JP4042109B2

JP4042109B2 - Position detection sensor

Info

Publication number: JP4042109B2
Application number: JP2003052955A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 桂司鶴巻
Original assignee: Nippon Seiki Co Ltd
Current assignee: Nippon Seiki Co Ltd
Priority date: 2003-02-28
Filing date: 2003-02-28
Publication date: 2008-02-06
Anticipated expiration: 2023-02-28
Also published as: JP2004264089A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、例えば自動車等の車両に搭載される被操作部材の操作位置を検出する位置検出センサに関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来、この種の位置検出センサにあっては、例えばスロットルバルブの開度に応じて回転する回転部材と、この回転部材と同期して回転する磁石と、この磁石の回転動作に伴う磁極変化を検出するためのホール素子とこのホール素子を収納するホルダとを有する回路基板と、回転部材と磁石と回路基板を収納する合成樹脂からなるハウジングとを備えている。この場合、ハウジングは略枠状に形成され、その中央部には回転部材を回転可能に保持するための円筒部材が連結部を通じてハウジングに一体形成されいる。この連結部は円筒部材の下端側に連結されており、この連結部によって連結された円筒部材の下端側から上端側に向かって延びる円筒部材の外周には円筒部材を取り囲むように非磁性金属材料からなる筒状の保持部が配設されている。また、円筒部材の中央部にはホール素子を収納する凹部が形成されている。そして、スロットルバルブの開度に応じてスロットルバルブ側に設けられたスロットルシャフトが回転すると、このスロットルシャフトの回転に伴い回転部材が回転し、この回転部材の回転による磁石の磁極変化をホール素子によって電気信号に変換し、ダイレクトコネクタを通じて外部に出力するようになっている（特許文献１参照）。
【０００３】
【特許文献１】
特開平１０−６２１１３号公報
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかしながら、特許文献１に記載の位置検出センサの場合、合成樹脂からなるハウジングの円筒部材の下端側は連結部を通じてハウジングと一体に形成されており、しかも円筒部材の下端側から上端側に向かって延びる円筒部材の外周には非磁性金属材料からなる筒状の保持部が配設されている構成である。そして、この保持部によって回転部材を回転可能に保持している。
【０００５】
従って、かかる位置検出センサにおいて、回転部材を円筒部材に対して回転可能に保持するにあたり、回転部材の配設箇所となる円筒部材の上端側とハウジングとを連結することは困難でるため、円筒部材の外周には円筒部材を補強するための円筒部材補強用の保持部（補強部材）が別途必要となり、これにより位置検出センサを構成する部品点数が多くなるため組付費や部品費が嵩み、コストアップの原因となっていた。
【０００６】
本発明はこの点に鑑みてなされたもので、その主な目的は、回転部材を保持するにあたって、コストダウンを達成することが可能な位置検出センサを提供せんとするものである。
【０００７】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明は前記目的を達成するため、被操作部材の操作量に応じて回転する軸部を有する回転部材と、この回転部材の回転に同期して回転する磁石と、この磁石の回転動作に伴う磁極変化を検出する検出素子と、この検出素子を保持するホルダと、少なくとも前記磁石と前記検出素子とを収納する枠体とを備え、前記枠体は前記回転部材が貫通する貫通部を有し、前記回転部材は前記貫通部に貫通した状態で前記枠体と前記ホルダとの間に狭持され、且つ前記枠体及び前記ホルダが合成樹脂材料によって形成されてなり、さらに前記回転部材は、その前記軸部の軸線とは直交する方向において、前記枠体に設けられた前記貫通部と、前記ホルダに設けられた隆起部とによって軸支されてなることを特徴とする。
【０００９】
【発明の実施の形態】
図１から図４は本発明の第１実施形態を示すもので、以下、これらに基づいて本発明の第１実施形態を例えば自動車に搭載されるアクセルペダルの操作位置を検出する位置検出センサに適用した場合について説明する。なお、図１は本発明の第１実施形態による位置検出センサの正面図、図２は図１のＡ−Ａ断面図、図３は同実施形態による位置検出センサの各構成部品を示す図、図４は同実施形態による回転部材とホルダの固定状態を示す要部断面図である。
【００１０】
図１から図３において、本実施形態による位置検出センサは、図示しないアクセルペダル（被操作部材）の操作量（操作位置）に応じて回転する回転部材１と、この回転部材１に同期（連動）して回転する磁石２と、検出素子３並びにこの検出素子３を保持するホルダ４が搭載された回路基板５と、磁石２を取り囲むコイルバネ６と、磁石２と回路基板５とコイルバネ６を収納する枠体７とから構成されている。
【００１１】
回転部材１は、合成樹脂材料、例えばポリアセタールやポリアミドからなり、枠体７の後述する貫通部を通じて外部に延びる軸部１１と、この軸部１１からその軸方向とは直交する外周方向に延びるフランジ部１２と、このフランジ部１２から連続して軸部１１と同軸方向に延びる筒状部１３とを備えている。なお、これら軸部１１，筒状部１３の軸線（軸方向）Ｌは、図２中、一点鎖線にて示されている。
【００１２】
軸部１１は、略角柱状に形成され、その中央部には回転部材１の成形時の成形不良を防止するための肉抜き部１１ａが軸線Ｌに沿って形成されている。そして、軸部１１のうち枠体７の外部に露出する露出部１１ｂ箇所は前記アクセルペダル側に配設される図示しないシャフト（レバー）等の固定部に結合されている。このため、前記アクセルペダルの操作によって前記シャフトが所定方向に回転移動し、このシャフトの回転移動によって前記シャフトの前記固定部と連結結合される軸部１１の露出部１１ｂには回転部材１を回転させるための回転力が作用するようになっている。
【００１３】
なお、このとき、枠体７は枠体７の後述する一対の鍔部を通じて前記アクセルペダル側に取付固定されているため、回転部材１の回転時に枠体７自体は回転しないようになっている。
