DE102004011811A1 - Internal combustion engine controlling method for vehicle, involves sealing predetermined cylinders of engine and not actuating cylinders such that torque provided by engine before and after non actuation of cylinders remains unchanged - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves sealing predetermined cylinders (Z1, Z3) of an internal combustion engine having multiple cylinders (Z0-Z3). The cylinders (Z1, Z3) are not actuated such that torque provided by the engine before and after the non-actuation of the cylinders (Z1, Z3) remains unchanged. Inlet and exhaust valves are closed when the cylinders (Z0-Z3) are deactivated to confine fresh or combustion gas in a combustion chamber. Independent claims are also included for the following: (A) a computer program having program code for an apparatus of controlling an internal combustion engine (B) a data medium having a computer program for controlling the internal combustion engine (C) an apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine (D) an internal combustion engine having a control apparatus.

Description

The The invention relates to a method, a computer program and a control device for operating a Internal combustion engine with a plurality of cylinders with an im Substantially constant torque. In addition, the invention relates a disk with the computer program and an internal combustion engine with a Plurality of cylinders and the controller.

in the State of the art, such a method and control unit are basically known. In particular, it is known, individual predetermined cylinder a Internal combustion engine during their operation in response to a cylinder stop signal, to save fuel. Known method for switching off Ensuring cylinders, that from the non-deactivated cylinders after shutdown alone provided torque substantially with the torque matches before shutdown.

at the shutdown will be the inlet valve and the outlet valve of the closed cylinder closed; a supply of fuel into the combustion chamber of the deactivated cylinder is no longer found instead of.

It may be desirable then be that fresh gas remains trapped in the cylinder, which the temperature of the ambient air has and thus in comparison to combustion gases is relatively cold. Alternative to the whereabouts of fresh gas in the combustion chamber of the deactivated cylinder can it desirable be that in that hot combustion gases are located.

outgoing from this prior art, it is therefore the object of the invention, a known method for operating an internal combustion engine with a plurality of cylinders, which is a shutdown of at least a predetermined cylinder and a computer program and a controller to perform this method and a disk with the computer program and further develop an internal combustion engine with the control unit such that a decision over the whereabouts of fresh gas or combustion gas in the disconnected Cylinder possible is.

These The object is achieved by the method claimed in claim 1 solved. This method is characterized in that before switching off the at least one predetermined cylinder a blanking suitable Cylinder of the internal combustion engine takes place.

Advantages of invention

Of the Term "blanking" within the meaning of the invention means that with the hidden cylinders the injector is closed and this fuel is no longer supplied; an inlet and outlet valve associated with the blanked cylinders However, it still works normally, allowing for suction and discharge of fresh gas in or out of the combustion chamber of the hidden Cylinder during a piston movement still takes place.

Of the Term "shutdown" within the meaning of the invention in contrast to the term "blanking" means that not only the injector the deactivated cylinder, but also its inlet and outlet valves while the shutdown are permanently closed. Due to the closed injection valve No more fuel gets into the deactivated cylinder. by virtue of of the closed intake and exhaust valve passes beyond no fresh gas in the combustion chamber of the deactivated cylinder. After all prevents the permanently closed exhaust valve that the Time of shutdown in the combustion chamber gas in the Ambient air can escape. Due to the closed inlet and exhaust valves is the shutdown in the combustion chamber located gas for the entire duration of the shutdown included in the combustion chamber. at The enclosed gas can be either fresh gas or Act combustion gas.

The Switching off the at least one predetermined cylinder of the internal combustion engine represents at not maximum power requirement to the internal combustion engine an energetically cheaper Condition as an operation of all cylinders of the internal combustion engine with correspondingly reduced amount of air-fuel mixture, that is with accordingly reduced capacity. In particular, the fuel consumption is in certain operating situations when switching off individual cylinders advantageously less than with appropriately throttled operation of all cylinders.

Due to the claimed upstream circuit of a blanking of suitable cylinders of the internal combustion engine before the shutdown of at least one predetermined cylinder, the manufacturer or operator of the internal combustion engine is given an option to leave enclosed in the combustion chamber of the later deactivated cylinder either fresh gas or combustion gas. Fresh gas means aspirated air that is not enriched with fuel. While fresh gas in the Re Gel ambient temperature, the temperature of the combustion gas is at some 100 ° Celsius. This temperature difference can be a basis for the decision for the choice of fresh gas or combustion gas in the combustion chamber.

