Patent ID: 6919559

Claim:
A rotating position sensor comprising: a first member carrying at least one source of light; a second member rotatable about an axis of rotation relative to said at least one source of light; a light reflecting surface fixedly attached to said second member, said light reflecting surface comprising a surface portion offset relative to said axis of rotation; at least one reflected light receiving member fixed relative to said at least one source of light; said first member and said second member are positioned relative to one another such that said axis of rotation intersects a portion of said at least one reflected light receiving member; and said at least one source of light, said light reflecting surface and said at least one reflected light receiving member being positioned relative to one another whereby a position of said second member varies according to a movement of said light reflecting surface of said second member from a first z position to a second z position in relation to a total distance traveled by said reflected light and a displacement of said reflected light relative to said movement of said second member from said first z position to said second z position.