Pedal calculator

For testing an accelerator pedal sensor for an automotive vehicle accelerator pedal that operates over a range extending from idle to full throttle to correspondingly operate a powerplant for powering the vehicle, said accelerator pedal sensor comprising an accelerator pedal position sensing device for providing an accelerator pedal position signal and an idle validation switch for validating idle and non-idle positions, said sensing device comprising means that presents a certain electric circuit parameter via first terminal means of said sensor to which a reference electrical input is applied, and selection means that is operated by an accelerator pedal input to present via second terminal means of said sensor an electrical output representing pedal position over a range extending from a closed throttle position to a full throttle position, said idle validation switch comprising first and second fixed switch contacts and a third movable switch contact that is operated by the pedal input to switch between said first and second fixed switch contacts at a position proximate closed throttle position, a method comprising the steps of:

• measuring the value of the reference electrical input applied to said first terminal means to determine if it is within a specified acceptable range;
• if the value of the reference electrical input to said first terminal means is within such specified acceptable range, measuring the value of the electrical output at said second terminal means with the pedal input in idle position, and measuring the value of the electrical output at said second terminal means with the pedal input in full throttle position;
• converting the measured values of the electrical output at said second terminal means with the pedal input in idle and full throttle positions into a range of acceptable values at which said third movable switch contact should switch between said first and second fixed switch contacts;
• operating the pedal input from idle position to a non-idle position and during such operation measuring the value of the electrical output at said second terminal means at which said third movable switch contact ceases to make contact with one of said first and second fixed switch contacts and the value of the electrical output at said second terminal means at which said third movable switch contact begins to make contact with the other of said first and second fixed switch contacts;
• operating the pedal input from a non-idle position to idle position and during such operation measuring the value of the electrical output at said second terminal means at which said third movable switch contact ceases to make contact with said other of said first and second fixed switch contacts and the value of the electrical output at said second terminal means at which said third movable switch contact begins to make contact with said one of said first and second fixed switch contacts;
• and comparing the measured values of the electrical output at said second terminal means obtained during the first-mentioned operating step of operating the pedal input from idle to non-idle and during the second-mentioned operating step of operating the pedal input from non-idle to idle with said range of acceptable values at which said third movable switch contact should switch between said first and second fixed switch contacts.