US 7,320,300 B2
Multi-stroke cylinder operation in an internal combustion engine
Donald J. Lewis, Howell, Mich. (US); John D. Russell, Portland, Oreg. (US); Nate Trask, Dearborn, Mich. (US); and Thomas W. Megli, Dearborn, Mich. (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies LLC, Dearborn, Mich. (US)
Filed on Dec. 27, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/647,043.
Application 11/647043 is a division of application No. 10/805645, filed on Mar. 19, 2004, granted, now 7,194,993.
Prior Publication US 2007/0107687 A1, May 17, 2007
Int. Cl. F02N 17/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 123—179.16 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for starting an internal combustion engine of a hybrid-electric vehicle having a controller, the engine having at least a valve that may be held in a position for a cycle of a cylinder, the method comprising:
deactivating a cylinder in said engine in response to a signal from the controller of the hybrid-electric vehicle;
closing at least an exhaust valve of at least the cylinder in said engine in response to a request to start said engine from the controller of the hybrid-electric vehicle;
opening said exhaust valve after a combustion event in said cylinder; and
varying a number or spatial pattern of operating valves in at least a cylinder of said engine after said combustion event.