Patent ID: 6371076
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: F02D,F02P,Y02T

Abstract:
An apparatus for controlling combustion in an engine that produces power by burning a mixture of air and fuel in a combustion chamber, wherein the engine performs a mode of combustion selected from a plurality of combustion modes, the combustion modes being stratified-charge combustion, in which the mixture is distributed in a concentrated manner in the combustion chamber, and homogeneous-charge combustion, in which the mixture is distributed in a homogeneous manner in the combustion chamber, wherein the apparatus comprises:a controller for switching the combustion mode to stratified-charge combustion when the running area and switching the combustion mode to homogeneous-charge combustion when the running area of the engine is outside the stratified-charge combustion running area; and a detector for detecting knocking; wherein the controller includes: means for retarding the ignition timing to suppress knocking in accordance with the value detected by the detector; and means for reducing the stratified-charge combustion running area to limit the stratified-charge combustion in accordance with the value detected by the detector.