Patent ID: 7637248

Claim:
A method for operating an internal combustion engine, wherein the internal combustion engine has a cylinder in which a combustion chamber is provided that is delimited by a reciprocating piston guided in the cylinder, wherein the piston is connected by a connecting rod to a crankshaft and wherein the internal combustion engine has a device for supplying fuel and a device for igniting a fuel/air mixture in the combustion chamber, the method comprising the steps of: a) determining at least one engine speed value of the internal combustion engine; b) evaluating the at least one engine speed value; and c) determining a pre-ignition state of the internal combustion engine based on a result of step b), wherein the result of step b) provides an indicator for a pre-ignition state; d) interrupting the ignition for the duration of several engine cycles when the indicator indicates a pre-ignition state and determining a course of the engine speed of the internal combustion engine while the ignition is interrupted.