Inductive position sensor using reference signal

An apparatus for providing a signal related to a position of a coupler element, the apparatus including:

• an exciter coil, the exciter coil being operable to generate magnetic flux when the exciter coil is energized;
• a receiver coil, the receiver coil being operable to generate a receiver signal when the exciter coil is energized due to an inductive coupling between the receiver coil and the exciter coil,
• the inductive coupling being modified by movement of the coupler element so that the receiver signal is correlated with the position of the coupler element,
• the receiver coil having a first section generating a first section signal, and a second section generating a second section signal;
• and
• an electronic circuit, operable to generate a position-dependent signal using the receiver signal, the position-dependent signal being correlated with the position of the coupler element,
• the electronic circuit being further operable to generate a position-independent signal using the first section signal and the second section signal, the position-independent signal being substantially independent of the position of the coupler element.