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US 6,414,607 B1Granted
Throttle position sensor with improved redundancy and high resolution
AssigneeBrunswick Corporation
InventorsSteven J. Gonring, John R. Boatman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims17
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 more elements
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.
3 more elements
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.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.