JP2003294409A - Steering angle sensor and steering angle sensor incorporation type rotary connector loaded therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the cost of a steering angle sensor while enhancing the degree of freedom of the housing shape of the steering angle sensor, in the steering angle sensor forming constitution unnecessary for forming the whole of the steering angle sensor with high accuracy. <P>SOLUTION: The steering angle sensor 100 is constituted of two units, that is, a steering angle detection mechanism unit 1 and a signal processing unit 5. The steering angle detection mechanism unit 1 is constituted of a steering angle detection mechanism unit housing 11, a 'mechanism part' for rotating a magnet by the rotation of a steering shaft, a 'main electronic circuit board' having a magnetic change detection element for converting a change in magnetism generated by the rotation of the magnet to an electric signal to output the same and the lid 12 of the steering angle detection mechanism unit housing 11. The signal processing unit 5 is constituted of a signal processing unit housing 51 housing an 'auxiliary electronic circuit board', and an output connector 63 for outputting the output signal from the 'auxiliary electronic circuit board' to the outside. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering angle sensor for generating a rotation angle of a steering wheel of an automobile, and a steering angle sensor built-in rotary connector device equipped with the steering angle sensor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, rudder angle sensors that generate rotation angle information in accordance with the rotation of a steering wheel have been known, and are disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2000-283704 and 2000-283705. The disclosed technology is known. These prior arts include a rotation angle detecting means including a pair of a disk-shaped magnet that rotates with the rotation of a steering wheel and an MR element (magnetoresistive element) that detects the direction of the magnetic flux of the magnet.
A pair of the MR elements are combined to generate absolute rotation angle information of the steering wheel from the rotation angle information of the steering wheel generated by each MR element. The two MR elements are mounted on the electronic circuit board,
Two disk-shaped magnets are arranged with a predetermined phase difference at a position facing the two MR elements. Two
The two disk-shaped magnets are attached to the two driven gears, respectively, and the two driven gears are engaged with the annular drive gear that rotates with the rotation of the steering wheel in a rotationally transmittable manner. It rotates following the rotation of the gear. The electronic circuit board is provided with various circuit components other than the MR element. The annular drive gear, the two driven gears, the electronic circuit board, and the like are all housed in one housing.

Incidentally, the absolute rotation angle information of the steering wheel can always generate the rotation angle information of the steering wheel without requiring information to be a relative comparison target. Therefore, for example, it is possible to insert the key of the automobile and obtain the rotation angle information of the steering wheel from the time when the power of the automobile is turned on.
On the other hand, the relative rotation angle information is for relatively generating the rotation angle information of the steering wheel from the information to be compared with each other. Therefore, for example, it is impossible to insert the key of the automobile and obtain the rotation angle information of the steering wheel from the time when the power of the automobile is turned on. Then, when the steering wheel rotates by a certain amount or more, the relative rotation angle information of the steering wheel can be obtained.

[0004]

The steering angle sensor described above is provided with an annular drive gear mounted on the steering shaft and a disc-shaped magnet.
The two driven gears form a mechanism that rotates the magnet by rotating the steering shaft. In this mechanism, the mounting accuracy of each gear greatly affects the accuracy of the steering angle sensor. Further, the arrangement of the MR element for detecting the magnetic flux directions of the magnets attached to the two driven gears is also the same, and the MR element is highly accurately arranged on the electronic circuit board with respect to the magnet. There is a need. In other words, the mechanism portion including the annular drive gear and the two driven gears and the two MR elements are important constituent elements that can be said to be the heart of the steering angle sensor, and increase the accuracy of generating the rotation angle information of the steering wheel. It depends.

On the other hand, on the electronic circuit board on which the MR element is mounted, in addition to the MR element, a peripheral circuit of the MR element and a signal processing circuit for converting an analog signal output from the MR element into a digital signal are mounted. ing. The steering angle sensor also includes a connector or the like for outputting a signal from the electronic circuit board to an external device such as a control device. These components do not directly affect the generation accuracy of the rotation angle information of the steering wheel in the steering angle sensor, but the above-described annular drive gear, two driven gears, and 2
It can be said that the element is less important than the two MR elements.

However, in the conventional steering angle sensor, all of these constituent elements are housed in one housing. That is, the important components that can be called the heart and the less important components were contained in one housing. Therefore, the entire rudder angle sensor has to be configured in one housing with high accuracy including not only the important components but also the non-important components. Therefore, the entire housing that accommodates these, that is, the entire steering angle sensor must be formed with high accuracy,
As a result, there is a problem that the cost becomes high.