If after switching off fresh gas in the combustion chamber of the disconnected Cylinder is to remain, the blanking takes place advantageously at the later cylinder to be turned off.

If after shutdown combustion gas in the combustion chamber of the disconnected Cylinder should remain, the suppression is preferably at least one of the later not affected by the shutdown cylinder of the internal combustion engine.

advantageously, be in the run-up to a blanking and shutdown the fillings all cylinders of the internal combustion engine to a stationary filling state, represents by a fill level threshold, elevated and simultaneously becomes the ignition angle efficiency the internal combustion engine so reduces that of the internal combustion engine delivered power, in particular in the form of its torque at least remains essentially constant.

advantageously, the suppression is possible activated quickly after reaching said stationary filling state, around by the stationary one filling state represented energetically unfavorable Operating condition for the internal combustion engine as possible finish quickly.

A restarting a deactivated cylinder is advantageously carried out either by immediate filling and firing of this cylinder in the injection or combustion cycle. Alternatively, there is also the Possibility, before a filling first while at least one clock, a suppression of in particular the again to be put into operation cylinder.

Further advantageous embodiments of the claimed method are the subject the dependent claims.

The o. g. Task will continue through a computer program and a control unit to perform of the claimed method. About that addition, the task is through a disk with the computer program and solved by an internal combustion engine with said control device. The Advantages of these solutions correspond to those mentioned above with reference to the claimed method Benefits.

drawings

Of the Description are attached to a total of nine figures, wherein

1 the course of an ignition angle efficiency as a function of the distance of the actual ignition angle from the optimum ignition angle in an internal combustion engine;

2 the course of a Ausblendungs-efficiency as a function of the number of hidden cylinders in an internal combustion engine using the example of a 4-cylinder engine;

3 the course of a cylinder deactivation efficiency with on and off cylinder deactivation;

4 the time course of the power output by the internal combustion engine before and after the cylinder deactivation;

5 the time course of a degree of filling or the externally supplied to a cylinder energy before and during the cylinder shutdown;

6 the time course of a firing angle efficiency before and during the cylinder deactivation;

7 a first embodiment for controlling the cylinder of an internal combustion engine according to the invention;

8th A second embodiment for controlling the cylinder of an internal combustion engine according to the invention; and

9 a third embodiment for controlling the cylinder of an internal combustion engine according to the invention represents.

description the embodiments

The Invention will be referred to below in the form of embodiments with reference to the figures mentioned in detail.

To understand the invention, a certain basic knowledge of different efficiencies in the operation of the internal combustion engine and in particular in a cylinder shutdown is required. This basic knowledge will be described below before describing the actual invention with reference to FIGS 1 - 6 explained and provided.

In principle, an internal combustion engine, like any other technical system, is subject to the energy conservation law. Therefore, the output of an internal combustion engine power is calculated in accordance with a product of the time change of the internal combustion engine externally supplied energy E _{to be} multiplied by a plurality of relevant efficiencies. The relevant in an internal combustion engine and in particular for the present invention efficiencies are in the 1 - 3 illustrated.

In 1 is the time course of an ignition angle efficiency η _ZW as a function of the distance dZW (delta ignition angle) of the current ignition angle of the optimum ignition angle of the internal combustion engine shown. It can be seen that a changed ignition angle (late direction) compared to an optimal ignition angle (represented by the origin of the coordinates) leads to a reduction of the ignition angle efficiency.

In 2 a Ausblendungs efficiency η _{AB is shown} as a function of the number AB of the respective hidden cylinder by way of example for a 4-cylinder internal combustion engine. By definition, no fuel is supplied to a blanked cylinder; that is, its injection valve is closed. However, an intake and exhaust valve associated therewith continue to function normally when the engine is operating with the cylinders not hidden. In 2 The situation illustrates that the efficiency of the internal combustion engine at zero cylinder blanking, ie 100%, with the blanking of one cylinder 75%, the blanking of two cylinders 50%, the blanking of three cylinders 25% and blanking all cylinders 0%.

In 3 is a further efficiency of the internal combustion engine, namely the cylinder halt efficiency η _ZAS depending on a switched-on and a switched-off cylinder deactivation ZAS illustrated. Out 3 the facts emerge that when switching on, that is, when activating the cylinder deactivation for two out of four cylinders of an internal combustion engine, the efficiency of the internal combustion engine is only 50% due to this cylinder deactivation. When switching off or deactivating the cylinder deactivation, that is, during operation of the internal combustion engine with all its cylinders, the cylinder deactivation efficiency is 100%.

