Rev and Dr, this is something really Mickey Mouse that I do to figure out if sensors are working. I hesitate to post it, but here goes.
The signals that most sensors send is to the main computer are simple, such as a change in resistance. Looking in the manual, or by measuring a known good part, I figure out the signals when the sensor says "on" and "off." Then I go to the electronics store and I buy enough parts to make fake sensors that say to the computer "on" and "off." I disconnect the real sensor and I plug the fakes into the system, one at a time, and I drive or dyno the vehicle. Some deductive reasoning tells me what I need to know.
Example. The Triumph has a throttle position sensor on the standard carbs. Does omitting the throttle sensor when I install new carbs affect the spark advance curve?
The standard carbs have an analog potentiometer (variable resistor) with approx 4.42 Kohms and 3.96 Kohms resistance at closed throttle between the blue and yellow and black and yellow wires, respectively. I make a fake sensor out of some resistors with close to this resistance. I plug it in to the ignition system. Then I check the spark advance with a light.
Then I make another fake sensor with the different resistances that model full throttle. This is approx 1.38 Kohms and 3.96 Kohms between the blue and yellow and black and yellow wires. I check the timing again. It is different. This answers my question. The throttle position sensor does affect ignition timing. I buy racing carbs with the throttle sensor. They cost more but I figure that they are worth it.
Maybe fabricating a fake sensor modeling "no knock" and making a dyno run, and making another fake sensor modeling "knock" and performing another dyno run, will tell you what you need to know.