Patent ID: 6910459

Claim:
An internal combustion engine with homogeneous charge compression ignition, said internal combustion engine comprising: an engine block with plural cylinders formed therein and closed at one end by an engine head; a piston mounted within each cylinder defining a main combustion chamber therein and connected to a crankshaft for reciprocating motion rotatably driving the crankshaft; an auxiliary combustion chamber and an inlet passage, formed in the engine head, for each of said plural cylinders, said auxiliary combustion chamber providing an auxiliary volume connected to the main combustion chamber for varying the compression ratio; a combustion control valve for opening and closing communication between the main combustion chamber and the auxiliary combustion chamber to vary the compression ratio for combustion within the main combustion chamber; an inlet valve for opening and closing communication between the main combustion chamber and the inlet passage; means for driving the inlet valve between open and closed positions with rotation of the crankshaft; and controller means for controlling operation of said combustion control valve, independently of angular position of said crankshaft, to vary the compression ratio and providing timing for homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion within the main combustion chamber.