Methods and systems are described for an engine with a cam torque actuated variable cam timing phaser. Phaser positioning control is improved by reducing inaccuracies resulting from inadvertent spool valve and/or phaser movement when the spool valve is commanded between regions. In addition, improved spool valve mapping is used to render phaser commands more consistent and robust.

An electromechanical camshaft phaser (3) comprises a setting gear (4) and an electric motor (5), which is controlled by means of an electric-motor control unit (6). Data concerning the operation of the electric motor (5) including position changes of its motor shaft are transferred via a data bus (8) from the electric-motor control unit (6) to an engine control unit (7) of the internal combustion engine (1) comprising the camshaft phaser (3). In addition, recurring time signals are transferred from the electric-motor control unit (6) to the engine control unit (7) via a separate line (9), by which harder real-time requirements are met than by the data bus (8). The time signals are used to generate a time difference signal in the engine control unit (7) by comparison with the data received by the engine control unit (7), which time difference signal is fed back to the electric-motor control unit (6) via the data bus (8) and is used there to synchronize the electric-motor control unit (6) with the engine control unit (7).

Methods and systems are provided for a valve lift control device. In one example, a method may include rotating an adjusting camshaft of the valve lift control device in order to adjust a valve lift of one or more cylinders.

A valve opening/closing timing control apparatus includes: a driving side rotating body rotating synchronously with a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine; a driven side rotating body included in the driving side rotating body and rotating integrally with a camshaft on a same axis as a rotation axis of the driving side rotating body; a hydraulic fluid control mechanism displacing a relative rotation phase between the driving side rotating body and the driven side rotating body by supplying a hydraulic fluid to one of an advance angle chamber and a retardation angle chamber; a lock mechanism; and first and second unlocking flow paths configured to communicate with the first pressure receiving surface. The lock mechanism includes a lock member including an engaging portion, a main body portion, and a first pressure receiving surface a biasing member, and a lock recess.

A switchable rocker arm for valve deactivation is provided for a valve train of an internal combustion engine. The switchable rocker arm includes a valve side lever assembly, a cam side lever assembly, and a hydraulically actuated coupling assembly. The valve side lever assembly includes a first housing with a first rocker shaft bore. The cam side lever assembly includes a second housing with a first arm with a second rocker shaft bore and a second arm with a third rocker shaft bore. The first and second arms extend along opposed longitudinal sides of the cam side lever assembly such that the first, second and third rocker shaft bores are axially aligned. The coupling assembly is arranged at an end furthest away from a pivot axis for minimal loading and provides locking and unlocking of the switchable rocker arm to achieve full valve lift and no valve lift modes, respectively.

Methods and systems are described for an engine with a cam torque actuated variable cam timing phaser. Phaser positioning control is improved by reducing inaccuracies resulting from inadvertent spool valve and/or phaser movement when the spool valve is commanded between regions. In addition, improved spool valve mapping is used to render phaser commands more consistent and robust.

A valve opening/closing timing control device includes: an intermediate lock mechanism switchable between a locked state constraining a relative rotation phase to an intermediate locked phase, and an unlocked state releasing the constraint; a phase control unit controlling fluid supply to a retard chamber and fluid discharge from an advance chamber, or controlling fluid discharge from the retard chamber and fluid supply to the advance chamber, such that the lock member attains the intermediate locked phase; and a determination unit determining whether the lock member will attain the determination phase, when control has been performed to move the lock member toward a determination phase that has been set at a different position than the intermediate locked phase, after execution of control to either supply fluid to the retard chamber and discharge fluid from the advance chamber, or discharge fluid from the retard chamber and supply fluid to the advance chamber.

The disclosure relates to an electric motor having a base motor module and an electronic module. The electronic module is electrically and mechanically connected to the base motor module and comprises a printed circuit board and an electronics housing. The electronics housing forms two supporting surfaces, with which the printed circuit board can be brought into contact.

A valve drive device for actuating valves of an internal combustion engine a rocker arm device and a switchover device that includes at least two actuators for the at least one rocker arm device. The two actuators respectively include a switching element adjustable between a first position and a second position; a resetting device for resetting the switching element with a resetting force into the second position; a holding coil for offsetting the resetting force of the resetting device; a switching coil that counteracts the resetting force during operation. The switching coil and the holding coil adjust the switching element into the first position.

Systems and methods for operating an engine with deactivating and non-deactivating valves are presented. In one example, estimates of engine fuel consumption for operating the engine with a plurality of cylinder modes or patterns while a transmission is engaged in different gears are determined and are used as a basis for deactivating engine cylinders.