Patent ID: 7501813

Claim:
A position detecting sensor for detecting a position of a magnetic body comprising: a first yoke having first and second oppositely facing sides, the first yoke comprising a projected portion; a first pair of magnets respectively possessing first and second poles and provided at the first and second sides of the first yoke, the first pole of one of the first pair of magnets facing the first side of the first yoke and the second pole of the other one of the first pair of magnets facing the second side of the first yoke, and the first pole of the one of the first pair of magnets being different in polarity from the second pole of the other one of the first pair of magnets, and lines extending between the first pole and the second pole of respective magnets of the first pair of magnets being parallel to a line extending between the first pair of magnets; the projected portion projected from a center portion of the first yoke and extending in a substantially right-angle direction relative to a line connecting the first pair of magnets; a second yoke arranged facing the projected portion of the first yoke; a magnetic detecting element disposed between the projected portion of the first yoke and the second yoke to detect the position of the magnetic body, wherein the projected portion extends in an extending direction away from the first pair of magnets towards the magnetic detecting element; and the position detecting sensor detecting the position of the magnetic body which, while the position of the magnetic body is being detected by the magnetic detecting element, moves linearly in a direction parallel with the extending direction of the projected portion of the first yoke.