus for controlling a variable valve timing mechanism according to claim 3 , wherein when the variable valve timing mechanism is configured to change the valve timing by the electric actuator, the electronic controller is configured to correct the manipulated variable of the valve timing when a battery voltage is equal to or greater than a predetermined voltage.

6. The apparatus for controlling a variable valve timing mechanism according to claim 5 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to set the predetermined voltage according to at least one of lubricant oil temperature, cooling water temperature, charge state of the battery and deterioration state of the battery.

7. The apparatus for controlling a variable valve timing mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor outputs a rotation angle continuously at every unit angle.

8. The apparatus for controlling a variable valve timing mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to converge the valve timing to the target changing amount according to the deviation between a changing amount of the output of the sensor and the target changing amount when the output of the sensor becomes greater than a predetermined value.

9. A method for controlling a variable valve timing mechanism, comprising:

controlling the variable valve timing mechanism by an electronic controller including a microcomputer, so as to converge a valve timing to a target changing amount that facilitates start of an engine, based on a deviation between the target changing amount and an output of a sensor for detecting a changing amount of the valve timing; and

converging the valve timing during a period of time: i) beginning when a decision to start operation of the engine is made, and ii) ending when rotation of a crankshaft is detected.

10. The method for controlling a variable valve timing mechanism according to claim 9 , wherein the electronic controller outputs a manipulated variable of the valve timing to an electric actuator of the variable valve timing mechanism.

11. The method for controlling a variable valve timing mechanism according to claim 10 , wherein the electronic controller estimates a cam torque from a rotation angle of the crank shaft, a rotation angle of the cam shaft and a changing amount of the valve timing, and corrects the manipulated variable of the valve timing according to the estimated cam torque.

12. The method for controlling a variable valve timing mechanism according to claim 10 , wherein the electronic controller estimates a cam torque from a distortion of the cam shaft, and corrects the manipulated variable of the valve timing according to the estimated cam torque.

13. The method for controlling a variable valve timing mechanism according to claim 11 , wherein when the variable valve timing mechanism changes the valve timing by an electric actuator, the electronic controller corrects the manipulated variable of the valve timing when a battery voltage is equal to or greater than a predetermined voltage.

14. The method for controlling a variable valve timing mechanism according to claim 13 , wherein the electronic controller sets the predetermined voltage according to at least one of lubricant oil temperature, cooling water temperature, charge state of the battery and deterioration state of the battery.

15. The method for controlling a variable valve timing mechanism according to claim 9 , wherein the sensor outputs a rotation angle continuously at every unit angle.

16. The method for controlling a variable valve timing mechanism according to claim 9 , wherein the electronic controller converges the valve timing to the target changing amount according to the deviation between a changing amount of the output of the sensor and the target changing amount when the output of the sensor becomes greater than a predetermined value.

17. An system for controlling engine timing, comprising:

a variable valve timing mechanism;

a sensor that detects a changing amount of valve timing produced by the variable valve timing mechanism;

an electric motor; and

an electronic controller including a microcomputer, the electronic controller performing a control process that outputs a manipulated variable to the electric motor so that a valve timing control system angle is converged to a target angle, wherein

the target angle facilitates start of an engine, and

the control process is repeatedly executed during a period of time in which no rotation of the crankshaft is detected until rotation of the crankshaft is detected.