JP2000159037A - Steering angle sensor and rotary connector device incorporating steering angle sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a steering angle sensor capable of reducing the number of parts and reducing the thickness. A steering angle sensor of the present invention includes a lower housing that covers, from one surface side, a circuit board on which a circuit component that constitutes a circuit that generates rotation angle information in accordance with rotation of a steering wheel is mounted. And an upper cover member 22 rotated by a steering wheel
A circuit protection chamber 68 of the circuit board 41 is formed by a lower cover member 21 of the rotary connector assembly that rotatably supports the circuit board 41 and an upper housing that covers the circuit board 41 from the other side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering angle sensor for generating rotation angle information in accordance with the rotation of a steering wheel of an automobile or the like, and an improvement of a rotary connector device incorporating the steering angle sensor incorporating the steering angle sensor. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a rotary connector device incorporating a steering angle sensor which incorporates a steering angle sensor for generating rotation angle information in accordance with rotation of a steering wheel.

FIG. 1 shows a rotary connector device with a built-in steering angle sensor. The rotary connector device with a built-in steering angle sensor is composed of an upper cover member 1 and a lower cover member 2, and the upper cover member 1 is not shown. It is connected to a steering wheel (not shown) via an engagement protrusion 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lower cover member 2 is fixed to a base member 4 constituting a part of a combination switch device, and the base member 4 is fixed to a steering column (not shown).

The upper cover member 1 is rotatably supported by the lower cover member 2. In a space surrounded by the upper cover member 1 and the lower cover member 2, electric equipment (for example, an airbag module for operating an airbag, a horn switch for generating an alarm sound) provided in the steering wheel is provided. A spiral flexible flat cable 5 is built in to electrically connect the electrical equipment provided on the vehicle body to the electrical equipment provided on the vehicle body.

The lower cover member 2 is provided with a steering angle sensor 6 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) for generating rotation angle information in accordance with the rotation of the steering wheel. The steering angle sensor 6 includes a circuit board 7, a lower housing 8, and an upper housing 9, as shown in FIGS. A through hole 10 concentric with the steering shaft is formed in the lower housing 8 and the upper housing 9, and an annular drive gear 11 that rotates with the rotation of the steering wheel is rotatably provided in the through hole 10. The upper housing 9 is provided with a bearing recess 14 that supports the driven gears 12 and 13 that are driven to rotate by meshing with the annular drive gear 11.

The driven gears 12 and 13 are integrally provided with a magnet 15. The circuit board 7 has a magnet 15
A circuit component (not shown) constituting a circuit for generating rotation angle information of the steering wheel based on a change in the magnetic field based on the rotation of the steering wheel is mounted.

The circuit board 7, the lower housing 8, and the upper housing 9 are integrally fixed by a tap screw 16, and the annular drive gear 11, and the driven gears 12, 13 are vertically surrounded by the lower housing 8 and the upper housing 9. Protected.

[0009]

By the way, in order to increase the degree of freedom in the design around the driver's seat, it is desirable that the rotary connector device incorporating the steering angle sensor has as few components as possible and has a compact and compact configuration. There is
However, the conventional rotary connector device incorporating a steering angle sensor includes a circuit board 7 as the heart of the steering angle sensor 6,
Since the annular drive gear 11 and the driven gears 12 and 13 are surrounded by the lower housing 8 and the upper housing 9 from both sides in the direction in which the steering shaft extends, the thickness of the steering angle sensor 6 is set in the direction in which the steering shaft extends. There is a problem that the thickness of the rotary connector device becomes large and the rotary connector device incorporating the steering angle sensor becomes large.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a steering angle sensor and a rotary connector device incorporating a steering angle sensor, which can reduce the number of parts and reduce the thickness and cost.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steering angle sensor configured to constitute a circuit for generating rotation angle information with rotation of a steering wheel. A lower housing that covers the circuit board on which the elements are mounted from one side, and a lower cover member of a rotary connector assembly that rotatably supports an upper cover member that is rotated by a steering wheel; A circuit protection chamber of the circuit board is formed by the upper housing covering from the side.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steering angle sensor according to the first aspect, wherein the rotary connector assembly is assembled to the upper housing and electric equipment on a steering wheel side is provided. A storage space for a spiral flexible flat cable for electrically connecting the product and the electric equipment on the vehicle body side is formed.

