Patent ID: 7260229

Claim:
A position sensor for measuring a degree of deflection of a first element relative to a second element, the position sensor comprising: an inductance-affecting core mounted on the first element for movement therewith, the inductance-affecting core having a length and a variable inductance-affecting capacity varying along the length; at least one inductor adjacent to the inductance-affecting core and mounted on the second element such that the inductance-affecting core is outside of each inductor, the at least one inductor having an associated length shorter than the length of the inductance-affecting core such that only a variable portion of the inductance-affecting core is adjacent to the inductor, the variable portion having a variable average inductance-affecting capacity and a portion length substantially equal to the associated length of the at least one inductor; and, a position sensor circuit connected to the at least one inductor for providing a variable signal based on the variable average inductance-affecting capacity of the variable portion of the inductance-affecting core adjacent to the at least one inductor; wherein the variable average inductance-affecting capacity of the variable portion varies with the degree of deflection of the first element relative to the second element to vary the variable signal.