Further, since all the constituent elements are formed in one housing, the size of the housing inevitably becomes large and the degree of freedom in the shape of the housing tends to be low. For this reason, when incorporated into a steering angle sensor built-in type rotary connector device or the like, it occupies a large space, and there is a possibility that the device may become large.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to provide a rudder angle sensor having a structure that does not need to form the entire rudder angle sensor with high accuracy.
It is intended to reduce the cost of the steering angle sensor and increase the degree of freedom in the housing shape of the steering angle sensor.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application is directed to a steering apparatus in which a steering wheel and a steering mechanism portion for steering a wheel are connected by a steering shaft. A steering angle sensor that generates rotation angle information of the steering wheel, wherein a mechanism unit that rotates a magnet by rotation of the steering shaft, and a magnet that converts a change in magnetism caused by rotation of the magnet into an electric signal and outputs the electric signal. A signal processing unit including a steering angle detection mechanism unit including a main electronic circuit board having a change detection element, a sub electronic circuit board that outputs an electric signal output from the magnetic change detection element to an output connector, and the output connector. And a steering angle sensor.

As described above, the mechanical portion for rotating the magnet by the rotation of the steering shaft and the magnetic change detecting element for converting the change of the magnetism caused by the rotation of the magnet into an electric signal are also provided at the heart of the steering angle sensor. It is an important component to say. Therefore, an electronic circuit board on which a magnetic change detection element and other electronic circuits are conventionally mounted together is replaced by a main electronic circuit board on which only the magnetic change detection element is mounted and a sub electronic circuit on which other electronic circuits are mounted. By dividing into the board, the important components and the non-important components of the steering angle sensor can be separated.

Then, the steering angle detection mechanism unit composed of the mechanism section and the main electronic circuit board on which only the magnetic change detection element is mounted, that is, only the important components, and the signal processing circuit other than the magnetic change detection element, etc. The signal processing unit is composed of only non-essential components such as an auxiliary electronic circuit board on which the electronic circuit is mounted and an output connector. As a result, only the rudder angle detection mechanism unit that requires high accuracy in the arrangement of each component is configured with high accuracy, and the signal processing unit that does not require high accuracy in the arrangement of each component is configured with low accuracy and low cost. can do.

As described above, the rudder angle sensor, which has conventionally been constructed as one unit, has a rudder angle detection mechanism unit consisting only of important components that require high placement accuracy, and an important feature that does not require high placement accuracy. By configuring with two units, that is, a signal processing unit including only low-frequency components, it is possible to accurately configure only important components that require high placement accuracy.

As a result, according to the rudder angle sensor of the first aspect of the present invention, only the important components that require high placement accuracy can be placed with high precision. It is not necessary to configure the angle sensor as a whole with high precision, and thus the effect of reducing the cost of the steering angle sensor can be obtained.

In addition, the rudder angle sensor, which is configured as one unit, includes a rudder angle detection mechanism unit that includes only important constituent elements that require high placement accuracy, and a less important configuration that does not require high placement accuracy. By forming the steering angle sensor with two units, that is, the signal processing unit including only the elements, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom in the housing shape of the steering angle sensor.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the magnet has an N pole and an S pole on the side facing the magnetic change detecting element, and the magnetic change detecting element is
The steering angle sensor is an MR element (magnetoresistive element) that generates an analog electric signal by changing the magnetic resistance based on the change in the direction of the magnetic flux accompanying the rotation of the magnet.

According to the steering angle sensor of the second aspect of the present invention, the MR element detects the change in the magnetic flux direction due to the rotation of the magnet, thereby detecting the rotational position of the steering shaft to detect the steering wheel. In the steering angle sensor configured to generate the rotation angle information, it is possible to obtain the action and effect according to the invention described in claim 1 of the present application.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the mechanism portion includes an annular drive gear that rotates integrally with the rotation of the steering shaft in a state where the steering shaft is inserted. A first driven gear, which is disposed so as to be capable of rotation transmission with an annular drive gear, and in which a first magnet is integrally disposed at the center, and a state of which is engaged with the annular drive gear so as to be rotation transmission. And a second driven gear in which a second magnet is integrally disposed in the center, and the main electronic circuit board changes the magnetic field caused by the rotation of the first magnet with an electric signal. And a second magnetic change detecting element for converting the magnetic change caused by the rotation of the second magnet into an electric signal and outputting the electric signal.
It is a steering angle sensor characterized in that.

