Control device for multi-cylinder engine

A control device for a multi-cylinder engine, comprising:

• a plurality of intake ports;
• a plurality of intake valves each provided correspondingly to a respective one of the plurality of intake ports;
• a plurality of exhaust ports;
• a plurality of exhaust valves each provided correspondingly to a respective one of the plurality of exhaust ports;
• a combustion chamber to which the plurality of intake ports and the plurality of exhaust ports are connected;
• an intake-side variable valve operating mechanism operable to adjust a lift timing of each of the plurality of intake valves provided, respectively, in the plurality of intake ports;
• an exhaust-side variable valve operating mechanism operable to adjust a lift timing of at least one of the plurality of the exhaust valves provided, respectively, in the plurality of exhaust ports;
• and
• an exhaust-side valve operating mechanism operable to drive, at a fixed timing, the remaining one or more of the plurality of the exhaust valves provided, respectively, in the plurality of exhaust ports,
• wherein, when a cylinder deactivation of at least one specific cylinder in the multi-cylinder engine is executed in a given operating range, the control device is operable to stop a fuel injection in the said cylinder, and to prohibit a lift of the intake valve in the said cylinder by controlling the intake-side variable valve operating mechanism, and to open the exhaust valve in the said cylinder by controlling the exhaust-side variable valve operating mechanism, during a downward movement of a piston in the said cylinder.