【００１４】
フランジ部１２には、コイルバネ６の後述する一方の端部が貫通する孔部１２ａが形成されている。
【００１５】
筒状部１３は、フランジ部１２を挟んで軸部１１と対向する箇所が空洞部１３ａとなる略円筒状に形成され、この空洞部１３ａにホルダ４の後述する肉薄部が収納固定されている。また、１３ｂは筒状部１３の底面からフランジ部１２側に向けて形成される円環状の溝部であり、この溝部１３ｂに磁石２が収納固定される。そして、このように磁石２を収納固定するための溝部１３ｂを筒状部１３に設けることで、筒状部１３は溝部１３ｂを介して回転部材１の軸線Ｌと直交する方向に互いに向かい合う第１，第２の対向壁１３ｃ，１３ｄを備えている。
【００１６】
また本実施形態では、図４に示すように第１，第２の対向壁１３ｃ，１３ｄのうち空洞部１３ａ側に位置する第１の対向壁１３ｃにはその底面からホルダ４の後述する段部側に延びる突起部１３ｅが形成されている。この突起部１３ｅは断面半円状に形成され、回転部材１とホルダ４とが固定された状態では、突起部１３ｅの円弧端面が前記段部と接触し、これにより回転部材１がホルダ４によって保持される。
【００１７】
磁石２は、円環状からなり、回転部材１の溝部１３内に接着等によって収納固定されている。なお、磁石２の回転部材１への収納固定方法は接着等に限らず、例えば回転部材１と磁石２とをインサート成形により一体的に形成してもよい。なお、磁石２の外周面は複数の磁極を有するように着磁されている。
【００１８】
検出素子３は、例えばホールＩＣやＭＲ（磁気抵抗）素子からなり、半田付け等の手段により回路基板５に導通固定され、磁石２の回転動作に伴う磁極変化を電気信号（パルス信号）に変換し、この電気信号を電気コード８（図２参照）を通じてエンジンコントロールユニット等に出力するものである。
【００１９】
そして、この検出素子３はホルダ４を通じて回路基板５に取り付けられている。ホルダ４は、合成樹脂材料、例えばポリアセタールやポリアミドからなり、断面略「Ｕ」字状に形成され、検出素子３を収納保持するための凹部４１と、この凹部４１から軸線Ｌと直交する外周方向（枠体７側）に延びるフランジ４２とを有している。この場合、凹部４１は回転部材１側が閉塞する略円筒状に形成され、凹部４１の外壁面には階段状の段部４３が形成されている。
【００２０】
また、このように凹部４１の外壁面に段部４３を形成することで、凹部４１には検出素子３が収納される凹部４１の底面側が肉薄となる肉薄部４４が形成されると共に、この肉薄部４４とフランジ４２との間に位置する凹部４１箇所には肉薄部４４よりも径大な肉厚部４５が形成されている。
【００２１】
また、肉薄部４４における段部４３側には軸線Ｌとは直交する方向にわずかに隆起する隆起部４６（図４参照）が設けられており、この隆起部４６は回転部材１の回転時おけるラジアル方向（軸線Ｌとは直交する方向）の位置ズレを規制する位置規制部としての機能を有している。これにより、ホルダ４の肉薄部４４を回転部材１の空洞部１３ａ内に収納したときに隆起部４６の非形成領域となる肉薄部４４箇所と筒状部１３の第１の対向壁１３ｃとの間にはクリアランスが形成されるようになっている。
【００２２】
なお、４７はホルダ４のフランジ４２から軸線Ｌと同一方向に延びるように突出形成され、回路基板５の後述する孔を貫通する一対の突出ピンである。そして、ホルダ４と回路基板５とが密着するように各突出ピン４７を孔５３に貫通させて、回路基板５の後述する基板面５１から突出した突出ピン４７箇所を熱によって溶かすことで回路基板５がホルダ４に溶着固定される。
【００２３】
回路基板５は、図２中、軸線Ｌと直交する方向に延びホルダ４のフランジ４２の背面に沿うように配設され、検出素子３やコンデンサ等の電子部品が実装される基板面５１と、検出素子３の出力用の電気コード８を半田付けにより導通接続するための電気コード挿通孔５２と、ホルダ４の一対の突出ピン４７が貫通する２つの孔５３とを備えている。
【００２４】
なお、電気コード挿通孔５２はホルダ４から露出する回路基板５箇所に複数設けられ、この場合、電気コード８は基板面５１側から電気コード挿通孔５２に挿入される。そして、基板面５１とは反対側の基板面５４であってホルダ４から露出する基板面５４の露出面５５から突出した電気コード８の突出端が導通接続されている。
【００２５】
コイルバネ６は、金属材料からなり、回転部材１の筒状部１３並びに検出素子３を収納する凹部４１を取り巻くように、回転部材１のフランジ部１２とホルダ４のフランジ４２との間に配置されている。また、コイルバネ６の一方の端部６１はフランジ部１２の孔部１２ａに挿入され、コイルバネ６の他方の端部６２はホルダ４に設けられる図示しない案内部にガイドされている。
【００２６】
このようにコイルバネ６の両端部６１，６２が、回転部材１の孔部１２とホルダ４の前記案内部に挿入されることで、コイルバネ６は回転部材１とホルダ４とで保持されており、しかもホルダ４はその突出ピン４７によって回路基板５に溶着固定されると共に、ホルダ４の溶着固定された回路基板５がさらに枠体７に所定手段によって固定されている。
【００２７】
加えて、本実施形態では前記アクセルペダルの操作によって回転部材１のみが回転し、枠体７は前記アクセルペダル側に取付固定されると共にホルダ４はフランジ部４２と枠体７の後述する受部とを通じて枠体７に溶着等により固定されているため、前記アクセルペダルの操作によってホルダ４自体は回転しない構成である。従って、前記アクセルペダルの操作によって回転部材１が回転したときに、コイルバネ６には常時、回転部材１を回転部材１の回転方向とは反対方向に回転させる回転力（復帰力）が作用し、この復帰力により前記アクセルペダルの操作が解除されると回転部材１は元の位置（初期位置）に戻るようになっている。
【００２８】
従って、前記アクセルペダルを例えば所定量だけ踏み込んだときと、この所定量よりもさらに踏み込み、その後、前記アクセルペダルの踏み込みを緩めて踏み込み量が前記所定量と略一致したときとを比較すると、検出素子３による両者の出力値は略一致するようになっている。
【００２９】
枠体７は、合成樹脂材料、例えばＰＢＴ（ポリブチレンテレフタレート）からなり、その外周適宜箇所には、例えば前記アクセルペダル側に所定の取付手段にて取付固定するための一対の鍔部７１と、この鍔部７１に連続して形成される側壁部７２と、回路基板５の外形よりも径大な略半円状からなる開口部７３と、側壁部７２から連続形成され開口部６３に対応する底壁部７４とを有している。
【００３０】
