US 2006/0075809 A1Published application

Throttle position sensor

AssigneeHitachi, Ltd.

InventorsLiang Shao, Shigeru Oho

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A throttle position sensor for a throttle having a movable throttle element. The sensor includes an elongated electrically resistive strip having a first and second end. The first end of the strip is connected to a first voltage potential while the second end is electrically connected to a second voltage potential different from the first. An electrically conductive wiper is in sliding contact with the resistive strip. The wiper and resistive strip are relative to each other and one of the wiper or resistive strip is connected to the movable throttle element. Consequently, the position of the wiper relative to the strip varies proportionally with the position of the throttle element so that a voltage output from the wiper varies proportionally with the position of the movable throttle element. A circuit is associated with the sensor which determines the contact resistance between the wiper and the strip.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A throttle position sensor for a throttle having a movable throttle element comprising:

an elongated electrically resistive strip having a first end and a second end, said first end being electrically connected to a first voltage potential and said second end being electrically connected to a second voltage potential, said first voltage potential being different than said second voltage potential,
an electrically conductive wiper in sliding contact with said resistive strip, one of said wiper or said resistive strip being coupled to the movable throttle element so that the position of said wiper relative to said strip varies proportionately with the position of the throttle element and so that a voltage at an output from said wiper varies proportionately with the position of the movable throttle element, and
a circuit which determines a contact resistance between said wiper and said strip, wherein said circuit comprises:
a sensor resistor of predetermined resistance,
a switch which selectively electrically connects said sensor resistor between said wiper and said second voltage potential,
a first voltage detector which generates an output signal representative of the voltage drop across said sensor resistor,
a second voltage detector which generates an output signal representative of the voltage drop between said first end of said strip and said wiper, and
a processor electrically connected to the output signals from said first and second voltage detectors and said first voltage potential which calculates the contact resistance as a function of said first and second voltage detector output signals and said first voltage potential.

5 more elements

A throttle position sensor for a throttle having a movable throttle element comprising:

an elongated electrically resistive strip having a first end and a second end, said first end being electrically connected to a first voltage potential and said second end being electrically connected to a second voltage potential, said first voltage potential being different than said second voltage potential,
an electrically conductive wiper in sliding contact with said resistive strip, one of said wiper or said resistive strip being coupled to the movable throttle element so that the position of said wiper relative to said strip varies proportionately with the position of the throttle element and so that a voltage at an output from said wiper varies proportionately with the position of the movable throttle element, and
a circuit which determines a contact resistance between said wiper and said strip, wherein said circuit comprises:
a first sensor resistor connected in series with said first end of said resistive strip,
a second sensor resistor connected in series with the second end of said resistive strip,
a third sensor resistor connected to said wiper,
an alternating current source connected to said first end of said resistive strip,
circuitry which detects a voltage differential across said first, second and third sensor resistors attributable to said alternating current source and generates output signals representative of said voltage differentials, and
a processor which determines said contact resistance as a function of said output signals.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/284,329Filed 21 Nov 2005
Priority: 11 Dec 2003
Published: 13 Apr 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

F02D 11/106
Of the electric type: detection of demand or actuation
F02D 11/107
Of the electric type: safety-related aspects
G01D 5/165
By varying resistance: by relative movement of a point of contact or actuation and a resistive track
F02D 9/105
Details of the valve housing: having a throttle position sensor

Family

Application10/733,913Continuation · filed 11 Dec 2003
Application11/284,329Continuation · filed 21 Nov 2005
US 2005/0126270 A1Published application
US 7,080,549 B2Related patent
US 2006/0075809 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.