Throttle position sensor with improved redundancy and high resolution

• US 6,414,607 B1
• Filed: 10/27/1999
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Woodward Governor Company
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Gonring, Steven J., Boatman, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US09/427,995
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 341/20, 123/399, 123/361, 123/363, 123/376, 123/350, 123/319, 701/70, 701/21, 701/93, 744/71.XY, 744/790.1, 744/82, 745/13, 731/181
• US Class Current: 341/20
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 3/10 with provision for switching-in of additional or auxiliary indicators or recorders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20226 Accelerator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20534 Accelerator

Abstract

A throttle position sensor is provided with a plurality of sensing elements which allow the throttle position sensor to provide a high resolution output to measure the physical position of a manually movable member, such as a throttle handle, more accurately than would otherwise be possible. The plurality of sensors significantly increases the redundancy of the sensor and allows its operation even if one of the sensing elements is disabled.

Claims

1. A throttle position sensor, comprising:

a manually moveable member for selecting a desired output of an engine that is moveable between a first end of travel in a first direction of travel and a second end of travel in a second direction of travel;

a first sensor having a first output signal that is representative of the distance between said manually moveable member and a generally central position between said first and second ends of travel of said manually moveable member;

a second sensor having a second output signal that is representative of the distance between said manually movable member and said first end of travel; and

a controller connected in signal communication with said first and second sensors to receive said first and second output signals, said controller being configured to determine the position of said manually movable member as a combined function of both said first and second output signals.

2. The throttle position sensor of claim 1, further comprising:

a third sensor having a third output signal that is representative of the distance between said manually movable member and said first end of travel, said controller being connected in signal communication with said first, second, and third sensors to receive said first, second, and third output signals, said controller being configured to determine the position of said manually movable member as a combined function of said first, second, and third output signals.

3. The throttle position sensor of claim 1, wherein:

said first sensor comprises a first analog-to-digital converter having a full scale output that is representative of a movement of said manually movable member between said generally central position and said first end of travel.

4. The throttle position sensor of claim 1, wherein:

said second sensor comprises a second analog-to-digital converter having a full scale output that is representative of a movement of said manually movable member between said first and second ends of travel.

5. The throttle position sensor of claim 2, wherein:

said third sensor comprises a third analog-to-digital converter having a full scale output that is representative of a movement of said manually movable member between said first and second ends of travel.

6. The throttle position sensor of claim 1, wherein:

said first output signal is generally constant for a preselected range of positions of said manually movable member proximate said generally central position.

7. The throttle position sensor of claim 6, wherein:

said first output signal is generally constant and generally equal to its full scale output for said preselected range of positions of said manually movable member proximate said generally central position.

8. A throttle position sensor, comprising:

a manually moveable member for selecting a desired output of an engine that is moveable between a first end of travel in a first direction of travel and a second end of travel in a second direction of travel;

a first sensor having a first output signal that is representative of the distance between said manually moveable member and a generally central position between said first and second ends of travel of said manually moveable member;

a second sensor having a second output signal that is representative of the distance between said manually movable member and said first end of travel;

a third sensor having a third output signal that is representative of the distance between said manually movable member and said first end of travel; and

a controller connected in signal communication with said first, second, and third sensors to receive said first, second, and third output signals, said controller being configured to determine the position of said manually moveable member as a combined function of said first output signal in conjunction with a preselected one of said second and third output signals.

9. The throttle position sensor of claim 8, wherein:

said first sensor comprises a first analog-to-digital converter having a full scale output that is representative of a movement of said manually movable member between said generally central position and said first end of travel.

10. The throttle position sensor of claim 9, wherein:

said second sensor comprises a second analog-to-digital converter having a full scale output that is representative of a movement of said manually movable member between said first and second ends of travel.

11. The throttle position sensor of claim 10, wherein:

said third sensor comprises a third analog-to-digital converter having a full scale output that is representative of a movement of said manually movable member between said first and second ends of travel.

12. The throttle position sensor of claim 11, wherein:

said first output signal is generally constant for a preselected range of positions of said manually movable member proximate said generally central position.

13. The throttle position sensor of claim 12, wherein:

said first output signal is generally constant and generally equal to its full scale output for said preselected range of positions of said manually movable member proximate said generally central position.

14. A throttle position sensor, comprising:

a manually moveable member for selecting a desired output of an engine that is moveable between a first end of travel in a first direction of travel and a second end of travel in a second direction of travel;

a first sensor having a first output signal that is representative of the distance between said manually moveable member and a generally central position between said first and second ends of travel of said manually moveable member, said first output signal being generally constant and generally equal to its full scale output for said preselected range of positions of said manually moveable member proximate said generally central position,

a second sensor having a second output signal that is representative of the distance between said manually movable member and said first end of travel;

a third sensor having a third output signal that is representative of the distance between said manually movable member and said first end of travel; and

a controller connected in signal communication with said first, second, and third sensors to receive said first, second, and third output signals, said controller being configured to determine the position of said manually moveable member as a combined function of said first output signal in conjunction with a preselected one of said second and third output signals.

15. The throttle position sensor of claim 14, wherein:

said first sensor comprises a first analog-to-digital converter having a full scale output that is representative of a movement of said manually movable member between said generally central position and said first end of travel.

16. The throttle position sensor of claim 15, wherein:

said second sensor comprises a second analog-to-digital converter having a full scale output that is representative of a movement of said manually movable member between said first and second ends of travel.

17. The throttle position sensor of claim 16, wherein:

said third sensor comprises a third analog-to-digital converter having a full scale output that is representative of a movement of said manually movable member between said first and second ends of travel, said first output signal being generally constant for a preselected range of positions of said manually movable member proximate said generally central position.