The mechanism portion of the steering angle detection mechanism unit is provided with an annular drive gear that rotates integrally with the rotation of the steering shaft, and a state in which the annular drive gear is engaged with the annular drive gear so that rotation can be transmitted. It is composed of two driven gears. Therefore, the rotation of the annular drive gear causes the rotation of the two driven gears, which in turn rotate the two magnets. It is possible to generate various steering wheel rotation angle information.

As a result, according to the steering angle sensor of the third aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the invention of the second aspect of the invention, finer rotation angle information of the steering wheel is generated. It is possible to obtain the action and effect.

The invention according to claim 4 of the present application is defined by claims 1 to 1.
3. In the steering angle detection mechanism unit according to any one of 3 above, the mechanism portion and the main electronic circuit board are housed in a steering angle detection mechanism unit housing, and a snap-on using a spring force for pressing unevenness is used. According to the mounting structure, a snap-on mounting portion having a structure for mounting the lid portion of the steering angle detection mechanism unit housing to the steering angle detection mechanism unit housing is configured inside the steering angle detection mechanism unit housing. It is a characteristic rudder angle sensor.

As described above, the mechanism portion for rotating the magnet by the rotation of the steering shaft and the magnetic change detecting element for converting the change of the magnetism caused by the rotation of the magnet into an electric signal are also included in the heart portion of the steering angle sensor. It is an important component to say. Since the magnet is rotated by the rotation of the steering shaft and the change in magnetism caused by the rotation of the magnet is detected by the magnetic change detection element, it is necessary to accurately adjust the rotational position of the magnet with respect to the rotational position of the steering shaft. Therefore, if the rotational position of the magnet with respect to the rotational position of the steering shaft deviates for some reason, it becomes impossible to generate accurate rotational angle information of the steering wheel. Therefore, the rudder angle detection mechanism unit housing in which these important components are housed is closed by the lid after the direction of the magnet with respect to the predetermined rotation position of the steering wheel is adjusted, and the adjustment is deviated. It is necessary to prevent that.

Therefore, by attaching the lid portion for attaching the rudder angle detection mechanism unit housing to the snap-on attachment structure and providing the snap-on attachment portion inside the rudder angle detection mechanism unit housing,
The lid cannot be easily removed. for that reason,
In order to remove the lid from the rudder angle detection mechanism unit housing, the rudder angle detection mechanism unit housing cannot be removed unless the rudder angle detection mechanism unit housing is broken. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the lid from coming off due to some cause. Further, since the lid cannot be removed without breaking the rudder angle detection mechanism unit housing, it is possible to prevent a human error in which the lid portion is easily removed and the adjustment in the rudder angle detection mechanism unit housing is mistakenly misaligned. be able to.

Thus, according to the steering angle sensor of the invention described in claim 4, the steering angle sensor is important in addition to the function and effect of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3. It is possible to prevent the adjustment of the mechanical part and the magnetic change detection element, which are various components, from being misaligned due to some factor, or accidentally shifting the adjustment due to human error. The operational effect that the reliability of can be further improved can be obtained.

The invention according to claim 5 of the present application is the steering angle sensor according to claim 4, wherein the lid portion of the steering angle detection mechanism unit housing is formed of a metal material.

According to the rudder angle sensor of the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the function and effect of the invention of the fourth aspect of the present invention, a rudder that accommodates important components and is required to have high accuracy. By forming the lid of the angle detection mechanism unit housing with a metal material, the operation and effect that a small-sized and high-strength steering angle detection mechanism unit can be formed can be obtained. This is very effective when the angle detection mechanism unit has to be arranged.

The invention according to claim 6 of the present application includes claims 1 to
A rudder angle sensor built-in type rotary connector device comprising the rudder angle sensor according to any one of 5 above.

According to the steering angle sensor built-in type rotary connector device according to the invention of claim 6, the steering angle sensor built-in type rotary connector device is described in any one of claims 1 to 5 of the present invention. The effect of the invention can be obtained.

[0028]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the schematic configuration of the steering angle sensor according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a steering angle sensor according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the steering angle sensor according to the present invention from different angles.

The steering angle sensor 100 is composed of two units, a steering angle detection mechanism unit 1 and a signal processing unit 5. The steering angle detection mechanism unit 1 has a steering shaft insertion portion 1a which is connected to a steering wheel (not shown) and in which a steering shaft (not shown) that transmits the rotation of the steering wheel to the steering mechanism is inserted. ing. The inner peripheral surface 13a of the annular drive gear 13, which rotates integrally with the rotation of the steering shaft in the state where the steering shaft is inserted, faces the inner peripheral surface of the steering shaft insertion portion 1a. Engaging portions 131 and 132 for engaging the steering shaft and transmitting the rotation of the steering shaft to the annular drive gear 13 are formed on the inner peripheral surface 13a of the annular drive gear 13. The gear 13 rotates in the rotation direction indicated by reference numeral A by the rotation of the steering wheel.

