Control apparatus and method for valve actuating system of internal combustion engine

A control apparatus for a valve actuating system which is operable to lift an intake valve or an exhaust valve of an internal combustion engine, and includes a first lift characteristic changing mechanism for changing a first lift characteristic of the intake valve or the exhaust valve and a second lift characteristic changing mechanism for changing a second lift characteristic of the intake valve or the exhaust valve, comprising a controller that:

• calculates a target operation value of each of the first and second lift characteristic changing mechanisms;
• calculates a realizable range of the operation value that can be realized by each of the first and second lift characteristic changing mechanisms, based on at least one condition related to an operation of said each lift characteristic changing mechanism;
• and
• calculates a new target operation value to be within the realizable range of the operation value when the target operation value is not within the realizable range of the operation value.

A method of controlling a valve actuating system which is operable to lift an intake valve or an exhaust valve of an internal combustion engine and includes a lift characteristic changing mechanism for changing a lift characteristic of the intake valve or the exhaust valve, comprising the steps of:

• calculating a target operation value of the lift characteristic changing mechanism;
• calculating a realizable range of the operation value which can be realized by the lift characteristic changing mechanism, based on a controlled variable that can be given to the lift characteristic changing mechanism and at least one parameter related to an environment surrounding the lift characteristic changing mechanism;
• and
• calculating a new target operation value of the lift characteristic changing mechanism to be within the realizable range of the operation value when the target operation value is not within the realizable range of the operation value.

A method of controlling a valve actuating system which is operable to lift an intake valve or an exhaust valve of an internal combustion engine, and includes a first lift characteristic changing mechanism for changing a first lift characteristic of the intake valve or the exhaust valve and a second lift characteristic changing mechanism for changing a second lift characteristic of the intake valve or the exhaust valve, comprising the steps of:

• calculating a target operation value of each of the first and second lift characteristic changing mechanisms;
• calculating a realizable range of the operation value that can be realized by each of the first and second lift characteristic changing mechanisms, based on at least one condition related to an operation of said each lift characteristic changing mechanism;
• and
• calculating a new target operation value to be within the realizable range of the operation value when the target operation value is not within the realizable range of the operation value.