The fuel pump control system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) for
controlling the discharge capacity of a plunger type high pressure fuel
pump driven by a driving cam connected to the camshaft of an engine. The
engine is provided with a variable valve timing device for controlling
valve timing of the engine by adjusting the rotation phase of the camshaft
relative to the crankshaft. The pump is provided with a suction valve.
When the open/close timing of the suction valve changes, the effective
discharge stroke of the pump and, thereby the discharge capacity of the
pump changes. The ECU estimates the change in the valve timing of the
engine during the effective discharge stroke of the pump before the
effective discharge stroke starts, and adjusts the open/close timing of
the suction valve in accordance with the estimated change in the valve
timing so that the discharge capacity of the pump becomes a target
discharge capacity regardless of the change in the valve timing of the
engine.