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, wherein
• the first and second subregions of the first magnetic region having respective distal and proximal ends extending between respective north and south pole faces and respective magnetic axes extending between the respective north and south pole faces,
• 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;
• wherein, the magnetic axes of each of the first and second subregions of the first magnetic region extend parallel to 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 magnetic fields that the first and second flux collectors are exposed to;
• wherein, when in operation, the flux emitter moves relative to the first magnetic flux collector in a spaced apart manner with the north face of the first subregion and the south face of the second subregion moving relative to the second magnetic flux collector in a spaced apart manner with the south face of the first subregion and the north face of the second subregion of the first magnetic region,
• and as the distal end of the first magnetic region moves relative to the first and second flux collectors toward the first and second flux collectors, the sensor assembly measures a continuously increasing or a continuously decreasing magnetic field.