A cam phaser is described for selectively engaging in a torque transmitting mode or an angle control mode. In the torque transmitting mode mode, torque from a camshaft is transmitted to an e-motor, which functions as a generator and provides electrical energy.

An internal combustion engine system includes an internal combustion engine and a control device. A difference of an intake valve closing timing with respect to a compression top dead center is referred to as a first crank angle difference; a difference of an exhaust valve closing timing with respect to an exhaust top dead center is referred to as a second crank angle difference; and a difference between the first crank angle difference and the second crank angle difference is referred to as an intake/exhaust closing timing difference. The control device is configured to execute: a fuel cut processing; and a valve driving processing to control at least one of the intake valve closing timing and the exhaust valve closing timing such that the intake/exhaust closing timing difference becomes smaller during a fuel cut operation than during a non-fuel cut operation.

A control device has a VVT (variable valve timing) mechanism which changes opening or closing timing of at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve, and includes: a processor; a sensor for detecting atmospheric pressure; and a sensor for detecting the amount of air flowing through an intake air flow path. The processor calculates a charging efficiency based on the detected amount of air, calculates a volumetric efficiency from the detected amount of air and the detected atmospheric pressure, calculates the charging efficiency valve opening timing of the intake valve based on the charging efficiency, calculates the volumetric efficiency valve opening timing of the intake valve based on the volumetric efficiency, and sets the valve opening timing(s) of at least one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve based on one of the charging efficiency valve opening timing and the volumetric efficiency valve opening timing.

A valvetrain for an internal combustion engine of the type that has a combustion chamber, a moveable valve having a seat formed in the combustion chamber, and a camshaft includes a rocker arm assembly, a pivot providing a fulcrum for a rocker arm of the rocker arm assembly, and a latch assembly. An electrical device mounted to the rocker arm assembly receives power or communicates through a circuit that includes an electrical connection formed by abutment between surfaces of two distinct parts. The rocker arm assembly is operative to move one of the two abutting surfaces relative to the other in response to actuation of the cam follower. Forming an electrical connection through abutting surfaces that are free to undergo relative motion may reduce or eliminate the need to run wires to a mobile portion of the rocker arm assembly.

An internal combustion engine includes a cam-actuated rocker arm assembly with a solenoid-actuated latch that provides for cylinder deactivation or variable valve actuation. The solenoid has an inductance that varies significantly in relation to the position of a latch pin as it translates between latching and non-latching configurations. A sensor is positioned to monitor a current or a voltage in a circuit that includes the solenoid. Diagnostic information relating to the operation of the rocker arm assembly is determined by comparing data collected from the sensor over a first period to data collected from the sensor over a second period.

In a variable valve control device, a variable valve control system and a method for controlling a variable valve mechanism according to the present invention, An ECM (201) transmits a phase detection value (RA1) computed based on a crank angle signal (CRANK) and a cam angle signal (CAM) to a VTC control unit (202) via a communication network (211), and VTC control unit (202) computes a phase detection value (RA2) based on a motor angle signal (MAS), controls a variable valve timing mechanism (114) based on phase detection value (RA2) in the transient state of an internal combustion engine, and controls variable valve timing mechanism (114) based on phase detection value (RA1) in the steady state of the internal combustion engine.

An actuating system of an engine valve comprises a movable member, for example, in the form of a master piston controlled by a cam of a camshaft. A slave piston is hydraulically controlled by the master piston by means of a volume of pressurized fluid, to open said engine valve against the action of a return spring. The system also comprises an auxiliary device for applying an additional force to the engine valve to keep the engine valve in a closed position. The auxiliary device is configured or controlled in such a way that the total force tending to keep the engine valve in its closed position varies during each rotation cycle of the cam. The total force is higher at least in one part of the rotation cycle of the cam wherein the engine valve must remain in its closed position, and is, instead, reduced at least in one part of the rotation cycle of the cam wherein the engine valve is not in its closed position.

A valve timing adjustment device having a phase adjustment unit including an input rotator, a driving rotator that rotates in conjunction with a crankshaft, a driven rotator that rotates in conjunction with a camshaft that changes a relative rotation phase between the driving rotator and the driven rotator. A controller is configured to perform a startup phase control when operation of the internal combustion engine is started, the startup phase control including setting the relative rotation phase to a predetermined initial phase, and perform a startup preparation control during a period after the internal combustion engine is stopped and before the startup phase control is performed, the startup preparation control including changing the relative rotation phase.

A valvetrain for an internal combustion engine of the type that has a combustion chamber, a moveable valve having a seat formed in the combustion chamber, and a camshaft includes a rocker arm assembly, a pivot providing a fulcrum for a rocker arm of the rocker arm assembly, and a latch assembly. An electrical device mounted to the rocker arm assembly receives power or communicates through a circuit that includes an electrical connection formed by abutment between surfaces of two distinct parts. The rocker arm assembly is operative to move one of the two abutting surfaces relative to the other in response to actuation of the cam follower. Forming an electrical connection through abutting surfaces that are free to undergo relative motion may reduce or eliminate the need to run wires to a mobile portion of the rocker arm assembly.

A control apparatus of a valve opening/closing timing control mechanism, configured by including driving side and driven side rotating bodies; a stopper unit; and an electric motor, includes: a phase controller controlling an electric motor to reduce, when a target phase is set, a deviation between the target phase and a current first actual phase and reducing power to be supplied to the electric motor as the deviation decreases; and a control target setting unit setting a first target phase displaced to a side of the first actual phase in an operation direction where the deviation is reduced when the target phase is set to a most retarded or most advanced angle phase, in which the phase controller executes a first phase control of reducing a deviation between the set first target phase and the current first actual phase.