Hybrid control of a gasoline direct injection engine

This paper describes an automotive control problem where switching is an essential feature of the operation of a direct injection spark ignition engine. The engine operates in two distinct combustion modes with different emissions and torque characteristics: the homogeneous mode and the stratified mode. The control system must be capable of changing the combustion mode and the air-to-fuel ratio of the engine rapidly and without any noticeable torque disturbance to the driver. A hybrid control scheme is described in this paper to control the mode transitions in this engine and its operation is illustrated with simulations on a mean-value model of the engine