Abstract: The present invention makes it possible to attain various applications using antifreeze activity without an antifreeze protein. The agent for the inhibition of ice-crystal growth includes a non-proteinaceous substance, wherein an aqueous solution of the non-proteinaceous substance in a concentration of 10 mg/ml causes the deposition of non-flat disk-shaped ice crystals. The agent for the lowering of an ice-crystal growth initiation temperature includes a non-proteinaceous substance, wherein an aqueous solution of the non-proteinaceous substance in a concentration of 10 mg/ml shows thermal hysteresis by a temperature of 0.020° C. or higher. The agent for the control of water freezing includes a non-proteinaceous substance, wherein an aqueous solution of the non-proteinaceous substance in a concentration of 10 mg/ml shows thermal hysteresis by a temperature of 0.020° C. or higher and causes the deposition of non-flat disk-shaped ice crystals.

Abstract: Epitaxially coated silicon wafers, are produced by epitaxially coating a multiplicity of wafers polished at least on their front sides, successively and individually in an epitaxy reactor, by placing a silicon wafer on a susceptor, pretreating under a hydrogen atmosphere followed by addition of an etching medium to the hydrogen atmosphere, coating epitaxially on the polished front side and removing the water from the epitaxy reactor. The susceptor is then heated, in each case, to a temperature of at least 1000° C. under a hydrogen atmosphere, and furthermore an etching treatment of the susceptor and a momentary coating of the susceptor with silicon are effected after a specific number of epitaxial coatings. Silicon wafers characterized by a parameter R30-1 mm of ?10 nm to +10 nm, determined at a distance of 1 mm from the edge of the silicon wafer are produced.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to calibrate an upper pyrometer for indirectly measuring a substrate temperature at the time of epitaxial growth in a comparatively short time and with accuracy to thereby improve the quality of an epitaxial substrate. After calibrating an upper pyrometer by a thermocouple mounted to a temperature calibrating susceptor, a measured value of a lower pyrometer is adjusted to a calibrated value of the upper pyrometer. Then, a correlation line between substrate temperature indirectly measured by the upper pyrometer at the time of epitaxial growth onto a sample substrate and haze of a sample substrate measured immediately after epitaxial growth is set to indirectly measure a substrate temperature by the upper pyrometer at the time of epitaxial growth onto a mass-production substrate.

Abstract: A low-distortion gallium nitride crystal substrate including low dislocation single crystal regions (Z) having a definite c-axis and a definite a-axis, C-plane growth regions (Y) having a c-axis and a-axis parallel to the c-axis and a-axis of the low dislocation single crystal regions (Z), voluminous defect accumulating regions (H) having a c-axis inverse to the c-axis of the low dislocation single crystal regions (Z) and an a-axis parallel with the a-axis of the low dislocation single crystal regions (Z), and 0.1/cm2 to 10/cm2 c-axis gross core regions (F) containing at least one crystal having a c-axis parallel to the c-axis of the low dislocation single crystal regions (Z) and an a-axis different from the a-axis of the low dislocation single crystal regions (Z).

Abstract: A method for epitaxial growth of silicon carbide using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is provided. This method utilizes halogenated carbon precursors and control of the gas-phase interaction of halogen-containing intermediate chemical products involving silicon and carbon, which ensures quality and homogeneity across the silicon carbide crystals. It also ensures a possibility to achieve device-quality epitaxial layers at lower growth temperatures as well as on on-axis or low off-angle substrate surfaces. The growth method can be applied to forming SiC device regions of desirable shape and dimensions by restricting the growth into windows formed in non-silicon carbide region on the top of SiC substrate. Application of the methods described herein will greatly benefit the production of high quality silicon carbide materials and devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for growing a high quality Si single crystal ingot and a Si single crystal ingot and wafer produced thereby. The growth apparatus controls the oxygen concentration of the Si single crystal ingot to various values thereby producing the Si single crystal ingot with high productivity and extremely controlled growth defects.

Abstract: A biochip production apparatus, which forms an array of biopolymers on a substrate, has a substrate moving unit which moves the substrate up, down, left and right, and a plurality of solution supply units which are disposed to be fixed, in which solutions containing biopolymers are stored, which deposit the solutions on the substrate. When the solution supply units deposit the solutions on a predetermined position of the substrate, the substrate moving unit moves the substrate to a predetermined position.

