| 摘要 |
A position sensor for use on a multi-port valve comprises a first member 120 rotatably coupled to a second member 112. A plurality of detectable elements 133.0-133.3, such as magnets, are disposed in an annular arrangement on the first member 120, and a plurality of proximity detectors 136.1-136.9, such as hall-effect detectors, are disposed in an annular arrangement on the second member 112. When the first 120 and second 112 members are rotated relative to each other, to one of a plurality of predetermined angular settings, the arrangements of detectable elements 133.0-133.3 and proximity detectors 136.1-136.9 are also rotated. At each of the predetermined angular settings the detectable elements 133.0-133.3 are orientated in proximity to a unique combination of proximity detectors 136.1-136.9. In the even of one of the proximity detectors 136.1-136.9 failing, there is still a unique code for each of the angular positions. There may be nine predetermined angular positions and three or four detectable elements.
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