Position detecting apparatus and position detecting method using the same

A position detecting method, comprising the steps of:

• detecting a signal indicating a position of a shift lever and outputting incremental pulse signals that increment throughout entire positional range of the shift lever;
• inputting the signal indicating the position of the shift lever and the incremental pulse signals to a control unit;
• determining a difference between the number of pulse signals generated by a shift from a predetermined correct position to a neighboring range and the number of pulse signals generated from a mounted position to the neighboring range;
• correcting various ranges stored in memory means on the basis of the difference;
• and
• detecting the position of the shift lever on the basis of a direction of a shift and the number of pulse signals with reference to the corrected various ranges.

A shift position determining apparatus for a multi-position control, comprising:

• a shift rod mounting a position plate for moving the position plate from one position to an alternate position;
• a stationary detector for outputting signals indicative of movement of the plate;
• and
• correction means for correcting a position map of positions assumable by the multi-position control based upon movement of the shift rod from a first position to one of a second and a third position immediately adjacent and on either side of the first position.