Abstract: A powder spray for lengthy parts includes a booth wall structure comprised primarily of doors. A moveable roof may be raised and lowered to clean powder overspray from the interior surfaces of the booth. A cleaning process may be performed with a sideways extraction mode and a downward extraction mode. The mode change occurs when a bulkhead that travels with the moveable roof blocks the inlet duct to the recovery system. The recovery system may be a cyclone system for example. The doors of the booth are hinged so that they can be positioned for spraying operations and cleaning operations. Live hinge designs are provided and hose stress relief designs are also provided. The roof may carry accumulators for pressurized air that feed cleaning nozzles as the roof descends. In addition, exhaust air may be used to assist cleaning the interior surfaces as the roof descends. All of the energy provided for cleaning and color change may be provided by accumulators.

Abstract: A method for coating, comprising the step of: coating with a coating solution using a slot die the surface of a substrate which is continuously running while being supported by a back-up roller, wherein the slot width d of the slot die is 250 ?m or less and the ratio of the slot length L to the slot width d, L/d, is 300 or more.

Abstract: A substrate transfer system includes a substrate storing apparatus for storing therein one or more substrates; at least one substrate processing apparatus for performing a predetermined processing on the substrate; and a substrate transfer apparatus for transferring the substrate by moving between the substrate storing apparatus and the substrate processing apparatus, the substrate transfer apparatus including at least one substrate transfer unit for supporting the substrate, unloading the substrate from the substrate storing apparatus or the substrate processing apparatus, and loading the substrate into the substrate storing apparatus of the substrate processing apparatus. The substrate transfer apparatus moves while supporting the substrate by the substrate transfer unit.

Abstract: Provided is a film measuring device capable of accurately and easily measuring the thickness of a film formed on a film-like or sheet-like base member of an object under test. A color CCD sensor 8 shoots the object under test. A video board 11 converts a color tone of a color image signal concerning the film obtained by the image pickup into gradation data of respective color components of RGB. Then, an image processing board 12 extracts line images of the respective color components. A calculator 14 obtains the thickness of the film of the object under test by referring to pre-measured film thickness reference values corresponding to the gradation data of the green or blue color component, which are stored in a table storage 13 as reference thickness table data, using the gradation data of the line image of the green or blue color component as lookup data.

Abstract: A CVD apparatus includes a vertical boat extending in a vertical direction and capable of holding plural substrates in a horizontal state such that the substrates are aligned in the vertical direction, an inner tube extending in the vertical direction and provided so as to surround the boat laterally, an outer tube surrounding the inner tube laterally from outside, the outer tube further covering a top part of the inner tube, a flange holding the inner tube and outer tube at respective bottom ends thereof, gas introducing nozzles provided on a flange sidewall at two locations thereof, the gas introducing nozzles introducing gases from outside to an interior of the inner tube at respective gas ejection ports, and a gas evacuation part evacuating a gas in the outer tube to outside thereof, wherein there is provided a guide part in the vicinity of the gas ejection ports of the gas introducing nozzles such that the gases ejected from the respective gas ejection ports are caused to flow generally parallel to a bot

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention relate to techniques for enhancing uniformity of plasma-based semiconductor processing. In one technique, the exterior of a plasma-based processing chamber features a series of substantially continuous plates composed of a material exhibiting a low permeability to magnetic fields. This high-? shielding material is utilized to block exposure of a plasma within the chamber to the effects of external magnetic fields. Embodiments in accordance with the present invention are effective to shield plasma-based processing chambers from external magnetic fields originating from adjacent clustered chambers, and/or from the earth's geomagnetic field.

Abstract: A production apparatus, which enable the efficient production of a discrete type magnetic recording medium, while reliably preventing any deterioration of the partitioned recording elements.

Abstract: A stabilizing system for a plasma process is provided. The system has a high frequency power source, a plasma chamber, a control circuit for outputting a control signal, first switch element and an impedance matching network. The first switch element has a first, a second and a first switch control terminals, wherein the first and the first switch control terminals are coupled to the control circuit to determines whether the first and the second terminals element are connected or not according to the control signal. The impedance matching network has a first terminal coupled to the plasma chamber, a second terminal coupled to the high frequency power source and a matching control terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first switch element. In this way, whether an impedance matching auto-tune operation for the high frequency power is performed or not is determined based on the control signal.

Abstract: A coil has an integral fastener portion to facilitate fastening the coil to a shield wall to reduce generation of particulates.

