Provided is a control device for an internal combustion engine equipped with a cam switching device including a cam groove provided on the outer peripheral surface of a camshaft and an electromagnetic solenoid type actuator capable of protruding, toward the camshaft, an engagement pin that is engageable with the cam groove. The control device is configured, in causing the cam switching device to perform a cam switching operation, to perform energization of the actuator such that the engagement pin is seated on a forward outer peripheral surface, and to more lower, when an electric current (coil current) flowing through the actuator as a result of the energization is greater, an average electric voltage per unit time applied to the actuator in protruding the engagement pin toward the cam groove from the forward outer peripheral surface.

An electronic control unit of a control device for an internal combustion engine executes, for a first cycle, first drive processing for controlling an actuator such that a pin drive operation is executed for switching from a first cam to a second cam, executes second drive processing for controlling the actuator such that the pin drive operation is executed again for a second cycle, and executes abnormality determination processing for determining that a cam switching mechanism has an abnormality in a case where a pin returns to a reference position by using a pin return section following a cam switching section of the first cycle after the execution of the first drive processing and the pin returns to the reference position by using the pin return section following the cam switching section of the second cycle after the execution of the second drive processing.

Methods and systems are provided for estimating engine oil temperature during conditions when sensors used for engine oil temperature measurement are not functional or not reliable. A null duty cycle of a solenoid spool valve of a variable cam timing mechanism is estimated. Then, a calibrated relationship between the duty cycle, an angular velocity of the associated cam, and the engine oil temperature is used to estimate an engine oil temperature when existing sensors used in the calculation of engine oil temperature calculation become unreliable.

A method for cleaning a continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) system for removing foreign materials includes: switching a target operating value of the CVVT system to a predetermined setting value within a set operating region and performing cleaning of the CVVT system; and determining whether a valve timing control learning request exists for the CVVT system, and, when the valve timing control learning request exists, aborting the cleaning.

The number of advance chambers is larger than the number of retard chambers in an intake variable valve timing (VVT), whereas the number of retard chambers is larger than the number of advance chambers in an exhaust VVT. Accordingly, with limitation of an oil pressure that can be used by the VVTs, a pumping loss in a transition period in which a valve overlap amount is changed by advancing or retarding a valve timing can be reduced.

A novel cylinder head arrangement for an in-line four cylinder or eight cylinder engine. A modified arrangement allows additional space for installation of wider rocker arm assemblies used for variable valve lift (VVL), cylinder deactivation (CDA) and other types of variable valve actuation (VVA). In one embodiment, cam towers adjacent the end two cylinders are not used. At least one end support is used, which may be an outboard bearing on a camshaft for each end. The wider rocker assemblies may then be installed. In another embodiment, cam towers adjacent the inner two cylinders are eliminated and a single camshaft support piece with a support bearing is installed between the inner cylinders to provide support for the camshafts. The wider rocker assemblies may then be installed on at least one of the middle cylinders. A novel oil control valve operates latches in switching rocker arm assemblies.

Methods and systems are provided for estimating engine oil temperature during conditions when sensors used for engine oil temperature measurement are not functional or not reliable. A null duty cycle of a solenoid spool valve of a variable cam timing mechanism is estimated. Then, a calibrated relationship between the duty cycle, an angular velocity of the associated cam, and the engine oil temperature is used to estimate an engine oil temperature when existing sensors used in the calculation of engine oil temperature calculation become unreliable.

A multifunctional engine brake, comprising an engine valve motion transformation mechanism, a slow seating mechanism (250), and a timing oil control mechanism. By axially moving a roller (235) on a roller shaft (231), the connections between the roller (235) and different cams (230, 2302) are switched, so as to implement the transformation between different engine valve motions. A roller axial driving mechanism (100) is disposed in the roller shaft (231), thereby achieving a simple and compact structure, a symmetrical and reliable force, and easy manufacturing and assembling. The timing oil control mechanism provides timing oil supply or discharge for the engine brake, thereby eliminating the randomness of the opening or closing of a conventional engine brake, avoiding slipping and impact of the roller during roller translation, and improving the reliability and durability of the brake and engine. The slow seating mechanism (250) effectively reduces and controls the seating speed of the valve, thereby eliminating the compact within the mechanism. The brake can be used for different types of variable valve motions, comprising valve motions generating 4-stroke braking, 2-stroke braking, or 1.5-stroke braking.

A preparation control for suppressing fluctuation of an output torque of the engine at the time of executing switching operation from the whole cylinder operation to the partial cylinder operation is executed when having made a switching request from the whole cylinder operation to the partial cylinder operation. The target switching time executing the switching operation is calculated in accordance with the valve operation phase after the preparation time is completed. The cylinder deactivation mechanism is controlled such that the switching operation is executed at the target switching time. The target switching time is set in accordance with the valve operation phase at the timing in which the abnormal noises are not generated.

A preparation control for suppressing fluctuation of an output torque of the engine at the time of executing switching operation from the whole cylinder operation to the partial cylinder operation is executed when having made a switching request from the whole cylinder operation to the partial cylinder operation, the valve operation phase is fixed to a predetermined phase before executing the switching operation, and the cylinder deactivation mechanism is controlled so as to execute the switching operation at a target switching time which is prefixed by corresponding to the predetermined phase. The target switching time is previously set to a timing at which abnormal noises are not generated, by corresponding to the valve operation phase fixed to the predetermined phase.