そして、底壁部７４には開口部７３とは反対側（図２中、上側）にさらに隆起する隆起壁７５が形成されており、この隆起壁７５はホルダ４の外形形状に対応した丸形に形成され、その中央部には回転部材１の軸部１１が貫通する貫通部７６が設けられている。なお、この場合、軸部１１を貫通部７６に貫通させたときに、軸部１１は貫通部７６に対して圧入するように固定されるため、回転部材１と枠体７とは容易に分離されないようになっている。
【００３１】
さらに、この貫通部７６の周囲には隆起壁７５から開口部７３側に向けて軸線Ｌ方向に突出する突出部７７が形成されている。この突出部７７は円環状からなり、隆起壁７５に連続して形成され、軸部１１を貫通部７６に貫通させたときに軸部１１の露出部１１ｂが所定寸法だけ露出したところでフランジ部１２の前面に当接することで、回転部材１を軸線Ｌ方向に対して位置規制する位置規制部としての機能を有している。
【００３２】
このように隆起壁７５から部分的に突出した突出部７７でフランジ部１２を受けることにより、隆起壁７５とフランジ部１２との間には間隙がされ、この間隙に貫通部７６を通じて外部から枠体７内部に水分等の侵入を防止するための円環状からなる防水部材７８が配設されている。
【００３３】
また、７９は側壁部７２、底壁部７４並びに隆起壁７５によって囲まれる空間を２つの空間に分割するための仕切壁であり、この仕切壁７９は底壁部７４と隆起壁７５との境界部から開口部７３側に向けて軸線Ｌ方向に延びている。そして、仕切壁７９の先端部及び、図２中、右側に位置し前記先端部と対向する側壁部７２箇所にはホルダ４のフランジ４２の周縁を保持する段部からなる受部７０１が形成されている。
【００３４】
また、図２中、９は、ホルダ４と溶着固定された回路基板５を封止するように枠体７内に例えばエポキシ系合成樹脂からなる充填剤を充填・固化して形成された封止体である。そして、本実施形態の場合、封止体９は、ホルダ４のフランジ４２と開口部７３との間、及び図２中、左側に位置する側壁部７２と仕切壁７９との間を埋めるように充填形成され、前記電子部品を含む回路基板５を安定的に固定している。なお、枠体７の受部７０１にはグリス等が塗布されているため、封止体９は回転部材１側には形成されないようになっている。
【００３５】
続いて、本実施形態における位置検出センサの組み付け例を説明する。まず、回転部材１の溝部１３ｂ内に磁石２を接着等によって収納固定し、この磁石２の収納固定された回転部材１の軸部１１側を開口部７３より枠体７内に収納する。次に、軸部１１を貫通部７６に貫通させて、軸部１１を外部に露出させた後、さらに回転部材１を筒状部１３側から隆起壁７５側に押し込むことで、やがて露出部１１ｂが所定量露出した状態でフランジ部１２が突出部７７と当接し、回転部材１が枠体７に固定される。この際、貫通部７６は回転部材１の軸部１１のラジアル方向への位置ズレを規制する軸受としての機能を有しているため、軸部１１は貫通部７６によって軸支されることになる。
【００３６】
次に、筒状部１３を取り巻くようにコイルバネ６の一方の端部６１をフランジ部１２の孔部１２ａに挿入し、さらにホルダ４の前記案内部にコイルバネ６の他方の端部６２がガイドされるようにホルダ４の肉薄部４４を筒状部１３の空洞部１３ａ内に収納固定する。そして、枠体７の図示しない溶着部とホルダ４の前記溶着部に対応する箇所とを熱溶着することで、回転部材１が枠体７とホルダ４との間で狭持される。このとき、ホルダ４の隆起部４６は第１の対向壁１３ｃに接触するため、回転部材１の筒状部１３のラジアル方向への位置ズレを規制する軸受としての機能を有し、これにより筒状部１３は隆起部４６によって軸支され、以上により回転部材１は貫通部７６と隆起部４６とによって軸支されている。
【００３７】
次に、検出素子３をホルダ４の凹部４１内の奥行き方向に収納し、電気コード８が導通接続された回路基板５の孔５３をホルダ４の突出ピン４７に貫通させて基板面５１から突出した突出ピン４７突出端と回路基板５とを熱溶着により固定する。そして、回路基板５に検出素子３を半田付けし、最後に、開口部７３より前述した枠体７内の所定箇所内に前記充填剤を充填し、この充填材が固化することにより封止体９が形成され、この封止体９により前記電子部品を含む回路基板５が枠体７内で封止され、組み付けが完了する。
【００３８】
従って、かかる位置検出センサの組み付けにおいては、ホルダ４を回転部材１に固定したときに、回転部材１が枠体７とホルダ４との間で狭持され、しかも回転部材１はそのラジアル方向に対する位置ズレが隆起部４６、貫通部７６によって規制されている。また、肉薄部４４の空洞部１３ａへの挿入によって、軸線Ｌ方向に対しては段部４３と突起部１３ｅとが接触することで、回転部材１は段部４３と突出部７７とで軸線Ｌ方向に対する移動が規制されている。なお、肉薄部４４の空洞部１３ａへの挿入によって隆起部４６の非形成領域である肉薄部４４箇所は回転部材１と接触していないため、回転部材１の回転をスムーズにさせ、前記アクセルペダルの操作による検出素子３の検出精度を高めることが可能となる。
【００３９】
以上のように本実施形態では、前記アクセルペダルの操作量に応じて回転する回転部材１と、この回転部材１の回転に同期して回転する磁石２と、この磁石２の回転動作に伴う磁極変化を検出する検出素子３と、この検出素子３を保持するホルダ４と、磁石２と検出素子３とを収納する枠体７とを備え、枠体７は回転部材１が貫通する貫通部７６を有し、回転部材１は貫通部７６に貫通した状態で枠体７とホルダ４との間に狭持され、且つ枠体７及びホルダ４が合成樹脂材料によって形成されてなることにより、位置検出センサの構成部品として従来は必要であった回転部材補強用の専用の保持部が不要となるため、部品点数が削減可能となりコストダウンを達成することができる。
【００４０】
また本実施形態では、回転部材１は、貫通部７６及びホルダ４に設けられた隆起部４６によって軸支されてなることにより、回転部材１のラジアル方向に対する位置ズレが規制されるため、前記アクセルペダルの操作による検出素子３の検出精度を高めることができる。また、回転部材１は枠体７内に収納されたホルダ４によって保持されているため、例えば軸部１１の露出部１１ｂを別部材によって保持することが不要となり、これにより位置検出センサの小型化が可能となる。
【００４１】
図５は本発明の第２実施形態を示しており、本実施形態では前記第１実施形態にて適用した回転部材１の第１の突出部１３ｅ（対向壁１３ｃ）並びにホルダ４の隆起部４６を廃止して、回転部材１とホルダ４とを凹凸結合させることで回転部材１をホルダ４によって保持している例を示している。
【００４２】
すなわち、ホルダ４の肉薄部４４の中央部に軸線Ｌ方向に沿って回転部材１側に突出する凸部４８を設けると共に、回転部材１の軸部１１（フランジ部１２）側には凸部４８と結合する凹部１４が設けられている。かかる実施形態においても、回転部材１が枠体７とホルダ４とで狭持されるため、従来のように回転部材補強用の保持部が不要となり、前記第１実施形態と同様の作用効果を得ることができる。
