Engine combustion control using ion sense feedback

An engine, comprising:

• a controller in communication with at least one actuator and at least two spark plugs associated with each cylinder and controlling the actuator such that combustion burn rate indicated by ionization sensing feedback approaches a desired combustion burn rate, wherein the at least one actuator comprises a charge motion control device.

A computer readable storage medium having code representing instructions executable by a microprocessor based controller to control combustion within a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine having at least two spark plugs per cylinder, the computer readable storage medium comprising:

• code that actuates an actuator affecting combustion within a cylinder based on ionization sensing feedback of a previous combustion cycle to control combustion burn rate within the cylinder;
• wherein the code controls relative ignition timing between the at least two spark plugs to control combustion burn rate.

A method for controlling an internal combustion engine having at least two spark plugs per cylinder, the method comprising:

• controlling an actuator affecting combustion within a cylinder so that a combustion burn rate of a selected cylinder as determined by ionization sensing feedback from associated spark plugs approaches a desired combustion burn rate;
• wherein controlling the actuator comprises controlling relative ignition timing between first and second spark plugs associated with the selected cylinder to control the combustion burn rate.

A method for controlling an engine having at least two spark plugs per cylinder, comprising:

• controlling at least one actuator affecting combustion within a cylinder so that a combustion burn rate of a selected cylinder as determined by ionization sensing feedback from associated spark plugs approaches a desired combustion burn rate, wherein controlling comprises controlling at least one actuator to increase charge motion within the selected cylinder to increase combustion burn rate.