Patent ID: 8738256

Claim:
A method for detecting a clutch engagement position of a clutch engageable in a fully engaged state with and disengageable in a disengaged state from a motor input shaft of an electric motor, the method comprising the steps of: engaging the clutch in the fully engaged state with the motor input shaft of the electric motor in response to a command from a controller; applying an amount of current to the electric motor, wherein the amount of current will not rotate the motor input shaft of the motor when the clutch is in the fully engaged state with the motor input shaft; relaxing the clutch from the fully engaged state towards the disengaged state; detecting movement that is indicative of rotation of the motor input shaft of the electric motor as the clutch relaxes from the fully engaged state towards the disengaged state; and detecting the clutch engagement position of the clutch that is generally coincident with the step of detecting movement.