Patent ID: 8809763

Claim:
An optical position sensor system for determining the angular position of a rotary member having a longitudinal rotation axis that extends in an axial direction comprising: a single light source aligned along the rotation axis; a collimating element adjacent the light source a predetermined distance, the collimating element aligned along the rotation axis to collimate light from the light source along the rotation axis; a detection element adjacent the collimating element a predetermined distance to receive collimated light from the collimating element and to provide a linear output; a light blocker inserted between the collimating element and the detection element, the light blocker coupled to the rotary member to rotate therewith about the rotation axis to block portions of the collimated light from the light source and the collimating element from reaching the detection element in direct relationship to the rotary position of the light blocker; and a housing in which an end of the rotary member is mounted therein for rotational movement, the housing spatially separating the single light source, the collimating element, the detection element, and the light blocker from one another, the housing defining a central two tiered cylindrical bore comprising a transition shoulder delineating a first tier having a first diameter from a second tier having a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter.