The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 14, 1998
Filed:
Aug. 21, 1996
Senji Kato, Aichi-ken, JP;
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota, JP;
Abstract
A valve timing control device includes a hydraulic variable valve timing mechanism (VVT). The VVT alters valve timing of the intake valve and/or the exhaust valve. An electronic control unit (ECU) controls the VVT for obtaining overlap suitable for the running condition of the engine, that is, the VVT allows the actual phase angle of the valve timing to approach the target phase angle suitable for the running condition of the engine. A malfunction detection apparatus including the ECU detects a malfunction of the valve timing control device. The ECU judges whether the engine is stalled. The ECU determines whether the actual phase angle of the valve timing corresponds to a specific state, which suggests a malfunction of the valve timing control device. When detecting the stalling of the engine, the ECU detects whether it has judged that the actual phase angle of the valve timing corresponds to the specific state. The ECU then determines that there is a malfunction of the valve timing control device when the actual phase angle of the valve timing corresponds to the specific state.