Arrangement for determining the position of a motion sensor element

An arrangement for determining the position of a motion sensor element influencing the formation of a magnetic field, impressed on the arrangement, periodically along its motion co-ordinate, the arrangement comprising

• a sensor arrangement which is sensitive along a measuring direction aligned at least substantially parallel to the motion co-ordinate of the motion sensor element to at least the polarity of the magnetic field impressed on the arrangement and is adapted to supply a measuring signal in dependence upon a field component of the magnetic field impressed on the arrangement, denoted as measuring field and measured in the measuring direction,
• wherein the motion sensor element, arranged in a strip-shaped zone of a main surface extending along the motion co-ordinate of the motion sensor element, comprises periodically recurrent areas alternately influencing the measuring field which is being formed parallel to the main surface and is at least substantially parallel to the motion co-ordinate of the motion sensor element, and the measuring direction of the sensor element is aligned at least substantially parallel to the main surface of the motion sensor element,
• wherein the magnetic field impressed on the arrangement is aligned substantially perpendicular to the main surface of the motion sensor element with its main component determined by the principal direction of the magnetic field lines,
• wherein the sensor arrangement is formed as a magnetoresistive sensor arrangement for measuring gradients of the magnetic field, and
• wherein the magnetic field impressed on the arrangement is formed homogeneously in the area of the spatial extension of the magnetoresistive sensor arrangement by a working magnet for impressing the magnetic field on the arrangement, in which the main component of the magnetic field lines of the magnetic field emanating from the working magnet is aligned at least substantially perpendicular to the main surface of the motion sensor element;
• and wherein a flat surface portion of said working magnet is substantially coplanar with said sensor arrangement.