Controller of internal combustion engine

A controller of an internal combustion engine having a heat generating unit projecting into a combustion chamber of the engine, the controller controlling an output of the engine and comprising:

• an abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality in the heat generating unit;
• a changing means for changing an operation mode of an actuator of the engine to control a state quantity in the combustion chamber of the engine such that lowering of startability due to the abnormality is compensated and such that the startability is improved on the occasion of starting of the engine if the abnormality in the heat generating unit is detected;
• a stabilizing means for changing the operation mode of the actuator of the engine to control the state quantity in the combustion chamber of the engine such that instability of an operation state of the engine due to the abnormality is compensated after the starting of the engine is completed;
• and
• a valve characteristic varying means for varying a valve characteristic of an intake valve as the actuator, wherein
• the stabilizing means includes a temperature raising means for raising temperature in the combustion chamber of the engine through an operation of the actuator of the engine;
• the temperature raising means includes a delaying means for delaying timing of fuel injection performed through an injector as the actuator;
• and
• the temperature raising means includes a compression ratio increasing means for increasing a compression ratio by operating the valve characteristic varying means.

A controller of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having a heat generating unit projecting into a combustion chamber of the engine, the controller controlling an output of the engine and comprising:

• an abnormality determining means for determining an existence of an abnormality in the heat generating unit;
• and
• a temperature raising means for raising temperature in the combustion chamber of the engine through an operation of an actuator of the engine on the occasion of starting of the engine if the existence of the abnormality in the heat generating unit is determined;
• a valve characteristic varying means for varying a valve characteristic of an intake valve as the actuator, wherein
• the temperature raising means includes a compression ratio increasing means for increasing a compression ratio by operating the valve characteristic varying means.