Abstract: In the present invention, Ar gas for plasma generation is supplied to a plasma generation region and butyne gas having a multiple bond is supplied to a film formation region at a substrate side as source gas, inside of a process vessel in an insulating film forming apparatus. A microwave is supplied inside of the process vessel from a radial line slot antenna under a state in which a bias voltage is not applied to a substrate W. A plasma is thereby generated in the plasma generation region, the butyne gas in the film formation region is activated by the plasma, and an insulating film of amorphous carbon is formed on the substrate.

Abstract: A substrate support assembly and method for dechucking a substrate is provided. In one embodiment, a support assembly includes a substrate support having a support surface, a first set of lift pins and one or more other lift pins movably disposed through the substrate support. The first set of lift pins and the one or more lift pins project from the support surface when the pins are in an actuated position. When in the actuated position, the first set of lift pins project a longer distance from the support surface than the one or more other lift pins. In another aspect of the invention, a method for dechucking a substrate from a substrate support is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of projecting a first set of lift pins a first distance above a surface of a substrate support, and projecting a second set of lift pins a second distance above the surface of the substrate support that is less than the first distance.

Abstract: A gas driven apparatus and method that can be useful for growing crystalline materials are provided. The gas driven rotation apparatus can include one or more rotatable substrate support members, each of which can be configured to support at least one substrate having a growth surface oriented in a downwardly facing position. The gas driven rotation apparatus can further include one or more drive gas channels adapted to direct the flow of a drive gas to rotate the substrate support member. One or more substrates can be positioned in the apparatus so that the growth surface of each substrate is downwardly oriented. A drive gas can flow through the drive gas channel to rotate the substrate. During rotation, reactant gases can be introduced to contact the downwardly facing growth surface, and epitaxial layers of a crystalline material can thereby be grown in a downward direction.

Abstract: An animal bed comprising a bottom sheet and a plurality of top sheets. The bottom sheet and top sheets defining openings and crawl spaces accessible via the openings.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices and methods for tracking animals. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention provide a method of tracking an animal that includes assigning an animal identification to a first animal, collecting a biological sample from the first animal and associating the first animal with each premises at which the first animal is located. The invention further provides an identification device that includes a tag portion and a sample portion. The tag portion can be configured to be attached to animal in any method known in the art. The sample portion can be detachably coupled to the tag portion and can include a biological collector that can collect a biological sample from the animal.

Abstract: A décor piece for a pet habitat is formed from a semiprecious gemstone or mineral such as calcite or amethyst which is mined and processed to provide a shiny (polished) piece having at least one characteristic dimension of between 3 and 20 inches. The décor piece is supplied to a wholesale or retail outlet for sale to the public as a décor piece for a pet habitat such as an aquatic or reptile habitat.

Abstract: A pet toy is provided that is especially adapted for tug-of-war play between a pet owner and animal. The pet toy includes a pair of halves or parts with a handle on each part. A hinge interconnects the pair of parts. The hinge is configured in a shape and made of a material such that a desired amount of torque can be transmitted from one end of the pet toy to another when the pet owner and animal engage in a tug-of-war action. The handle is configured and made of material that minimizes damage to the teeth and gums of the animal's mouth, and also reduces discomfort to the hand of the pet owner. The handles are arranged substantially perpendicular to a direction of longitudinal pull which occurs in the tug-of-war action.

Abstract: A method and device for obtaining livestock saliva samples is described. An absorbent material is mounted in an animal pen such that the animal voluntarily mouths the material, thereby depositing saliva in the material. The saliva can then be extracted from the absorbent material and tested as desired.

Abstract: Dog toys, some of a type including a rope and others not including a rope, include a biting object with a hollow interior cavity within a bounceable shell made of a tough resilient material, the biting object having at least one squeaker device within the cavity. The squeaker device within the cavity is either flush-mounted at the outer surface of the biting object or is entirely enclosed therein. Some embodiments are tug toys in which the rope extends into the cavity through a single rope opening in the shell and terminates within the cavity. The shell of the biting object preferably has a outer surface with a felt-like cover and most preferably forms a sphere.

Abstract: An animal noise protector is disclosed, suitable for placement on the animal's head, over the ears. Two noise-blocking members, suitably sized so as fit comfortably and snugly over the animal's ears and against the sides of the animal's head, are joined by at least one connecting strap that is easily adjustable via hook or loop material located on the noise-blocking members. An adjustable neck strap also connects the noise-blocking members.

