Patent ID: 8272361

Claim:
A method of optimizing a running smoothness of an internal combustion engine by equalizing a torque contribution of a plurality of cylinders of the internal combustion engine, the method comprising: upon evaluation of an uneven running signal, ascertaining a correction value for a fuel quantity to inject in each of the plurality of cylinders during a lean operation of the internal combustion engine in order to equalize the cylinders; injecting a fuel quantity into a combustion chamber of a respective cylinder in at least one injection based on the ascertained correction value, wherein the at least one injection contributes to a torque of the internal combustion engine; upon evaluation of a running smoothness signal, injecting an after-injection of fuel into the combustion chamber of the respective cylinder during a power stroke, wherein the after- injection of fuel is injected in a torque-neutral manner, wherein a fuel amount of the after-injection is assessed such that an exhaust gas has a stoichiometric air/fuel mixture.