Ice-breaking, autozero and frozen throttle plate detection at power-up for electronic motorized throttle

1. A method of detecting the presence of an obstruction inside a motorized throttle, comprising the steps of:

recording a default position of a throttle plate;

applying a predetermined voltage to the throttle motor in the closing direction for a predetermined time;

recording a provisional closed position of the throttle plate;

determining a first displacement between the recorded default position and the recorded provisional closed position; and

if the first displacement is less than a predetermined displacement then indicating that the obstruction is present.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of verifying the absence of defined faults and reporting the presence of an obstruction to a powertrain control module.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of alerting a powertrain control module that no obstruction exists if the first displacement is at least the predetermined displacement.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined displacement is 7 degrees.

5. A method of removing an obstruction inside a motorized throttle comprising the steps of:

recording a default position of a throttle plate;

applying a predetermined voltage to a throttle motor in a closing direction for a predetermined time;

recording a provisional closed position of the throttle plate by a throttle position sensor;

determining a first displacement between the recorded default position and the recorded provisional closed position;

identifying an obstruction if the first displacement is less than a predetermined displacement;

if the obstruction is identified then applying a predetermined deflection voltage to the throttle motor to bang the throttle plate in a first direction; and

after banging the throttle plate in the first direction applying the predetermined deflection voltage to the throttle motor to bang the throttle plate in a second direction.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of applying a predetermined deflection voltage to a throttle motor in a first and a second direction is performed within respective time periods adapted to prevent damage to the throttle motor.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the predetermined deflection voltage is 12 volts.

8. A method of accurately recording an actual closed throttle position of a throttle plate as a reference, comprising the steps of:

recording a default position of the throttle plate;

applying a predetermined deflection voltage to a throttle motor for driving the throttle plate in a closing direction for a predetermined time;

recording a provisional closed position as a zero degree reference from which to control the throttle plate to a desired angle;

determining a first displacement between the recorded default position and the recorded provisional closed position; and

if the first displacement is greater than a predetermined displacement, then adopting the provisional closed position as the actual closed throttle position.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the predetermined time is 40 milliseconds.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the predetermined deflection voltage is 12 volts.

11. A system for removing an obstruction inside a motorized throttle, comprising:

a throttle plate; and

a throttle motor, wherein a predetermined deflection voltage is applied to the throttle motor resulting in an impact torque applied to the throttle plate for banging the throttle plate in a first and a second direction, and wherein the predetermined deflection voltage is applied to the throttle motor for a predetermined limited time in each direction for preventing damage to the throttle motor.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the predetermined torque is maximum steady-state torque.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the predetermined time is 80 milliseconds.