【００４３】
なお、前記第２実施形態では回転部材１側に凹部１４を設け、ホルダ４側に凹部１４に結合する凸部４８を設けた場合について説明したが、回転部材１側に凸部を設け、ホルダ４側に凸部に結合する凹部を設けてもよい。
【００４４】
【発明の効果】
以上、本発明によれば、初期の目的を達成することができ、回転部材を保持するにあたって、コストダウンを達成することが可能な位置検出センサを提供することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の第１実施形態による位置検出センサの正面図。
【図２】図１のＡ−Ａ断面図。
【図３】同実施形態による位置検出センサの各構成部品を示す図。
【図４】同実施形態による回転部材とホルダの固定状態を示す要部断面図。
【図５】本発明の第２実施形態による位置検出センサの断面図。
【符号の説明】
１回転部材
２磁石
３検出素子
４ホルダ
５回路基板
７枠体
９封止体
１１軸部
１１ｂ露出部
１３筒状部
１３ａ空洞部
１３ｅ突起部
４１凹部
４４肉薄部
４５肉厚部
４６隆起部
７６貫通部
７７突出部[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a position detection sensor that detects an operation position of an operated member mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in this type of position detection sensor, for example, a rotating member that rotates according to the opening of a throttle valve, a magnet that rotates in synchronization with the rotating member, and a magnetic pole change that accompanies the rotating operation of the magnet. A circuit board having a Hall element for detection and a holder for housing the Hall element, and a housing made of synthetic resin for housing the rotating member, the magnet, and the circuit board are provided. In this case, the housing is formed in a substantially frame shape, and a cylindrical member for rotatably holding the rotating member is integrally formed with the housing through the connecting portion at the center thereof. The connecting part is connected to the lower end side of the cylindrical member, and the outer periphery of the cylindrical member extending from the lower end side to the upper end side of the cylindrical member connected by the connecting part surrounds the cylindrical member. The cylindrical holding part which consists of is arrange | positioned. Further, a concave portion for accommodating the Hall element is formed in the central portion of the cylindrical member. When the throttle shaft provided on the throttle valve side rotates according to the opening of the throttle valve, the rotating member rotates with the rotation of the throttle shaft, and the magnetic pole change of the magnet due to the rotation of the rotating member is caused by the Hall element. It is converted into an electric signal and output to the outside through a direct connector (see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-62113
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case of the position detection sensor described in Patent Document 1, the lower end side of the cylindrical member of the housing made of synthetic resin is formed integrally with the housing through the connecting portion, and from the lower end side of the cylindrical member toward the upper end side. A cylindrical holding portion made of a nonmagnetic metal material is disposed on the outer periphery of the extending cylindrical member. The rotating member is rotatably held by the holding portion.
