Patent ID: 7388188

Claim:
An apparatus for measuring a position, the apparatus comprising: a compartment having a body defining an interior wherein the body has an interior surface, an exterior surface and a length defined between a first end and a second end wherein the first end has an interior wall and an exterior wall wherein the exterior wall is in a position opposite to the first interior wall; a movable element within the interior of the compartment wherein the movable element is located at a first position in the interior and moves to a second position in the interior; a first sensor array connected to the interior wall of the first end of the compartment wherein the first sensor array extends inward with respect to the interior of the compartment wherein the first sensor array emits a light into the interior wherein the first sensor array detects a first intensity of light within the interior and a second intensity of light within the interior wherein the first intensity of the light within the interior corresponds to the first position of the movable element within the interior of the compartment and the second intensity of light within the interior corresponds to the second position of the movable element within the interior of the compartment; and a microprocessor in communication with the first sensor array wherein the first sensor array transmits signals indicating the first intensity of light and the second intensity of light to the microprocessor.