Patent ID: 7934484

Claim:
A method for controlling an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder in which there is embodied a combustion chamber into which fuel is injected in at least two operating modes, wherein a switchover between the operating modes is effected from an initial operating mode to a target operating mode if a predefined switchover condition is met, the method comprising the following steps: a) by means of the predefined switchover condition, performing a check to determine whether a torque-neutral switchover from the initial operating mode to the target operating mode can be achieved within one cylinder segment by means of a variation of at least a first and a second current torque correcting variable that is permissible for the target operating mode, wherein the check includes comparing (a) a torque efficiency value corresponding to a particular value for the first current torque correcting variable with (b) the produce of a maximum torque efficiency value associated with the initial operating mode corrected and a correction factor corresponding to a difference in torque efficiency between the initial and target operating modes, b) if the predefined switchover condition is met, performing a torque-neutral switchover from the initial operating mode to the target operating mode while varying the at least first and second current torque correcting variables, and c) if the predefined switchover condition is not met, maintaining the initial operating mode and at least one of the at least first and second current torque correcting variables and varying at least a third current torque correcting variable in a torque-neutral manner until such time as the switchover condition is fulfilled.