Patent ID: 7242183

Claim:
A sensor assembly for measuring linear position, said sensor assembly comprising: a permanent magnet having a first surface associated with a characteristic north pole and a second surface associated with a characteristic south pole; a first, discrete elongated ferromagnetic flux concentrator having an end portion thereof affixed to said first surface of said permanent magnet; a second, discrete elongated ferromagnetic flux concentrator having an end portion thereof affixed to said second surface of said permanent magnet, said first and second ferromagnetic flux concentrators extending as cantilevers, substantially parallel to one another and maintaining a substantially fixed spacing therebetween, said permanent magnet and flux concentrators forming a generally U-shaped structure with free ends of said flux concentrators forming an air gap therebetween; and a galvanomagnetic sensing element disposed within said fixed spacing between said first and second flux concentrators for sensing magnetic flux passing therebetween and displaceable along a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the characteristic lines of elongation of said first and second flux concentrators, said galvanomagnetic sensing element configured to produce an output signal indicative of the measured linear position as the galvanomagnetic sensing element travels along said longitudinal axis.