Tdk Corporation

Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Toshinao Kido

Seiji Fukuoka

Yoshio Kaita

Hirokazu Miyamoto

Tatsuya Kato

Keiji Suzuki

Takahiro Moriya

Kunihiko Fukui

Toshihiko Oyama

Toshio Ishikawara

Ryoichi Menju

Eiichi Nunokawa

Junya Fukuda

A position sensor is provided that can detect a position along a long stroke and that can limit an increase in size. A magnetic sensor has a first magnetic field detecting element that is positioned in a first track; a first processorA that outputs voltage VMwhen intensity of a first magnetic field that is applied to the first magnetic field detecting element is equal to or larger than a threshold and that outputs predetermined high voltage VH when the intensity of the first magnetic field is less than the threshold, wherein the voltage VMis voltage between predetermined low voltage VL and the high voltage VH and indicates positions of the magnets relative to the first magnetic field detecting element; a second magnetic field detecting element that is positioned in a second track; and a second processorB that outputs the low voltage VL when intensity of a second magnetic field that is applied to the second magnetic field detecting element is less than the threshold and that outputs voltage VMwhen the intensity of the second magnetic field is equal to or larger than the threshold, wherein the voltage VMis voltage between the low voltage VL and the high voltage VH and indicates positions of the magnets relative to the second magnetic field detecting element.

Position sensor, position detecting system and steering system using the same

Magnetic members are arranged along a straight line and can be placed face-to-face with spin-valve magnetoresistive elements. The magnetic pole faces of the magnetic members which can be face-to-face with the spin-valve magnetoresistive elements have different magnetic polarities from the magnetic pole faces of neighboring magnetic members. The magnetic members are arranged at a uniform pitch. Each magnetic member is spaced from neighboring magnetic members. X/P is from 40% to 60%, where X is length of each magnetic member along an arrangement direction of the magnetic members, and P is pitch of the magnetic members along the arrangement direction.

Magnetic position detector

An angle detecting apparatus includes a rotor fixed to a rotating shaft, a pair of magnetic sensors arranged close to the outer periphery of the rotor so as to have a difference in angle (&#x3c0;/2) with respect to the center of rotation of the rotor, a differential operational circuit performing differential operation on detection signals output by the magnetic sensors to output a differential signal, and the angle calculating circuit calculating the angle of rotation of the rotating shaft based on the differential signal. The planar shape of the rotor is such that the sum of the distances between the center of rotation and the respective two points where two straight lines crossing at the center of rotation at a crossing angle of (&#x3c0;/2) cross the outer periphery of the rotor is constant, and the planar shape is symmetric with respect to a straight line passing through the center of rotation.

Angle detecting apparatus and angle detecting method

An angle detecting apparatus includes a rotor fixed to a rotating shaft, a pair of magnetic sensors arranged opposite each other so as to output a first detection signal and a second detection signal, respectively, each of which contains information on the angle of rotation of the rotor, a differential operational circuit performing differential operation on the first detection signal and the second detection signal, and an angle calculating circuit calculating the angle of rotation of the rotating shaft based on the result of the differential operation by the differential operational circuit. Here, the distance between two points where a straight line passing through the center of rotation of the rotor crosses the outer periphery of the rotor is constant.

A moving body detecting apparatus including at least a gearas a magnetic moving body including at least one of a projected portion or a recessed portion, a bias magnetfor applying a bias magnetic field thereto, and two pairs of spin valve type giant magneto resistive elements R, Rand R, R, in which the moving body detecting apparatus is arranged such that magnetizing directions of pinned layers of the paired spin valve type giant magneto resistive elements are directed to direct substantially in a forward direction and substantially in an opposite direction relative to the direction of moving the gear, for example, linearly. In a first state in which a change in a magnetic field by the projected portionof the gearis not substantially received, the magnetic field at positions of the elements Rthrough Rincludes a component forwardly in parallel or in anti-parallel with the magnetizing directions of the pinned layers of the elements Rthrough R, and in a second state of receiving the change in the magnetic field by the projected portion, a direction of a component of the magnetic field at the positions of the elements Rthrough Rin parallel with the magnetizing directions of the pinned layers is inversed.

Moving body detecting apparatus

A moving object detection device has a magnetic sensor element, a permanent magnet for applying a magnetic field to the magnetic sensor element; a board on which electronic parts are mounted, a holder; and a case. The holder has an integral approximately box-shaped support part to hold the magnet and the board, and the holder is inserted into the case so that the magnetic sensor element, the permanent magnet, and the board are contained in the case. The holder and the case are fitted and fastened to each other by concave-convex-shaped elements.

Growing community of inventors

Tokyo, Japan

Toshinao Kido