An apparatus, comprising: a linear motor comprising a stator and an armature that is movable relative to the stator over a travel distance; a first magnetic device coupled to the armature and extending over the entire travel distance, the first magnetic device defining a sensing surface that comprises two magnetic poles along its entire length, that provide a magnetization state transition location there between; a magnetic pole sensor coupled to the stator adjacent the first magnetic device such that the first magnetic device moves past the magnetic pole sensor as the armature moves relative to the stator over the travel distance, the magnetic pole sensor sensing the adjacent poles of the first magnetic device, the magnetic pole sensor having a two-state output wherein one state of the magnetic pole sensor output is indicative of a first part of the relative movement of the armature with respect to the stator and the other state is indicative of a second, different part of said relative movement; a second magnetic device coupled to the armature, the second magnetic device defining a sensing surface that comprises a plurality of adjacent alternating opposite magnetic poles that create a cyclically-varying magnetic field proximate its sensing surface; a magnetic field angle sensor coupled to the stator adjacent the second magnetic device such that the cyclically-varying magnetic field of the second magnetic device moves past the magnetic field angle sensor as the armature moves relative to the stator, the magnetic field angle sensor sensing the angle of the magnetic fields of the second magnetic device and having an output that varies continuously relative to the magnetic field angle over at least a portion of one cycle of the cyclically-varying magnetic field, and a third magnetic device coupled to the armature adjacent to the first magnetic device, the third magnetic device having the same shape, size and length as the first magnetic device and being located directly alongside thereof, the third magnetic device defining a sensing surface that defines a single magnetization state transition location over the armature travel distance, wherein the sensing surfaces of the first and third magnetic devices each comprise two magnetic poles, and wherein the adjacent magnetic poles of the first and third magnetic devices are of opposite polarity. a linear motor comprising a stator and an armature that is movable relative to the stator over a travel distance; a first magnetic device coupled to the armature and extending over the entire travel distance, the first magnetic device defining a sensing surface that comprises two magnetic poles along its entire length, that provide a magnetization state transition location there between; a magnetic pole sensor coupled to the stator adjacent the first magnetic device such that the first magnetic device moves past the magnetic pole sensor as the armature moves relative to the stator over the travel distance, the magnetic pole sensor sensing the adjacent poles of the first magnetic device, the magnetic pole sensor having a two-state output wherein one state of the magnetic pole sensor output is indicative of a first part of the relative movement of the armature with respect to the stator and the other state is indicative of a second, different part of said relative movement; a second magnetic device coupled to the armature, the second magnetic device defining a sensing surface that comprises a plurality of adjacent alternating opposite magnetic poles that create a cyclically-varying magnetic field proximate its sensing surface; a magnetic field angle sensor coupled to the stator adjacent the second magnetic device such that the cyclically-varying magnetic field of the second magnetic device moves past the magnetic field angle sensor as the armature moves relative to the stator, the magnetic field angle sensor sensing the angle of the magnetic fields of the second magnetic device and having an output that varies continuously relative to the magnetic field angle over at least a portion of one cycle of the cyclically-varying magnetic field, and a third magnetic device coupled to the armature adjacent to the first magnetic device, the third magnetic device having the same shape, size and length as the first magnetic device and being located directly alongside thereof, the third magnetic device defining a sensing surface that defines a single magnetization state transition location over the armature travel distance, wherein the sensing surfaces of the first and third magnetic devices each comprise two magnetic poles, and wherein the adjacent magnetic poles of the first and third magnetic devices are of opposite polarity.