Hvac actuator with inductive position sensing using patterns

An actuator comprising:

• an inductive or magnetic sensor;
• a gear comprising an inductive or magnetic pattern provided in material of the gear, wherein different portions of the inductive or magnetic pattern become aligned with the inductive or magnetic sensor as a heating, ventilating or air conditioning (HVAC) component is driven among positions;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• receive a signal from the inductive or magnetic sensor related to inductance or magnetic field of the portion of the inductive or magnetic pattern aligned with the inductive or magnetic sensor;
• and
• determine the position of the actuator based on the inductance or magnetic field.

A method for controlling a heating, ventilating or air conditioning (HVAC) actuator that includes a motor, a gear driven by the motor and coupled to a movable HVAC component, and an inductive or magnetic sensor, the method comprising:

• using the inductive or magnetic sensor to observe an inductance or magnetic field of an element of elements of an inductive or magnetic pattern on the gear aligned with the inductive or magnetic sensor, wherein each of the elements of the inductive or magnetic pattern has a different inductance or magnetic field;
• using a stored relationship between the observed inductance or magnetic field and a position of gear to determine the position of the gear based on the observed inductance or magnetic field;
• and
• operating the motor to change a position of the movable HVAC component based on the determined position.