Linear and rotational inductive position sensor

An apparatus for determining a part position of a part, comprising:

• an exciter coil, the exciter coil generating magnetic flux when the exciter coil is energized by a source of electrical energy;
• a plurality of receiver coils disposed proximate to the exciter coil, the receiver coils generating a plurality of receiver signals when the exciter coil is energized due to an inductive coupling between the receiver coils and the exciter coil;
• a coupler element, the coupler element being moveable and having a coupler element position correlated with the part position, the coupler element modifying the inductive coupling between the exciter coil and the receiver coils so that each receiver signal is correlated with the part position;
• an electronic circuit, the electronic circuit generating a reference signal from one or more of the receiver signals, the reference signal being substantially independent of the coupler element position;
• the part position being determined from a ratiometric signal derived from at least one of the receiver signals and the reference signal.