Abstract: A fuel-fired commercial water heater has upper and lower communicated tank portions which are separated by a plenum forming a vertically intermediate portion of a dual pass condensing type heat exchanger. A lower portion of the heat exchanger is defined by a series of vertical flue tubes extending through the lower tank and intercommunicating the plenum with a combustion chamber disposed beneath the lower tank and having a fuel burner with a discharge portion communicated therewith. An upper portion of the heat exchanger is defined by a vertical flue pipe, disposed in the upper tank, that extends upwardly from the plenum and then coils downwardly around itself and horizontally exits the upper tank. During firing of water heater the burner flows flue gases sequentially through the lower tank flue tubes, the plenum, and the upper tank coiled flue pipe structure.

Abstract: A water heater comprising a closed tank having a water inlet for connection with a water supply, and a hot water outlet connected to the tank interior; a flue pipe extending vertically through the tank and having an upper portion for connection with a vent pipe; a cylinder having a lower end and upper open end with means for opening disposed within the flue pipe, and spaced from inner walls of the flue pipe, and extending substantially the length of the flue pipe; a burner disposed in a lower region of the cylinder, such that combustion products from the burner rise through the cylinder; and a water conducing coil disposed within the cylinder connected with the interior of the tank.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a vaporizer with positive liquid shut-off. In one illustrative embodiment, the vaporizer is comprised of a body, a liquid inlet and a carrier gas inlet coupled to the body, a nozzle positioned within the body, the nozzle having at least one opening formed therethrough that defines a vaporized liquid exit, and a positive shut-off valve, a portion of which is adapted to engage the vaporized liquid exit of the nozzle. In another illustrative embodiment, the vaporizer is comprised of a body, a liquid inlet and a carrier gas inlet coupled to-the body and a plurality of peltier cells coupled to the body.

Abstract: In a coolant circuit for an internal combustion engine having two cylinder banks, a radiator for cooling the engine coolant, a pump and a thermostatic valve including a mixing chamber and first and second flow control valves, wherein the pump is connected to the radiator via an intake line for receiving coolant therefrom and supplying it to the cylinder banks which are in communication with the mixing chamber from which a radiator line extends to the radiator for returning heated coolant to the radiator under the control of a flow control valve, or supplying it via a bypass line to the intake line under the control of a bypass valve, a heating circuit is provided extending from one of the cylinder banks via a heater to the pump intake line and a heater control valve is disposed in the heating control circuit so that, upon opening of the heater valve, coolant flows from the other cylinder bank via the mixing chamber to the one cylinder bank and coolant from both cylinder banks jointly flows through the heating

Abstract: The present invention provides a generator cooling system of an engine which can supply a sufficient cooling oil to a generator even at a time of a low speed operation, without complicating an oil passage formed within a wall of a crank case. In the generator cooling system of the engine having a generator accommodated in a generator room which is formed at an end portion of the crank case in a longitudinal direction of a crank shaft of the engine, the generator cooling system is provided with an oil passage formed to the crank case in a lower position than an axis of the crank shaft, and an oil nozzle for provided in the oil passage injecting oil of the oil passage toward a lower portion within the generator room.

Abstract: A fan (16) draws air through a core (14) of a radiator (10) to which coolant from coolant passages in an engine (12) rejects heat. A shroud (28) having first and second parts (30, 32) in axial succession channels air that has been drawn through the core toward the fan. The first part (30) is a non-elastomeric ring, and the second part (32) has an elastomeric ring (34) having opposite axial ends, one of which telescopically fits to the non-elastomeric ring of the first part (30) and the other of which joins with a second non-elastomeric ring (36).

Abstract: The engine comprises a housing, a rotor having a driven shaft fastened thereon, which is mounted on the bearings spaced coaxially apart in the opposite sides of the housing and rotates about its axis of rotation and has a pair radially opposite cylinders spaced in the body of the rotor eccentrically and equidistantly relative to its axis of rotation. One radially outer end of each cylinder is closed by the wall and the other end is closed by piston which slides within the cylinder. Gas intake and gas exhaust may take place through the ducts in the body of the rotor extending from the cylinders to the inner pipe port of the driven shaft. There is a rotary ring mounted on the bearings spaced coaxially apart in the opposite sides of the housing. It rotates about its axis of rotation spaced apart from the rotor axis by an eccentricity and being impelled to rotate in the same direction and with the same velocity relative to the rotor by pins of the rotor.

