Patent ID: 7540270

Claim:
Method for controlling an internal combustion engine during a transition from a first combustion mode comprising one of a spark-ignition combustion mode and an auto-ignition combustion mode to a second combustion mode comprising the other of the spark-ignition combustion mode and the auto-ignition combustion mode, the internal combustion engine including a controllable throttle valve, a variable valve actuation system for controlling openings and closings of intake and exhaust valves, and, an intake and an exhaust, the method comprising: determining mass airflow, an intake manifold pressure, and a cylinder volume to operate the engine in the second combustion mode and meet an operator torque request; determining current states for mass airflow, intake manifold pressure, and cylinder volume; and, controlling an opening position of the controllable throttle valve and controlling the openings and the closings of the intake and exhaust valves during the transition from the first combustion mode to the second combustion mode based upon differences between the current states for mass airflow, intake manifold pressure, and cylinder volume, and, the mass airflow, the intake manifold pressure, and the cylinder volume to operate the engine in the second combustion mode and meet the operator torque request.