Abstract: An engine ECU executes: calculating 15-degrees integrated value integrating vibration intensity for each of six crank angle ranges; detecting an amount of change in the 15-degrees integrated value between ignition cycles; specifying two ranges having larger amounts of change; specifying a crank angle having intensity larger than that of a neighboring crank angle in a search range determined to be the same as the specified ranges; calculating a coefficient of correlation K corresponding to a difference between a vibration waveform and a knock waveform model while the specified crank angle is matched with a timing at which intensity peaks in the knock waveform model; and, if the coefficient of correlation K is larger than a threshold value K(0), determining that knock has occurred.

Abstract: A motor current is estimated based on a target motor speed, an actual motor speed, and an engine speed. When the estimated motor current exceeds a predetermined value equivalent to a heat limiting current value, a variation (motor speed F/B amount) of the target motor speed outputted to an EDU from an ECU is restricted so that the motor current was restricted and heat generation in motor is restricted. In consideration of a deterioration of responsivity of the variable valve timing control due to restriction of the motor current during execution of motor current restriction processing, an existence of the abnormalities of variable valve timing controller is determined based on a deviation of the target camshaft phase and the actual camshaft phase.

Abstract: A band pass filter processing extracts the vibration component (frequency component) of the 1st to the 4th order frequency band from the output of the knock sensor. A primary frequency band is established as the frequency band containing the fundamental frequency (primary resonance frequency) which is the lowest frequency of the knocking vibration frequencies. The 2nd to the 4th order frequency band is established as the frequency band containing the 2nd to the 4th order resonance frequency. Based on the vibration strength of the primary frequency component, the comparison result between the composite vibration waveform which compounded the 1st to the 4th order frequency component and the ideal knock waveform, and the vibration strength of the summation of the 1st to the 4th order frequency component, the noise and knocking are distinguished from each other with sufficient accuracy.

Abstract: A motor current (driving current of motor) is estimated based on a target motor speed, an actual motor speed, and an engine speed. When the estimated motor current exceeds the upper limit value equivalent to a heat generation limiting current, the motor current is restricted by restricting a variation (motor speed F/B amount) in target motor speed outputted to an EDU from an ECU. Thereby, the heat value of motor may not exceed the heat generation limit, and it can be prevented that the coil temperature of motor exceeds an allowable temperature range. A durability deterioration and failure of motor can be prevented.

Abstract: A motor current (driving current of motor) is estimated based on a target motor speed, an actual motor speed, and an engine speed. When the estimated motor current exceeds the upper limit value equivalent to a heat generation limiting current, the motor current is restricted by restricting a variation (motor speed F/B amount) in target motor speed outputted to an EDU from an ECU. If it is continued that a deviation between the target motor speed and the actual motor speed exceeds a predetermined value, the estimated motor current exceeds this upper limit value and the restricting action of the motor current is continued.

Abstract: An actuator operation amount setting unit prepares the rotational speed command value for an electric motor such that the phase of an intake valve changes in accordance with the target phase. An electric-motor EDU controls the motor supply electric power such that the electric motor operates in accordance with the rotational speed command value. An overheating determination unit determines whether at least one of the electric motor and the electric-motor EDU needs to be restricted from heating up based on a result of comparison between the information indicating the motor supply electric power and the reference value. A rotational speed command value restriction unit restricts the rotational speed command value provided to the electric-motor EDU to a value within a predetermined range, when it is determined that the at least one of the electric motor and the electric-motor EDU needs to be restricted from heating up.

Abstract: An ECU outputs a signal indicative of a target motor speed calculated based on a deviation between a target camshaft phase and an actual camshaft phase to an EDU. The EDU performs a feedback control of the output current (motor current) of the EDU so that the deviation is decreased, whereby an actual camshaft phase is feedbacked to a target camshaft phase. When the supply voltage of EDU is less than the operation limit voltage established higher than minimum operation assurance voltage, the variation of the target motor speed is restricted. Thereby, the output current of EDU is restricted, and further, when the supply voltage is less than minimum operation assurance voltage, the output current of EDU is intercepted.

Abstract: A motor current is estimated based on a target motor speed, an actual motor speed, and an engine speed. When the estimated motor current exceeds a predetermined value equivalent to a heat limiting current value, a variation (motor speed F/B amount) of the target motor speed outputted to an EDU from an ECU is restricted so that the motor current was restricted and heat generation in motor is restricted. In consideration of a deterioration of responsivity of the variable valve timing control due to restriction of the motor current during execution of motor current restriction processing, an existence of the abnormalities of variable valve timing controller is determined based on a deviation of the target camshaft phase and the actual camshaft phase.

Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including the steps of: determining that the condition that there is a possibility of occurrence of knocking is satisfied, based on the result of comparison between a vibration waveform of an engine and a knock waveform model; calculating a 40CA integrated value by integrating magnitudes of vibration occurring in the engine for a range of crank angle of 40°; calculating a knock magnitude N by dividing the 40CA integrated value by a BGL; determining that knocking has occurred when the knock magnitude N is larger than a determination value V(KX); and determining that knocking has not occurred when the knock magnitude N is smaller than the determination value V(KX).

Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including the steps of: calculating a magnitude value LOG(V) by logarithmically converting a magnitude V of vibration occurring in an engine, calculating a median V(50) and a standard deviation ? of magnitude values LOG(V); and setting, to the product of the standard deviation ? and a factor A, a first upper limit of a determination value V(KX) that is to be compared with a knock magnitude N for determining whether or not knocking has occurred, and setting a first lower limit of the determination value V(KX) to the product of the standard deviation ? and a factor B.

Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including a step of calculating a correlation coefficient K representing a degree of agreement between a vibration waveform and a knock waveform model, a step of calculating a knock magnitude N by dividing a peak value P of magnitude in the vibration waveform by BGL, a step of determining whether knocking has occurred based on a combination of the correlation coefficient K and the knock magnitude N, in such a manner as to determine that knocking has not occurred in at least one of the case where the correlation coefficient K is smaller than a threshold value K(1) and the case where the knock magnitude N is smaller than a threshold value N(1), and a step of retarding ignition timing by a retarding amount corresponding to the combination of the correlation coefficient K and the knock magnitude N, if knocking has occurred.

Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including the steps of: detecting a waveform of vibration of an engine at a predetermined knock detection gate; determining whether a detected vibration's waveform and a knock waveform model stored in memory match within a predetermined range; if the model and the detected vibration's waveform match within the predetermined range, determining that the engine knocks; and if the model and the detected vibration's waveform do not match within the predetermined range, then determining that the engine does not knock.

Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including the steps of: detecting a waveform of vibration of an engine at a predetermined knock detection gate; determining whether a detected vibration's waveform and a knock waveform model stored in memory match within a predetermined range; if the model and the detected vibration's waveform match within the predetermined range, determining that the engine knocks; and if the model and the detected vibration's waveform do not match within the predetermined range, then determining that the engine does not knock.