Abstract: A system for controlling intake airflow of an engine includes a mode determination module, a throttle valve control module, and a valve actuation module. The mode determination module generates a mode signal based on an engine speed signal and an engine load signal. The mode signal indicates one of a spark ignition mode and a homogeneous charge compression ignition mode. The throttle valve control module generates a valve control signal based on the mode signal, a temperature signal, and a plurality of valve position signals that indicate positions of first and second throttle valves. The throttle valve control module controls the positions of the first and second throttle valves to regulate flow rates of intake air into an intake manifold of the engine via a heat exchanger based on the valve control signal. The valve actuation module actuates the first and second throttle valves based on the valve control signal.

Abstract: An engine control system for a homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine includes a position determination module, a position correction module, and a valve control module. The position determination module determines an initial position of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve based on a predetermined function of a desired EGR flow, intake manifold pressure, exhaust manifold pressure, and exhaust gas temperature. The position correction module determines a position correction for the EGR valve based on pressure in a cylinder of the HCCI engine. The valve control module commands the EGR valve to the initial position during a transition from spark ignition (SI) combustion to HCCI combustion, and commands the EGR valve to a final position within a predetermined period after the transition, wherein the final position includes a sum of the initial position and the position correction.

Abstract: A control system and method for operating an engine includes a threshold determination module that determines a plurality of combustion mode thresholds based on the engine speed and engine temperature. The control module also includes a transition module that compares the engine load and the plurality of combustion mode thresholds and changes a combustion mode of the engine in response to comparing the engine load and the plurality of combustion mode thresholds.

Abstract: An engine control system for a homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine includes a fuel injector temperature determination module and a fuel injector control module. The fuel injector temperature determination module determines a temperature of a tip of a fuel injector based on a first temperature model when the HCCI engine is operating in an HCCI combustion mode, and determines the temperature of the tip of the fuel injector based on a second temperature model when the HCCI engine is operating in a spark ignition (SI) combustion mode. The fuel injector control module controls a fuel injector pulse width based on the determined temperature and a predetermined temperature threshold, wherein the fuel injector pulse width increases when the determined temperature is greater than the predetermined temperature threshold.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling an engine includes a homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) mode control module that operates an engine in HCCI mode and a condition monitor module that monitors operating conditions of the engine. The control module also includes a condition predictor module that generates a first predicted condition of a catalyst in response to the operating conditions of the engine. A comparison module compares the first predicted condition to a first threshold. A spark injection mode control module operates the engine in a spark injection mode in response to comparing.

Abstract: A control system and method for operating an engine includes an HCCI mode control module operating an engine in a homogeneous charge compression (HCCI) mode. The control system also includes a difference module determining an actual difference between a desired torque amount and a spark ignition (SI) threshold. An SI mode control module operates the engine in a SI state when the actual difference is above a threshold band. A HCCI mode control module operates the engine in the HCCI mode for a predetermined time when the actual difference is within the torque threshold band. The HCCI mode control module operates the engine in the HCCI mode when the actual difference is below the torque threshold band.

Abstract: A control system and method for operating an engine includes a transition module that commands engine control from a first homogeneous charge compression (HCCI) mode to a second HCCI mode. The control system also includes a fuel delivery module that operates the engine in a stratified charge operation mode after commanding engine control from the first HCCI mode to the second HCCI mode and discontinues the stratified charge operation thereafter.

Abstract: An engine control system comprises a ringing index (RI) determination module, a fueling threshold determination module, and a combustion mode determination module. The ringing index (RI) determination module determines an RI value of a cylinder of an engine and compares the RI value and a predetermined RI threshold. The fueling threshold determination module determines a fueling threshold and adjusts the fueling threshold based on the comparison of the RI value and the RI threshold. The combustion mode determination module selects a combustion mode for the engine based on a comparison of a current fueling rate and the fueling threshold.

