Patent ID: 8004274

Claim:
An inductive position sensor, comprising two first transmitter units for the generation of two site-dependent first alternating fields that form a total alternating field having the same carrier frequency, at least one oscillating circuit arranged in or on an element movable within the total alternating field and the position of which is to be determined, the oscillating circuit being energized by the total alternating field for generating an oscillating-circuit alternating field having the same carrier frequency as that of the first alternating fields, at least one receiver unit that receives the oscillating-circuit alternating field, and an analysis unit that determines the phase shift between the oscillating-circuit alternating field and at least one of the two first alternating fields, wherein the two first alternating fields are generated by a carrier frequency signal on which substantially identical, substantially 90° phase-shifted modulation signals are modulated, wherein each carrier frequency signal is generated by application of a square-wave alternating voltage to the first transmitter units, the repetition frequency of said voltage being equal to the carrier frequency, wherein the modulation signal is a pulse density signal having a pulse density changing over time for generation of a signal development having a substantially sine or cosine wave form, and wherein the square wave alternating voltage is applied to the first transmitter units respectively for the duration of the pulses of the pulse density signal.