Patent ID: 8315781

Claim:
A method for starting an internal combustion engine having a plurality of combustion chambers, comprising: during a starting process for the internal combustion engine: specifying an injection timing point for each combustion chamber, at which a first fuel injection pulse of the engine starting process is to be carried out in said combustion chamber, specifying an ignition timing point for each combustion chamber, at which a first ignition pulse of the engine starting process is to be carried out in said combustion chamber, for each combustion chamber, comparing the specified ignition timing point of the first ignition pulse for that combustion chamber with the specified injection timing point of the first fuel injection pulse for that combustion chamber; for each combustion chamber having a specified ignition timing point temporally earlier than the specified injection timing point, adjusting the specified ignition timing point for that combustion chamber to reduce a corresponding torque produced by the first ignition pulse; causing a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine to rotate by means of a starter device, and for each combustion chamber having an adjusted specified ignition timing point: executing the first ignition pulse at the adjusted specified ignition timing point; and executing a second ignition pulse at a further adjusted ignition timing point to provide an increased torque.