[0005]
Therefore, in such a position detection sensor, it is difficult to connect the upper end side of the cylindrical member, which is the location of the rotating member, and the housing when holding the rotating member rotatably with respect to the cylindrical member. A cylindrical member reinforcing holding part (reinforcing member) for reinforcing the cylindrical member is separately required on the outer periphery of the member, and as a result, the number of parts constituting the position detection sensor increases, resulting in increased assembly costs and parts costs. It was a cause of cost increase.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of this point, and a main object of the present invention is to provide a position detection sensor capable of achieving cost reduction in holding a rotating member.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention involves a rotating member having a shaft portion that rotates in accordance with the operation amount of the operated member, a magnet that rotates in synchronization with the rotation of the rotating member, and a rotating operation of the magnet. A detection element that detects a change in magnetic pole; a holder that holds the detection element; and a frame that houses at least the magnet and the detection element. The frame includes a through portion through which the rotating member passes. , the rotating member is interposed between said holder and said frame body in a state of penetrating into the through portion, Ri name and the frame body and said holder is formed of a synthetic resin material, further wherein the rotary member In the direction orthogonal to the axis of the shaft portion, the shaft portion is pivotally supported by the penetrating portion provided in the frame body and the raised portion provided in the holder .
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, based on these, the first embodiment of the present invention is applied to a position detection sensor for detecting an operation position of an accelerator pedal mounted on, for example, an automobile. The case where it is applied will be described. 1 is a front view of the position detection sensor according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing each component of the position detection sensor according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a principal part showing a fixed state of the rotating member and the holder according to the embodiment.
[0010]
1 to 3, the position detection sensor according to the present embodiment includes a rotating member 1 that rotates according to an operation amount (operating position) of an unillustrated accelerator pedal (operated member), and is synchronized (interlocked) with the rotating member 1. ), The magnet 2 that rotates, the detection element 3, and the circuit board 5 on which the holder 4 that holds the detection element 3 is mounted, the coil spring 6 that surrounds the magnet 2, the magnet 2, the circuit board 5, and the coil spring 6 are accommodated. And a frame body 7 to be operated.
[0011]
The rotating member 1 is made of a synthetic resin material, such as polyacetal or polyamide, and has a shaft portion 11 that extends to the outside through a through portion, which will be described later, of the frame body 7, and a flange that extends from the shaft portion 11 in the outer circumferential direction perpendicular to the axial direction. A portion 12 and a cylindrical portion 13 extending from the flange portion 12 and extending in the same direction as the shaft portion 11 are provided. In addition, the axial line (axial direction) L of these axial parts 11 and the cylindrical part 13 is shown with the dashed-dotted line in FIG.
[0012]
The shaft portion 11 is formed in a substantially prismatic shape, and a hollow portion 11 a is formed along the axis L for preventing a molding failure at the time of molding the rotating member 1 at the center portion thereof. And the exposed part 11b location exposed to the exterior of the frame 7 among the axial parts 11 is couple | bonded with fixed parts, such as a shaft (lever) which is arrange | positioned at the said accelerator pedal side. Therefore, the shaft is rotated in a predetermined direction by the operation of the accelerator pedal, and the rotating member 1 is rotated on the exposed portion 11b of the shaft portion 11 coupled to the fixed portion of the shaft by the rotational movement of the shaft. Rotation force to act is applied.
[0013]
At this time, since the frame body 7 is attached and fixed to the accelerator pedal side through a pair of flanges described later of the frame body 7, the frame body 7 itself does not rotate when the rotating member 1 rotates. .
[0014]
The flange portion 12 is formed with a hole portion 12a through which one end portion of the coil spring 6 described later passes.
