| 摘要 |
PURPOSE:To facilitate the detection of a steering angle with the miniaturization of the mechanism, by providing light transmitting sections on a steering shaft at an equal interval along the circumference thereof and two units of photoelec tric elements shifted in the phase from each other to detect the transmission light therethrough. CONSTITUTION:Projections 21 are formed on the circumference of the second shaft and serves as light intercepting section to intercept light with the turning of a steering wheel while the clearance thereof transmits light as light transmit ting section 21a. Two units of photoelectric elements 22A and 22B each compris ing light emitting element and a light receiving element are arranged on a steering column 1 sandwitching the light transmitting section 21a, where the light emitting element comprises photodiodes 23 and 25 and the light receiving element does phototransistors 24 and 26. Then, as the elements 22A and 22B are so arranged to be different in the phase from each other, with the turning of the steering wheel, lights of the photodiodes 23 and 25 passing the light transmission section 21a are received with phototransistors 24 and 26 and pulse- like electrical signals shifted in the phase are outputted. This enables the detec tion of the steering angle on the steering shaft. |