Abstract: A direct-injection internal combustion engine includes a variable-exhaust-valve control device for controlling value timing of a variable exhaust valve through which the combustion chamber of an engine cylinder communicates with an exhaust path. The variable-exhaust-value control device retards the opening timing of the variable exhaust value to a retard side when the fuel is injected during a compression stroke or an expansion stroke while the direct-injection internal combustion engine is operating in a cold-start state.

Abstract: A controller for a plant that can compensate for non-linear property and reduce oscillation of output of a controlled object even when the controlled object has high non-linear property is provided. The present invention provides a controller for a plant that uses PWM algorithm. The device calculates provisional control input for controlling output of the plant at a target value, and divides the provisional control input into a plurality of components. The controller PWM-modulates at least one of the plurality of components, and sums the PWM-modulated component and other components to produce a control input to the plant. The controller minimizes variations in input while maintaining the ability of PWM modulation to compensate for non-linear property of the plant.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compact variable valve operating device that is capable of mechanically changing the operating characteristic of a valve. The rotation motion of a camshaft is input to the valve via a swing member. A slide surface is formed on the swing member. Intermediate members are positioned in contact with both the slide surface and drive cam surface. A support member for supporting the intermediate members is mounted on a control member. The control member can rotate in relation to the camshaft and is interlocked with a control shaft via rotation interlock mechanisms. When the control member rotates in coordination with the rotation of the control shaft, the intermediate members move along the drive cam surface and slide surface. The operating characteristic of the valve then changes in coordination with a positional change of the intermediate members.

Abstract: In a variable valve apparatus according to the present invention, a direction of a maximum load generated during valve lift at an oscillating fulcrum of a transmission arm with respect to a control shaft and a rotating direction when the control shaft is varied from the valve lift side to the low-valve lift side are set in the same direction. Consequently, the control shaft is made to easily oscillate in the direction from the high valve lift side to the low valve lift side.

Abstract: A rotor-locking mechanism for a vane-type camshaft phaser. A locking pin is disposed in the rotor and is permitted to travel into a well in either the rear cover or the front cover of the phaser. The pin is urged into the well by a return spring, and the end of the pin end is exposed to oil pressure for unlocking the pin. A first channel is provided between the advance-oil feed and the end of the pin, and a second channel is provided between the retard-oil feed and the end of the pin. The channels may be formed in either of the covers. The pin is unlocked whenever a predetermined oil pressure is exceeded in either the advance or retard oil feeds, permitting the pin to be unlocked through most modes of engine operation and to be locked only under specific predetermined low-pressure conditions, such as during engine starting.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (101) for varying the control times of gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine, with a hydraulic actuation device (102) and with a control valve (103). The device (101) according to the invention is provided with mid-position locking of a hydraulic actuation device (102). Furthermore, the device (101) according to the invention ensures that, in the event of the failure of an actuation unit (112) which regulates the control valve (103), the hydraulic actuation device (102) is locked in the mid-position and the lock is maintained until the actuation unit (112) is repaired. Furthermore, the device (101) according to the invention makes it possible to start the internal combustion engine in a position locked in a mid-position, without a movable element (105) of the hydraulic actuation device (102) butting against a side wall of a pressure space (104) when the internal combustion engine is started.

Abstract: There is provided a method of starting a spark ignition engine having multiple cylinders. The method comprises supplying air and fuel for restart into a first cylinder before the engine completely stops, and igniting the mixture of the air and the fuel in the first cylinder in response to an engine start request. In accordance with the method, by supplying air and fuel into the first cylinder before the engine completely stops, the mixture of air and fuel in the first cylinder may be homogeneous at the time of the engine start request. Also, there may be less mixture turbulence and combustion may propagate better within the cylinder. These conditions may reduce the rate of combustion in the first cylinder after a start request is initiated. The slower combustion rate may decrease temperature of the combusted gas while the cylinder wall temperature is relatively low because the engine has stopped.

Abstract: An engine control device that controls, using a microprocessor, a fuel injection device including an injector and a fuel pump, and a starter motor that starts an engine, including: first fuel pump driving means for driving the fuel pump only during set time at power-on of the microprocessor; and first fuel injection control means for causing the injector to perform first fuel injection before driving of the starter motor when it is confirmed that the driving of the fuel pump by the first fuel pump driving means is completed and that a start command for commanding the start of the engine is given.

