US Patent 7503312 Differential torque operation for internal combustion engine

A method of operating an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders including at least a first cylinder and a second cylinder, the method comprising firing the first cylinder and the second cylinder in an alternating sequence; during a first mode, adjusting an operating parameter of the engine to produce a first difference between an amount of torque produced by the firing of the first cylinder and an amount of torque produced by the firing of the second cylinder; during a second mode, adjusting the operating parameter of the engine to produce a second difference between an amount of torque produced by the firing of the first cylinder and an amount of torque produced by the firing of the second cylinder; and performing the first mode at a higher engine speed than the second mode; wherein the first difference is greater than the second difference.