The rudder angle detection mechanism unit 1 is housed in the rudder angle detection mechanism unit housing 11 and the rudder angle detection mechanism unit housing 11, and a "mechanical portion" (annular drive gear 13 that rotates a magnet by rotation of the steering shaft). And a "main electronic circuit board" that has a magnetic change detection element that is housed in the steering angle detection mechanism unit housing 11 and that converts a change in magnetism caused by rotation of the magnet into an electric signal and outputs the electric signal. It is composed of 12 and. The rudder angle detection mechanism unit housing 11 is formed of a resin material or the like with high accuracy, and the lid portion 12 is formed of a thin plate-shaped metal material. As described above, since the lid portion 12 is formed of the thin plate-shaped metal material, the rudder angle detection mechanism unit 1 having a small size and high strength can be configured. Four convex portions 2 formed on the lid portion 12
The lid portion 12 is attached to the steering angle detection mechanism unit housing 11 in a state in which the two are engaged with the four rectangular holes 33 formed in the steering angle detection mechanism unit housing 11, respectively.

On the other hand, the signal processing unit 5 is composed of a signal processing unit housing 51 in which a "sub electronic circuit board" is housed and an output connector 63 which outputs an output signal from the "sub electronic circuit board" to the outside. Has been done. The output connector 63 is electrically connected to the "sub electronic circuit board" by the output connector cable 63a. The signal processing unit housing 51 is formed of a resin material by injection molding, and thus the signal processing unit 5 can be easily configured at low cost. In addition, the steering angle sensor 10
0 is attached to a steering angle sensor built-in type connector or the like by two attaching portions 56 formed in the signal processing unit housing 51.

Next, the structure of the steering angle detection mechanism unit 1 of the steering angle sensor 100 according to the present invention will be described. Figure 3
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the steering angle detection mechanism unit 1 according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the steering angle detection mechanism unit 1 according to the present invention from different angles.

The "mechanical portion" housed in the steering angle detection mechanism unit housing 11 is composed of a first driven gear 14, a second driven gear 15, and an annular drive gear 13. A magnet mounting hole 14a is formed at the center of the first driven gear 14, and a first magnet 16 is mounted in the magnet mounting hole 14a. Second
A magnet mounting hole 15a is formed in the center of the driven gear 15, and a second magnet 17 is mounted in the magnet mounting hole 15a.

The annular drive gear 13 is accommodated in an annular drive gear accommodating hole 11a formed in the steering angle detection mechanism unit housing 11 while being rotatably positioned. The first driven gear 14 is engaged with the annular drive gear 13 in a rotationally transmittable manner and is rotatably positioned, and the first driven gear accommodating hole 31 formed in the steering angle detection mechanism unit housing 11 is formed. Housed inside. The second driven gear 15 is engaged with the annular drive gear 13 in a rotationally transmissible manner and is rotatably positioned so that the second driven gear 15 has a second driven gear accommodating hole 32 formed in the steering angle detection mechanism unit housing 11. Housed inside. First magnet 16 and second
The magnet 17 has an N pole and an S pole on the magnetic pole surface side, and the first driven gear 14 and the second driven gear 15 are
Magnetic flux direction of the first magnet 16 and the second magnet 1
And the magnetic flux direction of No. 7 are arranged so as to have a predetermined phase difference.

The main electronic circuit board 4 includes the first magnet 1
The first magnetic change detecting element 41 which converts the magnetic change caused by the rotation of 6 into an electric signal and outputs the electric signal, and the second magnetic change detecting element 41 which converts the magnetic change caused by the rotation of the second magnet 17 into an electric signal and outputs the electric signal. Magnetic change detection element 42 of
It has a connection connector 43 for making a circuit connection to a "sub electronic circuit board". The main electronic circuit board 4 is attached to the lower side of the first driven gear accommodation hole 31 and the second driven gear accommodation hole 32 in a state of being locked by the board locking claws 37 and 39. . The first magnet 16 is the first
Through hole 3 formed at the bottom of the driven gear accommodating hole 31 of
The second magnet 17 faces the first magnetic change detecting element 41 through 1a, and the second magnet 17 faces the second magnetic change detecting element 42 through a through hole 32a formed at the bottom of the second driven gear accommodating hole 32. To do. First magnetic change detection element 4
The first and second magnetic change detection elements 42 are MR elements (magnetoresistive elements) that generate an analog electric signal by changing their magnetic resistance based on the change in the direction of the magnetic flux accompanying the rotation of the magnet.
Is.

