Camshaft Position Sensor: Description and Operation

PURPOSE
The Camshaft Position sensor, located in the distributor, monitors engine speed and piston position.

OPERATION
When the rotor passes between the photo diodes and Light Emitting Diodes (LED) the slits in the rotor plate cut the light being transmitted to the photo diode from the LED. This generates rough-shaped pulses which are changed into ON/OFF signals by the wave forming circuit. The Engine Control Module (ECM) interprets these signals to calculate engine rpm and cylinder position.

Camshaft Position Sensor:

CONSTRUCTION
The unit has a rotor plate and a wave forming circuit. The rotor plate has 360 slits for 1° signals and 4 slits for 180° signals. Photo diodes and light emitting diodes are used for the wave forming circuit.