Abstract: A magnetostrictive torque sensor includes a single magnetostrictive film disposed on a steering shaft, and first and second coils for detecting changes in a magnetic property of the magnetostrictive film. The single magnetostrictive film includes a first anisotropic region and a second anisotropic region, having respective magnetic anisotropies inverse to each other. The first coil is disposed in confronting relation to the first anisotropic region, whereas the second coil is disposed in confronting relation to the second anisotropic region.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive torque sensor comprising: a magnetostrictive film provided on a ferromagnetic shaft; a bias magnetization device which applies a bias magnetic field to the shaft to magnetize the shaft; and a detection device which detects a change in magnetism of the magnetostrictive film, wherein: a torque acting on the shaft calculated based on the detection results of the detection device; and the bias magnetization device applies a bias magnetic field to the shaft at a predetermined timing.

Abstract: A motor rotation angle detection device includes a resolver which detects a rotation angle of a motor generating an assist torque for steering road wheels. The resolver includes an annular rotor disposed inside an annular stator with an air gap interposed in between an outer circumferential surface of the rotor and an inner circumferential surface of the stator, so that the stator and the rotor are rotatable relative to each other. A rotor supporting member is connected to a rotary shaft of the motor, and the rotor extends out from an axial end portion of the rotor supporting member so as to surround an outer periphery of the rotary shaft. With the described motor rotation angle detection device, it is possible to stabilize the magnetic permeability of the rotor, and accordingly to increase an accuracy with which the rotation angle of the motor is detected.

Abstract: A motor control device includes: a rotation angle detection portion that detects a rotation angle of a motor and outputs a rotation angle signal; an abnormal condition detection portion that detects the presence or absence of an abnormal condition of the rotation angle detection portion; a rotation angle estimation portion that estimates the rotation angle of the motor and outputs an estimate rotation angle signal; and a driving control portion that controls driving of the motor on the basis of the rotation angle signal, which is output from the rotation angle detection portion, when the abnormal condition detection portion does not detect an abnormal condition of the rotation angle detection portion, and controls driving of the motor on the basis of the estimate rotation angle signal, which is output from the rotation angle estimation portion, when the abnormal condition detection portion detects an abnormal condition of the rotation angle detection portion.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive torque sensor includes first and second magnetostrictive films mounted on a pinion shaft and having different magnetic anisotropic properties, a first detecting coil disposed in facing relation to the first magnetostrictive film, a second detecting coil disposed in facing relation to the second magnetostrictive film, a transistor, and a detector for detecting a torque applied to the pinion shaft based on a first detected signal representative of a potential at the junction between the first detecting coil and the second detecting coil.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive torque sensor includes a single magnetostrictive film disposed on a steering shaft, and first and second coils for detecting changes in a magnetic property of the magnetostrictive film. The single magnetostrictive film includes a first anisotropic region and a second anisotropic region, having respective magnetic anisotropies inverse to each other. The first coil is disposed in confronting relation to the first anisotropic region, whereas the second coil is disposed in confronting relation to the second anisotropic region.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive torque sensor includes a shaft having a magnetostrictive film; a detection coil for detecting a change in a magnetic property of the magnetostrictive film; and a cutoff circuit for supplying an excitation signal for detecting the change in the magnetic property and inhibiting the excitation signal from being supplied to the detection coil for a predetermined interval from power on. The cutoff circuit cuts off the excitation signal I and its inverted signal to the bridge circuit.

Abstract: A magnetostriction type torque sensor is provided which includes magnetic property change material which is provided on a shaft and whose magnetic property changes in accordance with torque applied to the shaft, an excitation signal generator which generates an excitation signal whose voltage is converted into a predetermined voltage through a switching element, a plurality of detection coils to which the excitation signal generator applies the excitation signal, and which plurality of detection coils outputs voltage, which changes in accordance with change in the magnetic property of the magnetic property change material, between connection points between the detection coils, and an operational state monitor which monitors an operational state of the switching element.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive torque sensor comprising: a magnetostrictive film provided on a ferromagnetic shaft; a bias magnetization device which applies a bias magnetic field to the shaft to magnetize the shaft; and a detection device which detects a change in magnetism of the magnetostrictive film, wherein: a torque acting on the shaft calculated based on the detection results of the detection device; and the bias magnetization device applies a bias magnetic field to the shaft at a predetermined timing.

Abstract: The torque sensor includes a plurality of coil units having a substantially cylindrical shape, the coil units including a plurality of detection coils arranged to face a magnetic characteristic change portion formed on a rotary shaft. The coil units include a first coil unit and a second coil unit, and the first coil unit and the second coil unit are disposed in the axial direction of the shaft. The first coil unit and the second coil unit are fixed in an integrally molded resin. Thereby, there is provided a torque sensor having a high productivity and an easy configuration and a method of manufacturing the torque sensor.

Abstract: The torque sensor includes a plurality of coil units having a substantially cylindrical shape, the coil units including a plurality of detection coils arranged to face a magnetic characteristic change portion formed on a rotary shaft. The coil units include a first coil unit and a second coil unit, and the first coil unit and the second coil unit are disposed in the axial direction of the shaft. The first coil unit and the second coil unit are fixed in an integrally molded resin. Thereby, there is provided a torque sensor having a high productivity and an easy configuration and a method of manufacturing the torque sensor.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive torque sensor includes first and second magnetostrictive films mounted on a pinion shaft and having different magnetic anisotropic properties, a first detecting coil disposed in facing relation to the first magnetostrictive film, a second detecting coil disposed in facing relation to the second magnetostrictive film, a transistor, and a detector for detecting a torque applied to the pinion shaft based on a first detected signal representative of a potential at the junction between the first detecting coil and the second detecting coil.

Abstract: An electric damper which does not transmit unbalance wheel vibration to a vehicle body is provided. A low-pass cutoff frequency setting unit and a high-pass cutoff frequency setting unit respectively set the cutoff frequencies for band-stop filters to a frequency band corresponding to unbalance wheel vibration based on a signal indicating a vehicle speed from a vehicle speed sensor, and a function as a band-stop filter comprising a low-pass filter computation unit, a high-pass filter computation unit and an adder is computed for a displacement rate of the vertical motion of a wheel calculated by a differentiating unit in a damper control unit. A damper control amount computation unit calculates a control amount of controlling an electric motor for a motor-driven damper based on the calculated filtered displacement rate, and outputs a control signal to a motor driving unit through a driving circuit output unit.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive torque sensor device which detects a torque applied to a rotary shaft is provided. The magnetostrictive torque sensor device includes a magnetostrictive portion provided on a surface of the rotary shaft, a coil and a cylindrical back-yoke disposed in outer periphery of the coil. The coil includes a bobbin arranged in outer periphery of the magnetostrictive portion, and a wire wound around the bobbin. A slit is provided on the back-yoke.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetostrictive torque sensor device includes the steps of: providing a steering shaft or another such rotating shaft with two magnetostrictive parts endowed with magnetic anisotropy; disposing detection coils around the magnetostrictive parts to detect changes in magnetostrictive characteristics of the magnetostrictive parts; providing a detection circuit for bringing out detection signals from signals outputted from the detection coils; and adjusting a gain of a gain adjuster included in the detection circuit.

Abstract: An electric steering system is provided with: a steering torque detection unit which detects a steering torque acting on the shaft; a brushless motor which includes a rotor and a stator having multi-phase stator coils, and generates an assisting torque for assisting the steering torque; a current supply switching unit which drives the brushless motor; a rotary angle estimation unit which outputs an estimated rotary angle; a determination unit which determines whether or not the estimated rotary angle is appropriate by comparison with a direction of the steering torque; and a steering control unit which drives the brushless motor in accordance with the estimated rotary angle determined to be appropriate by the determination unit to control generation of the assisting torque.

Abstract: An electric power steering device is configured to transmit an auxiliary torque to a steering unit of front wheels, and includes: an operator; an electric motor configured to generate the auxiliary torque in accordance with at least a steering torque generated by input from the operator; the steering unit of front wheels which includes a pinion shaft; and a rotation terminating mechanism which provides a motion terminating end of the operator, the rotation terminating mechanism being disposed between the operator and the pinion shaft.

Abstract: A motor rotation angle detection device, comprising a resolver which detects a rotation angle of a motor generating an assist torque for steering road wheels. The resolver includes an annular rotor disposed inside an annular stator with an air gap interposed in between an outer circumferential surface of the rotor and an inner circumferential surface of the stator, so that the stator and the rotor are rotatable relative to each other, wherein a rotor supporting member is connected to a rotary shaft of the motor, and the rotor extends out from an axial end portion of the rotor supporting member so as to surround an outer periphery of the rotary shaft. With the such a motor rotation angle detection device, it is possible to stabilize the magnetic permeability of the rotor, and accordingly to increase an accuracy with which the rotation angle of the motor is detected.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive torque sensor includes first and second magnetostrictive films which are provided at a shaft and have different magnetic anisotropies; a first measurement coil and a second measurement coil which face the first magnetostrictive film; and a third measurement coil and a fourth measurement coil which face the second magnetostrictive film. A torque applied to the shaft is measured based on a variation in magnetic characteristics of the first and the second magnetostrictive films; and a failure of the magnetostrictive torque sensor is detected based on a first difference between output values from the first and the second measurement coils and a second difference between output values from the third and the fourth measurement coils. An electric steering system includes the magnetostrictive torque sensor for measuring a steering torque of the system; and an electric motor driven based on the measured magnetostrictive torque for steering the vehicle.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive torque sensor system stabilizes and detects steering torque applied to a steering shaft.