Patent ID: 7174880

Claim:
A method for controlling an internal combustion engine having an air intake tract which comprises at least one inlet pipe leading to an intake duct per cylinder of the internal combustion engine, with at least one exhaust gas duct per cylinder of the internal combustion engine, with at least one first actuator which is disposed in an inlet pipe or in an intake duct or in an exhaust gas duct and influences exchange of gas in a respective cylinder, with further actuators which act upon the internal combustion engine, and with sensors which record the measured variables, comprising: varying the position of at least the first actuator and, in preset selected positions, recording measured variables for determining a first and further estimated quantity, wherein at least the first estimated quantity is determined as a function of an estimated value, or a reading of a setting of the actuator, and of an adjustment value for the estimated value or reading of the setting; performing an optimization procedure by which deviations of at least the first estimated quantity are minimized for preset selected positions by modification of the adjustment value for the estimated value or reading of the setting; and determining at least one correction variable for controlling at least the first actuator as a function of at least one estimated quantity which is determined as a function of the estimated value or a reading of the setting of the actuator and as a function of the adjustment value for the estimated value or reading of the setting.