Position sensing method

A target, comprising:

• a first array of conductive features that are separated from one another by voids, the first array including N conductive features, where N is a positive integer greater than 1;
• and
• a second array of conductive features that are separated from one another by voids, the second array including N+I conductive features, where I is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1,
• wherein any of the conductive features in the first array is aligned with at least one of:
• (i) a respective conductive feature in the second array, and/or (ii) a respective void that separates conductive features in the second array.

A system, comprising:

• a target including:
• (i) first array of conductive features that are arranged in a line and separated from one another by voids, the first array including N conductive features, where N is a positive integer greater than 1, and (ii) a second array of conductive features that are arranged in a line and separated from one another by voids, the second array including N+I conductive features, where I is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1;
• a first receiving coil array configured to sense a first magnetic field that is associated with the first array of conductive features;
• and
• a second receiving coil array configured to sense a second magnetic field that is associated with the second array of conductive features.

A system, comprising:

• a processing circuitry configured to:
• generate a signal Sd that is indicative of a position of a target that includes a first array of conductive features and a second array of conductive features, the signal Sd being generated based on a signal S1 and a signal S2, the signal S1 being generated in response to a first magnetic field that is associated with the first array of conductive features, and the signal S2 being generated in response to a second magnetic field that is associated with the second array of conductive features;
• generate a first index signal based on the signal Sd and unwrap the signal S1 based on the first index signal to produce an unwrapped signal Ua1;
• generate a second index signal based on the signal Sd and unwrap the signal S2 based on the second index signal to produce an unwrapped signal Ua2;
• generate an output signal Sout based on the unwrapped signals Ua1 and Ua2, the output signal Sout being indicative of a position of the target.