Patent ID: 6848403

Claim:
A control method for selecting and adjusting valve lift in an internal combustion engine with at least two cylinder groups, the method comprising: a first mode of operation to operate at least one valve in a first group of cylinders, said at least one valve in said first group of cylinders in a first valve lift mode, said first group of cylinders comprised of cylinders that are consecutive in a combustion sequence of said engine; a second mode of operation to operate said at least one valve in said first group of cylinders in a second valve lift mode; a third mode of operation to operate at least one valve in a second group of cylinders, said second group of cylinders in a first valve lift mode, said second group of cylinders comprised of cylinders that are consecutive in a combustion sequence of said engine, said second group of cylinders different from said first group of cylinders; a fourth mode of operation to operate said second group of cylinders in a second valve lift mode; selecting between said first and said second modes of operation during a crank angle interval where valves in said second cylinder group are opened and closed, and activating said selected mode; and selecting between said third and said forth modes of operation during a crank angle interval where valves in said first cylinder group are opened and closed, and activating said selected mode.