Angle sensor and car using the same

• US 6,870,470 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2002
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Fukui, Satoru, Nomura, Toshihiro, Onishi, Masahide, Nakade, Yoshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US10/196,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20030020461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/439, 340/686.1, 340/686.2, 340/686.3, 340/687, 340/435, 340/441, 701/41, 701/42, 701/23, 180/443, 180/446
• US Class Current: 340/441
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/02 Steering position indicators ; Steering position determination; Steering aids

Abstract

An angle sensor can be re-mounted properly. This angle sensor includes a detecting sensor that detects a turned volume of a rotary shaft, and a governor connected to the detecting sensor. The governor includes a comparator that compares a turned angle data obtained before the angle sensor is detached with a turned angle data obtained after the angle sensor is re-mounted. This angle sensor produces a remarkable advantage when it is used in cars which are governed using the data about a turned volume of the steering wheel or the shaft.

Claims

1. A method of removing and replacing a sensor about a shaft, said method comprising the steps of:

storing first rotation data corresponding to amount of angular rotation indicated by said sensor obtained at a first time from said sensor;

removing and replacing the sensor;

obtaining second rotation data corresponding to amount of angular rotation indicated by said sensor obtained at a second time from said sensor following replacement of said sensor;

indicating if said first rotation data and said second rotation data are different.

2. A method of replacing a sensor about a shaft according to claim 1, wherein said amount of angular rotation includes:

number of turns;

direction of turning; and

rotational angle.

3. A method of replacing a sensor according to claim 1, wherein said sensor is removed and replaced from a steering wheel shaft of a car.

4. A method of replacing a sensor according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first rotation data and said second rotation data are stored in memory.

5. A method of replacing a sensor according to claim 1, further comprising the step of sounding an alarm responsive to indicating that said first and second rotation data are different.

6. A sensor unit for use with a shaft, comprising:

a detection unit for signaling a detected amount of rotation that said sensor unit has sensed; and

a comparator for performing a comparison of said detected amount of rotation of said shaft in an expected same orientation at two different times and for indicating a discrepancy in said comparison.

7. A sensor unit according to claim 6, wherein said sensor unit is mountable about a steering wheel shaft of a car.

8. A sensor unit according to claim 6, further comprising a memory for storing amount of rotation for at least one of said two different times.

9. A sensor unit according to claim 6, further comprising an alarm which is sounded when said comparator indicates said discrepancy in said comparison.

10. A car comprising:

a car body;

a driving wheel for supporting said car body;

a shaft for steering said driving wheel with respect to said car body;

a steering wheel coupled to said shaft; and

a sensor unit, comprising;

a detection unit for signaling a detected amount of rotation of said shaft that said sensor unit has sensed; and

a comparator for performing a comparison of said detected amount of rotation of said shaft in an expected same orientation said shaft at two different times and for indicating a discrepancy in said comparison.