Non-contact linear position sensor

A non-contact linear position sensor comprising:

• a flux emitter comprising a magnet array, the magnet array being mountable on a surface, the magnet array comprising:
• a first magnetic region comprising a first and a second subregion, each of the first and second subregions of the first magnetic region emitting a magnetic field, wherein
• the first and second subregions of the first magnetic region having respective distal and proximal ends extending between respective north and south poles and respective magnetic axes extending between the respective north and south poles,
• the magnetic axis of the first subregion of the first magnetic region being directed in a direction opposite to the magnetic axis of the second subregion of the first magnetic region, and
• the proximal ends of the first and second subregions of the first magnetic region being adjacent to one another;
• a second magnetic region comprising a first and a second subregion, each of the first and second subregions of the second magnetic region emitting a magnetic field, wherein
• the first and second subregions of the second magnetic region having respective distal and proximal ends extending between respective north and south poles and respective magnetic axes extending between the respective north and south poles,
• the magnetic axis of the first subregion of the second magnetic region being directed in a direction opposite to the magnetic axis of the second subregion of the second magnetic region, and
• the proximal ends of the first and second subregions of the second magnetic region being adjacent to one another;
• wherein, the magnetic axes of each of the first and second subregions of the first magnetic region and the first and second subregions of the second magnetic region extend outward from the surface when the magnet array is mounted on the surface for use;
• a sensor assembly comprising:
• a first magnetic flux collector;
• a second magnetic flux collector;
• and
• a magneto sensitive element positioned between and in operational communication with the first and the second magnetic flux collectors to measure the difference in magnetic fields that the first and second flux collectors are exposed to;
• wherein, when in operation, the first magnetic flux collector is positioned over the first magnetic region and the second flux collector is positioned over the second magnetic region, and as the distal end of the first subregion of the first magnetic region moves relative to the first flux collector toward the first flux collector, and the distal end of the first subregion of the second magnetic region moves relative to the second flux collector toward the second flux collector, the sensor assembly measures a continuously increasing or a continuously decreasing magnetic field.