Apparatus and method for early intake valve closing

An EIVC apparatus for use with an internal combustion engine, said engine having a crankshaft and at least one intake valve, a cam shaft associated with said at least one intake valve, said EIVC apparatus comprising:

• a pedal module issuing a desired load command;
• a respective two-step switching device associated with each of said at least one intake valve, each said two-step switching device being switchable between a high-lift position and a low-lift position;
• a cam phaser associated with said cam shaft, said cam phaser being operable to change a phase of said cam shaft relative to said crankshaft;
• and
• an engine control module electrically interconnected with said pedal module, said two-step switching device and said cam phaser, said engine control module having a memory;
• and
• a computer program stored in said memory of said engine control module, said computer program being executable by said engine control module, said engine control module executing said computer program to thereby configure dependent at least in part upon engine operating conditions and parameters said two-step switching device and said cam phaser to produce a selected one of a plurality of predetermined intake valve lift profiles configured for at least one of optimizing fuel economy and emissions under approximately light to approximately moderate engine operating loads, improving torque and power at approximately full engine operating loads, and providing maximum valve overlap and maximum engine efficiency under cold start engine operating conditions.