Decision system for determining sensor failure of temperature sensor in automobile applications

Abstract

A sensor-failure decision system for determining a sensor failure of an automobile temperature sensor, comprises a first memory section adapted to receive input information indicative of a temperature of working fluid used in the automotive power train component part and detected by the automobile temperature sensor, a second memory section for storing a predetermined normal temperature region and a plurality of predetermined partitioned temperature regions which are obtained by partitioning a specified temperature region being lower than and continuous with the predetermined normal temperature region into a plurality of temperature regions, and a timer for measuring an elapsed time during which the temperature detected by the automobile temperature sensor is continually included in either one of the partitioned temperature regions. Also provided is a sensor-failure decision section for determining that a sensor failure of the automobile temperature sensor is present when the elapsed time measured by the timer reaches a predetermined time duration.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.