HVAC actuator with inductive position sensing

1. A linear actuator comprising:

an inductive sensor;

a linear component configured to move along a linear range of motion as a position of the actuator changes;

a conductive target coupled to the linear component and configured to move along with the linear component, the conductive target having multiple different portions that become aligned with the inductive sensor as the position of the actuator changes, each of the multiple different portions having a different inductance; and

a controller configured to:

receive a signal from the inductive sensor indicating an observed inductance of the portion of the conductive target aligned with the inductive sensor;

use a stored relationship between the observed inductance and the position of the actuator to determine the position of the actuator based on the observed inductance; and

operate the actuator to change the position of the actuator based on the determined position.

2. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the conductive target is coupled directly to a movable component of the actuator and has an electrical conductivity that exceeds an electrical conductivity of the movable component to which the conductive target is coupled.

3. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the conductive target comprises:

a first end having a first width;

a second end having a second width greater than the first width; and

a middle portion extending between the first end and the second end and having a width that increases gradually from the first width to the second width.

4. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein:

each of the multiple different portions of the conductive target has a different area; and

the inductance of each portion of the conductive target is proportional to the area of the corresponding portion.

5. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the inductive sensor is fixed to a stationary component of the actuator and the conductive target is configured to move relative to the inductive sensor as the movable HVAC component is driven between the multiple positions.

6. A method for controlling a HVAC actuator that includes a motor, a drive device driven by the motor and coupled to a movable HVAC component, an inductive sensor, and a conductive target, the method comprising:

using the inductive sensor to observe an inductance of a portion of the conductive target aligned with the inductive sensor, wherein multiple different portions of the conductive target become aligned with the inductive sensor as the movable HVAC component is driven between multiple positions, each of the multiple different portions having a different inductance and a different area, wherein the inductance of each portion of the conductive target is proportional to the area of the corresponding portion;

using a stored relationship between the observed inductance and a position of the drive device to determine the position of the drive device based on the observed inductance; and

operating the motor to change a position of the movable HVAC component based on the determined position.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein observing the inductance of the portion of the conductive target aligned with the inductive sensor comprises:

delivering an AC current through an inductor integrated with the inductive sensor;

emitting a first magnetic field from the inductive sensor as a result of delivering the AC current through the inductor, the first magnetic field causing Eddy currents in the conductive target; and

sensing a second magnetic field caused by the Eddy currents in the conductive target, wherein a strength of the second magnetic field is proportional to an inductance of the portion of the conductive target aligned with the inductive sensor.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein:

the actuator is a rotary actuator comprising a sector gear that rotates as the movable HVAC component is driven between the multiple positions; and

the conductive target is coupled to the sector gear and moves along with the sector gear.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein:

the actuator is a linear actuator comprising a linear component that moves along a linear range of motion as the movable HVAC component is driven between the multiple positions; and

the conductive target is coupled to the linear component and moves along with the linear component.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the conductive target is coupled directly to a movable component of the actuator and has an electrical conductivity that exceeds an electrical conductivity of the movable component to which the conductive target is coupled.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the conductive target comprises:

a first end having a first width;

a second end having a second width greater than the first width; and

a middle portion extending between the first end and the second end and having a width that increases gradually from the first width to the second width.

12. The method of claim 6 , wherein the inductive sensor is fixed to a stationary component of the actuator and the conductive target is configured to move relative to the inductive sensor as the movable HVAC component is driven between the multiple positions.

13. An actuator comprising:

an inductive sensor;

a conductive target having multiple different portions that become aligned with the inductive sensor as a position of the actuator changes, each of the multiple different portions having a different inductance and a different area, wherein the inductance of each portion of the conductive target is proportional to the area of the corresponding portion; and

a controller configured to:

receive a signal from the inductive sensor indicating an observed inductance of the portion of the conductive target aligned with the inductive sensor;

use a stored relationship between the observed inductance and the position of the actuator to determine the position of the actuator based on the observed inductance; and

operate the actuator to change the position of the actuator based on the determined position.

14. The actuator of claim 13 , wherein:

the actuator is a rotary actuator comprising a sector gear configured to rotate as the position of the actuator changes; and

the conductive target is coupled to the sector gear and configured to move along with the sector gear.

15. The actuator of claim 13 , wherein the inductive sensor is fixed to a stationary component of the actuator and the conductive target is configured to move relative to the inductive sensor as the movable HVAC component is driven between the multiple positions.

16. The actuator of claim 13 , wherein the conductive target is coupled directly to a movable component of the actuator and has an electrical conductivity that exceeds an electrical conductivity of the movable component to which the conductive target is coupled.

17. The actuator of claim 13 , wherein the conductive target comprises:

a first end having a first width;

a second end having a second width greater than the first width; and

a middle portion extending between the first end and the second end and having a width that increases gradually from the first width to the second width.

18. The actuator of claim 13 , wherein:

the actuator is a linear actuator comprising a linear component configured to move along a linear range of motion as the position of the actuator changes; and

the conductive target is coupled to the linear component and configured to move along with the linear component.

19. The actuator of claim 13 , wherein the inductive sensor is configured to generate the signal indicating the observed inductance by:

delivering an AC current through an inductor integrated with the inductive sensor;

emitting a first magnetic field from the inductive sensor as a result of delivering the AC current through the inductor, the first magnetic field causing Eddy currents in the conductive target; and

sensing a second magnetic field caused by the Eddy currents in the conductive target, wherein a strength of the second magnetic field is proportional to an inductance of the portion of the conductive target aligned with the inductive sensor.