Patent ID: 7564234
Filing Date: 2009-07-21
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
1. A seat position detecting apparatus comprising: a fixed rail adapted to be fixed on a vehicle floor, the fixed rail including an upwardly extending portion, a downwardly extending potion, and a laterally extending upper portion connecting upper ends of the respective upwardly extending portion and downwardly extending portion; a movable rail adapted to support a vehicle seat and slidably engaged with the fixed rail; a position detecting device directly mounted on the movable rail for detecting a relative position between the fixed rail and the movable rail by detecting the fixed rail; the position detecting device comprising a holder portion and a mounting portion, the holder portion housing a magnetic force detecting portion opposed to the laterally extending upper portion of the fixed rail to detect the position of the laterally extending upper portion, the magnetic force detecting portion issuing a magnetic flux circulating in a plane perpendicular to the laterally extending upper portion of the fixed rail so that a portion of the magnetic flux passes through the laterally extending upper portion of the fixed rail along its lengthwise direction, the mounting portion providing a connection between the holder portion and the movable rail; and a position defining device provided on the holder portion of the position detecting device and the movable rail for positioning the position detecting device relative to the movable rail prior to fixing the position detecting device to the movable rail through the mounting portion.