In the steering angle detection mechanism unit 1, the annular drive gear 13 is rotated by the rotation of the steering shaft, which causes the first driven gear 14 and the second driven gear 15 to be driven to rotate. As the first driven gear 14 rotates, the first magnet 16 rotates and the magnetic flux direction of the first magnet 16 changes, and the change in the magnetic flux direction is detected by the first magnetic change detecting element 41. . At the same time, when the second driven gear 15 rotates, the second magnet 17 rotates and the magnetic flux direction of the second magnet 17 changes, and the change in the magnetic flux direction is detected by the second magnetic change detection element 42. To detect. First magnetic change detection element 4
The first and second magnetic change detection elements 42 output the detected change waveforms in the magnetic flux direction.

Further, the rudder angle detection mechanism unit 1 includes a lid 1
The four convex portions 22 formed on the reference numeral 2 are the four rectangular holes 3 formed on the steering angle detection mechanism unit housing 11.
In addition to engaging with each of the three, the spring force for pressing the concave portion 211 of the locking portion 21 formed in the lid portion 12 and the convex portion 36 formed in the steering angle detection mechanism unit housing 11 is applied. The lid 12 is attached to the steering angle detection mechanism unit housing 11 by a snap-on attachment portion having a snap-on attachment structure that is engaged and utilized. In the snap-on mounting portion, the concave portion 211 of the locking portion 21 and the convex portion 36 formed on the steering angle detection mechanism unit housing 11 are engaged with each other, and the lid portion 12 is mounted on the steering angle detection mechanism unit housing 11. It is configured inside the steering angle detection mechanism unit housing 11 in the closed state. Therefore, in the snap-on mounting portion, the lid portion 12 cannot be easily removed, and the lid portion 12 can be removed from the steering angle detection mechanism unit housing 11 by
Since the steering angle detection mechanism unit housing 11 cannot be removed unless it is broken, the lid 12 can be prevented from coming off due to some cause. Further, since the lid 12 cannot be removed without destroying the rudder angle detection mechanism unit housing 11, it is easy to remove the lid 12 and erroneously shift the adjustment in the rudder angle detection mechanism unit housing 11. Mistakes can be prevented and the reliability of the steering angle sensor 100 can be further improved.

Next, the steering angle sensor 10 according to the present invention.
The configuration of the signal processing unit 5 of 0 will be described. Figure 5
Is a perspective view showing the configuration of the signal processing unit 5 according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the signal processing unit 5 according to the present invention from a different angle.

The sub-electronic circuit board 61 housed in the signal processing unit housing 51 has electronic circuits such as signal processing circuits other than the first magnetic change detecting element 41 and the second magnetic change detecting element 42, and the main electronic circuit. A connection connector 62 for making a circuit connection is mounted on the circuit board 4. Also,
An output connector 63 that outputs the output signal of the sub electronic circuit board 61 to the outside is connected to the sub electronic circuit board 61 via an output cable 63a. Signal processing unit 5
Is in a state in which the sub electronic circuit board 61 is locked in the claws 54 and the protrusions 55 and accommodated in the signal processing unit housing 51, and the lid 511 of the signal processing unit housing 51 is closed in the direction indicated by the symbol B. It is composed of.

FIG. 7 shows a steering angle sensor 100 according to the present invention.
2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of FIG. As described above, the steering angle sensor 100 includes the steering angle detection mechanism unit 1 and the signal processing unit 5 described above, and the connection cable 64 connects the main electronic circuit board 4 and the sub electronic circuit board 61. In this state, the signal processing unit 5 is attached to the steering angle detection mechanism unit 1 to configure the steering angle sensor 100. First, one side of the connection cable 64 is connected to the connection connector 62 of the sub electronic circuit board 61, and the connector 64a on the other side of the connection cable 64 is connected to the connection connector 43 of the main electronic circuit board 4 (reference C1). Then, the convex portion 36 formed in the steering angle detection mechanism unit housing 11
Then, while being positioned by the convex portion 53 formed in the signal processing unit housing 51, the engagement portion 35 formed in the steering angle detection mechanism unit housing 11 is engaged with the signal processing unit housing 51 to move the steering wheel. The convex portion 34 formed on the angle detection mechanism unit housing 11
The signal processing unit 5 is attached to the steering angle detection mechanism unit 1 by engaging with the hole 52 formed in the signal processing unit housing 51.

