A length measuring system, consisting of one or more magnetic scales

In at least one measuring rod of the length measurement system the direction of magnetization is situated in the plane of the measuring rod cross-section which is perpendicular to the direction of measurement and forms a magnetization pattern. In the simplest case the magnetization of the cross-section is homogenous. As one advances in the direction of measurement the magnetization pattern is increasingly rotated in relation to the starting end of the measuring rod. This magnetization results in a magnetic field whose direction is also continuously rotated as one advances in the direction of measurement. By means of at least one magnetic field sensor which responds to the direction of the magnetic field the prevailing field angle for each position is determined and can be clearly assigned to said position for a multitude of different variants of the length measurement system. The following are particular advantages of the invention: uniform field strengths across large measurements lengths permit uniform measurement conditions and therefore few errors; in case of coded representation of the length multi-valued codes can be easily represented; and high resolutions can be achieved with a very low number of sensors.