Patent ID: 6373239
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: G01D

Abstract:
A position detecting apparatus comprising:magnetic field generating means for generating a magnetic field; magnetic field detecting means capable of moving relative to the magnetic field generating means, for detecting the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating means, wherein the magnetic field extends in a magnetism-sensing direction perpendicular to a first direction in which the magnetic field detecting means moves relative to the magnetic field generating means and a second direction in which the magnetic field detecting means is spaced from the magnetic field generating means, the magnetic field generating means applies to the magnetic field detecting means a magnetic field whose intensity linearly changes over a prescribed distance (L2) in the direction in which the magnetic field detecting means moves relative to the magnetic field generating means, and a positional relation between the magnetic field generating means and the magnetic field detecting means is detected from the magnetic field detected by the magnetic field detecting means in the magnetism-sensing direction.