A sensor device for detecting a relative movement including a transmitter unit configured to generate a field. The transmitter unit includes first transmitter elements and second transmitter elements, wherein the first transmitter elements and the second transmitter elements, configured to generate a spatially varying field, are arranged alternately one behind another along a line at predetermined positions, and at a reference position, which corresponds to at least one of the predetermined positions of a first or second transmitter element along the line, at least one value of the field is altered by a positive factor with respect to a corresponding other position of a first or second transmitter element. Furthermore, a pick-up unit is configured to generate an alternating output signal depending on the field generated by the first and second transmitter elements, wherein the transmitter unit and the pick-up unit can be moved relative to one another.