A method and apparatus for validating the output from a position sensor

摘要

A method and apparatus for validating the operation of a slave cylinder position sensor 63 that is used to measure the position of a slave cylinder piston 62 is disclosed in which the output from a master cylinder piston position sensor 53 is used to predict, e.g. by using look-up tables, the position of the slave cylinder piston 62 and the output from the slave piston sensor 63 is compared to the predicted slave piston position derived from the master cylinder piston sensor 53. If the measured slave piston position falls within predetermined limits applied to the predicted position then the output from slave piston sensor 62 is determined to be reliable and valid otherwise the output is treated as unreliable. Preferably, the prediction of slave piston position is a temperature compensated prediction value. The slave cylinder operates a clutch and the master cylinder is controlled by an electronic controller.