A system for determining position, said system comprising: an object being configured to produce a magnetic field having a first vector component (V 1), a second vector component (V 2), and a third vector component (V 3), and with the first, second, and third vector components (V 1, V 2, V 3) being orthogonal to one another; a sensor being configured to measure a magnitude of each of the first, second, and third vector components (V 1, V 2, V 3) when the object is within a range of positions; wherein the object is configured such that the magnitude of the third vector component (V 3) has a unique value for each possible position of the sensor relative to the object as the object is moved across the range of positions; and the magnitude of the first vector component (V 1) and the magnitude of the second vector component (V 2) each are periodic functions having a plurality of cycles as the object is moved across the range of positions; and a controller connected to said sensor and being configured to determine, based on the magnitude of the first vector component (V 1) and the magnitude of the second vector component (V 2), a relative position of said object within an undetermined cycle of the plurality of cycles, to determine a cycle of the plurality of cycles in which said object is located based on the magnitude of the third vector component (V 3), and wherein said controller determines an absolute position of said object based on the relative position of said object and the cycle in which said object is located. an object being configured to produce a magnetic field having a first vector component (V 1), a second vector component (V 2), and a third vector component (V 3), and with the first, second, and third vector components (V 1, V 2, V 3) being orthogonal to one another; a sensor being configured to measure a magnitude of each of the first, second, and third vector components (V 1, V 2, V 3) when the object is within a range of positions; wherein the object is configured such that the magnitude of the third vector component (V 3) has a unique value for each possible position of the sensor relative to the object as the object is moved across the range of positions; and the magnitude of the first vector component (V 1) and the magnitude of the second vector component (V 2) each are periodic functions having a plurality of cycles as the object is moved across the range of positions; and the magnitude of the third vector component (V 3) has a unique value for each possible position of the sensor relative to the object as the object is moved across the range of positions; and the magnitude of the first vector component (V 1) and the magnitude of the second vector component (V 2) each are periodic functions having a plurality of cycles as the object is moved across the range of positions; and a controller connected to said sensor and being configured to determine, based on the magnitude of the first vector component (V 1) and the magnitude of the second vector component (V 2), a relative position of said object within an undetermined cycle of the plurality of cycles, to determine a cycle of the plurality of cycles in which said object is located based on the magnitude of the third vector component (V 3), and wherein said controller determines an absolute position of said object based on the relative position of said object and the cycle in which said object is located.