摘要 |
A system and method for sensing position of an oscillating moving element. The inventive position sensor includes a first arrangement for sampling the position of the element at first positions thereof and providing samples in response thereto and a second arrangement for calculating other positions of the element using the sample of the first position. In the illustrative application, the first arrangement includes an LED and a photodiode and the moving element is a piston of a long-life cryogenic cooler. A processor receives samples from the photodiode and solves an equation of motion therefor. The equation of motion is P(t)=A·sin(ωt+&thetas;)+B, where P(t)=the position of the element; A=position waveform amplitude; B=position waveform DC Offset; ω=angular frequency of operation; t=time; and &thetas;=position waveform phase.
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