초록

A method to control valve patterns in a cylinder operating in a multi-stroke cylinder mode. Valves are controlled to improve drivability and emissions.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A method for determining a number of valves to operate in an internal combustion engine operating in a multi-stroke cylinder mode, the method comprising: determining an operating condition of an engine; operating at least two groups of cylinders, a first group operating

The invention claimed is: 1. A method for determining a number of valves to operate in an internal combustion engine operating in a multi-stroke cylinder mode, the method comprising: determining an operating condition of an engine; operating at least two groups of cylinders, a first group operating in a first cylinder stroke mode, and a second group operating in a second cylinder stroke mode; and determining a valve pattern to operate, based on said operating condition, in said first cylinder group and determining a valve pattern to operate, based on said operating condition, in said second cylinder group that is different than the pattern of operating valves in said first group of cylinders, wherein the difference between said first valve pattern and said second valve pattern is at least one of a number of operating valves per cylinder and a region of operating valves in the cylinder. 2. A computer readable storage medium having stored data representing instructions executable by a computer to control an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, said storage medium comprising: instructions for determining an operating condition of said engine; instructions for operating at least one cylinder of said engine in a multi-stroke mode; and instructions for varying a pattern of electrically actuated valves to operate between at least a first and second, different, valve pattern, based on said operating condition, in said at least one cylinder operating in a multi-stroke mode, wherein said difference between said first valve pattern and said second valve pattern is at least one of a number of operating valves per cylinder and a region of operating valves in the cylinder. 3. A method for controlling valve patterns in at least a cylinder operating in a multi-stroke mode of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising: operating a first valve pattern in said cylinder operating in a multi-stroke mode based at least on an engine operating condition; and operating a second valve pattern, different from said first valve pattern, in said cylinder operating in a multi-stroke mode based on a change in said engine operating condition, wherein the difference between said first valve pattern and said second valve pattern is at least one of a number of operating valves per cylinder and a region of operating valves in the cylinder. 4. A method for controlling valve patterns in at least a cylinder operating in a multi-stroke mode of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising: operating a first valve pattern in said cylinder operating in multi-stroke mode during at least a first valve operating condition; and operating a second valve pattern, different from said first valve pattern, in said cylinder operating in multi-stroke mode during a second valve operating condition, said second operating condition different from said first operating condition; wherein the difference between said first valve pattern and said second valve pattern is at least one of a number of operating valves per cylinder and a region of operating valves in the cylinder. 5. The method of claim 4 wherein said valve operating condition is an operating condition of an electrically actuated valve. 6. A method for determining a valve pattern to operate in an internal combustion engine operating in a multi-stroke cylinder mode, the method comprising: determining an operating condition of an electrically actuated valve; operating at least two groups of cylinders, a first group operating in a first cylinder stroke mode, and a second group operating in a second cylinder stroke mode; and determining a valve pattern to operate, based on said operating condition, in said first cylinder group and in said second cylinder group, wherein said determined valve pattern in said first cylinder group is different than said determined valve pattern in said second cylinder group and the difference between said first valve pattern and said second valve pattern is at least one of a number of operating valves per cylinder and a region of operating valves in the cylinder. 7. The method of claim 6 wherein said operating condition is a temperature of a valve actuator coupled to at least one of said electrically actuated valves. 8. A method for controlling valve patterns of valves in at least a cylinder operating in a multi-stroke mode of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising: operating a first valve pattern in said cylinder operating in multi-stroke mode during at least a first engine operating condition; and operating a second valve pattern, different from said first valve pattern, in said cylinder operating in multi-stroke mode during a second engine operating condition, said second operating condition different from said first operating condition; wherein the difference between said first valve pattern and said second valve pattern is at least one of a number of operating valves per cylinder and a region of operating valves in the cylinder. 9. The method of claim 1 wherein said operating condition is an engine temperature. 10. The method of claim 1 wherein said operating condition is engine speed. 11. The method of claim 1 wherein said operating condition is engine load. 12. A method for determining a pattern of electrically actuated valves to operate in an internal combustion engine operating in a multi-stroke cylinder mode, the method comprising: determining an operating condition of said engine; operating at least one cylinder of said engine in a multi-stroke mode; and varying a pattern of electrically actuated valves to operate among at least a first and second pattern, based on said operating condition, in said at least one cylinder operating in a multi-stroke mode, where the first valve pattern has at least a different number of operating valves per cylinder and a different region of operating valves in the cylinder. 13. The method of claim 12 wherein said operating condition is an engine temperature. 14. The method of claim 12 wherein said operating condition is engine speed. 15. The method of claim 12 wherein said operating condition is engine load. 16. The method of claim 12 wherein said operating condition is a temperature of a valve. 17. A method for determining a valve pattern to operate in an internal combustion engine operating in a multi-stroke cylinder mode, the method comprising: determining an operating condition of said engine; operating at least two groups of cylinders, a first group operating in a first cylinder stroke mode, and a second group operating in a second cylinder stroke mode; and determining a valve pattern to operate, based on said operating condition, in said first cylinder group and in said second cylinder group, wherein said determined valve pattern in said first cylinder group is different than said determined valve pattern in said second cylinder group and the difference between said first valve pattern and said second valve pattern is at least one of a number of operating valves per cylinder and a region of operating valves in the cylinder. 18. The method of claim 17 wherein said operating condition is an engine temperature. 19. The method of claim 17 wherein said operating condition is engine speed. 20. The method of claim 17 wherein said operating condition is engine load. 21. A method for determining a pattern of electrically actuated valves to operate in an internal combustion engine operating in a multi-stroke cylinder mode, the method comprising: determining an operating condition of an electrically actuated valve; operating at least one cylinder of said engine in a multi-stroke mode; and varying a pattern of electrically actuated valves to operate among at least a first and second pattern, based on said operating condition, in said at least one cylinder operating in said multi-stroke mode, where the first valve pattern has at least a different number of operating valves per cylinder and a different region of operating valves in the cylinder. 22. The method of claim 21 wherein said operating condition of said electrically actuated valve is an impedance of a valve actuator coupled to at least one of said electrically actuated valves. 23. The method of claim 21 wherein said operating condition of said electrically actuated valve is a temperature of at least one of said electrically actuated valves. 24. The method of claim 21 wherein said operating condition is a temperature of a valve actuator coupled to at least one of said electrically actuated valves. 25. The method of claim 24 wherein said valve actuator is comprised of at least an armature, a coil, and a core.