| CPC F02D 13/06 (2013.01) [F01N 3/023 (2013.01); F02D 41/0002 (2013.01); F02D 41/0005 (2013.01); F02D 41/029 (2013.01); F02D 41/123 (2013.01); F02D 13/0223 (2013.01); F02D 41/12 (2013.01); F02D 2200/0812 (2013.01)] | 16 Claims |

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1. A controller for controlling operation of a direct injection internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber for performing a plurality of operating cycles, the internal combustion engine being configured to exhaust gases through an exhaust system comprising a particulate filter, the controller being configured to:
receive a fuel cut signal indicative of a request to inhibit fuel injection into the combustion chamber;
in dependence on the fuel cut signal, control a fuel supply system to inhibit fuel injection into the combustion chamber to perform one or more fuel cut operating cycle;
determine a particulate loading of the particulate filter in the exhaust system; and
compare the determined particulate loading to a predetermined first loading value;
wherein, during the one or more fuel cut operating cycle, the controller is configured to close an intake valve while the engine is rotated through two or more revolutions to inhibit the introduction of intake gases into the combustion chamber during the one or more fuel cut operating cycle if the comparison determines that the determined particulate loading of the particulate filter is less than the predetermined first loading value.
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