Patent ID: 8045183

Claim:
A method for determining at least the position of a moving part of a drive assembly during testing or monitoring the drive assembly, wherein position-related values are determined during the movement of the respective part, comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating or exposing the part to light; and (b) determining the passage of light or an interruption of the passage of light between the moving part and a part corresponding thereto with at least one light-sensitive measuring element, wherein the drive assembly is an internal combustion engine ( 10 ) having at least one valve ( 10 ) and the position of the at least one valve ( 10 ) is determined at least in a respective closed position, and wherein the light is fed to the respective valve ( 10 ) from a side ( 21 ) which points to a valve stem ( 20 ) of the respective valve ( 10 ), whereby the position of the part is determined by incidence of light on the at least one light-sensitive measuring element.