Patent ID: 7402997

Claim:
A device for determination of the angular position of a rotating body relative to a support, said device comprising: a rotatable body ( 2 ) rotatable about an axis of rotation; a generator ( 6 ) of magnetic flux ( 32 ) comprising a ring portion at least partially encircling the axis of rotation with an inner edge, an outer edge, and an annular surface between the inner edge and the outer edge, the inner edge connected to the rotatable body; a plurality of thin, rectilinear magnets of substantially equal size ( 16 ) arranged on the annular surface as a series of adjacent, alternating poles ( 10 , 12 ) aligned along a rectilinear axis running on the annular surface; a support( 4 ) proximate to the rotatable body; and a magnetoresistive sensor ( 8 ) connected to the support ( 4 ), wherein the plurality of rectilinear magnets generate a plurality of magnetic fluxes in directions substantially parallel to the rectilinear axis.