Inductive long-range position sensors (LR-POS) integrated on flexible and rigid substrates

A linear inductive position sensor configured to measure a linear position of an object, the linear inductive position sensor comprising:

• a flexible substrate having one or more inductive sensing coils, the one or more inductive sensing coils disposed on or at least partially embedded in the flexible substrate;
• a target configured for tracking a position of the object, wherein the one or more inductive sensing coils are configured to be shaped to a surface of the target to maintain an approximately uniform gap between the flexible substrate and the target;
• a non-conductive carrier configured to be shaped to be disposed over or around the target, the flexible substrate disposed on a surface of the non-conductive carrier, wherein the flexible substrate is non-planar and conforms to the shape of the non-conductive carrier, and wherein the flexible substrate is fixed to the non-conductive carrier and remains stationary during operation of the linear inductive position sensor, and wherein the target is configured to slide or translate along a track during operation of the linear inductive position sensor;
• and
• one or more processors configured to process an output signal and determine a distance based at least in part on the processed output signal, the one or more processors electrically connected to the one or more inductive sensing coils, the one or more processors managing an input signal and the output signal, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine a position of the target.