Machine with a position-sensing system

A method of operating an excavator, the excavator having an undercarriage, a superstructure, and a pivot system for pivoting the superstructure about an axis, the pivot system having a gear extending around the axis, and the gear having plurality of gear teeth, the method comprising:

• supporting a plurality of sensor elements adjacent the gear in a manner allowing relative movement between the gear and the plurality of sensor elements, wherein the gear is mounted to one of the undercarriage and the superstructure, and the plurality of sensor elements are supported from the other of the undercarriage and superstructure;
• generating with each of a plurality of the sensor elements a sensor signal related to the proximity of the sensor elements to at least one of the gear teeth;
• and
• determining an absolute positional relationship between the superstructure and the undercarriage based at least in part on one or more relationships between a plurality of the sensor signals, including keeping track of which of the gear teeth is disposed adjacent the plurality of sensor elements.

A method of operating an excavator, the excavator having an undercarriage, a superstructure, and a pivot system for pivoting the superstructure about an axis, the pivot system having a gear extending around the axis, and the gear having plurality of gear teeth, the method comprising:

• supporting a plurality of sensor elements adjacent the gear in a manner allowing relative movement between the gear and the plurality of sensor elements, including supporting a plurality of the sensor elements in a row, the sensor elements in the row being spaced from one another at least partially in a direction of relative motion between the gear and the plurality of sensor elements forming the row, wherein the near is mounted to one of the undercarriage and the superstructure, and the plurality of sensor elements are supported from the other of the undercarriage and superstructure;
• generating with each of a plurality of the sensor elements a sensor signal related to the proximity of the sensor elements to at least one of the gear teeth;
• and
• determining an absolute positional relationship between the superstructure and the undercarriage based at least in part on one or more relationships between a plurality of the sensor signals, including
• performing a mathematical comparison between the value of two or more of the sensor signals,
• keeping track of which of the gear teeth is disposed adjacent the plurality of sensor elements.