Patent ID: 8800532

Claim:
A method of controlling knocking in an internal-combustion engine ( 1 ) equipped with a plurality of cylinders ( 2 ), a plurality of inlet valves ( 6 ) of the cylinders ( 2 ), and a device ( 11 ) to control opening of the inlet valves ( 6 ), wherein the method comprises steps of: calculating, for each combustion of each of the cylinders ( 2 ), a knocking index (I KN ) representing a level of knocking of the combustion; comparing the knocking index (I KN ) with a first threshold value (S 1 ) that indicates a maximum acceptable knocking; determining presence of knocking in the cylinders ( 2 ) when the knocking index (I KN ) exceeds the first threshold value (S 1 ); comparing the knocking index (I KN ) with a second threshold value (S 2 ) that indicates presence of “megaknock” events; determining the presence of the “megaknock” events in the cylinders ( 2 ) when the knocking index (I KN ) exceeds the second threshold value (S 2 ); reducing a mass of air sucked into the cylinder ( 2 ) in which the knocking occurs by acting on the device ( 11 ) for the control of the opening of valves that controls the inlet valves ( 6 ) while reducing an ignition advance in the cylinder ( 2 ) in which the knocking occurs; and making, in the cylinder ( 2 ) in which the “megaknock” occurs, a decrease in an amount of the air sucked by acting on the device ( 11 ) for the control of the opening of the valves that controls the inlet valves ( 6 ) without carrying out any work on the ignition advance.