Magnetically coupled, high resolution linear position sensor for use in high temperature, high pressure environment

A system for implementing a high resolution, high reliability, magnetically coupled, linear position sensor system, the system comprising:

• a sensor that utilizes a ratiometric measuring scheme for providing built-in temperature compensation;
• the sensor having a sensor topology that supports measurement techniques including time domain reflectometry and linear resistive measurements;
• the sensor including a sensor architecture for enabling the sensor system to use more than one type of input and response to measure position;
• the sensor formed having a sensor geometry including a plurality of conductive rod shaped resistive elements with at least two rod shaped resistive elements arranged essentially parallel to one another supported by a ceramic guide within a structural housing;
• one of the two rod shaved resistive elements is formed from a low electrical impedance (conductive) material and a second of the two rod shaped resistive elements is formed from a substantially higher impedance (resistive) material;
• a slider element forming a bridging contact mechanism of the sensor having at least one moving part having high reliability to easily operate within a harsh environment using selected materials appropriate for a desired operating environment to construct the electro-mechanical elements of the sensor;
• said at least one moving part of the sensor is spherical shaped and provides a precise line of contact across two rod shaped resistive elements;
• and,
• the sliding element being magnetically coupled to an object being tracked;
• whereby the sensor provides a non-contact sensing ability for determining position of the object being tracked.