Abstract: A method for determining a direction of rotation of a rotatable shaft includes rotating a disk in synchronization with the rotatable shaft. The disk has a plurality of contiguous zones, and the zones include a set of first zones and at least one second zone. Each of the first zones has first and second areas. The method also includes generating a sensor signal using a sensor disposed adjacent the disk in response to the passing of the zones as the disk rotates. The sensor signal generated during the passing of the first zone is different than the sensor signal generated during the passing of the at least one second zone. The method further includes determining periods between the passing of the first areas of the first zones based on the sensor signal, detecting the at least one second zone based on the sensor signal, and determining the direction of rotation based on the periods determined after the detection of the at least one second zone.