Editing Potentiometer (section)

==== Contactless potentiometer ====
Unlike mechanical potentiometers, ''non-contact potentiometers'' use an optical disk to trigger an infrared sensor, or a magnet to trigger a magnetic sensor (as long as there are other types of sensors, such as capacitive, other types of non-contact potentiometers can probably be built), and then an electronic circuit does the signal processing to provide an output signal that can be analogue or digital.

An example of a non-contact potentiometer can be found with the [https://www.edn.com/how-to-build-a-potentiometer-with-familiar-outputs-and-unfamiliar-qualities/ AS5600] integrated circuit.  However, absolute encoders must also use similar principles, although being for industrial use, certainly the cost must be unfeasible for use in domestic appliances.