Linear and radial displacement sensor

A position sensor for sensing linear or radial position, comprising:

• at least four magnets;
• a first ferrous plate having two of said at least four magnets located at spaced locations along said first ferrous plate, said two magnets being oriented such that a north pole of one of said two magnets is directed toward said first ferrous plate and a south pole of an other of said two magnets is directed toward said first ferrous plate;
• a second ferrous plate having an other two of said at least four magnets located at spaced locations along said second ferrous plate, said two magnets being oriented such that a north pole of one of said two magnets is directed toward said second ferrous plate and a south pole of an other of said two magnets is directed toward said second ferrous plate, said first ferrous plate and said second ferrous plate being generally parallel and spaced apart;
• and
• at least one magnetic flux responsive device disposed between said first ferrous plate and said second ferrous plate.

A position sensor for sensing radial position, comprising:

• two magnets including a first magnet and a second magnet;
• two ferrous plates being generally shaped as one of circular and cylindrical, each said ferrous plate having an air gap, said two ferrous plates including a first ferrous plate and a second ferrous plate, said first magnet being oriented with a north pole disposed toward an end of said air gap in said first ferrous plate and a south pole disposed toward an other end of said air gap, said second magnet being oriented with a north pole disposed toward an end of said air gap in said second ferrous plate and a south pole disposed toward an other end of said air gap, said first ferrous plate and said second ferrous plate being generally parallel and spaced apart;
• and
• at least one magnetic flux responsive device disposed between said first ferrous plate and said second ferrous plate.

A method for making and installing a device for sensing one of linear and radial position, comprising:

• spacing a first ferrous plate and a second ferrous plate apart in a generally parallel manner;
• orienting two magnets toward said first ferrous plate and two additional magnets toward said second ferrous plate such that a north pole of one said magnet and a south pole of an other said magnet are directed toward said first ferrous plate and a north pole of yet an other said magnet and a south pole of still yet another magnet is directed toward said second ferrous plate;
• positioning a magnetic flux responsive device between said first ferrous plate and said second ferrous plate such that movement of said magnetic flux responsive device relative to said first ferrous plate and said second ferrous plate alters the magnetic field in said magnetic flux responsive device;
• and
• mounting said ferrous plates to a structure including one of a foot pedal, a throttle, an EGR valve, a shaft and a headlight leveling system, and said magnetic flux responsive device on an other structure, said magnetic flux responsive device and said ferrous plates configured to move relative to each other.