Patent ID: 8347849

Claim:
System for operating a direct-injection internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders each individually selectively operable in a homogeneous charge compression ignition mode and a spark ignition mode, the system comprising: the engine; and a control module: estimating a future state of the engine including a future speed of the engine and a future load of the engine; determining an average load per cylinder based upon the future load of the engine; determining if the future state the engine is within an unacceptable operating region of engine speed and load whereat spark ignition mode operation produces a predetermined unacceptable level of combustion stability and homogeneous charge compression ignition mode operation produces a predetermined unacceptable level of engine ringing; and when the future state the engine is within the unacceptable operating region of engine speed and load, controlling individual cylinders in the homogeneous charge compression ignition mode and controlling individual cylinders in the spark ignition mode to unevenly distribute load among the cylinders.