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the upper housing, which is disposed to face the lower housing that covers the circuit board from one side and covers the circuit board from the other side, is provided with a rotary connector assembly. Since it is configured integrally with the lower cover member for common use, the number of components of the steering angle sensor itself and the number of components of the rotary connector device incorporating the steering angle sensor can be reduced, and the thickness can be reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotary connector device having a spiral-shaped flexible flat for electrically connecting electric equipment on a steering wheel side and electric equipment on a vehicle body in order to solve the above problems. An upper cover member provided with a cable and rotated by a steering wheel, and a lower housing that covers a circuit board of a steering angle sensor assembly that generates rotation angle information of the steering wheel from one side and is disposed to face the lower cover member. An upper housing configured to cover the circuit board from the other side and a lower cover member rotatably supporting the upper cover member form a storage space for the spiral flexible flat cable.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotary connector device incorporating a steering angle sensor according to the third aspect, wherein the steering angle sensor assembly is assembled to the lower cover member. A circuit protection chamber of the circuit board is formed.

According to the third and fourth aspects of the present invention, the steering wheel is provided with a spiral flexible flat cable for electrically connecting the electric equipment on the steering wheel side and the electric equipment on the vehicle body side. A lower cover member rotatably supporting the upper cover member rotated by the upper cover member, which is disposed opposite to the lower housing that covers the circuit board from one surface side and that is integrally formed with the upper housing that covers the circuit board from the other surface side. As a result, the number of components of the rotary connector device incorporating the steering angle sensor and the number of components of the steering angle sensor itself can be reduced, and the thickness can be reduced.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the rotary connector with a built-in steering angle sensor, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the fourth aspect, the steering angle sensor assembly is driven to rotate with rotation of a steering wheel. And an attachment member for rotatably connecting the upper cover member and the lower cover member from above and below is formed integrally with the annular drive gear.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotary connector device incorporating a steering angle sensor according to the fifth aspect, wherein the steering angle sensor assembly is meshed with the annular drive gear. Further, a driven gear that is driven and rotated while holding a magnet is provided, and a bearing portion that rotatably supports the driven gear is formed on the lower cover member.

According to the fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention, the attachment member for connecting the upper cover member and the lower cover member to be rotatable from above and below, and an annular ring that is driven to rotate with the rotation of the steering wheel. Since the drive gear and the drive gear are integrated, the overall thickness can be reduced. Further, the number of parts can be further reduced.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An example of a steering angle sensor and a rotary connector device incorporating a steering angle sensor according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B are views showing an example of a rotary connector device with a built-in steering angle sensor according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the rotary connector device with a built-in steering angle sensor, and FIG. And FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a steering angle sensor according to the present invention, in which a steering angle sensor is turned upside down. 9 is an exploded perspective view when viewed from the upper side, FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view when the same steering angle sensor is turned upside down, and each component is viewed from the lower side, and FIG. FIGS. 2A and 2B are enlarged views for explaining the annular drive gear attachment member assembly constituted as described above, wherein FIG. 2A is a perspective view, FIG. 2B is a side view, and FIG. 11A and 11B are perspective views of the steering angle sensor. FIG. 11A is a perspective view of the steering angle sensor as viewed from above, FIG. 11B is an enlarged perspective view of the steering angle sensor upside down and viewed from above, and FIG. FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of the lower cover member shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 13 is a partial sectional view showing an attached state of the annular drive gear shown in FIG. 8, and FIG. 14 is a top view of the lower cover member shown in FIG.

In FIG. 7A, reference numeral 20 denotes a rotary connector device incorporating a steering angle sensor. The rotary connector device 20 incorporating the steering angle sensor includes a lower cover member 2.
1 and an upper cover member 22. Lower cover member 2
7 is fixed to a known base member 4 which constitutes a part of the combination switch device as shown in FIG. 7 (b). The lower cover member 21 includes the upper cover member 2
2 is rotatably supported.

An engagement projection 24 is formed on the upper cover member 22, and the upper cover member 22 is connected to a steering wheel (not shown) by the engagement projection 24, and is rotated with the rotation of the steering wheel.

Lower cover member 21 and upper cover member 22
A storage chamber 23 is formed between them. A spiral flexible flat cable 25 is provided in the storage room 23. Spiral flexible flat cable 25
Is fixed to the lower cover member 21, and the other end is fixed to the upper cover member 22.

