Angular position sensor

A position sensor for sensing the position of a mechanically oscillating member, said oscillating member being rotationally oscillated about a predetermined axis, said position sensor comprising:

• a magnetic element having an arcuate surface, the center of curvature of which is displaced from said axis mounted for oscillatory motion about said axis, said magnetic element establishing a magnetic field having a fixed orientation relative to said magnetic element;
• a magnetic field responsive signal means fixedly positioned adjacent to but slightly spaced from said magnetic element, said signal means being responsive to the instantaneous value of the magnetic field presented thereto by said magnetic element, the displacement of the center of curvature of the arcuate surface and said axis causing said instantaneous value to be substantially linearly variable in accordance with the instantaneous position of said magnetic element relative to said signal means;
• and
• means for oscillating said magnetic element coincidentally with said oscillating member to produce signals from said signal means representative of the instantaneous position of said oscillating member.