A cylinder shutdown is usually - and so here in the invention - under the proviso that the output from the engine power L _out , that is, in particular their speed, before and after the shutdown constant, that is to say unchanged. This situation is in 4 for a performance of the engine currently demanded, for example, 50% compared to their maximum output power shown. The reference T _us denotes the timing of the cylinder deactivation.

If the internal combustion engine is operated with all its cylinders at 50% of its maximum possible output power, because, for example, the driver of a vehicle with the internal combustion engine has only halfway through the gas pedal, this operating state of the internal combustion engine is usually realized by all the cylinders of the internal combustion engine being uniform be filled with a filling degree F of only 50%. This means that the amount of air-fuel supplied to each cylinder is only 50% of the maximum possible deliverable amount. The degree of filling represents the externally supplied energy of the internal combustion engine. This operating situation just described is for the degree of filling F in 5 represented over the time interval .DELTA.t1. At 50% applied energy, the engine will deliver 50% of its maximum possible power, as described above with reference to FIGS 1 - 3 mentioned efficiencies η _ZW η _AB and η _ZAS each be all 100%. The skip efficiency η _AB and the cylinder deactivation efficiency η _ZAS are anyway at 100% during the time interval Δt1, because during this time interval none of the cylinders of the internal combustion engine is hidden or switched off. Shutdown means that not only the injection valves of the deactivated cylinders, but also their associated intake and exhaust valves are permanently closed during shutdown. This means, in contrast to a blanking out, that when the cylinder is switched off, the gas trapped in its combustion chamber remains trapped there during the period of the shutdown.

In order to realize the desired 50% output power during the interval .DELTA.t1, the ignition angle ZW of the internal combustion engine is optimally adjusted in all its cylinders, but especially in the cylinders to be shut down later, so that the ignition angle efficiency η _ZW in the time interval .DELTA.t1 100th % is. In the time interval Δt1, the internal combustion engine is operated in a normal mode. During normal operation, the throttle valve of the internal combustion engine to realize the 50% degree of filling according to 5 largely closed. However, the largely closed throttle causes undesirable thermodynamic losses. In a presumably longer-lasting operation of the internal combustion engine at 50% output power, it is therefore desirable to convert the internal combustion engine into an energetically more favorable operating state without that of the Brennkraftmaschi ne delivered power and in particular its torque is changed. This energetically favorable state can be realized in multi-cylinder engines by switching off individual cylinders. When switching off individual cylinders, the remaining still active cylinders of the internal combustion engine, although correspondingly more energy must be supplied, so that they also apply the power no longer provided by the deactivated cylinders. However, the remaining active cylinders of the internal combustion engine are then filled with a substantially fully open throttle, whereby the above-mentioned losses in throttled operation omitted or at least lower.

Although a shutdown of individual cylinders can theoretically also take place at the end of the time interval .DELTA.t1, this would necessarily mean that due to the filling of each individual cylinder with only 50% filling degree F despite a firing angle efficiency of 100%, the power output by the internal combustion engine L _{out would decrease} according to the ratio of the number of deactivated cylinders to the total number of cylinders of the internal combustion engine.

To prevent this, the shutdown of the cylinder is not already at the end of the time interval .DELTA.t1, but at the later off time T _US . In addition, an immediate shutdown of individual cylinders of the internal combustion engine would also not be possible because such shutdown mechanically requires a basically not negligible shutdown time or dead time.

To prevent the decrease in the output power at cylinder deactivation, as in the 5 and 6 is shown for the time interval .DELTA.t2, respectively, the degree of filling increases and simultaneously reduces the ignition angle efficiency. In a planned shutdown of 50% of the cylinders of an internal combustion engine, that is, in a planned shutdown of two cylinders in a 4-cylinder engine after shutdown, the remaining two active cylinders must generate twice the power as in the example assumed normal operation with 50th % Power. Therefore, in this case, as in 5 is shown, first the degree of filling F of all cylinders of the internal combustion engine increased from 50 to 100%; this corresponds to an increase of externally supplied energy by 50%. So that this increased energy supply does not lead to an unwanted increase in the output in the time interval .DELTA.t2 power, but the output power L _out remains constant during this time interval, as in 4 is shown, the ignition angle efficiency η _ZW is usually reduced during the time interval .DELTA.t2 suitably. The reduction is suitably such that, as stated, the output power remains constant. At the end of the time interval .DELTA.t2, the internal combustion engine is then operated with a stationary filling degree F of 100%. This stationary fill level corresponds to a predetermined fill level threshold.

