Torque Detection Apparatus, Electric Power Steering System and Vehicle

摘要

There are provided a torque detection apparatus with high reliability and an electric power steering system and a vehicle which use the torque detection apparatus. The torque detection apparatus (30) detects the torque based upon a difference in the terminal voltage of the pair of detection coils. In this situation, the torque detection apparatus (30) outputs two analog torque signals (analog main torque signal Tma and analog sub torque signal Tsa) to the ECU (15), and outputs to the ECU (15) a digital communication signal S in which digital torque values obtained by converting the two analog torque signals to a digital format (main torque value Tm and sub torque value Ts) and diagnosis information Diag of the torque sensor circuit are superimposed.

主权项

1. A torque detection apparatus comprising:
a sensor unit which outputs a signal corresponding to a torque generated at a rotary shaft and a torque sensor circuit which detects the torque generated at the rotary shaft based upon the signal output from the sensor unit, the torque sensor circuit comprising: a signal processing unit which detects an analog main torque signal and an analog sub torque signal based upon the signal output from the sensor unit; an AD converter which converts the analog main torque signal and the analog sub torque signal detected by the signal processing unit to digital values of a main torque value and a sub torque value; a monitoring unit which monitors for an abnormality of the signal processing unit; and a communication output unit which outputs a digital communication signal in which the main torque value and sub torque value converted by the AD converter and diagnosis information including the abnormality diagnosis results by the monitoring unit are superimposed.