Patent ID: 8155846

Claim:
A control method for controlling an internal combustion power train comprising an engine having an engine block containing rotary members and comprising a crankcase, and a cylinder head in which a number of cylinders are formed; the control method comprising the steps of: determining the intensity of acoustic noise even in the non-audible range generated by the power train, the determining step performed using an acoustic sensor housed in a control unit, the acoustic sensor and the control unit being physically separate from and not in contact with the engine block so that the acoustic sensor receives the acoustic noise as pressure waves propagating through the air that surrounds the engine block, and the determining step including the acoustic sensor providing data output to the control unit, the data output indicating an intensity of the acoustic noise; receiving the data output including the intensity of the acoustic noise from the acoustic sensor; the control unit processing the data corresponding to the intensity of the acoustic noise in frequency domain to extract operating quantities representing phenomena occurring in the powertrain; and controlling operation of the engine using the data output by means of the control unit, which is physically separate from the engine block and houses the acoustic sensor.