Patent ID: 7845335

Claim:
Method for controlling an internal combustion engine in a spark-assisted homogeneous charge compression ignition mode in a warm-up cycle in an operating region wherein a current engine state comprising an engine speed, an engine load, and an engine temperature indicates a single operating strategy can be utilized throughout the warm-up cycle, the method comprising: operating the engine in the spark-assisted homogeneous charge compression ignition mode; monitoring the engine speed; monitoring the engine load; monitoring the engine temperature; determining that the single operating strategy can be utilized throughout the warm-up cycle based upon the monitored engine speed, the monitored engine load, and the monitored engine temperature; determining settings to operate the engine by interpolating according to the monitored engine temperature between settings to operate the engine at the monitored engine speed and load calibrated at a cold engine temperature and settings to operate the engine at the monitored engine speed and load calibrated at a fully warmed-up engine temperature; and utilizing the determined settings to control operation of the engine.