[0015]
The cylindrical portion 13 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape in which a portion facing the shaft portion 11 with the flange portion 12 interposed therebetween is a hollow portion 13a, and a thin portion described later of the holder 4 is accommodated and fixed in the hollow portion 13a. . Reference numeral 13b denotes an annular groove formed from the bottom surface of the cylindrical portion 13 toward the flange portion 12, and the magnet 2 is housed and fixed in the groove 13b. Then, by providing the cylindrical portion 13 with the groove portion 13b for storing and fixing the magnet 2 in this way, the cylindrical portion 13 faces each other in the direction orthogonal to the axis L of the rotating member 1 via the groove portion 13b. , Second opposing walls 13c and 13d are provided.
[0016]
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the first opposing wall 13c located on the hollow portion 13a side of the first and second opposing walls 13c and 13d has a stepped portion which will be described later of the holder 4 from its bottom surface. A protruding portion 13e extending to the side is formed. The projecting portion 13e is formed in a semicircular cross section, and in a state where the rotating member 1 and the holder 4 are fixed, the arc end surface of the projecting portion 13e comes into contact with the stepped portion. Retained.
[0017]
The magnet 2 has an annular shape and is housed and fixed in the groove 13 of the rotating member 1 by adhesion or the like. The method for storing and fixing the magnet 2 to the rotating member 1 is not limited to adhesion or the like, and for example, the rotating member 1 and the magnet 2 may be integrally formed by insert molding. The outer peripheral surface of the magnet 2 is magnetized so as to have a plurality of magnetic poles.
[0018]
The detection element 3 is composed of, for example, a Hall IC or an MR (magnetoresistive) element, and is conductively fixed to the circuit board 5 by means of soldering or the like, and converts the magnetic pole change accompanying the rotation operation of the magnet 2 into an electric signal (pulse signal) The electric signal is output to the engine control unit or the like through the electric cord 8 (see FIG. 2).
[0019]
The detection element 3 is attached to the circuit board 5 through the holder 4. The holder 4 is made of a synthetic resin material such as polyacetal or polyamide, and is formed in a substantially “U” cross section. The holder 41 stores and holds the detection element 3, and the outer circumferential direction perpendicular to the axis L from the recess 41. And a flange 42 extending on the frame body 7 side. In this case, the concave portion 41 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape that is closed on the rotating member 1 side, and a stepped step portion 43 is formed on the outer wall surface of the concave portion 41.
[0020]
Further, by forming the step portion 43 on the outer wall surface of the recess 41 in this way, a thin portion 44 is formed in the recess 41 so that the bottom surface side of the recess 41 in which the detection element 3 is accommodated is thin. A thick portion 45 having a diameter larger than that of the thin portion 44 is formed at the concave portion 41 located between the portion 44 and the flange 42.
[0021]
Further, a raised portion 46 (see FIG. 4) slightly raised in the direction orthogonal to the axis L is provided on the stepped portion 43 side of the thin portion 44, and this raised portion 46 is provided when the rotating member 1 is rotated. It has a function as a position restricting portion that restricts positional deviation in the radial direction (direction orthogonal to the axis L). Thereby, when the thin part 44 of the holder 4 is accommodated in the cavity part 13a of the rotating member 1, the 44 part of the thin part which becomes the non-formation region of the raised part 46 and the first opposing wall 13c of the tubular part 13 are formed. A clearance is formed between them.
[0022]
Reference numeral 47 denotes a pair of projecting pins that project from the flange 42 of the holder 4 so as to extend in the same direction as the axis L and pass through holes to be described later of the circuit board 5. The projecting pins 47 are passed through the holes 53 so that the holder 4 and the circuit board 5 are in close contact with each other, and the projecting pins 47 projecting from the board surface 51 (to be described later) of the circuit board 5 are melted by heat. 5 is welded and fixed to the holder 4.
[0023]
The circuit board 5 extends in a direction orthogonal to the axis L in FIG. 2 and is disposed along the back surface of the flange 42 of the holder 4, and a board surface 51 on which electronic components such as the detection element 3 and a capacitor are mounted; An electrical cord insertion hole 52 for electrically connecting the electrical cord 8 for output of the detection element 3 by soldering and two holes 53 through which the pair of projecting pins 47 of the holder 4 pass are provided.
[0024]
Note that a plurality of electrical cord insertion holes 52 are provided at five locations on the circuit board exposed from the holder 4. In this case, the electrical cord 8 is inserted into the electrical cord insertion hole 52 from the substrate surface 51 side. The protruding end of the electric cord 8 protruding from the exposed surface 55 of the substrate surface 54 which is the substrate surface 54 opposite to the substrate surface 51 and exposed from the holder 4 is conductively connected.
[0025]
The coil spring 6 is made of a metal material and is disposed between the flange portion 12 of the rotating member 1 and the flange 42 of the holder 4 so as to surround the cylindrical portion 13 of the rotating member 1 and the concave portion 41 that houses the detection element 3. ing. One end 61 of the coil spring 6 is inserted into the hole 12 a of the flange 12, and the other end 62 of the coil spring 6 is guided by a guide (not shown) provided in the holder 4.
[0026]
Thus, the coil spring 6 is held by the rotating member 1 and the holder 4 by inserting both end portions 61 and 62 of the coil spring 6 into the hole portion 12 of the rotating member 1 and the guide portion of the holder 4. Moreover, the holder 4 is welded and fixed to the circuit board 5 by the projecting pins 47, and the circuit board 5 to which the holder 4 is welded and fixed is further fixed to the frame body 7 by a predetermined means.