If after reaching the stationary 100% filling state, the above-mentioned dead time for cylinder deactivation has expired, in principle, a shutdown of individual cylinders of the internal combustion engine. In the 4 - 5 this time is represented by the reference T _US . The time interval .DELTA.t3 can theoretically also become zero, namely when the said dead time lasts no longer than the time interval .DELTA.t2. In order to prevent then in the switching time and then a reduction of the output power below 50%, as stated, the remaining two active cylinders are operated at 100% degree of filling. In the switch-off time T _US , however, then the ignition angle efficiency must be increased from 50% to 100%, because at the same time the cylinder deactivation efficiency drops from 100 to 50%, as in 3 is shown. Only then is the product of all efficiencies and the energy supplied a given energy of 50%.

The described procedure holds Although the torque and thus the output power before and after the shutdown of individual cylinders constant, but it has the disadvantage that after switching off in the deactivated cylinders inevitably hot Combustion gas remains trapped. Cause of this effect is the fact that in this approach also in the injection cycles directly before the shutdown still takes place a torching firing.

In order to give the manufacturer or operator of an internal combustion engine with cylinder deactivation a choice whether he wishes in the respective deactivated cylinders inclusion of fresh gas or combustion gas, the invention proposes that after reaching the stationary filling state of, for example, 100% 5 , but even before the switch-off time T _US a blanking of suitable cylinder of the internal combustion engine takes place as in the 7 and 8th is clearly illustrated and explained below.

7 describes a first embodiment for switching off the cylinders Z1 and Z3 in a four-cylinder internal combustion engine with the cylinders Z0 ... Z3. In this first embodiment, the control of the cylinder takes place so that fresh gas in the two deactivated cylinders Z1 and Z3 remains. For this purpose, the internal combustion engine is first moved to the elevated stationary filling state of 100%, as described above with reference to FIGS 5 and 6 was explained. The start-up of the degree of filling, starting from a normal operation of the internal combustion engine, is typically in response to a Zylinderabschaltsignal, which terminates the normal operation of the internal combustion engine, represented by the time interval .DELTA.t1. It signals that the conditions for a cylinder deactivation are given and initiates this first by raising the degree of filling.

The subsequent operating state with the increased filling degree of 100% during the time interval Δt3 holds for the in 7 shown example of all cylinders of the internal combustion engine until the occurrence of the bit B zas.

This signals that in the 4-cylinder internal combustion engine only two cylinders are fired torque-forming. In other words, as long as it is set, this bit signals that two cylinders of the internal combustion engine, in 7 the cylinders Z1 and Z3 are either hidden or switched off. To achieve a fresh gas filling in the deactivated cylinders Z1, Z3 is in 7 shown that the cylinders to be turned off later are first blanked out during two injection cycles before they are switched off in a subsequent cycle. In 7 For example, suppression by a thick dot and shutdown by a thick X in a horizontal black bar representing one injection cycle are shown. Basically, it is not necessary that, as in 7 A blanking occurs during two injection cycles before a cylinder is turned off. Basically, for the whereabouts of fresh gas in the deactivated cylinder blanking during the injection cycle immediately before the shutdown. By the name zwbas in 7 it is indicated that the ignition takes place after the setting of the bit B zas with a reduced delta ignition angle, ie with improved ignition angle efficiency. This improved ignition angle efficiency ideally compensates for the contributions made by the suppression of the cylinders Z1 and Z3 to the torque formation of the internal combustion engine. The hidden cylinders reduce the overall efficiency of the internal combustion engine according to 2 because they no longer receive fuel. Even if ignitions occur in this cylinder, as in 7 is shown in the lines for the cylinders Z1 and Z3 by the Zündpfeile after fading, these ignitions cause no more torque, because in them usually (except when there is fuel in the cylinder, for example in the form of a wall film or in Form of unconsumed fuel) only fresh gas, but no flammable air-fuel mixture is ignited.

