A detection system determines the position of an object moving along a first
direction.
The system includes a magnetic field source generating a magnetic field signal
and a magnetic field detection system coupled to the object. The detection system
includes a source interface module with magnetic field sensors positioned a known
distance apart along a second direction different from the first direction. Each
sensor detects the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field source and generates
a magnetic field signal. A processing module processes the magnetic field intensity
signal produced by the source interface module. The processing module generates
data for each sensor in the source interface module, which is made up of points
representing peak magnetic field and sensor location along the second direction.
The points are compared to determine the distance of the object from the magnetic
field source along the second direction.