Patent ID: 7204228

Claim:
A method of operating a spark-ignition internal combustion engine ( 10 ) with direct fuel injection, comprising the steps of: supplying a combustion chamber ( 18 ) with combustion air; injecting, in a pilot injection, a first fuel quantity into the combustion chamber ( 18 ) during an intake stroke of the internal combustion engine ( 10 ) so as to form with said pilot injection (M H ) a homogeneous, lean air/fuel mixture (λ>1) in substantially the entire combustion chamber ( 18 ); injecting subsequently, in a main injection (M S ), a second fuel quantity in into the combustion chamber ( 18 ) directly before the ignition time (ZT) such that said main injection (M S ) forms a stratified, rich air/fuel mixture (λ<1) in the region of the spark plug ( 26 ), and igniting the air/fuel mixture by means of a spark plug ( 26 ) at a predetermined ignition time (ZT), said main injection (M S ) being carried out as a multiple injection with a plurality of stratified injections in rapid succession, the end of the first stratified injection of the main injection (M S ) occurring at approximately 2° CA to 10° CA before the ignition time (ZT).