A control device for final control elements of an internal combustion engine having sensors sensing at least one measured variable, an incremental crankshaft angle sensor having an increment number and supplying a measurement signal having pulses, final control elements, actuator drives connected to the final control elements, and a control unit having a synchronizer for synchronizing counters and a control unit counter with a counter reading, the control unit at least in part driving the final control elements with the actuator drives, the control device comprising:
- a control command generator connected to the actuator drives and controlling the actuator drives as a function of the at least one measured variable, said generator generating control commands with setpoint counter readings for execution of control functions of the engine;
- a communications interface for exchanging messages with the control unit, said interface connecting said control command generator to the control unit;
- a revolving counter independent of the control unit counter and having a counter reading:
- dependent upon parameters including the pulses of the measurement signal of the crankshaft angle sensor;
- and
- independent from the increment number of the crankshaft angle sensor during a working cycle of the engine;
- said counter reading of said revolving counter and the counter reading of the control unit counter synchronized through the synchronizer of the control unit;
- and
- the counter reading of the control unit counter being dependent upon said parameters.