Control apparatus and control method for variable valve timing mechanism

A control apparatus for a variable valve timing mechanism, comprising:

• a crank angle sensor configured to output a crank angle signal in response to rotation of a crankshaft, the crank angle signal being set in advance to indicate at least two reference positions;
• a cam sensor configured to output at least two cam signal pulses in response to rotation of an intake camshaft for opening and closing an engine valve;
• an actuator configured to relatively rotate the intake camshaft with respect to the crankshaft, such that the actuator is able to change a rotational phase angle of the intake camshaft with respect to the crankshaft;
• and
• a control unit programmed to compute, based on (a) a first cam signal pulse detected after start of cranking and (b) a first reference position of the crank signal detected after the first cam signal pulse is detected, an actual rotational phase angle of the intake camshaft at the time of detecting the first cam signal pulse, to calculate an absolute position of the variable valve timing mechanism.