The spiral flexible flat cable 25 plays a role of electrically connecting the electric equipment on the steering wheel side to the electric equipment on the vehicle body. An insertion hole 26 through which the steering shaft is inserted is formed in the center of the upper cover member 22. A cylindrical wall 27 is formed in the upper cover member 22 so as to surround the insertion hole 26.
Are formed. The upper cover member 22 and the lower cover member 21 are connected in the axial direction by an attachment member 28.

The attachment member 28 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 10 (a) to 10 (c) in an enlarged manner, it is formed integrally with a drive gear described later. This attachment member 28 has elastically curved plate portions 29 and 30. An opening 31 is formed in the elastic curved plate portion 29. The contact step 3 with which the upper end of the elastic curved plate 30 contacts the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall 27.
3 and an engaging claw 34 that engages with the opening 31 are formed at appropriate intervals in the circumferential direction.

The lower cover member 21 is commonly used for an upper housing of a steering angle sensor 35 for generating rotation angle information as the steering wheel rotates. The steering angle sensor 35 has a thin plate shape as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the steering angle sensor 35 generally includes a lower cover member 21 as an upper housing, a lower housing 37, an annular drive gear 38, driven gears 39 and 40, and a circuit board 41. . Lower housing 37
Has a through hole 42 at the center thereof.
Are formed to form an annular stepped portion 43.

On the lower surface of the lower cover member 21, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG.
Are formed. An annular peripheral wall 21b is formed around the through hole 21a. Bearing portions 45 and 46 are formed on the lower surface of the lower cover member 21 adjacent to the through holes 21a. The driven gear 3 is attached to the bearing portions 45 and 46.
9 and 40 are rotatably supported. The driven gear 39,
Magnets 49 and 50 are provided at the center of 40.

The annular drive gear 38 includes a tooth portion 51, a cylindrical portion 5
2 The annular driving gear 38 is integral with the attachment member 28, and the tooth portions 51 of the annular driving gear 38 are incorporated into the lower cover member 21 so that the driven gears 39, 4
No. 0 teeth.

The circuit board 41 has through holes 55 corresponding to the through holes 42. On the other side of the circuit board 41, a circuit component 56 for constituting a circuit for generating rotation angle information with the rotation of the steering wheel is mounted. The annular drive gear 38 is rotatably supported between the lower housing 37 and the lower cover member 21.

The lower housing 37 is provided with a connector portion 62 as shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 11, and a connector pin 63 of the circuit board 41 is fitted into the connector portion 62. Are electrically connected to the circuit board 41.

8 and 9, a small hole 65 is formed on the outer periphery of the circuit board 41, and a fitting projection 66 is formed on the lower cover member 21 at a position corresponding to the small hole 65. The circuit board 41 is attached to the lower cover member 21 so that the other surface side is covered, and a lower housing 37 that covers the circuit board 41 from one side and a circuit board 41 that is disposed to face the lower housing 37 and face the lower housing 37. The circuit protection chamber 68 is formed by the lower cover member 21 that covers the
It is formed as shown in FIG.

The lower housing 37 is provided with an elastic engaging spring portion 69 on the outer peripheral portion thereof, and the lower cover member 21 is formed on the outer peripheral portion thereof with an engaging projection 70 for engaging with the elastic engaging spring portion 69. Have been. The lower cover member 21 and the lower housing 37 are connected to each other by engaging the engagement protrusion 70 and the elastic engagement spring 69 with the annular drive gear 38 and the driven gears 49 and 50. FIG.
The lower cover member 21 and the lower housing 37 support the lower cover member 21 and the lower housing 37 rotatably as shown in FIG.

A mounting portion 71 is formed on the upper surface of the lower cover member 21, as shown in FIG. One end of the spiral flexible flat cable 25 is attached to the attachment portion 71. This lower cover member 2
An upper cover member 22 to which the other end of the spiral-shaped flexible flat cable 25 is attached and which constitutes a part of the rotary connector assembly body is attached to the upper surface of 1, and a storage chamber 23 is formed.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the circuit board 4 on which the circuit component 56 constituting a circuit for generating rotation angle information in accordance with the rotation of the steering wheel is mounted.
1 and lower housing 3 covering circuit board 41 from one side
7, an annular drive gear 38 that is rotationally driven with the rotation of the steering wheel, and a driven gear 4 that is meshed with the annular drive gear 38 and is driven and rotated while holding a magnet.
A spiral angle flexible flat cable 25 for electrically connecting the electric equipment on the steering wheel side and the electric equipment on the vehicle body side is provided on the steering angle sensor assembly body including the steering wheel 9 and 50, and is rotated by the steering wheel. The lower cover member 21 that rotatably supports the upper cover member 22 is assembled first to form a steering angle sensor, and the storage chamber 23 is formed by assembling the upper cover member 22 to this steering angle sensor later. However, the upper cover member 22 is first assembled to the lower cover member 21 to form the rotary connector assembly body in which the storage chamber 23 is formed, and the steering angle sensor assembly body 35 is later assembled to form the circuit protection chamber 68. You may do it.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the attachment member 28 and the annular drive gear 38 are integrally formed, but may be formed separately.

