Determination of a value for a valve lift of a valve of an individual cylinder of an internal combustion engine with a plurality of cylinders

A method for controlling a valve lift of a valve of an individual cylinder of an internal combustion engine with a plurality of cylinders, the method comprising:

• determining a value for the valve lift by:
• determining a first exhaust gas lambda value for fuel combustion in the individual cylinder in a first operating state of the internal combustion engine,
• wherein the first exhaust gas lambda value is determined without artificial variation of an air/fuel ratio by cylinder-specific and time-resolved detection of lambda values, wherein for each cylinder, a lambda value is correlated with combustion processes in that cylinder,
• determining an air mass that is sucked in by all cylinders of the internal combustion engine in the first operating state, and
• obtaining the value for the valve lift of the valve of the individual cylinder based on the first exhaust gas lambda value, the determined air mass and a correction value,
• wherein the correction value is based on a relationship between the valve lift and an associated air mass that is sucked in by all the cylinders of the internal combustion engine, and
• controlling the valve lift based on the determined value for the valve lift.

An internal combustion engine comprising:

• a plurality of cylinders each with a valve;
• a controller for adjusting a setpoint for a valve lift of each valve;
• and,
• a device for determining a value for the valve lift of each valve, the device comprising:
• a determining unit configured to determine a first exhaust gas lambda value for fuel combustion in an individual cylinder in a first operating state of the internal combustion engine,
• wherein the first exhaust gas lambda value is determined without artificial variation of an air/fuel ratio by means of cylinder-specific and time-resolved detection of lambda values, wherein for each cylinder, a lambda value is correlated with combustion processes in that cylinder, and
• determine an air mass sucked in by all the cylinders of the internal combustion engine in the first operating state, and
• an evaluation unit configured to determine the value for the valve lift of the valve of the individual cylinder based on the first exhaust gas lambda value, the determined air mass, and a correction value,
• wherein the correction value is based on a relationship between the valve lift and an associated air mass that is sucked in by all cylinders of the internal combustion engine, and
• wherein the controller adjusts the setpoint for the valve lift based on the determined value for the valve lift.

An engine controller for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine with a plurality of cylinders each having a corresponding valve, the engine controller comprising:

• a device configured to determine a value for a valve lift of a valve of an individual cylinder by:
• determining a first exhaust gas lambda value for fuel combustion in the individual cylinder in a first operating state of the internal combustion engine,
• wherein the first exhaust gas lambda value is determined without artificial variation of an air/fuel ratio by cylinder-specific and time-resolved detection of lambda values, wherein for each cylinder, a lambda value is correlated with combustion processes in that cylinder,
• determining an air mass that is sucked in by all cylinders of the internal combustion engine in the first operating state, and
• obtaining the value for the valve lift of the valve of the individual cylinder based on the first exhaust gas lambda value, the determined air mass and a correction value,
• wherein the correction value is based on a relationship between the valve lift and an associated air mass that is sucked in by all the cylinders of the internal combustion engine, and
• a device configured to adjust a setpoint for the valve lift based on the value obtained for the valve lift.

A computer program for controlling an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders each with a corresponding valve, wherein the computer program is stored in non-transitory computer-readable media and executable by a processor to determine a value for a valve lift of a valve of an individual cylinder by:

• determining a first exhaust gas lambda value for fuel combustion in the individual cylinder in a first operating state of the internal combustion engine,
• wherein the first exhaust gas lambda value is determined without artificial variation of an air/fuel ratio by cylinder-specific and time-resolved detection of lambda values, wherein for each cylinder, a lambda value is correlated with combustion processes in that cylinder,
• determining an air mass that is sucked in by all cylinders of the internal combustion engine in the first operating state,
• obtaining the value for the valve lift of the valve of the individual cylinder based on the first exhaust gas lambda value, the determined air mass and a correction value,
• wherein the correction value is based on a relationship between the valve lift and an associated air mass that is sucked in by all the cylinders of the internal combustion engine, and
• then adjusting a setpoint for the valve lift based on the value obtained for the valve lift.