[0027]
In addition, in this embodiment, only the rotating member 1 is rotated by the operation of the accelerator pedal, the frame body 7 is attached and fixed to the accelerator pedal side, and the holder 4 is a flange portion 42 and a receiving portion of the frame body 7 which will be described later. And the holder 4 itself is not rotated by the operation of the accelerator pedal. Accordingly, when the rotating member 1 is rotated by the operation of the accelerator pedal, a rotational force (returning force) that rotates the rotating member 1 in a direction opposite to the rotating direction of the rotating member 1 is always applied to the coil spring 6. When the operation of the accelerator pedal is released by this restoring force, the rotating member 1 returns to the original position (initial position).
[0028]
Therefore, for example, when the accelerator pedal is depressed by a predetermined amount, and when the accelerator pedal is further depressed than the predetermined amount, and then the accelerator pedal is loosened and the depression amount is substantially equal to the predetermined amount, it is detected. Both output values by the element 3 are substantially coincident.
[0029]
The frame body 7 is made of a synthetic resin material, for example, PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), and a pair of flanges 71 for mounting and fixing to the accelerator pedal side by a predetermined mounting means, for example, at appropriate positions on the outer periphery thereof, A side wall 72 formed continuously from the flange 71, an opening 73 having a substantially semicircular shape having a diameter larger than the outer shape of the circuit board 5, and formed continuously from the side wall 72 and corresponding to the opening 63. And a bottom wall 74.
[0030]
The bottom wall 74 is formed with a raised wall 75 that further protrudes on the side opposite to the opening 73 (upper side in FIG. 2). The raised wall 75 has a round shape corresponding to the outer shape of the holder 4. A through portion 76 through which the shaft portion 11 of the rotating member 1 passes is provided at the center portion thereof. In this case, since the shaft 11 is fixed so as to be press-fitted into the penetrating portion 76 when the shaft 11 is passed through the penetrating portion 76, the rotating member 1 and the frame body 7 are easily separated. Not to be.
[0031]
Further, a projecting portion 77 projecting in the axis L direction from the raised wall 75 toward the opening portion 73 is formed around the penetrating portion 76. The projecting portion 77 has an annular shape, is formed continuously with the raised wall 75, and when the shaft portion 11 is passed through the through portion 76, the flange portion 12 is exposed when the exposed portion 11 b of the shaft portion 11 is exposed by a predetermined dimension. It has the function as a position control part which position-controls the rotation member 1 with respect to the axis line L direction by abutting on the front surface.
[0032]
By receiving the flange portion 12 by the protruding portion 77 partially protruding from the raised wall 75 as described above, a gap is formed between the raised wall 75 and the flange portion 12. A waterproof member 78 made of an annular shape for preventing moisture and the like from entering is provided inside the body 7.
[0033]
Reference numeral 79 denotes a partition wall for dividing a space surrounded by the side wall portion 72, the bottom wall portion 74, and the raised wall 75 into two spaces. The partition wall 79 is a boundary between the bottom wall portion 74 and the raised wall 75. It extends in the direction of the axis L toward the opening 73 side from the portion. And the receiving part 701 which consists of the step part which hold | maintains the periphery of the flange 42 of the holder 4 is formed in the front-end | tip part of the partition wall 79, and the 72 side wall parts located in the right side in FIG. ing.
[0034]
2, 9 is a sealing formed by filling and solidifying a filler made of, for example, an epoxy-based synthetic resin in the frame 7 so as to seal the circuit board 5 welded and fixed to the holder 4. Is the body. And in the case of this embodiment, the sealing body 9 fills between the flange 42 of the holder 4 and the opening part 73, and between the side wall part 72 and the partition wall 79 located in the left side in FIG. Filled and formed, the circuit board 5 including the electronic components is stably fixed. In addition, since grease etc. are apply | coated to the receiving part 701 of the frame 7, the sealing body 9 is not formed in the rotation member 1 side.
[0035]
Next, an example of assembling the position detection sensor in this embodiment will be described. First, the magnet 2 is housed and fixed in the groove 13 b of the rotating member 1 by bonding or the like, and the shaft portion 11 side of the rotating member 1 in which the magnet 2 is housed and fixed is housed in the frame body 7 from the opening 73. Next, after the shaft portion 11 is penetrated through the penetration portion 76 and the shaft portion 11 is exposed to the outside, the rotating member 1 is further pushed into the raised wall 75 side from the tubular portion 13 side, thereby eventually exposing the exposed portion 11b. With the predetermined amount exposed, the flange portion 12 comes into contact with the protruding portion 77, and the rotating member 1 is fixed to the frame body 7. At this time, since the penetrating portion 76 has a function as a bearing for restricting the positional deviation of the shaft portion 11 of the rotating member 1 in the radial direction, the shaft portion 11 is pivotally supported by the penetrating portion 76. .
[0036]
Next, one end 61 of the coil spring 6 is inserted into the hole 12 a of the flange portion 12 so as to surround the tubular portion 13, and the other end 62 of the coil spring 6 is guided by the guide portion of the holder 4. Thus, the thin portion 44 of the holder 4 is housed and fixed in the hollow portion 13a of the tubular portion 13. And the rotating member 1 is clamped between the frame 7 and the holder 4 by heat-welding the welding part which is not shown in figure of the frame 7 and the location corresponding to the said welding part of the holder 4. FIG. At this time, since the raised portion 46 of the holder 4 is in contact with the first opposing wall 13c, it has a function as a bearing that regulates the positional deviation of the cylindrical portion 13 of the rotating member 1 in the radial direction. The shape portion 13 is pivotally supported by the raised portion 46, and the rotating member 1 is pivotally supported by the penetrating portion 76 and the raised portion 46.
