Patent ID: 7352173

Claim:
A turning angle detector comprising: a magnetic flux generating means including a magnet for generating magnetic fluxes; a magnetism sensing element responsive to the magnetic fluxes passing therethrough to detect a relative turning angle between the magnetic flux generating means and the magnetism sensing element from the magnetic fluxes passing therethrough; and a magnetic flux reducing means for passing therethrough only a part of the magnetic fluxes generated by the magnet thereby to reduce the magnetic fluxes passing through the magnetism sensing element only when the relative turning angle between the magnetic flux generating means and the magnetism sensing element is within a predetermined range of turning angles, which predetermined range is less than a full range of relative turning angles, wherein at least one of said magnetic flux reducing means and said magnetic flux generating means is rotatable relative to the other of said magnetic flux reducing means and said magnetic flux generating means, wherein the magnetic flux reducing means includes an external magnetic member made of magnetic material to pass the part of the magnetic fluxes therethrough, and wherein the magnetic flux generating means includes a magnetic flux passage means, provided separately from the magnetic flux reducing means, for forming a magnetic path different from that of the magnetic flux reducing means.