Abstract: A cylinder head structure for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine that is mounted on a vehicle so that a cylinder alignment direction goes along a front-rear direction of the vehicle comprises a cylinder head side wall, an upper deck, and a rib. The cylinder head side wall projects on a periphery of the cylinder head and is provided along the cylinder alignment direction. The upper deck is formed on the cylinder head so as to be positioned between portions of the cylinder head side wall, wherein the upper deck further includes an oil return hole formed near a portion of the cylinder head side wall. The rib extends in a width direction of the cylinder head and is formed on the upper deck in a rear side of the oil return hole.

Abstract: A piston for internal combustion engine has both fatigue strength and wear resistance without increased production cost. At least one of a combustion chamber surface, a skirt rib, a pin boss rib which connects a pin boss and a crown, a lower portion of the pin boss casting surface, and a surface layer including the casting surface is a first eutectic structure in which primary crystal Si does not crystallize. A top ring groove and a pin holing of a piston pin are finished surfaces obtained by eliminating the surface layer by means of machining. The layer including the finished surface is a second eutectic structure in which the primary crystal Si crystallizes.

Abstract: The invention provides an engine for a vehicle which can easily execute a replacing work of an oil filter or an oil cooler. The vehicle engine is provided with a crank case, a cylinder head having an exhaust passage outlet in a front face, an oil pan being independently formed from the crank case and attached to a lower surface of the crank case, an oil supply path communicating the oil pan with of lubricated positions of the engine so as to circulate oil in the oil pan, an oil pump drawing the oil from the oil pan and pressure feeding the oil to the lubricated positions via the oil supply path, and an oil filter or an oil cooler interposed in the middle of the oil supply path and attached to a front face, a side face or a rear face of the oil pan.

Abstract: Procedure to operate a combustion motor in the event of damage, whereby the thermoelectric voltage of a lubricant interruption on parts moving relative to each other and made of different, electrically conducting materials, is used to initiate an alarm signal, in that upon the appearance of such an alarm signal at least one operating parameter of the combustion engine is changed until the alarm extinguishes and the combustion motor is then further operated in a reduced operational state.

Abstract: The orbital engine or pump comprising of drive train, having several elliptical gears each rotating around focal point with focal distance defined as function of minimum vanes opening, and toroidal cylinders each having inside two impellers with radial vanes continuously rotating with oscillation through a series of identical elliptical gears with one gear on each impeller shaft and second gears in mesh located on input/output shaft out of phase allowing synchronization of cycles performed in each chamber inside toroidal cylinders positioned planetary to input/output shaft. Some of the chambers could be selectively allocated to perform suction, compression, vacuum and combustion with air, gas, steam and liquid media through efficient internal rotary valves attached to impellers or housing and in most cases, eliminating the need for external valving.

Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber with a piston and a spark plug, when transitioning between spark ignition combustion and autoignition combustion, creating a first mixture of air and fuel, adjusting an operating condition of the engine so that said first mixture of air and fuel in the combustion chamber approaches, but does not achieve, the autoignition temperature, and performing a spark from the spark plug so that at least a portion of said first mixture combusts to raise a remaining portion of said first mixture to said autoignition temperature.

Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber with a piston, comprising of adjusting an operating parameter of the engine so that a mixture of air and fuel in the combustion chamber approaches, but does not achieve, an autoignition temperature, and performing a spark from the spark plug so that said second mixture combusts; adjusting a timing of said spark from the spark plug; and adjusting an operating parameter to increase a correlation between said adjusted spark timing and timing of said combustion.

Abstract: A control apparatus of an engine having a compression ignition combustion mode and a spark ignition combustion mode selects the spark ignition combustion mode when operation conditions fall within a spark ignition operation area set in a spark ignition operation area/compression ignition operation area setting map memory part and selects the compression ignition combustion mode when the operation conditions fall within a switching stable area set in the memory part upon operation by the spark ignition combustion mode. The control apparatus controls to continue the compression ignition combustion mode as long as the operation conditions fall within a compression ignition operation area set in the memory part upon operation by the compression ignition combustion mode.

Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber with a piston is disclosed. The method comprising during a first mode, adjusting an operating condition of the engine so that a first mixture of air and fuel in the combustion chamber attains an autoignition temperature and therefore combusts without performing a spark from the spark plug; and during a second mode, adjusting said operating condition of the engine so that a second mixture of air and fuel in the combustion chamber approaches, but does not achieve, said autoignition temperature; and performing a spark from the spark plug after top dead center of piston position so that said second mixture combusts.