In this way, the rudder angle sensor 100, which has conventionally been constructed as one unit, is composed of only the important structural elements, that is, the "mechanical section" and the main electronic circuit board 4, which require high placement accuracy. Rudder angle detection mechanism unit 1
And a low importance component that does not require high placement accuracy, that is, a signal processing unit 5 including only the sub-electronic circuit board 61 and the output connector 63, the high placement accuracy is required. It is possible to configure only the important constituent elements of the steering angle detection mechanism unit 1 with high accuracy. Therefore, the steering angle sensor 1
00 does not need to be configured with high accuracy, and thereby the cost of the steering angle sensor 100 can be reduced and the degree of freedom of the housing shape of the steering angle sensor 100 can be increased.

The invention of the present application is not limited to the above embodiments, but various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the invention of the present application. Needless to say.

[0043]

According to the present invention, the cost of the rudder angle sensor can be reduced and the housing shape of the rudder angle sensor can be freely adjusted by the rudder angle sensor which does not need to be formed with high accuracy. You can increase the degree.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a steering angle sensor according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a steering angle sensor according to the present invention from different angles.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a steering angle detection mechanism unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a steering angle detection mechanism unit according to the present invention from different angles.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a signal processing unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the signal processing unit according to the present invention from different angles.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a steering angle sensor according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Rudder angle detection mechanism unit 4 Main electronic circuit board 5 Signal processing unit 11 Rudder angle detection mechanism unit housing 13 Ring drive gear 14 First driven gear 15 Second driven gear 16 First magnet 17 Second magnet 41 First Magnetic Change Detection Element 42 Second magnetic change detection element 51 Signal processing unit housing 61 Sub electronic circuit board 63 output connector 100 rudder angle sensor

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 2F063 AA36 BA08 CA34 DA01 DA05                       DD03 GA52 GA71                 2F077 AA47 CC02 JJ01 JJ09 JJ23                       VV02 VV10 WW06                 3D030 DC29

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A steering angle sensor for generating rotation angle information of the steering wheel of a steering device, comprising a steering wheel and a steering mechanism section for steering a wheel connected by a steering shaft. A steering angle detection mechanism unit including a mechanism unit for rotating a magnet by rotation, and a main electronic circuit board having a magnetic change detection element for converting a change in magnetism caused by rotation of the magnet into an electric signal and outputting the electric signal; A steering angle sensor comprising: a sub electronic circuit board that outputs an electric signal output from a change detection element to an output connector; and a signal processing unit that includes the output connector. 2. The magnet according to claim 1, wherein the magnet has an N pole and an S pole on the side facing the magnetic change detection element,
The magnetic change detection element is an MR element (magnetoresistive element) that changes its magnetic resistance based on a change in the direction of the magnetic flux associated with the rotation of the magnet to generate an analog electric signal.
A rudder angle sensor characterized by this. 3. The annular drive gear according to claim 2, wherein the mechanism portion rotates integrally with the rotation of the steering shaft when the steering shaft is inserted.
A first driven gear, which is disposed so as to be capable of rotation transmission with the annular drive gear, and in which a first magnet is integrally disposed at the center, is engaged with the first drive gear so as to be capable of rotation transmission. A second driven gear having a second magnet integrally arranged in the center thereof, and the main electronic circuit board electrically changes the magnetic force caused by the rotation of the first magnet. It has a first magnetic change detecting element for converting into a signal and outputting it, and a second magnetic change detecting element for converting a change in magnetism caused by rotation of the second magnet into an electric signal and outputting it. A rudder angle sensor characterized by the following. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein
In the rudder angle detection mechanism unit, the rudder angle detection mechanism unit housing accommodates the mechanism portion and the main electronic circuit board, and the rudder angle detection mechanism is configured by a snap-on mounting structure using a spring force to press the unevenness. A rudder angle sensor characterized in that a snap-on mounting portion having a structure for mounting the lid portion of the rudder angle detection mechanism unit housing to the mechanism unit housing is formed inside the rudder angle detection mechanism unit housing. 5. The rudder angle sensor according to claim 4, wherein the lid portion of the rudder angle detection mechanism unit housing is formed of a metal material. 6. A rotary connector device with a built-in rudder angle sensor, comprising the rudder angle sensor according to claim 1.