Control device for a variable valve timing mechanism of an engine

Abstract

An engine control device with a variable valve timing mechanism is provided for preventing an abrupt engine output fluctuation in the process of transmission operation or lock up clutch switching operation in an engine with the variable valve timing mechanism, and a torque shock is restrained accordingly. An ECU determines whether or not an automatic transmission is in the process of transmission operation or whether or not a lock up clutch is in the process of switching. If the automatic transmission is in the process of transmission operation or the lock up clutch is in the process of switching, a target valve timing is not updated, and the valve timing at the time is held. Thus, the operation of a VVT in the process of transmission operation of the automatic transmission or the switching operation of the lock up clutch is stopped, so that an engine output fluctuation caused by change in the valve timing can be prevented and the torque shock can be restrained.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.