Method and system to prevent knocking operation of an internal combustion engine

In combination with an internal combustion engine, a control system to minimize knocking operation while nevertheless optimizing engine performance, said control system having

• a knock sensor (10) providing engine operating signals which differ from each other depending upon whether the engine is operating in a knocking condition;
• electrical circuit means (11, 12, 13, 14) coupled to the sensor and processing the signals, including
• a comparator (12) comparing the operating signals with a reference, and, if the operating signals exceed the reference, providing a knocking-recognition output signal, and
• an internal combustion engine (ICE) operation controller (14), connected to and controlled by the comparator (12), and providing engine control signals affecting operating parameters of the engine to operate at, or just under, the knocking limit, and to selectively shift at least one operating parameter to operate the engine under non-knocking operation conditions,
• said controller (14) varying said engine control signals, upon receiving a knocking recognition signal, in a non-knocking operating direction at a first rate, and, upon cessation of knocking recognition signals, re-establishing prior operating conditions by varying said engine control signals in a reverse direction at a second and slower rate than the first rate,
• said system comprising, in accordance with the invention,
• means (17) for differentiating signals representing at least one of engine speed and engine loading to determine whether said differentiated signals are in excess of a predetermined threshold, said differentiated signals in excess of said threshold defining a transient operating conditions of the engine and, if said transient operating condition is present, generating a transient recognition output signal;
• said transient recognition output signal being connected and applied to said engine operation controller (14) to change the second rate of change of the engine operating control signal to a third rate, which is faster than the second rate, to re-establish pre-set operating conditions of the engine, after a transient change, at a rate greater than said second rate.