Patent ID: 7203587
Filing Date: 2007-04-10
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
1. A shift lever operating position judging device comprising: a position sensor having a plurality of switches and outputting a signal associated with an ON or OFF state of the respective switches, the plurality of switches turned on and off in response to a position of a shift lever which is selectively operated within a shift lever operating range having at least four operating positions (R, N, D and M), wherein each switch is arranged to be at an ON state within a different shift range included in the shift lever operating range, and two or three switches of the plurality of switches are at the ON state in a different combination in response to each shift lever operating position; a calculated value calculating means reading the signal representing the ON or OFF state of the respective switches and calculating a calculated value based upon the signal, the calculated value representing the ON or OFF state of the respective switches at each shift lever operating position; and a first operating position judging means for judging the position of the shift lever corresponding to the calculated value obtained by the calculated value calculating means following a first operating position judgment reference defining the calculated value at the event that all of the plurality of switches have been at a normal condition, wherein the first operating position judgment reference defines the calculated value representing the ON or OFF state of the respective switches at each shift lever operating position at the event that one of all of the plurality of switches is at a single switch failure condition, and the first operating position judging means judges the position of the shift lever corresponding to the calculated value and judges whether the respective switches are at the normal condition or at the single switch failure condition, pursuant to the first operating position judgment reference.