[0036]

According to the rudder angle sensor and the rotary connector device incorporating the rudder angle sensor of the present invention, the number of parts can be reduced and the size, thickness and cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional rotary connector device incorporating a steering angle sensor.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a state in which a conventional rotary connector device with a built-in steering angle sensor is attached to a base member constituting a part of a combination switch device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional steering angle sensor when viewed from above.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view when the steering angle sensor shown in FIG. 3 is turned upside down.

5 is an exploded view of the steering angle sensor shown in FIG.

6 is an exploded view of the steering angle sensor shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of a rotary connector device with a built-in steering angle sensor according to the present invention, wherein (a) is a perspective view of the rotary connector device with a built-in steering angle sensor;
(B) is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a rotary connector device with a built-in steering angle sensor is attached to a base member forming a part of a combination switch member.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the steering angle sensor according to the present invention, and is an exploded perspective view in which the components are viewed from above with the steering angle sensor turned upside down.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of each component viewed from below with the steering angle sensor turned upside down.

10 is an enlarged view for explaining an annular drive gear attachment member assembly in which the attachment member and the annular drive gear shown in FIG. 8 are integrally formed, where (a) is a perspective view thereof and (b). Is a side view thereof, and (c) is a plan view thereof.

11A is a perspective view of a steering angle sensor, FIG. 11A is a perspective view of the steering angle sensor as viewed from above, and FIG. 11B is an enlarged perspective view of the steering angle sensor when viewed upside down.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of a lower cover member shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an attached state of the annular drive gear shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a top view of the lower cover member shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 lower cover member (upper housing) 22 upper cover member 35 steering angle sensor 37 lower housing 41 circuit board 56 circuit component 68 circuit protection room

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A lower housing for covering a circuit board on which a circuit component constituting a circuit for generating rotation angle information with the rotation of a steering wheel is mounted from one side, and an upper cover member rotated by the steering wheel. A lower cover member of a rotary connector assembly that rotatably supports the circuit board and an upper housing that covers the circuit board from the other side, thereby forming a circuit protection chamber of the circuit board. Sensor. 2. The rotary connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rotary connector assembly is assembled to the upper housing,
The steering angle sensor according to claim 1, wherein a storage space for a spiral flexible flat cable that electrically connects the electric equipment on the steering wheel side and the electric equipment on the vehicle body side is formed. 3. An upper cover member provided with a spiral flexible flat cable for electrically connecting the electric equipment on the steering wheel side and the electric equipment on the vehicle body side and rotated by the steering wheel; A rudder angle sensor assembly for generating rotation angle information constitutes an upper housing that is disposed to face a lower housing that covers the circuit board from one side and covers the circuit board from the other side, and rotates the upper cover member. A rotating connector device, wherein a storage space for the spiral flexible flat cable is formed by a lower cover member that is supported as possible. 4. The rotary connector device according to claim 3, wherein the steering angle sensor assembly is assembled to the lower cover member to form a circuit protection chamber of the circuit board. 5. The steering angle sensor assembly according to claim 4, further comprising an annular drive gear that is driven to rotate with the rotation of a steering wheel, wherein the upper cover member and the lower cover member are rotatable from above and below. A rotary connector device with a built-in steering angle sensor, wherein an attachment member connected to the rotary drive gear is formed integrally with the annular drive gear. 6. The driven angle sensor assembly according to claim 5, further comprising a driven gear meshed with the annular drive gear and driven and rotated while holding a magnet, and the lower cover member includes the driven gear. A rotary connector device with a built-in steering angle sensor, wherein a bearing portion for rotatably supporting the steering wheel is formed.