Abstract: A redundant position sensing system includes a device having a position between minimum and maximum positions. First and second sensor modules include first and second sensor resistances. A value of one of the first or second sensor resistances increases and a value of the other of the first or second resistances decreases when the device moves from the minimum position to the maximum position. A maximum value of the first sensor resistance ranges between a first maximum value and a second maximum value that is greater than the first maximum value due to a first manufacturing tolerance. A maximum value of the second sensor resistance ranges between a third maximum value and a fourth maximum value that is greater than the third maximum value due to a second manufacturing tolerance. The second maximum value is less than the third maximum value.

Abstract: Apparatus are provided for an electronic throttle control (ETC) system having a throttle body assembly. The apparatus includes a throttle actuator, an input circuit receiving sensor signals and having first, second, and third reference voltages, a first throttle position sensor (TPS) connected to the second reference voltage, a second TPS connected to the second reference voltage, a manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor connected to the first reference voltage, a manifold airflow (MAF) sensor connected to the third reference voltage, and a processor connected to the input circuit and transmitting a control signal to the throttle actuator based on the sensors, reference voltages, and returns. The ETC system has improved remedial actions responsive to failures of the various sensors, reference voltages, and returns.

Abstract: A control system includes a device having a position between minimum and maximum positions. A first position sensor senses the position of the device and generates a first position value. A second position sensor senses the position of the device and generates a second position value. A sensor module communicates with the first and second position sensors and generates a single signal waveform based on the first and second position values. A frequency of the waveform is varied based on the first position value. A duty cycle of the waveform is varied based on the second position value. A conductor has a first end that communicates with the sensor module and a second end that communicates with a control module. The sensor module transmits the waveform to the control module on the conductor. The control module decodes the waveform to determine the first and second position values.

Abstract: A sensor module adjustment circuit includes a device have a position between minimum and maximum positions. First and second position sensors sense the position of the device and generate first and second position values, respectively. A sensor module includes first and second signal conversion modules that generate first and second signal waveforms based on the first and second position values, that include first and second gain modules, and that vary a frequency and a duty cycle, respectively, of the first and second signal waveforms based on the first and second position values. A gain magnitude module determines first and second signal gains of the first and second gain modules, respectively. A signal preset module adjusts the first and second signal gains so that the first and second signal waveforms are equal to first and second predetermined signal waveforms, respectively, when the position of the device is fixed.

Abstract: A control system includes a device having a position between minimum and maximum positions. First and second position sensors sense the position of the device and generate first and second position values. A sensor module generates a first signal waveform based on the first position value and a second signal waveform based on the second position value. The sensor module varies a frequency of the first signal waveform based on the first position value and a frequency of the second signal waveform based on the second position value. A control module communicates with the sensor module and determines the first and second position values based on the frequencies of the first and second signal waveforms, respectively. The sensor module increases the frequency of the first signal waveform and decreases the frequency of the second signal waveform as the device moves from the minimum position to the maximum position.