Position sensor for transmission gear selector switch

A transmission gear selector position sensor for use with an automotive automatic transmission system that includes a gear shift lever that is manually positionable to any one of at least a Park position, a Reverse gear position, a Neutral position and a Drive gear position, wherein the sensor comprises:

• a substrate containing a plurality of electrically conductive code traces disposed along separately defined trace paths on the substrate surface with predetermined contact areas formed at predetermined positions along each trace path;
• a wiper arm connected to said positionable gear shift lever to move in response to movement in said gear shift lever;
• said wiper arm contains a plurality of electrical wiper contacts individually disposed in opposition to and in physical contact with said substrate surface, each electrical contact being movable with said wiper arm along a separate trace path;
• each code trace being configured to be connected to circuitry for monitoring their respective electrical states;
• wherein when said wiper arm is in each position said code traces are in separately distinguishable electrical states, defined as a first conducting state wherein said wiper contact is physically opposed to and electrically contacting a trace contact area and a second nonconducting state where said electrical contact is not physically opposed to and not contacting a trace contact area, and said code traces are of a sufficient number and configuration to provide at least two changes in the monitored states among the plurality of code traces when said gear shifter lever is moved from one position to another.