Position sensor utilizing light emissions from a lateral surface of a light-emitting structure and two light collectors

摘要

A position sensor includes a light-source-and-light-emitting structure that emits light from each of an emitter plurality of light emitters. Light from the light emitters is received by light collectors in the lateral surfaces of two light collecting optical fibers or other light-collector structures, each in a parallel but spaced-apart relation to the light-source-and-light-emitting structure and axially spaced apart from each other. The light emitting structure and the light collectors are preferably optical fibers. An opaque light shield lies between and moves parallel relative to the light-source-and-light-emitting structure and the light collectors. A sensor readout receives the light outputs from each of the light collectors, and provides a responsive sensor output indicative of the position of the light shield.