At the in 7 The first embodiment shown, the cylinder Z1 is finally turned off after he was hidden during two previous injection cycles ES1 and ES2. The beginning of the mechanical shutdown, that is, the time at which necessary preparations for switching off individual cylinders of the internal combustion engine are completed is in 7 symbolized by the set bit B_zashw. At this time, the intake valves of the cylinder or cylinders Z1 and Z3 to be shut off are closed. One stroke later, the exhaust valves of these cylinders are closed; see reference symbols E and A in FIG 7 , In 7 It can also be seen that the cylinders Z0 and Z2 continue to be operated both during the blanking as well as during the shutdown of the cylinders Z1 and Z3. More specifically, they are operated with reduced firing angle, that is, improved firing angle efficiency, indicated by the reference symbol zwbas with increased degree of filling, preferably at an ignition angle efficiency of 100%.

8th shows a second embodiment for preparing and performing a cylinder shutdown in an internal combustion engine with four cylinders Z0, Z1, Z2 and Z3, which is sought in contrast to the first embodiment, that after switching off the cylinders Z1 and Z3 combustion gas in the combustion chambers of the deactivated cylinder remains. For this purpose, the following procedure is proposed according to the invention: First, all the cylinders of the internal combustion engine, as already described above with reference to 7 mentioned, transferred to the elevated stationary filling state and operated there at a reduced to 50% ignition angle efficiency η _ZW . Also in 8th This operating state continues until the bit B_zas is set. Analogous to the first exemplary embodiment, it is also planned in the second exemplary embodiment to switch off the cylinders Z1 and Z3. However, in order to ensure that combustion gas remains in the combustion chamber in the deactivated cylinders Z1 and Z3, it is proposed according to the invention not to shut off the cylinders themselves but the other cylinders Z0 and Z2 of the internal combustion engine in the run-up to the switch-off. Also in 8th the blanking is symbolized by a thick filled dot during an injection stroke represented by a black bar. By this suppression of the two cylinders Z0 and Z2 is first achieved that the Ausblend efficiency according to 2 drops to 50%. However, to keep the power output from the engine constant at 50%, it is then necessary to reduce this waste the Ausblend efficiency by an equal amount of increase the Zündwinkel efficiency, that is to compensate for a reduction of the ignition angle. The firing angle is therefore lowered from the successful blanking and thus increases the efficiency, as indicated by the reference zwbas.

This blanking of the cylinders Z0 and Z2 ensures that the cylinders Z1 and Z3 can still be filled and fueled with fuel during the injection cycles immediately preceding their switch-off, without this resulting in an undesirable increase in the power output by the internal combustion engine; see the hatched clock cycles in 8th , At the end of these clock cycles, the actual shutdown of the cylinders Z1 and Z3 begins, in 8th analogous to 7 indicated by the bit B_zashw. In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, however, combustion gas is now enclosed in the deactivated cylinders Z1 and Z3 as desired, due to the combustion of an air-fuel mixture which has just occurred. The inclusion of the combustion gas is in 8th realized in that almost simultaneously with the setting of the bit B_zashw first the intake valves and one stroke later the exhaust valves of the cylinders Z1 and Z3 are closed; See reference signs E and A. During the deactivation of the cylinders Z1 and Z3, the previously hidden cylinders Z0 and Z2 are reactivated to maintain the desired output of the internal combustion engine.

For the two previously referring to the 7 and 8th described embodiments, it is recommended to keep the time interval between the end of the time interval .DELTA.t2 and the beginning of the blanking of at least one cylinder as short as possible, because the internal combustion engine is operated energetically unfavorable during this time interval. This energetically unfavorable state results from the large fuel supply to all cylinders of the internal combustion engine and from a large waste heat produced, which must be dissipated via an exhaust system with a catalyst of the internal combustion engine to the environment. The transfer of individual cylinders to a blanking state should preferably be completed during said dead time interval during which cylinder shutdown preparations are being made.

In 9 Finally, a third embodiment of the inventive method is shown. It relates to the recommissioning of the cylinders Z1 and Z3 previously deactivated according to the first or the second exemplary embodiment. In 9 a first variant for a possible procedure during the recommissioning is shown. The end of the shutdown will be in 9 by resetting the B_zashw bit. The first variant provides that the cylinders of the internal combustion engine from the reset of this bit in a normal operation of all four cylinders are returned. This reverse transfer is carried out by driving the cylinder in the reverse manner as above for the preparation of the shutdown with reference to the 4 - 6 was explained. Specifically, this means that after resetting the bit B_zashw, all cylinders of the internal combustion engine, ie also the previously deactivated cylinders, are operated at an increased stationary filling level of 100% with simultaneously reduced ignition angle efficiency η _ZW of 50%, as described in US Pat 4 - 5 for the time interval Δt3 has been described. It then takes place a reduction in the degree of filling of all cylinders to 50% with simultaneous increase in the ignition angle efficiency to 100% until the aforementioned normal operation of the internal combustion engine is reached. In 9 This time is symbolized by resetting the bit B zas. The activation of the exhaust valve during the described recirculation is in 9 symbolized by the reference AA. One clock later, the activation of the inlet valve, indicated by the reference EA.