[0037]
Next, the detection element 3 is accommodated in the depth direction in the concave portion 41 of the holder 4, and the hole 53 of the circuit board 5 to which the electric cord 8 is conductively connected is passed through the protruding pin 47 of the holder 4 to protrude from the board surface 51. The protruding end of the protruding pin 47 and the circuit board 5 are fixed by heat welding. Then, the detection element 3 is soldered to the circuit board 5, and finally, the filler is filled into the predetermined portion in the frame body 7 through the opening 73, and the sealing material is solidified by solidifying the filler. 9 is formed, and the circuit board 5 including the electronic component is sealed in the frame body 7 by the sealing body 9, and the assembly is completed.
[0038]
Therefore, in assembling the position detection sensor, when the holder 4 is fixed to the rotating member 1, the rotating member 1 is sandwiched between the frame body 7 and the holder 4, and the rotating member 1 is in the radial direction. The positional deviation is regulated by the raised portion 46 and the through portion 76. Further, when the thin portion 44 is inserted into the hollow portion 13a, the step portion 43 and the projection portion 13e come into contact with each other in the direction of the axis L, so that the rotating member 1 has the axis L between the step portion 43 and the protruding portion 77. Movement in the direction is restricted. Since the thin portion 44 is not in contact with the rotating member 1 due to the insertion of the thin portion 44 into the hollow portion 13a, the rotating member 1 is smoothly rotated, and the accelerator pedal is It becomes possible to improve the detection accuracy of the detection element 3 by the operation of.
[0039]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the rotating member 1 that rotates according to the operation amount of the accelerator pedal, the magnet 2 that rotates in synchronization with the rotation of the rotating member 1, and the magnetic pole that accompanies the rotating operation of the magnet 2 are used. A detection element 3 that detects a change, a holder 4 that holds the detection element 3, and a frame body 7 that houses the magnet 2 and the detection element 3, and the frame body 7 has a penetrating portion 76 through which the rotating member 1 passes. The rotating member 1 is sandwiched between the frame body 7 and the holder 4 in a state of penetrating the through portion 76, and the frame body 7 and the holder 4 are formed of a synthetic resin material, thereby Since a dedicated holding part for reinforcing a rotating member, which has been conventionally required as a component of the detection sensor, is not necessary, the number of parts can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.
[0040]
In the present embodiment, since the rotating member 1 is pivotally supported by the protruding portion 46 provided in the penetrating portion 76 and the holder 4, the displacement of the rotating member 1 in the radial direction is restricted. The detection accuracy of the detection element 3 by the operation of the pedal can be increased. Further, since the rotating member 1 is held by the holder 4 housed in the frame body 7, for example, it is not necessary to hold the exposed portion 11b of the shaft portion 11 by another member, thereby reducing the size of the position detection sensor. Is possible.
[0041]
FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the first protrusion 13e (opposing wall 13c) of the rotating member 1 applied in the first embodiment and the raised portion 46 of the holder 4 are shown. In this example, the rotating member 1 is held by the holder 4 by connecting the rotating member 1 and the holder 4 in a concavo-convex manner.
[0042]
That is, a convex portion 48 protruding toward the rotating member 1 along the axis L direction is provided at the center of the thin portion 44 of the holder 4, and the convex portion 48 is provided on the shaft portion 11 (flange portion 12) side of the rotating member 1. A recess 14 is provided for coupling to the. Also in this embodiment, since the rotating member 1 is sandwiched between the frame body 7 and the holder 4, a holding member for reinforcing the rotating member is not required as in the prior art, and the same effect as the first embodiment is obtained. Obtainable.
[0043]
In the second embodiment, the case where the concave portion 14 is provided on the rotating member 1 side and the convex portion 48 coupled to the concave portion 14 is provided on the holder 4 side has been described. However, the convex portion is provided on the rotating member 1 side, and the holder You may provide the recessed part couple | bonded with a convex part on the 4 side.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a position detection sensor that can achieve the initial purpose and can achieve cost reduction in holding the rotating member.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a position detection sensor according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a view showing each component of the position detection sensor according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an essential part cross-sectional view showing a fixed state of the rotating member and the holder according to the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a position detection sensor according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rotating member 2 Magnet 3 Detection element 4 Holder 5 Circuit board 7 Frame 9 Sealing body 11 Shaft part 11b Exposed part 13 Cylindrical part 13a Cavity part 13e Protrusion part 41 Recessed part 44 Thin part 45 Thick part 46 Protruding part 76 Penetrating Part 77 Projection

Claims

A rotating member having a shaft portion that rotates in accordance with an operation amount of the operated member, a magnet that rotates in synchronization with the rotation of the rotating member, a detection element that detects a magnetic pole change associated with the rotating operation of the magnet, A holder that holds the detection element, and a frame that houses at least the magnet and the detection element,
The frame has a penetrating portion through which the rotating member passes,
The rotating member is interposed between said holder and said frame body in a state of penetrating into the through portion, Ri and the frame body and said holder name is formed by a synthetic resin material,
Further, the rotating member is pivotally supported by the penetrating portion provided in the frame body and the raised portion provided in the holder in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the shaft portion. Position detection sensor.