Method for controlling AMT system including throttle position sensor signal fault detection and tolerance

Claim 1

A self-diagnostic method for controlling an automatic transmission system for devices having an operator controlled throttle device, throttle-controlled engine, a transmission having a plurality of gear ratio combinations selectively engagable between a transmission input shaft and a transmission output shaft, said automatic transmission system comprising an information processing unit having means for receiving a plurality of input signals indicative of the operator's setting of said throttle device, said input signals including (1) a first throttle position signal having a magnitude indicative of the operator's setting of said throttle device; (2) a second throttle safety switch signal providing a signal indicative of the operator moving said throttle device to a position at least slightly greater than the engine idle throttle device position; and (3) a third kickdown switch signal providing a signal indicative of the operator moving said throttle device to at least a substantially maximum throttle position, said processing unit including means for processing said input signals in accordance with a program for generating output signals whereby said transmission system is operated in accordance with said program, and means associated with said transmission system effective to actuate said transmission system in response to said output signals from said processing unit, the self-diagnostic method characterized by: sensing the presence or absence of faulty first, second and third input signals indicative of the operator's setting of said throttle device; upon sensing the presence of a faulty input signal indicative of operator's setting of said throttle device until determination that only a known one of said first, second and third input signals as faulty, setting the engine throttle control to its engine idle speed position; and if only a known one of said first, second and third input signals indicative of operator setting of said throttle device is determined to be faulty, modifying said program by ignoring said input signal determined to be faulty and utilizing predetermined logic rules for processing the other of said first, second and third input signals to determine an acceptable value for the operator's setting of said throttling device; the presence of a faulty first, second and third input signal indicative oft the operator's setting of the throttle device sensed if one of the following relationships is false: (a) THD C is less than or equal to THD I , and THPS equals 0 (b) THD C is greater than THD I , and THPS equals 1 (c) THD C is greater than or equal to THD K , and RTDS equals 1 (d) THD I is less than or equal to THD C is less than THD K , and RTDS equals 0, and THPS equals 1 where: THD C =the current value of the first input signal, THD I =the value of the first input signal at engine idle position, THD K =the value of the first input signal at kickdown position, THPS=said second input signal having the value of 0 if the throttle device is set at less than an idle reference value and a value of 1 if the throttle device is set at a value equal to or greater than said idle reference value, and RTDS=said third input signal having the value of 0 if the throttle device is set to less than said kickdown position and a value of 1 if the throttle device setting is equal to or greater than said kickdown position.