Non-contact type potentiometer, actuator, vehicle mounted radar device, and automobile drive control system

An actuator, comprising:

• a casing;
• a rotary shaft that is supported by the casing by means of bearings;
• an armature that is freely rotatable together with the rotary shaft;
• and
• a non-contact potentiometer that detects an angle of rotation of the rotary shaft and outputs the same, the non-contact potentiometer comprising a pair of planar magnets disposed on the casing and spaced in opposite and parallel relationship to one another, a support shaft connected to the rotary shaft and disposed between the pair of planar magnets;
• and a magnetic detection element that is retained on the support shaft;
• wherein the pair of planar magnets are arranged such that approximately parallel magnetic fields are formed around the magnetic detection element and are perpendicular to the axis of the rotary shaft.

A vehicle mounted radar device, comprising:

• a transmission control device that controls the transmission and reception of radar waves that detect obstructions;
• a radar paddle that is connected to the transmission control device;
• an actuator having a rotary shaft that rotates the radar paddle;
• a non-contact type potentiometer that detects and outputs an angle of rotation of the rotary shaft;
• and
• a signal processor that calculates predetermined data based upon radar waves received by the radar paddle and output from the potentiometer;
• wherein the non-contact type potentiometer includes a pair of planar magnets spaced opposite and in parallel relationship to one another, a support shaft connected to the rotary shaft and disposed between the pair of planar magnets, and a magnetic detection element that is fixed on the support shaft;
• and
• the pair of planar magnets are arranged such that approximately parallel magnetic fields are formed around the magnetic detection element and are perpendicular to the axis of the rotary shaft.

An automobile control system, comprising:

• a pedal for operating an accelerator or a brake;
• a rotary shaft that is connected to the pedal and rotates in response to movement of the pedal;
• a non-contact type potentiometer that detects and outputs an angle of rotation of the pedal;
• and
• an electronic control circuit that calculates the angle of rotation of the rotary shaft output from the potentiometer, and controls a drive wheel driver or a brake driver;
• wherein the non-contact type potentiometer includes a pair of planar magnets spaced in opposite and parallel relationship to one another, a support shaft connected to the rotary shaft and disposed between the pair of planar magnets;
• and a magnetic detection element that is retained on the support shaft;
• and
• the pair of planar magnets are arranged such that approximately parallel magnetic fields are formed around the magnetic detection element and are perpendicular to the axis of the rotary shaft.