Patent ID: 7555374

Claim:
Method to monitor a powertrain system including a transmission device including an input member and a first sensor operative to monitor rotation of the input member, a plurality of torque machines and a corresponding plurality of rotational speed sensing devices, an output member, and first and second control modules, the method comprising: signally connecting the first sensor directly to the first control module and directly to the second control module; signally connecting the rotational speed sensing devices directly to the second control module; monitoring signal inputs from the first sensor in the first and second control modules; monitoring signal inputs from the rotational speed sensing devices in the second control module; determining a first rotational speed of the input member based upon the signal inputs from the first sensor; determining a second rotational speed of the input member based upon the signal inputs from the first sensor; determining rotational speeds of the torque machines based upon the signal inputs from the rotational speed sensing devices; calculating a third rotational speed of the input member based upon the rotational speeds of the torque machines; comparing the first rotational speed to the third rotational speed and comparing the second rotational speed to the third rotational speed; and detecting an input speed fault when the third rotational speed differs from the first rotational speed by an amount greater than a first threshold and the third rotational speed differs from the second rotational speed by an amount greater than a second threshold.