Patent ID: 8077067

Claim:
A method for simulating the characteristics of a potentiometer in the fabrication of a non-contact type of sensor, the sensor being connected to a power source, the power source providing a power supply voltage, the sensor measuring a value of a physical parameter, the method comprising: at least first, second, and third terminals for electrical connection of the sensor, electronic circuit means producing an output voltage at the second terminal with respect to a common voltage at the third terminal, the output voltage being indicative of the value of the parameter, no more than 3 terminals powering the sensor and providing the output voltage, the power source providing an input current into the first terminal, the input current providing all of the current powering the sensor, the power supply voltage appearing across the first and third terminals, the output voltage having an output voltage range, the output voltage range including at least 95 percent of the power supply voltage, a variable frequency or time period being representative of the value of the parameter, the variable frequency or time period being converted to provide a signal voltage, a reference voltage being a portion of the power supply voltage, the signal voltage being compared with the reference voltage to adjust the output voltage.