Patent 7347180 was granted and assigned to DAIMLERCHRYSLER AG on March, 2008 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
In a method for operating an internal combustion engine having a variable compression ratio either in a compression ignition or in a spark ignition operating mode depending on the engine operating point, a higher compression ratio is provided in the compression ignition mode than in the spark ignition mode so as to optimize the operation of the internal combustion engine at low and medium engine loads, and to reduce engine emissions.