Patent ID: 6930476

Claim:
A position detecting device comprising: a first magnetic substance and a second magnetic substance arranged opposite to each other with a gap left therebetween, and supported by a supporting member; a magnetic field generator arranged adjacent to the first magnetic substance or the second magnetic substance in the gap, for forming a magnetic path with these first magnetic substance and second magnetic substance; a holding member that holds and secures the magnetic field generator thereon, and is made movable relative to the first magnetic substance and the second magnetic substance; and a magnetic sensor inserted in the gap formed in the first magnetic substance or the second magnetic substance, for outputting a signal representative of a relative positional relationship among the first magnetic substance, the second magnetic substance, and the holding member based on magnetic flux passing through the magnetic path that undergoes a change due to a relative shift therebetween, wherein the magnetic field generator is moveable in a longitudinal direction with respect to said first magnetic substance and said second magnetic substance.