Seat position detection device

Abstract

A seat position detection device includes a detection means for detecting physical relationship between a stationary rail supported by a vehicle body and a movable rail rigidly connecting a seat and sliding along the stationary rail wherein the detection means includes a magnetic body provided at one of the stationary rail and the movable rail and a magnetic sensor provided at the other of the stationary rail and the movable rail, and the magnetic body is arranged at an entire length of a specified region in sliding direction of the movable rail, and a magnetic pole thereof is directed perpendicular to the slide direction, and the magnetic sensor outputs a signal in response to magnetism from the magnetic body.

What we claim is:  
     
         1 . A seat position detection device comprising; 
 a detection means for detecting physical relationship between a stationary rail supported by a vehicle body and a movable rail rigidly connecting a seat and sliding along the stationary rail;    the detection means includes a magnetic body provided at one of the stationary rail and the movable rail and a magnetic sensor provided at the other of the stationary rail and the movable rail, and the magnetic body is arranged at an entire length of a specified region in sliding direction of the movable rail, and a magnetic pole thereof is directed perpendicular to the slide direction, and the magnetic sensor outputs a signal in response to magnetism from the magnetic body.    
     
     
         2 . A seat position detection device according to  claim 1 , wherein a sliding range of the seat is divided into two regions, and the magnetic body is attached to one of the divided region so that the magnetic sensor faces to one of the N pole and the S pole thereof.  
     
     
         3 . A seat position detection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the sliding range of the seat is divided into two regions, and the magnetic body includes two portions which are attached to one of the divided portion so that the magnetic sensor faces to one of the N pole and the S pole thereof, respectively.  
     
     
         4 . A seat position detection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic body is not exposed outside of the fixed rail or movable rail.  
     
     
         5 . A seat position detection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic body is shaped as a sheet.  
     
     
         6 . A seat position detection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic body is attached to one of the stationary rail and the movable rail by magnetic attraction.  
     
     
         7 . A seat position detection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic sensor includes a Hall element for outputting a signal according to magnetic flux density and a switching circuit for outputting a signal when a voltage level of the signal from the Hall element exceeds a predetermined value.