Valve-actuating device for varying the valve lift

A valve control method during different operating modes for selectively providing valve actuation using motion able to be transmitted from at least one camshaft to at least one first valve by means of a valve-actuating device, wherein the valve-actuating device comprises a first rocker arm component and a second rocker arm component, which are pivotably mounted independent of one another, and a first switching element, the method comprising the following steps:

• the first rocker arm component sliding or rolling over the at least one camshaft and the at least one camshaft induces a first motion on the first rocker arm component;
• providing a control pulse;
• the first switching element discretely or continuously setting a first angle between the first rocker arm component and the second rocker arm component relative to a rocker arm shaft, wherein the first angle is continuously variable;
• selectively feeding the control pulse to the first switching element to selectively set a switching position of the first switching element to control a valve lift for the at least one first valve, wherein the switching position of the first switching element depends on a magnitude and/or a length of the control pulse such that the magnitude and/or the length of the control pulse produces a sustained switching position of the switching element, wherein the magnitude and/or the length of the control pulse can be continuously varied to provide for continuous switching positions of the first switching element in order to provide for variable valve lift for the at least one first valve, and wherein the control pulse is fed to the first switching element in a braking operating mode;
• and
• transmitting the first motion to the at least one first valve via the second rocker arm component depending on the sustained switching position of the first switching element.