Camshaft rotational phase detecting apparatus and cylinder intake air quantity calculating apparatus for engine

A camshaft rotational phase detecting apparatus for an engine provided with a variable valve timing control mechanism which controls a camshaft rotational phase of an engine valve by varying a rotational phase of a camshaft relative to a crankshaft, the camshaft rotational phase detecting apparatus being configured to perform:

• detecting a camshaft rotational phase as a detected camshaft rotational phase based on a signal from a sensor, wherein the detected camshaft rotational phase is substituted with a corrected rotational phase when the camshaft rotational phase is not detected, wherein the corrected rotational phase is provided by correcting the detected camshaft rotational phase detected before a timing that the camshaft rotational phase is not detected, with an engine temperature and an elapsed time from the timing becoming the condition that the camshaft rotational phase is not detected.

A cylinder intake air quantity calculating apparatus for an engine, comprising:

• a detecting section that detects a camshaft rotational phase as a detected camshaft rotational phase based on a signal from a sensor, wherein the detected camshaft rotational phase is substituted with a maintained rotational phase for a predetermined period and is substituted with a target camshaft rotational phase after a lapse of the predetermined period, when the camshaft rotational phase is not detected, wherein the maintained rotational phase is set corresponding to the detected camshaft rotational phase which is detected before a timing that the camshaft rotational phase is not detected;
• and
• a calculating section that calculates a mass air quantity sucked into a cylinder in accordance with the detected camshaft rotational phase derived from the detecting section.

A cylinder intake air quantity calculating apparatus for an engine, comprising:

• a detecting section that detects a camshaft rotational phase as a detected camshaft rotational phase based on an output from a sensor, wherein the detected camshaft rotational phase is substituted with a corrected rotational phase when the camshaft rotational phase is not detected, wherein the corrected rotational phase is provided by correcting the detected camshaft rotational phase detected before a timing that the camshaft rotational phase is not detected, with an engine temperature and an elapsed time from the timing becoming the condition that the camshaft rotational phase is not detected;
• and
• a calculating section that calculates a mass air quantity sucked into a cylinder in accordance with the detected camshaft rotational phase derived from the detecting section.

A camshaft rotational phase detecting apparatus for an engine provided with a variable valve timing control mechanism which is hydraulically operated by hydraulic fluid and controls a camshaft rotational phase of a cam shaft by varying a rotational phase of a camshaft relative to a crankshaft, the camshaft rotational phase detecting apparatus being configured to:

• detect a present camshaft rotational phase of the camshaft based on output of a sensor,
• wherein when an engine speed is below a predetermined level so that a hydraulic pressure for operating the variable valve control mechanism cannot be secured thereby enlarging a measuring error of the rotational phase of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft, the present detected camshaft rotational phase of the camshaft is substituted with a last detected camshaft rotational phase of the camshaft, thereby canceling the measuring error caused by a change in the camshaft rotational phase of the camshaft itself.

A cylinder intake air quantity calculating apparatus for an engine, comprising:

• a detecting section that detects a camshaft rotational phase based on output of a sensor, wherein the camshaft rotational phase at this a time when an engine speed is below a predetermined level is substituted with the camshaft rotational phase which is detected at last time;
• and
• a calculating section that calculates a mass air quantity sucked into a cylinder in accordance with the detected camshaft rotational phase derived from the detecting section.