Patent ID: 7270624

Claim:
A drive unit for a motor vehicle, comprising: at least one drive engine with an output shaft; a transmission, the transmission having an input shaft and at least one intermediate shaft with an intermediate shaft brake; a friction clutch with a first friction element connected to the output shaft and a second friction element connected to the input shaft; a clutch operating mechanism for engaging and disengaging the friction clutch; an electronic control unit for controlling the clutch operating mechanism in dependence on various control parameters; a position detector, the position detector detecting a position of the clutch operating mechanism and transmitting a position-dependent signal to the control unit; a torque transmitter, the torque transmitter detecting torque at the input shaft and transmitting a torque-dependent signal to the control unit; the control unit being arranged so as, on predetermined occasions, when the transmission is in a neutral position and the intermediate shaft brake is applied, gradually to alter a degree of engagement of the friction clutch and to register and store, as a function of the position of the clutch operating mechanism, the torque measured by the torque transmitter and to further alter engagement of the friction clutch as a function of the registered and stored torque.