US Patent 7584729 Variable valve timing controller for internal combustion engine

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.