Patent ID: 7380535
Filing Date: 2008-06-03
Classification: F02D

Abstract:
1. A device for operating an internal combustion engine having multiple cylinders, comprising: a switching device, which at least one of (a) switches off at least one of (a) at least one intake valve and (b) at least one exhaust valve of a cylinder and (b) switches on again at least one of (a) at least one switched-off intake valve and (b) at least one switched-off exhaust valve of the cylinder in at least one operating state of the internal combustion engine in response to a switchover request; an ascertainment device, which with the receipt of the switchover request ascertains one of (a) a delay time and (b) a delay crank angle which is required for one of (a) switching off and (b) switching on again the at least one of (a) at least one intake valve and (b) at least one exhaust valve of one of the cylinders; and a selection device which, starting from the one of (a) the time and (b) the crank angle of the receipt of the switchover request and in accordance with one of (a) the ascertained delay time and (b) the ascertained delay crank angle, selects the cylinder having at least one exhaust valve following an expiration of one of (a) the delay time and (b) the delay crank angle, starting from the one of (a) the time and (b) the crank angle of the receipt of the switchover request, is one of (a) next to open in the switched-on state and (b) would be next to open, though it is switched off, the selection device ascertains the cylinder as the cylinder having at least one of (a) at least one intake valve and (b) at least one exhaust valve designated to be the first to be one of (a) switched off and (b) switched on again following the receipt of the switchover request.