During the just described back transfer of the Internal combustion engine in normal operation can also be a temporary blanking be provided individual cylinder of the internal combustion engine.

The just described method for operating an internal combustion engine is preferably realized in the form of a computer program. This Computer program may optionally be together with additional computer program be stored on a computer-readable medium. at the disk it can be a floppy disk, a compact disc, a so-called Flash memory or the like act. The stored on the disk Computer program can then be transmitted as a product to a customer or sold. A transmission to the customer can also without the aid of the disk via a electronic communication network, in particular the Internet respectively.

Claims (14)

Method for operating an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders (Z0, Z1, Z2, Z3), comprising the following steps: switching off at least one predetermined cylinder (Z1, Z3) of the internal combustion engine, in particular a predetermined cylinder bank, such that that of the internal combustion engine provided torque ment remains at least substantially unchanged before and after switching off the predetermined cylinder; characterized in that before switching off the at least one predetermined cylinder (Z1, Z3), a blanking of suitable cylinders of the internal combustion engine takes place. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that that if after switching off fresh gas in the combustion chamber of the disconnected Cylinder should remain, the blanking at the off Cylinder (Z1, Z3) at least during of that Einspritztaktes takes place, which temporally immediate before the shutdown is. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that that if after shutdown combustion gas in the combustion chamber the deactivated cylinder is to remain, the suppression at at least one of those not affected by the later shutdown Cylinder (Z0, Z2) during at least one injection cycle before switching off. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the suppression of the cylinder to be shut down (Z1, Z3) during a dead time interval between a cylinder stop signal, which initiates the shutdown and the time of the actual shutdown Shutdown (set bit B_zashw) takes place. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that before filling out the following step is performed: increasing the degree of filling of all cylinders of the internal combustion engine in response to the cylinder shutdown signal to a predetermined filling level threshold while reducing the ignition angle efficiency (η _ZW ) of the internal combustion engine so that the torque of the internal combustion engine remains substantially constant. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that that the time period between reaching the filling degree threshold and the actual Start of the blanking of at least one cylinder of the internal combustion engine (set bit B_zas) as possible kept small. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the at least one previously disabled cylinder (Z1, Z3) in response to an end signal (B_zashw) again torque-forming is put into operation. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that the re-commissioning of the previously disabled cylinder is carried out in such a way that all cylinders of the internal combustion engine are initially operated with a degree of filling, which corresponds to the degree of filling threshold, the ignition angle efficiency (η _ZW ) so is greatly reduced that the torque output by the internal combustion engine remains at least substantially constant. A method according to claim 8, characterized in that the degree of filling of all cylinders is subsequently reduced with simultaneous increase in the ignition angle efficiency (η _ZW ) until the ignition angle efficiency is maximum again and the internal combustion engine is operated in a normal mode. Method according to one of claims 7 - 9, characterized that at least one cylinder of the internal combustion engine during the transfer of previously disabled cylinder temporarily hidden in normal operation becomes. Computer program with program code for a control unit Internal combustion engine, characterized in that the computer program is designed to carry out of the method according to any one of claims 1-10. disk, characterized by the computer program of claim 11. control unit for one Internal combustion engine with a plurality of cylinders, wherein the control unit is formed is for controlling the internal combustion engine according to the following steps: Switch off at least one predetermined cylinder (Z1, Z3) of the internal combustion engine, in particular a predetermined cylinder bank, such that the of the engine provided torque even after completed Shutdown of the predetermined cylinder at least substantially unchanged remains; characterized in that the controller continues is formed before switching off the at least one predetermined Cylinder (Z1, Z3) a blanking of suitable cylinder of the internal combustion engine make. Internal combustion engine with a plurality of cylinders, comprising a control unit according to claim 13 for driving the cylinder during operation of the internal combustion engine.