Motor drive apparatus and its inspection method

A motor drive apparatus comprising:

• a motor unit comprising a coil, a stator, an output shaft and a first terminal connecting portion;
• a control board comprising a second terminal connecting portion, the control board being configured to control a current supply to the motor unit;
• a housing comprising
• a motor-unit receiving portion receiving the motor unit, the motor-unit receiving portion being formed with an opening on one side of the motor-unit receiving portion in an axial direction of the motor unit and comprising a wall portion on another side of the motor-unit receiving portion in the axial direction, the wall portion being formed with a through-hole, and
• a board receiving portion formed integrally with the motor-unit receiving portion, the board receiving portion being formed with an opening in the axial direction to receive the control board;
• a rotation sensor provided at the wall portion, the rotation sensor being adapted to detect a rotational state of the output shaft;
• and
• a plurality of relay terminals provided via the through-hole of the wall portion, the plurality of relay terminals electrically connecting the first terminal connecting portion with the second terminal connecting portion.

An inspection method for a motor drive apparatus, comprising:

• a step of assembling a subassembly, the subassembly comprising
• a control board configured to controllably drive a motor, and
• a housing comprising
• a motor receiving portion formed with an opening on one side of the motor receiving portion in an axial direction of the motor, the motor receiving portion comprising a wall portion on another side of the motor receiving portion in the axial direction, the wall portion being formed with a through-hole, and
• a board receiving portion formed integrally with the motor receiving portion, the board receiving portion being formed with an opening in the axial direction to receive the control board;
• a step of connecting an terminal of an inspection unit to the control board;
• and
• a step of carrying out an inspection of the control board by inputting a test signal from the inspection unit to the control board.