A self-balancing optical position sensitive detector includes a pair of spaced apart, parallel, longitudinally extending doped regions on a first surface on a front side of a substrate 16 of opposite doping type with contact pads on the front side at respective ends of a first doped region of the pair. A voltage source applies a potential difference between the contact pads of the first doped region. On the front side, a contact pad of the second doped region of the pair provides an analog output signal representative of a longitudinal position of a center of gravity of an incident light pattern along the doped regions without external circuitry processing the output signal to obtain a readout of the longitudinal position. A resistive line may directly overly, abut and be in contact with at least a portion of the first doped region. A conductive line may directly overly, abut and be in contact with at least a portion of the second doped region. No backside contact or processing of the substrate is required or employed.