Patent ID: 8826770

Claim:
An electric steering lock device comprising: a lock member movable between a lock position at which the lock member engages with a steering shaft of a vehicle and an unlock position at which the lock member disengages from the steering shaft; an electric actuator configured to actuate the lock member; a driving mechanism configured to convert a drive force of the electric actuator into a force for making the lock member advance or retract; a magnet configured to move in conjunction with the lock member; magnetic detection means for detecting a magnetic force of the magnet, the magnetic detection means being placed at a position corresponding to the lock position and at a position corresponding to the unlock position; and control means for finding a position of the lock member based on a result of the detection by the magnetic detection means and accordingly controlling driving of the electric actuator, wherein the magnetic detection means placed at the position corresponding to the unlock position includes a north-pole magnetic detection element configured to be turned on upon detection of a north pole of the magnet and a south-pole magnetic detection element configured to be turned on upon detection of a south pole of the magnet, and the control means determines that the lock member has moved to the unlock position when both of the north-pole magnetic detection element and the south-pole magnetic detection element are turned on, and then stops driving the electric actuator.