Patent ID: 7412907

Claim:
A range recognition apparatus for an automatic transmission, comprising: a range selector; a first contact configured to generate a first range signal during a state of the range selector being within a first region; a second contact configured to generate a second range signal during the state of the range selector being within a second region overlapping with the first region; a third contact configured to generate a third range signal during the state of the range selector being within a third region apart from the first region and the second region; and a controller connected for signal communication to the first contact and to the second contact, and configured to perform the following: recognizing that a first forward drive range of the automatic transmission is selected, when the first range signal is present and the second range signal is absent; recognizing that a second forward drive range of the automatic transmission is selected, when the first range signal is absent and the second range signal is present; and recognizing that the first forward drive range is selected, when the first range signal and the second range signal are both present; and determining that an abnormality is present, in case a first abnormal condition where the first range signal, the second range signal, and the third range signal are simultaneously present continues over a predetermined first period of time.