The invention relates to a control unit (10) for a functional device in a motor vehicle, comprising a rotary actuator (12) that is rotatably mounted on a holding element (14) and includes at least one encoding element (16, 18), further comprising a detection device (20) for detecting an absolute angle of rotation between the rotary actuator (12) and the holding element (14) on the basis of a code of the at least one encoding element (16, 18), and comprising a notching device, by means of which a plurality of notched positions (A, B, C, D, E, F) are predefined for the rotary actuator (12) along a direction of rotation. The detection device (20) is designed to detect, on the basis of the code of the at least one encoding element (16, 18), the notched position (A, B, C, D, E, F) and the absolute angle of rotation between at least two of the notched positions (A, B, C, D, E, F).