Abstract: The fuel injection system includes a fuel injector that injects fuel directly into a combustion chamber of a cylinder of an engine. The control module initiates multiple fuel injections in a combustion chamber during a combustion cycle of the cylinder via the fuel injector.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling an engine includes a homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) operating zone boundary module determining a first HCCI operating boundary and a fuel rate module determining a first fuel rate from an operator input. The system also includes a switch module modifying the first HCCI operating boundary to a modified boundary in response to a measured mass airflow, cam positions and the first HCCI operating boundary. The system also includes a combustion control module operating the engine in a spark ignited mode when a second fuel rate request is outside the modified boundary.

Abstract: An engine control system includes a cam phaser that introduces a cam phase angle ? between a camshaft intake lobe and an associated crankshaft. An engine control module communicates with the cam phaser to introduce the cam phase angle ? while an engine is being started. The cam phase angle ? is selected such that the camshaft intake lobe opens an intake valve during at least a portion of a compression stroke of a cylinder that is associated with the camshaft intake lobe.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is selectively operative in a spark ignition combustion mode and a controlled auto-ignition combustion mode. An EGR valve operative to control flow of exhaust gas to an intake manifold is monitored, including commanding the EGR valve to a closed position and monitoring operation of the internal combustion engine. An intake manifold pressure due to a fresh air charge is estimated based upon the operation of the engine. The intake manifold pressure is measured, and the estimated intake manifold pressure is compared to the measured intake manifold pressure.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling an engine includes a spark ignition (SI) control module operating the engine in a spark ignition mode in a high lift valve state and a pre-HCCI control module entering a matching state when homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) mode conditions are met. When a matching condition is met, the pre-HCCI control module enters a pre-homogeneous charge compression ignition mode and performs spark retardation, stratified operation or lean operation and commands a low lift valve state. The system also includes an HCCI control module entering an HCCI mode and when in the low lift valve state.

Abstract: An engine control system comprises a ringing index (RI) determination module and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) control module. The RI determination module determines at least one RI based on at least one pressure in at least one cylinder. The EGR control module actuates an EGR valve based on the RI.

Abstract: A fuel injection system for a direct fuel injection engine is provided. The system includes an injection mode module that selects a fuel injection mode to be one of a single injection mode and a dual injection mode during engine operation and a fuel injection command module that commands fuel injection events based on a crankshaft position, the fuel injection mode and a fuel percentage blending schedule.

Abstract: A control system and method for operating an engine includes a spark ignited (SI) control module controlling the engine in a spark ignited mode, a pre-homogeneous charge compression (HCCI) module controlling the engine in an HCCI mode after the spark ignited mode, and an HCCI module controlling the engine in an HCCI mode after the pre-HCCI mode. The SI module controls the engine in the SI mode after the HCCI mode.

Abstract: A method for transitioning a spark-ignition direct injection internal combustion engine between a controlled auto-ignition combustion mode and a homogeneous spark-ignition combustion mode includes operating the engine in a stratified-charge spark-ignition combustion mode during the transitioning.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling an engine includes a spark ignition (SI) control module operating the engine in a spark ignition mode in a high lift valve state and a pre-HCCI control module entering a matching state when homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) mode conditions are met. When a matching condition is met, the pre-HCCI control module enters a pre-homogeneous charge compression ignition mode and performs spark retardation, stratified operation or lean operation and commands a low lift valve state. The system also includes an HCCI control module entering an HCCI mode and when in the low lift valve state.

Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine having a plurality of controllable engine actuators includes operating the engine in a first combustion mode using a first control scheme while simultaneously simulating operating the engine in a second combustion mode using a second control scheme and in accordance with simulated control settings for the plurality of controllable engine actuators, and transitioning operation of the engine to the second combustion mode using the second control scheme and initially in accordance with the simulated control settings for the plurality of controllable engine actuators.

Abstract: Transitioning between combustion modes includes an intermediate combustion mode. Transitions are controlled in accordance with a preferred fuel mass and permissible fuel mass ranges corresponding to changing intake airflow.