Patent ID: 7261076

Claim:
A method for positioning a crankshaft ( 2 ) of an internal combustion engine ( 1 ) at a starting angle with the aid of an electric motor ( 4 ) connected to the crankshaft ( 2 ), wherein: said electric motor ( 4 ) can, according to a closed loop control mode, be driven dependent on the rotational speed of the crankshaft ( 2 ), after the internal combustion engine ( 1 ) is stopped, the crankshaft ( 2 ) is positioned at said starting angle, so that, in the case of a subsequent start, the internal combustion engine ( 1 ) is started from this starting angle, characterized in that below a rotational speed limit the electric motor ( 4 ) is driven in an open loop control mode independently of the rotational speed in order to set the starting angle.