Patent ID: 6810590
Filing Date: 2004-11-02
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
A steering angle detector comprising:a rotation member which turns in cooperation with a steering wheel; a first detector that outputs a pulse signal corresponding to a rotation angle of the steering wheel in cooperation with a cord board mounted to the rotation member; a screw shaft having a spiral groove in an outer surface; a movable member which is engaged with the spiral groove to move linearly in an axial direction of the screw shaft; and a second detector that detects an absolute angle from a neutral position of the steering wheel in cooperation with the movable member, a first gear formed on the rotation member always meshes with a second gear formed on the screw shaft, and wherein the second detector comprises a douser having a slit and a light emitting device and a light receiving device which are opposed to each other through the douser, and wherein the movable member moves the douser, light emitting device and light receiving device relative to one another; the light receiving device is a two-piece light receiving device having a first light receiver and a second light receiver, and wherein the two-piece light receiving device and the slit move relative to each other to change a ratio of an amount of light received by the first light receiver to an amount of light received by the second light receiver; and, the slit has a linear portion inclined toward a moving direction of the movable member.