Failure detection device for a rotation angle detection sensor

Abstract

A failure detection device for detecting a failure of a rotation angle detection sensor, which sensor detects a rotational angle through which a rotary member has rotated, the failure detection device including a first detection element which has an output which increases as the rotational angle of the rotary member increases, a second detection element which has an output that decreases as the rotational angle of the rotary member increases, and a detecting unit that detects the failure of either the first detection element or the second detection element by comparing a calculated value, based on the outputs of both of the first and second detection elements, with at least one predetermined value.

Description

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE [0001] The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-118086 filed on Apr. 23, 2003, including the specification, drawings, and claims is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0002] The priority of Japanese Application No. 2003-118086 is claimed under 35 USC 119. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] 1. Field of Invention [0004] This invention relates to a failure detection device for detecting failure of a rotation angle detection sensor, which sensor detects the angular position of a rotatable member. [0005] 2. Description of Related Art [0006] Conventionally, in a vehicle where shift control is performed by an A / T (Automatic Transmission) or a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), when a range is selected by operation of a shift lever, an electronic control unit (ECU) for the transmission responds by controlling solenoids, for example, utilizing a shifting logic for the selected range, and the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a failure detection device for an angular position sensor, which can assure detection of a failure, for example, failure of a detection element for detecting a rotational angle and to also assure accurate control of failure detection.

[0014] Another object of the invention is to provide a failure detection device for an angular position sensor, with a simplified logic for detecting the failure and for accurate control of the failure detection.

Problems solved by technology

With the non-contact type rotational position (“angular position”) sensors used in a transmission, as disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. 5,846,160, there is the possibility that even when the movable-side terminal rotates with rotation of the manual shaft, the voltage corresponding to the rotational angle of the movable-side terminal may not change, i.e. a “sticking failure.” If such a failure occurs, the ECU can not correctly determine the selected range and accurate shift control of the transmission becomes difficult.

However, the non-contact type angular position sensor, disclosed in the aforementioned Japanese laid open patent, is applied as a throttle opening sensor in an engine, not in control of an automatic transmission.

Images