TORQUE SENSOR

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a torque sensor in which a main torque signal indicates a mid-point, if a supplied power source voltage is lowered and which can surely sense drop in power source voltage, by surely sensing the drop of the output of the sensor. SOLUTION: This torque sensor includes a first torque signal output circuit 69 and a second torque signal output circuit 70, each of which outputs a torque signal by adding a reference voltage applied from a reference voltage circuit to the voltage relating to the detected torque. The reference voltage circuit has a first reference voltage circuit 73, driven by a first voltage for applying the reference voltage to the first torque signal output circuit 69; a second reference voltage circuit 71, driven by a second voltage higher than the first voltage for applying a reference voltage to the second torque signal output circuit 70; and a means 72 for stopping supplying of the second voltage to the second reference voltage circuit, when the second voltage for driving the second reference voltage circuit 71 is lower than a predetermined voltage. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI