Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Delphi Technologies, Inc.

James M Petrofes

David Andrew Shal

Gary R Denton

David A Hoptry

Steve K Raypole

Kirk T Billings

Michael Pawlowski

A system and method for digital steering sensor fault detection comprises monitoring steering wheel position information from a digital steering wheel position sensor at set time intervals, determining steering wheel position information for the current time interval and the previous time interval, and advancing a value change counter if the steering wheel position information for the current time interval is the same as for the previous time interval; monitoring vehicle speed, and advancing a speed cycle counter when the vehicle speed crosses a first threshold speed after crossing a second threshold speed; and setting fault bit information if the value change counter is zero after the speed cycle counter reaches a speed cycle limit. The steering wheel position information can be for a plurality of digital steering wheel position sensor outputs and provide corresponding fault bits, which can be compared to a fault table to diagnose a particular fault.

Hi-resolution digital steering sensor fault detection

A motor vehicle suspension system has a damper with a member rotatable through positions producing separate discrete damping characteristics. Feedback apparatus comprises a contact pad for each position, a brush rotating with the rotatable member, and an electric circuit generating an output voltage in a first voltage range when the brush does not contact a contact pad and in a second range when it does. The output voltage is repeatedly sampled to control a position count. A count control increments the count with the first sample in the second range following a predetermined number of consecutive samples in the first range but prevents further increment of the count until after a predetermined number of consecutive samples in the second range. The rotatable member can thus be stopped immediately upon the first detection of the selected position while the counting control is changed only once in each new position of the rotatable member.

Motor vehicle suspension with damper having a quickly stopped rotatable

A motor vehicle suspension system has a damper with a member rotatable through positions producing separate discrete damping characteristics. Feedback apparatus comprises a contact pad for each position, a brush rotating with the rotatable member, and an electric circuit generating an output voltage in a first voltage range when the brush does not contact a contact pad and in a second range when it does. The output voltage is repeatedly sampled to control a position count. An overrun detector responds to a predetermined change of the sampled output voltage from the second range to the first voltage range after deactivation of the motor at a selected contact pad to restart the motor so as to resume rotation of the rotatable member toward the selected contact pad.

Motor vehicle suspension with damper having rotatable member overrun

A motor vehicle suspension system in which a motor drives a rotatable member through a plurality of rotational positions producing distinct damping characteristics provides a position feedback voltage on a single feedback line for low cost, easier packaging and greater reliability. Contact pads for the rotational positions are separated by electrically insulating regions; an electric contact member moves circularly with the rotatable member over the contact pads; and an electric circuit generates the position feedback voltage in a first voltage range when the electric contact member contacts any of the insulating regions, in a second voltage range when the electric contact member contacts a home position contact pad and in a third voltage range when the electric contact member contacts any other contact pad. A control updates a position count whenever the output voltage changes from the first to another voltage range; and the count is corrected, if necessary, when the third voltage range is detected.

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Tipp City, OH, United States of America

James M Petrofes