Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

An engine includes cylinders, a sensor for detecting information related to combustion states of the cylinders. Each cylinder is provided with an ignition device, an intake valve, and an exhaust valve. The engine also includes a control apparatus that obtains the information from the sensor. Based on the information from the sensor, the control apparatus identifies a cylinder of the most violent combustion. The control apparatus controls at least one of the valve timing of the intake valves, the valve timing of the exhaust valves, and a fuel injection amount to the cylinders, thereby suppressing the combustion of all the cylinders, such that the combustion state of the identified cylinder becomes an appropriate combustion state. As for a cylinder the combustion state of which is out of a predetermined range and is a state causing misfire, the control apparatus selectively activates the corresponding ignition device to perform assisted ignition. This configuration reduces variation in the combustion states among the cylinders.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim