Circuit board and torque sensor

Abstract

To prevent a failure of an appropriate output of a detection signal.SOLUTION: A circuit board includes a tabular substrate member 51; and a pair of circuits 53 arranged at the substrate member 51 and each including a Hall element 55, an output circuit 56, and a plurality of terminals 57. The plurality of terminals 57 included in the pair of circuits 53 is an arrangement of the plurality of terminals 57 aligned on a straight line. In the substrate member 51, a slit 52 is formed extending from a side of the substrate member 51 between a terminal 57 included in one circuit 53 and a terminal 57 included in the other circuit 53, of the pair of circuits 53.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a circuit board and a torque sensor. [[ID=|6]]

Background Art

[0002] [[ID=1|1]] As an example of a torque sensor that detects the torque applied to a rotating body of a steering device, there is one that detects torque by detecting a change in magnetism. For example, the sensor device described in Patent Document 1 includes a permanent magnet fixed to an input shaft, two magnetic yokes fixed to an output shaft, two magnetic flux collecting rings that induce magnetic flux from the magnetic yokes, and a sensor element that generates a detection signal based on the magnetism induced in the magnetic flux collecting rings. Further, in the sensor device described in Patent Document 1, the sensor element is provided redundantly with a first sensor element and a second sensor element, and the first sensor element and the second sensor element are mounted on a circuit board. [[ID=|4]]

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Here, in recent years, torque sensors are required to be further miniaturized, and for this reason, the circuit boards of torque sensors are also required to be miniaturized. Since a plurality of terminals for outputting detection signals from the sensor element to the outside are arranged on the circuit board of the torque sensor, when the circuit board is miniaturized, the distance between the terminals arranged on the circuit board becomes closer. However, when the distance between the anode terminal and the cathode terminal arranged on the circuit board becomes closer, a short circuit between the terminals is likely to occur. For example, there is a risk of a short circuit between the terminals due to ion migration.

[0005] When sensor elements are redundantly mounted on a circuit board, a short circuit between some terminals can reduce or eliminate detection signals from some sensor elements corresponding to the shorted terminals, while still allowing detection signals from other sensor elements to be output. However, if the shorted terminal spans between terminals corresponding to two redundantly mounted sensor elements, detection signals from all sensor elements may be reduced or eliminated, potentially making it difficult to output appropriate detection signals.

[0006] This disclosure has been made in view of the above, and aims to provide a circuit board and a torque sensor that can suppress the inability to properly output a detection signal. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The circuit board of the present disclosure comprises a plate-shaped substrate member and a pair of circuits arranged on the substrate member, each having a Hall element, an output circuit, and a plurality of terminals, wherein the plurality of terminals of the pair of circuits are arranged in a straight line, and a slit is formed in the substrate member extending from the side surface of the substrate member between the terminals of one of the pair of circuits and the terminals of the other circuit.

[0008] With this configuration, since slits are formed in the substrate material, the terminals of one circuit and the terminals of the other circuit are separated and arranged apart, thereby suppressing short circuits between the two sets of terminals. This prevents a situation where an electrical signal cannot be output from either circuit due to a short circuit between the terminals of one circuit and the terminals of the other circuit. Therefore, the circuit board can maintain a state in which at least one of the pair of circuits arranged on the substrate material can output a detection signal from the Hall element, and can continuously output a detection signal from the Hall element. As a result, it is possible to suppress a situation in which the detection signal cannot be output properly.

[0009] In a preferred configuration, the plurality of terminals are such that each of the pair of circuits has a voltage application terminal, a ground terminal, and a signal output terminal, and each of the pair of circuits converts the output voltage of the Hall element into a digital electrical signal in the output circuit and outputs it to the signal output terminal, and each of the pair of circuits has its ground terminal grounded to the Hall element and the output circuit, and the ground terminal is located between the signal output terminal and the voltage application terminal, and the slit is located between the voltage application terminal of one of the pair of circuits and the signal output terminal of the other circuit.

[0010] In this configuration, the slit formed in the substrate is positioned between the voltage application terminal of one circuit and the signal output terminal of the other circuit, thereby suppressing short circuits between terminals that are prone to short circuits due to voltage application. Therefore, even if the terminals are arranged in a way that makes short circuits likely due to the voltage application terminal of one circuit and the signal output terminal of the other circuit being adjacent, the slit in the substrate can suppress short circuits between these terminals. As a result, the circuit board can prevent a situation where detection signals from the Hall element cannot be output from both of the pair of circuits arranged on the substrate. Consequently, it is possible to prevent a situation where detection signals cannot be output properly.

[0011] In a desirable configuration, the plurality of terminals of one of the pair of circuits and the plurality of terminals of the other circuit are of different types and are arranged in the same order between the terminals of one circuit and the terminals of the other circuit.

[0012] With this configuration, the terminals of both circuits placed on the circuit board are arranged in the same order, allowing a pair of circuits to be placed on the circuit board with the same layout. This allows the same Hall element and output circuit configuration to be used in both circuits, and the detection signals output from the Hall element and output circuit in both circuits to be as close to the same value as possible. Therefore, even when the detection signal from one circuit is output as the detection signal from the circuit board due to the inability to output a detection signal from one circuit, a detection signal equivalent to that under normal conditions can be output. As a result, the detection signal can be output stably, and the inability to output the detection signal appropriately can be suppressed.

[0013] Furthermore, the torque sensor of this disclosure comprises a plate-shaped substrate member, a circuit board disposed on the substrate member and comprising a pair of circuits each having a Hall element, an output circuit, and a plurality of terminals, a sensor housing housing the circuit board, and a magnetic collecting yoke that detects changes in magnetic flux in accordance with changes in the relative position of a stator fixed to a shaft and a cylindrical magnet disposed opposite the stator, wherein the magnetic collecting yoke is positioned to overlap the Hall element disposed on the circuit board housed in the sensor housing in the thickness direction of the substrate member, the plurality of terminals of the pair of circuits are arranged in a straight line, a slit is formed in the substrate member between the terminals of one of the pair of circuits and the terminals of the other circuit, and the sensor housing is provided with a plate-shaped positioning member that fits into the slit and a protruding positioning member that abuts against the side of the substrate member opposite to the side where the slit is formed.

[0014] With this configuration, a plate-shaped positioning member and a protruding positioning member are arranged in the sensor housing. Therefore, when positioning the circuit board relative to the sensor housing, the plate-shaped positioning member and the protruding positioning member can be used for positioning. This allows the circuit board to be positioned so that the relative positional relationship between the Hall element and the magnetic collecting yoke is appropriate. Consequently, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of inappropriate values ​​in the detection value obtained by the Hall element due to the Hall element being positioned in an inappropriate positional relationship with the magnetic collecting yoke. As a result, it is possible to suppress the inability to output a detection signal appropriately.

[0015] In a desirable configuration, the height of the plate-shaped positioning member in the thickness direction of the substrate member is greater than the thickness of the substrate member.

[0016] With this configuration, the plate-shaped positioning member can be made to protrude from the surface of the substrate member, allowing it to be used as a barrier. This prevents foreign matter from coming into contact with both terminals located on either side of the slit, thus preventing short circuits between the terminals caused by foreign matter. Consequently, the circuit board can maintain a state in which at least one of the circuits can output a detection signal from the Hall element. As a result, it is possible to prevent the detection signal from being output properly. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] The circuit board and torque sensor relating to this disclosure have the effect of suppressing the inability to properly output detection signals. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the steering device of an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the steering device according to the embodiment, including the torque sensor. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram explaining the outline of the magnet, stator, and magnetic yoke of the torque sensor. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the collector assembly. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the portion where the collector assembly is attached to the first housing. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a detailed view showing the state before the collector assembly is attached to the first housing shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a plan schematic view of the circuit board of the collector assembly. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a plan schematic view showing the state where the circuit board is arranged in the sensor housing. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C of FIG. 8. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D of FIG. 8. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a plan schematic view of a circuit board in which no slit is formed in the substrate member. <(

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0019] Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited by the following mode for carrying out the invention (hereinafter referred to as the embodiment). In addition, the constituent elements in the following embodiments include those that can be easily assumed by those skilled in the art, substantially the same ones, and those within the so-called equivalent range. Furthermore, the constituent elements disclosed in the following embodiments can be combined as appropriate.

[0020] [Embodiment] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the steering device 80 of the embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the steering device 80 includes, in the order in which the force applied by the operator is transmitted, a steering wheel 81, a steering shaft 82, a universal joint 84, an intermediate shaft 85, a universal joint 86, a stub shaft 87, a steering gear 88, and a tie rod 89. The steering device 80 also includes a control device (hereinafter referred to as ECU (Electronic Control Unit)) 100, a torque sensor 10, and an electric motor 102. The vehicle speed sensor 101 is installed in the vehicle and outputs a vehicle speed signal V to the ECU 100 via CAN (Controller Area Network) communication.

[0021] The steering shaft 82 is connected to the steering wheel 81 at one end and to the universal joint 84 at the other end.

[0022] The intermediate shaft 85 is connected to a universal joint 84 at one end and to a universal joint 86 at the other end. The stub shaft 87 is connected to a universal joint 86 at one end and to a torque sensor 10 at the other end. The torque sensor 10 is connected to the stub shaft 87 at one end and to the first pinion gear 88a of the steering gear 88 at the other end.

[0023] More specifically, the first pinion gear 88a is a shaft-shaped member in which a gear (not shown) that meshes with a rack bar 88b (described later) is formed at the end opposite to the side connected to the stub shaft 87. The stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a are connected via a torsion bar 87a (see Figure 2). One end of the torsion bar 87a is connected to the stub shaft 87, and the other end is connected to the first pinion gear 88a. The torsion bar 87a transmits rotational torque between the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a.

[0024] The torque sensor 10 is a torque detection device that detects the torque acting on the shaft connected to the torque sensor 10, and detects the rotational torque transmitted between the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a via the torsion bar 87a. In other words, the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a, which are connected via the torsion bar 87a, are the shafts that are detected when the torque sensor 10 detects torque.

[0025] The steering gear 88 comprises a first pinion gear 88a, a rack bar 88b, and a second pinion gear 88c. The first pinion gear 88a is connected to the stub shaft 87 via a torsion bar 87a. The rack bar 88b has rack teeth (not shown) that mesh with the gears of the first pinion gear 88a. The rack bar 88b also meshes with the second pinion gear 88c at a different position than the first pinion gear 88a.

[0026] An electric motor 102 is connected to the second pinion gear 88c via a worm gear reduction device (not shown), and the second pinion gear 88c is rotatable by the driving force transmitted from the electric motor 102. The electric motor 102 rotates the second pinion gear 88c via a worm gear reduction device (not shown). The electric motor 102 is, for example, a brushless motor, but it may also be a motor equipped with brushes (sliders) and a commutator (commutator).

[0027] The steering gear 88 converts the rotational motion transmitted to the first pinion gear 88a and the second pinion gear 88c into straight-line motion via the rack bar 88b located inside the rack housing 90. The steering device 80 according to this embodiment is a dual-pinion assist system in which the rack bar 88b performs straight-line motion through the rotational motion transmitted from the first pinion gear 88a and the second pinion gear 88c. The tie rod 89 is connected to the rack bar 88b. In other words, the steering device 80 is a rack and pinion type electric power steering device.

[0028] The torque sensor 10 detects the steering force of the driver transmitted to the steering shaft 82 via the steering wheel 81 as steering torque. The vehicle speed sensor 101 detects the driving speed (vehicle speed) of the vehicle on which the steering device 80 is installed. The electric motor 102, the torque sensor 10, and the vehicle speed sensor 101 are electrically connected to the ECU 100.

[0029] The ECU 100 controls the operation of the electric motor 102. The ECU 100 also acquires signals from the torque sensor 10 and the vehicle speed sensor 101. Specifically, the ECU 100 acquires the steering torque T from the torque sensor 10 and the vehicle speed signal V from the vehicle speed sensor 101. When the ignition switch 103 is ON, the ECU 100 is supplied with power from the power supply unit (e.g., the vehicle's battery) 104. The ECU 100 calculates an auxiliary steering command value for the assist command based on the steering torque T and the vehicle speed signal V. Then, the ECU 100 adjusts the power value X supplied to the electric motor 102 based on the calculated auxiliary steering command value. The ECU 100 acquires information on the induced voltage from the electric motor 102 or information output from a rotation detection device such as a resolver provided on the electric motor 102 as operation information Y.

[0030] The steering force input by the operator (driver) to the steering wheel 81 is transmitted to the first pinion gear 88a. The steering force transmitted to the first pinion gear 88a is then transmitted to the tie rod 89 via the steering gear 88, causing the wheel to displace.

[0031] Furthermore, the steering force input by the operator to the steering wheel 81 is transmitted to the torque sensor 10, which is located in the steering force transmission path from the steering wheel 81 to the first pinion gear 88a. At this time, the ECU 100 acquires the steering torque T from the torque sensor 10 and the vehicle speed signal V from the vehicle speed sensor 101. The ECU 100 then controls the operation of the electric motor 102. The auxiliary steering torque generated by the electric motor 102 is transmitted to the second pinion gear 88c.

[0032] The auxiliary steering torque transmitted to the second pinion gear 88c is transmitted to the tie rod 89 via the steering gear 88, displacing the wheel. In other words, the steering device 80 displaces the wheel using not only the steering force of the operator transmitted to the rack bar 88b via the first pinion gear 88a, but also the auxiliary steering torque of the electric motor 102 transmitted to the rack bar 88b via the second pinion gear 88c.

[0033] As shown in Figure 1, the steering device 80 is a dual-pinion type in which assist force is applied to the second pinion gear 88c, but is not limited to this. The steering device 80 may also be an electric power steering device of the column assist type in which assist force is applied to the steering shaft 82, or a single-pinion assist type in which assist force is applied to the first pinion gear 88a. Alternatively, it may be a rack-assist type electric power steering device that applies assist force to the rack bar 88b without going through a pinion, such as a ball screw type in which assist force is applied to the rack bar 88b by a ball screw.

[0034] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the steering device according to the embodiment, including the torque sensor 10. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the axial direction of the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a on which the torque sensor 10 is located will be described as the axial direction of the torque sensor 10. Similarly, the circumferential direction centered on the axis of the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a will be described as the circumferential direction of the torque sensor 10, and the radial direction centered on the axis of the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a will be described as the radial direction of the torque sensor 10.

[0035] A housing 20 is positioned around the portion of the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a that is connected via a torsion bar 87a. The housing 20 has a first housing 21 and a second housing 31 that are connected to each other. The first housing 21 is positioned axially closer to the stub shaft 87 and mainly covers the stub shaft 87, while the second housing 31 is positioned axially closer to the first pinion gear 88a and mainly covers the first pinion gear 88a. In other words, at least a portion of the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a are located inside the first housing 21 and the second housing 31, with at least a portion of the stub shaft 87 located inside the first housing 21 and at least a portion of the first pinion gear 88a located inside the second housing 31. The first housing 21 is attached to the second housing 31 by mounting bolts 36 (see Figure 5), thereby fixing the first housing 21 to the second housing 31.

[0036] Furthermore, a bearing (not shown) is located inside the first housing 21, and the stub shaft 87 is rotatably supported in the first housing 21 via the bearing located inside the first housing 21. Also, a bearing (not shown) is located inside the second housing 31, and the first pinion gear 88a is rotatably supported in the second housing 31 via the bearing located inside the second housing 31.

[0037] The stub shaft 87 is rotatably supported in the first housing 21, and the first pinion gear 88a is rotatably supported in the second housing 31. Therefore, the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a, which are connected via the torsion bar 87a, are rotatably supported together in the first housing 21 and the second housing 31.

[0038] The housing 20 is mounted to the vehicle body in a non-rotatable manner, and the housing 20 rotatably supports the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a through bearings located in the first housing 21 and bearings located in the second housing 31.

[0039] The torque sensor 10 is located inside the first housing 21 and is positioned near the ends of the first shaft, the stub shaft 87, and the second shaft, the first pinion gear 88a, which is connected to the stub shaft 87 via a torsion bar 87a. Both the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a are shafts with hollow portions, and the end of one shaft extends inward from the end of the other shaft. In this embodiment, the stub shaft 87 extends inward from the first pinion gear 88a.

[0040] The torsion bar 87a is positioned from the inside of the stub shaft 87 to the inside of the first pinion gear 88a, with one end connected to the stub shaft 87 and the other end connected to the first pinion gear 88a. In other words, the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a are not directly connected, but are connected via the torsion bar 87a, which is an axial member. As a result, the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a can rotate relative to each other, and when twisting occurs in the torsion bar 87a, the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a rotate relative to each other in accordance with the twisting of the torsion bar 87a.

[0041] The torque sensor 10 is positioned near the end of the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a, which are connected via the torsion bar 87a as shown above. By detecting the angle of relative rotation between the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a, it is possible to detect the torque acting between the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a.

[0042] The torque sensor 10 includes a magnet 65, a stator 60 (see Figure 3), and a magnetic collecting yoke 46 (see Figure 3). The magnet 65 and stator 60 are mounted separately to the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a, respectively. The magnetic collecting yoke 46 is attached to the sensor housing 41 of the collector assembly 40, and thus the magnetic collecting yoke 46 is included in the collector assembly 40. The magnetic collecting yoke 46 is fixed to the first housing 21 when the collector assembly 40 is attached to the first housing 21.

[0043] The collector assembly 40 is housed in a housing portion 24 of the first housing 21. The housing portion 24 is located near the portion of the first housing 21 that connects to the second housing 31, and is formed to protrude radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the first housing 21. The housing portion 24 of the first housing 21 has a space formed inside the housing portion 24 that communicates with the inside of the first housing 21, and the collector assembly 40 is housed in the housing portion 24 by being positioned inside the housing portion 24 formed in this way.

[0044] Furthermore, a magnetic shield cover 70 is attached to the housing portion 24 of the first housing 21. The magnetic shield cover 70 is formed by bending a metal plate member. Both sides of the housing portion 24 in the axial direction are covered by the magnetic shield cover 70 attached to the housing portion 24. Specifically, the magnetic shield cover 70 is formed to extend radially inward from a position closer to the radial outer side of the housing portion 24 in the axial direction on both sides of the housing portion 24. As a result, both sides of the housing portion 24 in the axial direction are covered by the radially extending magnetic shield cover 70.

[0045] The torque sensor 10 configured in this manner is capable of detecting torque based on the change in magnetism that occurs when the torsion bar 87a twists and the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a rotate relative to each other.

[0046] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the overview of the magnet 65, stator 60, and magnetic collection yoke 46 of the torque sensor 10. The magnet 65 and stator 60 of the torque sensor 10 are attached to the first shaft and the other to the second shaft, respectively. In this embodiment, the magnet 65 is attached to the stub shaft 87, which is the first shaft, and the stator 60 is attached to the first pinion gear 88a, which is the second shaft. The magnet 65 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and is a multi-pole magnet in which multiple N poles and S poles are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction.

[0047] The stator 60 has a flange portion 61 and a teeth portion 62. The flange portion 61 is formed in an annular plate shape with its thickness direction being axial. The teeth portion 62 extends from the inner circumference of the annular flange portion 61 in the axial direction of the flange portion 61 and is formed in a plate shape with its thickness direction being oriented in the radial direction of the flange portion 61. In addition, multiple teeth portions 62 are arranged in the circumferential direction of the flange portion 61 at intervals from each other.

[0048] The stator 60 formed in this manner has a pair of stators 60 formed of the same shape, namely a first stator 60a and a second stator 60b, each having a flange portion 61 and a tooth portion 62. Specifically, the first stator 60a has an annular first flange portion 61a and a plurality of first tooth portions 62a, and the second stator 60b has an annular second flange portion 61b and a plurality of second tooth portions 62b. The first stator 60a and the second stator 60b are mounted on the same shaft in such a way that both flange portions 61 are coaxially positioned and the flange portions 61 are oriented away from the other stator 60. In this embodiment, both the first stator 60a and the second stator 60b are mounted on the first pinion gear 88a.

[0049] In other words, the first stator 60a is positioned such that the first teeth portion 62a extends from the first flange portion 61a toward the second stator 60b, and the second stator 60b is positioned such that the second teeth portion 62b extends from the second flange portion 61b toward the first stator 60a. In this configuration, multiple first teeth portions 62a and second teeth portions 62b are provided on the first flange portion 61a and second flange portion 61b at intervals, so that the first stator 60a and the second stator 60b are combined such that the teeth portion 62 of each stator 60 is located in a portion of the circumferential direction where the teeth portion 62 of the other stator 60 is not located.

[0050] The magnet 65 attached to the stub shaft 87 is positioned inside the first stator 60a and the second stator 60b, which are assembled in this manner. Furthermore, the magnet 65 and the stator 60 are positioned so that their axial directions coincide with the axial directions of the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a. For these reasons, the magnet 65 and the stator 60 are mounted on the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a in such a positional relationship that the outer surface of the magnet 65 faces the teeth portion 62 of the stator 60. Due to this positional relationship, when torque is transmitted between the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a via the torsion bar 87a, causing the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a to rotate slightly relative to each other, the magnetic flux acting from the magnet 65 to the stator 60 changes as the relative positional relationship between the magnet 65 and the stator 60 changes.

[0051] Furthermore, a magnetic collecting yoke 46 of the collector assembly 40 is positioned near the stator 60. The magnetic collecting yoke 46 is a component for detecting changes in the magnetic flux acting on the stator 60 from the magnet 65, and is positioned near the flange portion 61 of the stator 60. Since the stator 60 consists of a pair of first stators 60a and second stators 60b, the magnetic collecting yoke 46 also consists of a pair of first magnetic collecting yoke 46a and second magnetic collecting yoke 46b. Specifically, the first magnetic collecting yoke 46a is positioned near the first flange portion 61a of the first stator 60a, and the second magnetic collecting yoke 46b is positioned near the second flange portion 61b of the second stator 60b.

[0052] The pair of magnetic collecting yokes 46 are located radially outward from the teeth portion 62 of the stator 60, between the two flange portions 61 of the stator 60, and overlap with the flange portions 61 of the stator 60 with a gap in the axial direction. In other words, the first magnetic collecting yoke 46a is positioned near the side of the first flange portion 61a of the first stator 60a where the second flange portion 61b is located, and the second magnetic collecting yoke 46b is positioned near the side of the second flange portion 61b of the second stator 60b where the first flange portion 61a is located. These magnetic collecting yokes 46 overlap with the flange portions 61 of the stator 60 within a predetermined range in the circumferential direction. Specifically, the first magnetic collecting yoke 46a and the second magnetic collecting yoke 46b are formed in a roughly fan shape in the portion that overlaps with the flange portion 61 of the stator 60 (see Figure 4), and as a result, the first magnetic collecting yoke 46a and the second magnetic collecting yoke 46b are arranged to overlap with the flange portion 61 of the stator 60 in a portion of the circumferential direction.

[0053] Furthermore, the pair of magnetic collecting yokes 46 may be positioned such that they sandwich the two flange portions 61 of the stator 60 from both sides in the axial direction. That is, the first magnetic collecting yoke 46a may be positioned near the opposite side of the first flange portion 61a of the first stator 60a from where the second flange portion 61b is located, and the second magnetic collecting yoke 46b may be positioned near the opposite side of the second flange portion 61b of the second stator 60b from where the first flange portion 61a is located. The pair of magnetic collecting yokes 46 may be positioned between the first flange portion 61a and the second flange portion 61b as long as they overlap the flange portions 61 of the stator 60 in a predetermined range in the circumferential direction, and the pair of magnetic collecting yokes 46 may be positioned such that they sandwich the first flange portion 61a and the second flange portion 61b from both sides in the axial direction.

[0054] In this way, by positioning the magnetic collecting yoke 46 near the flange portion 61, the magnetic collecting yoke 46 is able to detect changes in magnetic flux corresponding to changes in the relative position of the stator 60 and the magnet 65. In other words, the magnetic collecting yoke 46 is able to detect changes in the magnetic flux acting from the magnet 65 to the stator 60 when the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a rotate relatively small amounts.

[0055] Furthermore, a Hall IC 54 is positioned between the two magnetic collecting yokes 46. The Hall IC 54 is positioned between the magnetic collecting yokes 46 at a location away from the portion of the magnetic collecting yoke 46 that is near the flange portion 61 of the stator 60. In other words, the Hall IC 54 is sandwiched between the first magnetic collecting yoke 46a and the second magnetic collecting yoke 46b of the magnetic collecting yoke 46. The Hall IC 54 has a Hall element 55 (see Figure 7) that detects changes in magnetic flux detected by the magnetic collecting yokes 46, and an output circuit 56 (see Figure 7) that converts the output voltage output from the Hall element 55 in response to the change in magnetic flux into a digital electrical signal. As a result, the Hall IC 54 can detect changes in magnetic flux density acting on the two magnetic collecting yokes 46, convert the detected change in magnetic flux density into an electrical signal, and output it as an electrical signal. Note that a magnetic sensor that utilizes the magnetoresistance effect or the tunnel magnetoresistance effect can be used instead of the Hall IC 54. In short, the goal is to output the change in magnetic flux density occurring between the magnetic collecting yokes 46 as an electrical signal.

[0056] As shown in Figure 2, the magnet 65 is attached to the stub shaft 87 by a first sleeve 66. The first sleeve 66 is a cylindrical member, and the first sleeve 66 is attached to the stub shaft 87 by press-fitting the stub shaft 87 into the first sleeve 66. The magnet 65 is fixed to the outer surface of the first sleeve 66, for example, with adhesive, so that the magnet 65 can rotate together with the stub shaft 87.

[0057] The stator 60 is attached to the first pinion gear 88a by a second sleeve 63 and a carrier 64. The second sleeve 63 is a cylindrical member, and the second sleeve 63 is attached to the first pinion gear 88a by press-fitting the first pinion gear 88a into the second sleeve 63. The carrier 64 is a cylindrical member and is integrally formed with the second sleeve 63 by injection molding. Therefore, when the second sleeve 63 is attached to the first pinion gear 88a, the carrier 64 is also attached to the first pinion gear 88a together with the second sleeve 63.

[0058] The carrier 64, which is attached to the first pinion gear 88a by the second sleeve 63, is supported by the second sleeve 63 and positioned toward the stub shaft 87 side from the first pinion gear 88a, and is located radially outward of the stub shaft 87. Furthermore, the carrier 64 is positioned in the same axial position as the magnet 65 and is located radially outward of the magnet 65.

[0059] The stators 60 are mounted on the carrier 64, which is arranged in this manner. More specifically, the first stator 60a and the second stator 60b are mounted on the carrier 64 such that their teeth 62 are located on the inside of the carrier 64 in the radial direction, and their flange 61 protrudes from the inside to the outside of the carrier 64 in the radial direction. As a result, both the first stator 60a and the second stator 60b, which are a pair of stators 60, are positioned in the same axial position as the magnet 65, and are positioned radially outward from the magnet 65.

[0060] Furthermore, the first stator 60a and the second stator 60b are attached to a carrier 64 which is integrally formed with the second sleeve 63 that is attached to the first pinion gear 88a, and are therefore able to rotate together with the first pinion gear 88a. In other words, the stator 60, which is arranged to rotate together with the first pinion gear 88a in this manner, has a flange portion 61 that protrudes outward in the radial direction of the first pinion gear 88a and is fixed to the first pinion gear 88a.

[0061] As described above, the magnet 65 is fixed to the stub shaft 87 and the stator 60 is fixed to the first pinion gear 88a, so that the magnet 65 and the stator 60 are positioned inside the housing 20 together with the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a.

[0062] In the second housing 31, a spigot recess 32 is formed on the inner surface near the end that connects to the first housing 21 in the axial direction. The spigot recess 32 is a recess into which the spigot projection 22 of the first housing 21, which will be described later, fits.

[0063] The spigot recess 32 is formed on the end side of the second housing 31 where the first housing 21 is positioned. The first housing 21, which is fixed to the second housing 31, has a spigot projection 22 that fits into the spigot recess 32. The spigot projection 22 is formed to protrude axially from the first housing 21 toward the side where the second housing 31 is located, and the first housing 21 is radially positioned relative to the second housing 31 by the spigot projection 22 fitting into the spigot recess 32.

[0064] The spigot projection 22 is formed in a cylindrical shape and protrudes from the first housing 21, with an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the spigot recess 32. A groove is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the spigot projection 22 into which an O-ring 23, which is a sealing member, fits. The spigot projection 22 enters the spigot recess 32 with the O-ring 23 fitted into the groove. As a result, when the spigot projection 22 is entered into the spigot recess 32, the O-ring 23 ensures a seal between the first housing 21 and the second housing 31.

[0065] The first housing 21 and the second housing 31 are connected by attaching the first housing 21 to the second housing 31 using mounting bolts 36 (see Figure 5) with the spigot projection 22 of the first housing 21 fitted into the spigot recess 32 of the second housing 31.

[0066] The collector assembly 40, housed in a housing section 24 formed in the first housing 21, is attached to the housing section 24 in a manner that the Hall IC 54 is sandwiched between the first magnetic collection yoke 46a and the second magnetic collection yoke 46b from both sides in the axial direction when housed in the housing section 24. Specifically, the Hall IC 54 is located on a circuit board 50 of the collector assembly 40, and the circuit board 50 is attached to a sensor housing 41 of the collector assembly 40. The sensor housing 41 is the enclosure of the collector assembly 40 and consists of a housing body 42 and a lid 43, which will be described later.

[0067] Furthermore, the magnetic collection yoke 46 is attached to the sensor housing 41 in such a manner that it sandwiches the Hall IC 54 between the first magnetic collection yoke 46a and the second magnetic collection yoke 46b from both sides in the thickness direction of the circuit board 50. In this embodiment, the first magnetic collection yoke 46a is located on the side where the stub shaft 87 is located in the axial direction, and the second magnetic collection yoke 46b is located on the side where the first pinion gear 88a is located in the axial direction. The collector assembly 40 is housed in the housing 24 in such a manner that the thickness direction of the circuit board 50 on which the Hall IC 54 is placed is axial. As a result, when the collector assembly 40 is housed in the housing 24, the first magnetic collection yoke 46a and the second magnetic collection yoke 46b sandwich the Hall IC 54 from both sides in the axial direction.

[0068] Furthermore, the housing portion 24 of the first housing 21 is positioned in an axial direction close to the axial positions of the stub shaft 87 and the magnet 65 and stator 60 fixed to the first pinion gear 88a, which are located within the housing 20, and is formed to protrude radially outward. As a result, when the collector assembly 40 is housed in the housing portion 24, the first magnetic collecting yoke 46a and the second magnetic collecting yoke 46b of the collector assembly 40 can be positioned between the first flange portion 61a of the first stator 60a and the second flange portion 61b of the second stator 60b, which are fixed to the first pinion gear 88a.

[0069] The sensor housing 41 of the collector assembly 40 has a cover portion 43. The cover portion 43 is a member that covers the circuit board 50 which is attached to the sensor housing 41. The sensor housing 41 has a first cover portion 43a which is located on the opposite side of the circuit board 50 in the axial direction from the side where the second housing 31 is located and covers the circuit board 50, and a second cover portion 43b which is located on the side of the circuit board 50 in the axial direction from the side where the second housing 31 is located and covers the circuit board 50.

[0070] Furthermore, an O-ring 48, which is a sealing member that contacts both the outer circumferential surface of the sensor housing 41 of the collector assembly 40 housed in the housing 24 and the inner circumferential surface of the housing 24, is positioned between them. The O-ring 48 is positioned radially outward from the position where the lid 43 is located.

[0071] More specifically, the housing body portion 42 of the sensor housing 41 has a stepped portion 42d formed on the outer circumferential surface of the portion radially outside the position where the lid portion 43 is located. The stepped portion 42d is formed in a notched shape, with the outer circumferential surface of the sensor housing 41 being cut out all the way around. The O-ring 48 contacts the housing body portion 42 by its inner circumferential surface being fitted into the stepped portion 42d of the housing body portion 42, and its outer circumferential surface contacting the inner circumferential surface of the housing portion 24, thereby contacting both the outer circumferential surface of the housing body portion 42 and the inner circumferential surface of the housing portion 24.

[0072] The magnetic shield cover 70 attached to the housing portion 24 of the first housing 21 has a first shield portion 71 and a second shield portion 72. The first shield portion 71 is the part that covers the housing portion 24 from the side opposite to the side where the second housing 31 is located in the axial direction. The second shield portion 72 is the part that covers the housing portion 24 from the side where the second housing 31 is located in the axial direction. As a result, the housing portion 24 that houses the collector assembly 40 is covered on both sides in the axial direction by the magnetic shield cover 70 attached to the housing portion 24.

[0073] At least one of the first shield portion 71 and the second shield portion 72 of the magnetic shield cover 70 is positioned to overlap in the axial direction with respect to the hole IC 54 of the collector assembly 40 housed in the housing portion 24. In this embodiment, of the first shield portion 71 and the second shield portion 72, the first shield portion 71 that covers the housing portion 24 from the side opposite to the side where the second housing 31 is located is positioned to overlap in the axial direction with respect to the hole IC 54 of the collector assembly 40.

[0074] Next, the configuration of the collector assembly 40 will be described. Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the collector assembly 40. Note that Figure 4 is a perspective view taken from the opposite side in the axial direction to the collector assembly 40 shown in Figure 2 and Figures 5 and 6, which will be described later, in order to illustrate the circuit board 50. The collector assembly 40 has a sensor housing 41, a lid 43, a magnetic collecting yoke 46, a circuit board 50, and connection terminals 47. The sensor housing 41 is the housing of the collector assembly 40 and is composed of a housing body 42 and a lid 43.

[0075] The housing body 42 has a flange portion 42a, a connector portion 42b, and a substrate placement portion 42c. The flange portion 42a is the portion that attaches the collector assembly 40 to the housing portion 24 from the radially outer side. The flange portion 42a is a plate-shaped member formed with its thickness direction being the radial direction. The flange portion 42a has bush insertion holes 42aa that penetrate through the thickness direction of the flange portion 42a and into which a bush 49 is placed. The bush insertion holes 42aa are formed at two positions corresponding to the two screw holes 26 (see Figure 6) formed in the housing portion 24, which will be described later. The bush 49 placed in the bush insertion holes 42aa is a substantially cylindrical member made of metal material, which is inserted into and held in the bush insertion holes 42aa.

[0076] The connector portion 42b and the substrate placement portion 42c are positioned on opposite sides of the plate-shaped flange portion 42a in the thickness direction of the flange portion 42a. The connector portion 42b is the part to which an external connector (not shown) for outputting electrical signals from the torque sensor 10 to the outside is connected. The connector portion 42b is positioned between two bush insertion holes 42aa formed in the flange portion 42a, and is formed to protrude radially outward from the flange portion 42a, that is, on the opposite side of the flange portion 42a in the thickness direction from the side where the substrate placement portion 42c is located.

[0077] The substrate placement section 42c is formed in a roughly rectangular frame shape when viewed in the axial direction, and the circuit board 50 is placed inside the frame-shaped substrate placement section 42c. The magnetic collecting yokes 46 consist of a first magnetic collecting yoke 46a and a second magnetic collecting yoke 46b, which are positioned on both sides of the circuit board 50 in the axial direction. The first magnetic collecting yoke 46a and the second magnetic collecting yoke 46b, which are positioned on both sides of the circuit board 50, are attached to the substrate placement section 42c, sandwiching the circuit board 50 from both sides.

[0078] The magnetic collecting yoke 46 has two magnetic collecting sections that are close to the Hall IC 54 placed on the circuit board 50 when the magnetic collecting yoke 46 is attached to the substrate placement section 42c. Specifically, the first magnetic collecting yoke 46a has two magnetic collecting sections 46aa that are close to the Hall IC 54, and the second magnetic collecting yoke 46b has two magnetic collecting sections 46ba that are close to the Hall IC 54.

[0079] The cover portion 43 is a member that covers the circuit board 50 attached to the housing body portion 42 by closing the frame-shaped substrate placement portion 42c from both sides in the axial direction, and has a first cover portion 43a and a second cover portion 43b. The first cover portion 43a is positioned on the side where the first magnetic collection yoke 46a is placed relative to the substrate placement portion 42c and is attached to the substrate placement portion 42c, and the second cover portion 43b is positioned on the side where the second magnetic collection yoke 46b is placed relative to the substrate placement portion 42c and is attached to the substrate placement portion 42c. As a result, the substrate placement portion 42c, which is formed in a frame shape and where the circuit board 50 and magnetic collection yoke 46 are placed, is closed from both sides in the axial direction by the first cover portion 43a and the second cover portion 43b.

[0080] Furthermore, a connection terminal 47 is provided in the connector portion 42b of the housing body portion 42 for electrical connection with an external connector. The connection terminal 47 has a plurality of terminal pins 47a and a holding member 47c that integrally holds these plurality of terminal pins 47a. The connection terminal 47 is located inside the connector portion 42b of the sensor housing 41, and the connection portion 47b located on one end of the terminal pins 47a is connected to the circuit board 50 located in the board placement portion 42c. The other end of the terminal pins 47a of the connection terminal 47 can be electrically connected to an external connector connected to the connector portion 42b.

[0081] In this embodiment, the terminal pin 47a is formed in an L-shape, and the connecting portion 47b that connects to the circuit board 50 is connected to the circuit board 50 in the thickness direction of the circuit board 50. The portion of the terminal pin 47a that is electrically connected to the external connector is arranged to extend in the radial direction. As a result, the connecting terminal 47 is able to electrically connect the circuit board 50 and the external connector.

[0082] Next, the configuration for attaching the collector assembly 40 to the first housing 21 will be described. Figure 5 is a detailed view of the part in which the collector assembly 40 is attached to the first housing 21. Figure 6 is a detailed view showing the state before attaching the collector assembly 40 to the first housing 21 as shown in Figure 5. The collector assembly 40 is housed in and attached to the housing section 24 of the first housing 21.

[0083] An opening 25 (see Figure 6) is formed in the housing section 24 where the collector assembly 40 is attached, opening radially outward. The opening 25 of the housing section 24 is an opening in the inner space of the housing section 24. In addition, a screw hole 26 is formed on the radially outer surface of the housing section 24, to the side of the opening 25, into which mounting bolts 78 for attaching the collector assembly 40 to the housing section 24 are screwed.

[0084] The collector assembly 40 has a flange portion 42a that is attached to the housing portion 24 from the radially outer side, and is attached to the housing portion 24 by screwing mounting bolts 78 into the threaded holes 26 of the housing portion 24. Specifically, when attaching the collector assembly 40 to the housing portion 24, bushings 49 made of metal material are inserted into the two bushing insertion holes 42aa (see Figure 4) of the flange portion 42a, and the bushings 49 are positioned in the bushing insertion holes 42aa.

[0085] When attaching the collector assembly 40 to the housing 24, the collector assembly 40 is inserted into the housing 24 through the opening 25 with the substrate placement portion 42c facing outward in the radial direction. As a result, the substrate placement portion 42c of the collector assembly 40, on which the magnetic collecting yoke 46 and circuit board 50 are placed, is housed in the housing 24. Furthermore, a mounting bolt 78 is passed through the bush insertion hole 42aa located in the flange portion 42a of the collector assembly 40, and the mounting bolt 78 is screwed into the threaded hole 26 of the housing 24. As a result, the collector assembly 40 is attached to the housing 24 of the first housing 21 and fixed to the first housing 21.

[0086] The collector assembly 40, which is fixed to the first housing 21 with the substrate placement section 42c housed inside the housing section 24, is fixed to the first housing 21 with the magnetic collection yoke 46 of the collector assembly 40 inserted between the respective flange portions 61 of the pair of stators 60. As a result, the magnetic collection yoke 46 is fixed to the first housing 21 with the first magnetic collection yoke 46a and the second magnetic collection yoke 46b each inserted between the flange portions 61 of the pair of stators 60, overlapping with the flange portions 61 of the stators 60 with a gap in the axial direction.

[0087] When the collector assembly 40 is mounted on the first housing 21, the connector portion 42b of the collector assembly 40 is exposed to the outside of the housing portion 24. A connector for a signal line that transmits electrical signals from the torque sensor 10 to the ECU 100 is connected to the connector portion 42b, so that the connection terminal 47 located on the connector portion 42b is electrically connected to the signal line that transmits electrical signals to the ECU 100.

[0088] Figure 7 is a schematic plan view of the circuit board 50 of the collector assembly 40. The circuit board 50 is based on a plate-shaped substrate member 51 that is formed in a roughly rectangular shape, and is constructed by arranging circuits 53 including a Hall IC 54 on the substrate member 51. The circuit board 50 has a pair of circuits 53, a first system 53a and a second system 53b. In other words, the circuit board 50 has two systems of circuits 53. Each of the pair of circuits 53 is equipped with a Hall IC 54 and a number of terminals 57. Therefore, the circuit board 50 has two Hall ICs 54.

[0089] Each of the two Hall ICs 54 has a Hall element 55 and an output circuit 56. The Hall element 55 is capable of detecting changes in magnetic flux detected by the magnetic collecting yoke 46, and the output circuit 56 is capable of converting the output voltage output from the Hall element 55 into a digital electrical signal in response to the change in magnetic flux. The Hall IC 54 of the first system 53a and the Hall IC 54 of the second system 53b have the same configuration. Therefore, the Hall IC 54 of the first system 53a and the Hall IC 54 of the second system 53b have substantially the same detection performance in terms of magnetic flux detection performance.

[0090] The multiple terminals 57 of the pair of circuits 53 are arranged in a straight line. All of the multiple terminals 57 are located near one side of the substrate member 51, which is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and are arranged in a straight line along that side. Specifically, of the four sides of the substrate member 51, which is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, when the collector assembly 40 having the circuit board 50 is housed in the housing portion 24 of the first housing 21, the side located radially inward has a curved portion 51a that curves radially outward. The curved portion 51a is formed by gently curving in a direction that is convex toward the side where the opposite side of the side having the curved portion 51a of the substrate member 51 is located. The multiple terminals 57 are located near the side of the substrate member 51 that is opposite the side having the curved portion 51a, and are arranged in a straight line along that side.

[0091] Each terminal 57 is formed by a so-called through-hole, where the inner surface of a hole penetrating the substrate member 51 in the thickness direction of the substrate member 51 is covered with a metal material. The terminal 57 is electrically connected to the terminal pin 47a of the connecting terminal 47 (see Figure 4) of the collector assembly 40 by inserting the connecting portion 47b of the terminal pin 47a into the terminal 57. Multiple terminals 57 to which the terminal pin 47a of the connecting terminal 47 is connected are arranged in a straight line. Therefore, the multiple terminal pins 47a, each formed in an L-shape with a connecting portion 47b connected to multiple terminals 57, are all formed in the same shape.

[0092] The pair of circuits 53 arranged on the substrate member 51 are arranged side by side, with the first system 53a and the second system 53b, in a direction in which the multiple terminals 57 are aligned in a straight line, that is, along the edge of the substrate member 51 where the terminals 57 are located in close proximity. The first system 53a and the second system 53b are each configured as independent circuits 53 by electrically connecting the Hall element 55 and output circuit 56 of the Hall IC 54 with the multiple terminals 57 via wiring 58 arranged on the substrate member 51.

[0093] The multiple terminals 57 are such that each of the pair of circuits 53 has a voltage application terminal 57a, a ground terminal 57b, and a signal output terminal 57c. In other words, the first system 53a has three terminals 57: a voltage application terminal 57a, a ground terminal 57b, and a signal output terminal 57c, and the second system 53b also has three terminals 57: a voltage application terminal 57a, a ground terminal 57b, and a signal output terminal 57c. The voltage application terminal 57a is a terminal 57 for applying voltage to the Hall IC 54. The ground terminal 57b is a terminal 57 that is connected to ground. The signal output terminal 57c is a terminal 57 that outputs an electrical signal from the Hall IC 54.

[0094] The pair of circuits 53, consisting of the first system 53a and the second system 53b, each have a voltage application terminal 57a connected by wiring 58 to the Hall element 55 of the Hall IC 54 and the output circuit 56, respectively, allowing current to be supplied from the voltage application terminal 57a to the Hall element 55 and the output circuit 56. Furthermore, the pair of circuits 53 each have a ground terminal 57b connected by wiring 58 to the Hall element 55 and the output circuit 56, and the ground terminal 57b is grounded to the Hall element 55 and the output circuit 56. Additionally, the pair of circuits 53 each have a signal output terminal 57c connected by wiring to the output circuit 56, allowing electrical signals from the output circuit 56 to be output from the signal output terminal 57c. In other words, the pair of circuits 53 each have the output voltage of the Hall element 55 converted into a digital electrical signal by the output circuit 56 and output to the signal output terminal 57c.

[0095] Furthermore, in the pair of circuits 53, the multiple terminals 57 of one circuit 53 and the multiple terminals 57 of the other circuit 53 are of different types, and are arranged in the same order. Specifically, the three terminals 57 of the first system 53a and the three terminals 57 of the second system 53b are arranged in the order of voltage application terminal 57a, ground terminal 57b, and signal output terminal 57c.

[0096] In this embodiment, in the direction in which the multiple terminals 57 are aligned in a straight line, the three terminals 57 of the first system 53a and the three terminals 57 of the second system 53b are arranged in the order of voltage application terminal 57a, ground terminal 57b, and signal output terminal 57c, moving from the side where the first system 53a is located to the side where the second system 53b is located. Therefore, in each circuit 53, the ground terminal 57b is located between the signal output terminal 57c and the voltage application terminal 57a. Also, the signal output terminal 57c of the first system 53a and the voltage application terminal 57a of the second system 53b are located adjacent to each other.

[0097] In other words, the first system 53a and the second system 53b are circuits 53 in which Hall ICs 54, multiple terminals 57, and wiring 58 are redundantly mounted multiple times. That is, the Hall ICs 54 of the first system 53a and the Hall ICs 54 of the second system 53b, which have the same configuration, are arranged on the substrate material 51 in the same orientation for the same PIN arrangement, and the multiple terminals 57 of the first system 53a and the multiple terminals 57 of the second system 53b are arranged in the same positional relationship with respect to the Hall IC 54. As a result, the first system 53a and the second system 53b have similar detection performance in terms of magnetic flux detection performance.

[0098] In the circuit board 50 on which the circuits 53 are arranged, a slit 52 is formed in the substrate member 51 between the terminals 57 of one of the pair of circuits 53 and the terminals 57 of the other circuit 53. The slit 52 is formed in the shape of a cut that extends along the thickness direction of the substrate member 51 and extends from the side surface of the edge of the substrate member 51 where the terminals 57 are located. In other words, the slit 52 is formed extending from the opposite side of the edge with the curved portion 51a of the four edges of the substrate member 51 toward the side where the edge with the curved portion 51a is located. The slit 52 extending from the opposite side of the edge with the curved portion 51a toward the side where the edge with the curved portion 51a is located extends at least beyond the position where the terminals 57 are located in the direction between the two edges.

[0099] Thus, the slit 52 formed in the substrate member 51 is located between the voltage application terminal 57a of one of the pair of circuits 53 and the signal output terminal 57c of the other circuit 53. In other words, in this embodiment, the slit 52 is formed between the voltage application terminal 57a of the second system 53b and the signal output terminal 57c of the first system 53a. For this reason, the substrate member 51 is separated between the voltage application terminal 57a of the second system 53b and the signal output terminal 57c of the first system 53a.

[0100] Figure 8 is a schematic plan view showing the circuit board 50 positioned in the sensor housing 41. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 8 at point CC. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 8 at point DD. In Figure 10, only the first magnetic collecting yoke 46a is shown in a simplified manner, among the magnetic collecting yokes 46 that are positioned overlapping the circuit board 50 with respect to the Hall IC 54 in the thickness direction. However, in the actual torque sensor 10, the second magnetic collecting yoke 46b is also positioned overlapping the Hall IC 54 from the opposite side of the circuit board 50 in the thickness direction from where the first magnetic collecting yoke 46a is located.

[0101] The sensor housing 41, in which the circuit board 50 is placed, is equipped with a plate-shaped positioning member 44 and a protruding positioning member 45, which are positioning members for the circuit board 50. The plate-shaped positioning member 44 is a positioning member that fits into a slit 52 formed in the substrate member 51, and the protruding positioning member 45 is a positioning member that abuts against the side surface of the substrate member 51 opposite to the side surface in which the slit 52 is formed.

[0102] More specifically, the plate-shaped positioning member 44 is a plate-shaped member that can fit into a slit 52 formed in the substrate member 51, and is positioned in the substrate placement portion 42c of the housing body portion 42 of the sensor housing 41. More specifically, the plate-shaped positioning member 44 is formed to protrude inward from the inner surface of the frame-shaped substrate placement portion 42c. The plate-shaped positioning member 44 is formed in a plate shape with a thickness that is approximately the same as the width of the slit 52 and slightly smaller than the width of the slit 52, and is positioned with the thickness direction of the plate in the direction of the width of the slit 52. As a result, when the circuit board 50 is placed in the sensor housing 41, the plate-shaped positioning member 44 fits into the slit 52 formed in the substrate member 51.

[0103] Thus, the plate-shaped positioning member 44 that fits into the slit 52 of the substrate member 51 has a height in the thickness direction of the substrate member 51 that is greater than the thickness of the substrate member 51. As a result, when the plate-shaped positioning member 44 fits into the slit 52 of the substrate member 51, the plate-shaped positioning member 44 protrudes from the substrate member 51 in the thickness direction of the substrate member 51.

[0104] Furthermore, the protruding positioning member 45 is a member that abuts against the curved portion 51a of the substrate member 51, is formed in a shape close to a cylinder, and is positioned in the substrate placement portion 42c of the housing body portion 42 of the sensor housing 41. Specifically, the protruding positioning member 45 is positioned inside the substrate placement portion 42c, which is formed in a frame shape, and is supported by the substrate placement portion 42c. The relative positional relationship of the protruding positioning member 45 with the plate-shaped positioning member 44 is such that when the plate-shaped positioning member 44 is inserted into the slit 52 of the substrate member 51 and the substrate member 51 is placed in the sensor housing 41, the protruding positioning member 45 is positioned in the substrate placement portion 42c in such a position that it abuts against the curved portion 51a of the substrate member 51.

[0105] Thus, the protruding positioning member 45 that abuts against the curved portion 51a of the substrate member 51 has a height in the thickness direction of the substrate member 51 that is greater than the thickness of the substrate member 51. As a result, when the plate-shaped positioning member 44 is inserted into the slit 52 of the substrate member 51 and the substrate member 51 is placed in the sensor housing 41, the protruding positioning member 45 is able to abut against the curved portion 51a of the substrate member 51 over the entire thickness direction of the substrate member 51.

[0106] Furthermore, the collector assembly 40, in which the circuit board 50 is placed in the sensor housing 41, has a magnetic collection yoke 46, and each magnetic collection yoke 46 has two magnetic collection sections that are close to the Hall IC 54 placed on the circuit board 50. In other words, the magnetic collection yoke 46 has two magnetic collection sections corresponding to the two Hall ICs 54 placed on the circuit board 50.

[0107] For example, the first magnetic collecting yoke 46a has two magnetic collecting sections 46aa formed therein. When the first magnetic collecting yoke 46a is positioned in the sensor housing 41, the two magnetic collecting sections 46aa are individually positioned close to the two Hall ICs 54 located on the circuit board 50. The magnetic collecting sections formed in pairs on each magnetic collecting yoke 46 are formed in such a way that the magnetic collecting sections can be individually positioned close to the two Hall ICs 54 located on the circuit board 50.

[0108] Next, the operation of the steering device 80 will be explained. When the steering wheel 81 is operated while driving a vehicle equipped with the steering device 80, the steering force applied to the steering wheel 81 is transmitted from the steering wheel 81 to the steering shaft 82. The steering force transmitted to the steering shaft 82 is transmitted as steering torque from the steering shaft 82 to the intermediate shaft 85, and from the intermediate shaft 85 to the first pinion gear 88a via the stub shaft 87. As a result, the steering gear 88 having the first pinion gear 88a converts the rotational motion transmitted from the first pinion gear 88a into linear motion of the rack bar 88b, and operates the tie rod 89.

[0109] Furthermore, the steering device 80 according to this embodiment has an electric motor 102 that generates auxiliary steering torque to assist the driver's steering. The electric motor 102 generates auxiliary steering torque based on the steering torque detected by a torque sensor 10 positioned between the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a.

[0110] The torque sensor 10 detects the steering torque applied to the stub shaft 87 based on the angle of relative rotation when the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a rotate relative to each other. That is, since the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a are connected via a torsion bar 87a, when steering torque is applied to the stub shaft 87, the steering torque is transmitted between the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a via the torsion bar 87a. At that time, the torsion bar 87a twists slightly, causing the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a to rotate relative to each other.

[0111] The torque sensor 10 has a magnet 65 attached to the stub shaft 87 and a stator 60 attached to the first pinion gear 88a. Therefore, when the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a rotate relative to each other, the magnet 65 and stator 60 of the torque sensor 10 also rotate relative to each other. The angle of relative rotation between the magnet 65 and the stator 60 increases as the steering torque acting between the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a increases.

[0112] When the magnet 65 and the stator 60 rotate relative to each other, the magnetic flux acting from the magnet 65 to the stator 60 changes. The magnetic collecting yoke 46, positioned near the stator 60, is capable of detecting this change in magnetic flux. Therefore, when the magnet 65 and the stator 60 rotate relative to each other due to the relative rotation of the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a, the magnetic collecting yoke 46, positioned near the stator 60, can detect this change in magnetic flux acting from the magnet 65 to the stator 60.

[0113] Thus, the magnetic flux acting from the magnet 65 on the stator 60, as detected by the magnetic collecting yoke 46, changes according to the angle of rotation relative to the magnet 65 and the stator 60. The Hall IC 54 detects the magnetic flux that changes according to the angle of rotation relative to the magnet 65 and the stator 60, as detected by the magnetic collecting yoke 46, using the Hall element 55, and converts it into an electrical signal in the output circuit 56, which is then transmitted to the outside of the first housing 21 via the connection terminal 47 and transmitted to the ECU 100. In other words, the torque sensor 10 detects the steering torque applied to the stub shaft 87 by detecting the change in magnetic flux acting from the magnet 65 on the stator 60 using the magnetic collecting yoke 46 and the Hall IC 54, and transmits the detected steering torque as an electrical signal to the ECU 100.

[0114] In this process, the signal from the Hall IC 54 to the connection terminal 47 is transmitted from the Hall IC 54 to the terminal 57 via wiring 58 of the circuit 53 located on the circuit board 50, and from the terminal 57 to the terminal pin 47a of the connection terminal 47 connected to the terminal 57. The circuit board 50 also has a pair of circuits 53, a first system 53a and a second system 53b. The first system 53a and the second system 53b detect the magnetic flux, which changes according to the angle of relative rotation between the magnet 65 detected by the magnetic collecting yoke 46 and the stator 60, using the Hall element 55 of the Hall IC 54 located in each circuit 53. For this reason, the first system 53a and the second system 53b convert the detection result of the magnetic flux by the Hall element 55 into an electrical signal by the output circuit 56 of the Hall IC 54 located in each circuit 53, and transmit it from each circuit 53 to the connection terminal 47. As a result, the circuit board 50 transmits the detection result of the magnetic flux acting from the magnet 65 on the stator 60, detected by the Hall IC 54, as an electrical signal to the connection terminal 47 in two systems, the first system 53a and the second system 53b, and then transmits it from the connection terminal 47 to the ECU 100.

[0115] The ECU 100 operates the electric motor 102 based on the electrical signal transmitted from the torque sensor 10, generating auxiliary steering torque in the electric motor 102. In other words, the electrical signal transmitted from the Hall IC 54 of the torque sensor 10 to the ECU 100 changes according to the angle of relative rotation between the magnet 65 and the stator 60, and changes based on the steering torque T acting between the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a. Therefore, the ECU 100 uses the electrical signal transmitted from the Hall IC 54 of the torque sensor 10 as information that changes according to the steering torque T acting on the stub shaft 87 and the first pinion gear 88a, and adjusts the power value X supplied to the electric motor 102 based on the electrical signal transmitted from the Hall IC 54, thereby generating auxiliary steering torque in the electric motor 102.

[0116] Specifically, the ECU 100 acquires a steering torque T signal from the torque sensor 10, a vehicle speed signal V from the vehicle speed sensor 101, and further acquires operation information Y of the electric motor 102 from a rotation detection device provided on the electric motor 102. Based on this operation information Y, the steering torque T, and the vehicle speed signal V, the ECU 100 generates auxiliary steering torque in the electric motor 102. The auxiliary steering torque generated by the electric motor 102 is transmitted to the second pinion gear 88c. The steering gear 88, which has the second pinion gear 88c, converts the rotational motion transmitted from the second pinion gear 88c into linear motion of the rack bar 88b. As a result, the steering force applied by the driver to the steering wheel 81 is assisted by the auxiliary steering torque generated by the electric motor 102.

[0117] The torque sensor 10 detects the steering torque applied to the stub shaft 87 by detecting the change in magnetic flux acting from the magnet 65 to the stator 60 using the magnetic collecting yoke 46 and the Hall IC 54. Here, the electrical signal output from the Hall IC 54 is transmitted from terminals 57 located on the circuit board 50 to connection terminals 47. Multiple terminals 57 are arranged in a straight line on the circuit board 50. As a result, the distance between terminals 57 on the circuit board 50 tends to be small. In particular, when miniaturizing the torque sensor 10, the size of the circuit board 50 also decreases, so the distance between terminals 57 tends to be even smaller.

[0118] When the distance between terminals 57 on the circuit board 50 is small, short circuits are more likely to occur between adjacent terminals 57. Between adjacent terminals 57a and terminal 57c, for example, short circuits are more likely to occur due to ion migration. In other words, when terminals 57a and 57c are close together, when a voltage is applied, the metal at the anode terminal 57a is ionized and the positive ions move to the cathode terminal 57c, and metal is generated from the positive ions at the cathode terminal 57c. The generated metal causes insulation failure between terminals 57a and 57c, making short circuits more likely.

[0119] Even if a short circuit occurs between terminals 57a and 57b, or between terminals 57b and 57c, if multiple redundant circuits 53 of different systems are mounted on the circuit board 50, even if the electrical signal from the circuit 53 containing the short-circuited terminal 57 decreases or becomes impossible to output due to the short circuit between some terminals 57, an electrical signal can still be output from the other circuits 53. In other words, if multiple redundant circuits 53, each having a Hall element 55 and an output circuit 56, are mounted on the circuit board 50, even if a short circuit occurs between some terminals 57, a detection signal obtained by converting the detection signal from the Hall element 55 into a digital electrical signal by the output circuit 56 can be output from a circuit 53 different from the circuit 53 containing the short-circuited terminal 57.

[0120] However, if the short-circuited terminal 57 spans across terminals 57 of different circuits 53, where multiple redundant terminals 57 are installed, it may become impossible to output an electrical signal from any of the circuits 53.

[0121] Figure 11 is a schematic plan view of a circuit board 150 in which no slits 52 are formed in the substrate member 151. If two circuits 53, a first system 53a and a second system 53b, are mounted on the circuit board 150, for example as shown in Figure 11, then even if one circuit 53 is unable to output an electrical signal, the other circuit 53 can still output an electrical signal. In other words, if a short circuit occurs between the terminals 57 of the first system 53a, an electrical signal can be output from the second system 53b, and if a short circuit occurs between the terminals 57 of the second system 53b, an electrical signal can be output from the first system 53a.

[0122] For example, even if a short circuit occurs between the voltage application terminal 57a and the ground terminal 57b of the first system 53a, or between the ground terminal 57b of the first system 53a and the signal output terminal 57c, an electrical signal can still be output from the second system 53b. Similarly, even if a short circuit occurs between the voltage application terminal 57a and the ground terminal 57b of the second system 53b, or between the ground terminal 57b of the second system 53b and the signal output terminal 57c, an electrical signal can still be output from the first system 53a.

[0123] However, if a short circuit occurs between terminal 57 of the first system 53a and terminal 57 of the second system 53b, it may become impossible to output an electrical signal from either the first system 53a or the second system 53b's circuit 53. In other words, in the example shown in Figure 11, if a short circuit occurs between the signal output terminal 57c of the first system 53a and the voltage application terminal 57a of the second system 53b, it may become impossible to output an electrical signal from either the first system 53a or the second system 53b's circuit 53.

[0124] In other words, if a short circuit occurs between the signal output terminal 57c of the first system 53a and the voltage application terminal 57a of the second system 53b, when a voltage is applied to the voltage application terminal 57a of the second system 53b, a voltage will also be applied to the signal output terminal 57c of the first system 53a. As a result, leakage current flows from the signal output terminal 57c of the first system 53a through the wiring 58 to the output circuit 56 of the first system 53a and then to the ground terminal 57b of the first system 53a. Consequently, the output circuit 56 of the first system 53a becomes unable to output an electrical signal, and the first system 53a becomes unable to output an electrical signal from its signal output terminal 57c.

[0125] Furthermore, in this case, the voltage applied from the voltage application terminal 57a of the second system 53b to the Hall element 55 and output circuit 56 of the second system 53b becomes below the rated voltage, so the Hall element 55 and output circuit 56 of the second system 53b become unable to operate. As a result, the second system 53b also becomes unable to output an electrical signal, and neither the first system 53a nor the second system 53b can output an electrical signal.

[0126] In contrast, the circuit board 50 according to this embodiment differs from the substrate member 151 of the circuit board 150 shown in Figure 11 in that a slit 52 is formed between the terminal 57c of the circuit 53 of the first system 53a and the terminal 57a of the circuit 53 of the second system 53b in the substrate member 51 of the circuit board 50. Therefore, since the terminal 57c of the circuit 53 of the first system 53a and the terminal 57a of the circuit 53 of the second system 53b are separated, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a short circuit between the two terminals 57 due to ion migration or the like. As a result, it is possible to suppress the inability to output an electrical signal from either the circuit 53 of the first system 53a or the second system 53b due to a short circuit occurring between the terminal 57c of the circuit 53 of the first system 53a and the terminal 57a of the circuit 53 of the second system 53b.

[0127] Therefore, even in situations where there is a possibility of short circuits occurring between terminals 57 arranged in multiple locations on the circuit board 50, at least one of the circuits 53 of the first system 53a and the second system 53b can output an electrical signal converted from the detection result of the magnetic flux acting on the stator 60 from the magnet 65. Consequently, the torque sensor 10 can detect steering torque more reliably, and the steering device 80 can generate auxiliary steering torque based on the steering torque detected by the torque sensor 10.

[0128] As described above, the circuit board 50 of the torque sensor 10 according to this embodiment has a pair of circuits 53 arranged on a substrate member 51, and a slit 52 is formed in the substrate member 51 between a terminal 57a of one of the pair of circuits 53 and a terminal 57c of the other circuit 53. Therefore, since the terminal 57a of one circuit 53 and the terminal 57c of the other circuit 53 are separated, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a short circuit between the two terminals 57a and 57c. This prevents the inability to output an electrical signal from either circuit 53 or the other circuit 53 due to a short circuit occurring between the terminal 57a of one circuit 53 and the terminal 57c of the other circuit 53. Accordingly, the circuit board 50 can maintain a state in which at least one of the pair of circuits 53 arranged on the substrate member 51 can output a detection signal from the Hall element 55, and can continuously output a detection signal from the Hall element 55. As a result, it is possible to suppress the inability to properly output the detection signal.

[0129] Furthermore, the slit 52 formed in the substrate member 51 is positioned between the voltage application terminal 57a of one of the pair of circuits 53 and the signal output terminal 57c of the other circuit 53, thereby suppressing short circuits between terminals 57 that are prone to short circuits. In other words, since the voltage application terminal 57a is the terminal 57 to which voltage is applied, when voltage is applied, the metal of the terminal 57 is easily ionized and positive ions are easily generated. For this reason, ion migration is easily generated between the voltage application terminal 57a and the adjacent terminal 57c, making short circuits between terminals 57 more likely. Therefore, even if the terminals 57 are arranged in a way that makes short circuits likely, such as the voltage application terminal 57a of one circuit 53 and the signal output terminal 57c of the other circuit 53 being adjacent, the placement of the slit 52 between the two terminals 57 can suppress short circuits between terminals 57 that are prone to short circuits. As a result, the circuit board 50 can prevent the output of detection signals from the Hall element 55 from both of the pair of circuits 53 arranged on the substrate member 51. As a result, it is possible to suppress the inability to properly output the detection signal.

[0130] Furthermore, since the pair of circuits 53 arranged on the substrate member 51 have the same arrangement of different types of terminals 57, the pair of circuits 53 can be arranged on the substrate member 51 in the same layout. This allows the same Hall IC 54 configuration to be used in both circuits 53, and the detection signals output from the Hall IC 54 in both circuits 53 can be output at as similar a value as possible. Therefore, for example, in a configuration where the detection signal from the circuit board 50 is the average of the detection signals from both circuits 53 under normal conditions, even if the detection signal from one circuit 53 becomes unavailable, and the detection signal from one circuit 53 is output as the detection signal from the circuit board 50, the same detection signal as under normal conditions can be output. As a result, the detection signal can be output stably, and the inability to output the detection signal appropriately can be suppressed.

[0131] Furthermore, in the torque sensor 10 of the steering device 80 according to this embodiment, a plate-shaped positioning member 44 that fits into a slit 52 formed in the substrate member 51 of the circuit board 50 and a protruding positioning member 45 that abuts against the substrate member 51 are arranged in the sensor housing 41 of the collector assembly 40. Therefore, when positioning the circuit board 50 relative to the sensor housing 41, positioning can be performed using the plate-shaped positioning member 44 and the protruding positioning member 45. This allows the circuit board 50 to be positioned so that the relative positional relationship between the Hall IC 54 and the magnetic collection yoke 46 is appropriate. Consequently, it is possible to suppress the detection value by the Hall element 55 becoming an inappropriate value due to the Hall IC 54 being positioned in an inappropriate positional relationship with the magnetic collection yoke 46. As a result, it is possible to suppress the inability to output a detection signal appropriately.

[0132] Furthermore, since the height of the plate-shaped positioning member 44 in the thickness direction of the substrate member 51 is greater than the thickness of the substrate member 51, by inserting the plate-shaped positioning member 44 into the slit 52 of the substrate member 51, the plate-shaped positioning member 44 can be made to protrude from the surface of the substrate member 51, and the plate-shaped positioning member 44 can be used as a barrier. This prevents foreign matter from coming into contact with both terminals 57 located on both sides of the slit 52 and short-circuiting the terminals 57 together. In other words, for example, if conductive foreign matter comes into contact with both terminals 57 located on both sides of the slit 52, the terminals 57 will short-circuit due to the conductive foreign matter, making it impossible to output detection signals from both circuits 53 located on the substrate member 51. In contrast, when the plate-shaped positioning member 44 that enters the slit 52 is used as a barrier, conductive foreign matter is less likely to come into contact with both terminals 57 located on both sides of the slit 52, thus preventing short-circuiting of the terminals 57 together. As a result, the circuit board 50 can maintain a state in which at least one of the circuits 53 can output a detection signal from the Hall element 55. This prevents the detection signal from being output properly.

[0133] [Differentiation] In the above-described embodiment, the circuits of the first system 53a and the second system 53b on the circuit board 50 have the same order of terminals 57, but the order in which the terminals 57 are arranged may differ between the first system 53a and the second system 53b. Regardless of the order in which the terminals 57 are arranged, by forming a slit 52 in the substrate member 51 at a position between the terminals 57 of the first system 53a and the terminals 57 of the second system 53b, a short circuit between the terminals 57 of the first system 53a and the terminals 57 of the second system 53b can be suppressed, thereby preventing the inability to output a detection signal.

[0134] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the plate-shaped positioning member 44 and the protruding positioning member 45 are formed on the substrate placement portion 42c of the housing body portion 42, but the plate-shaped positioning member 44 and the protruding positioning member 45 may be formed on other parts. For example, the plate-shaped positioning member 44 and the protruding positioning member 45 may be formed on the lid portion 43. The location of the plate-shaped positioning member 44 and the protruding positioning member 45 in the sensor housing 41 is not limited as long as they are formed on the components constituting the sensor housing 41 on which the circuit board 50 is placed.

[0135] While preferred embodiments of this disclosure have been described above, this disclosure is not limited to those described in the embodiments described above. The configurations described as embodiments and modifications may be combined as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0136] 10 Torque Sensor 20 Housing 21 Housing 1 24 Storage Unit 31 Second Housing 40 Collector Assembly 41 Sensor Housing 42 Housing main body 42a Flange section 42b Connector section 42c Board placement part 43 Lid 43a 1st lid part 43b 2nd lid part 44 Plate-shaped positioning member 45. Protruding positioning member 46 Magnetic Collecting Yoke 46a First magnetic collecting yoke 46b Second magnetic collecting yoke 47 Connection terminals 50, 150 circuit boards 51, 151 Substrate components 52 slits 53 circuits 53a 1st system 53b 2nd system 54 Hole IC 55 Hall element 56 Output Circuit 57 terminals 57a Voltage application terminal 57b Ground terminal 57c signal output terminal 58 Wiring 60 stata 61 Flange section 62 Teeth section 65 Magnets 70 Magnetic Shielding Cover 80 Steering gear 81 Steering Wheel 82 Steering shaft 84, 86 Universal joint 85 Intermediate Shaft 87 Stub Shaft 87a Torsion bar 88 Steering gear 88a First pinion gear 88b Rack Bar 88c 2nd pinion gear 89 Tie Rod 90 Rack Housing 100 ECU 101 Vehicle speed sensor 102 Electric motor 103 Ignition Switch 104 Power supply

Claims

1. A plate-shaped substrate member, The aforementioned substrate member is arranged in a pair of circuits each comprising a Hall element, an output circuit, and a plurality of terminals, Equipped with, The plurality of terminals of the pair of circuits are arranged in a straight line, The circuit board has a slit formed in the substrate member between the terminals of one of the pair of circuits and the terminals of the other circuit, extending from the side surface of the substrate member.

2. Each of the aforementioned terminals has a voltage application terminal, a ground terminal, and a signal output terminal in each of the pair of circuits. Each of the pair of circuits converts the output voltage of the Hall element into a digital electrical signal using the output circuit and outputs it to the signal output terminal. The pair of circuits are such that the ground terminal of each is grounded to the Hall element and the output circuit, and the ground terminal is located between the signal output terminal and the voltage application terminal. The circuit board according to claim 1, wherein the slit is arranged between the voltage application terminal of one of the pair of circuits and the signal output terminal of the other circuit.

3. The circuit board according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of terminals of one of the pair of circuits and the plurality of terminals of the other circuit are of different types and are arranged in the same order as the terminals of one circuit and the terminals of the other circuit.

4. A circuit board comprising a plate-shaped substrate member and a pair of circuits arranged on the substrate member, each of which includes a Hall element, an output circuit, and a plurality of terminals, A sensor housing that accommodates the circuit board, A magnetic collecting yoke that detects changes in magnetic flux corresponding to changes in the relative position of a stator fixed to a shaft and a cylindrical magnet positioned opposite the stator, Equipped with, The magnetic collecting yoke is positioned so as to overlap with the Hall element, which is arranged on the circuit board housed in the sensor housing, in the thickness direction of the substrate member. The plurality of terminals of the pair of circuits are arranged in a straight line, A slit is formed in the substrate member between the terminal of one of the pair of circuits and the terminal of the other circuit. The torque sensor is provided with a sensor housing that includes a plate-shaped positioning member that fits into the slit and a protruding positioning member that contacts the side of the substrate member opposite to the side on which the slit is formed.

5. The torque sensor according to claim 4, wherein the height of the plate-shaped positioning member in the thickness direction of the substrate member is greater than the thickness of the substrate member.

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