Actuator detection method and apparatus for an electromechanical actuator

An electromagnetic actuator, comprising:

• a core having a bore defining a cylindrical space;
• a cylindrical shell disposed around said core defining an annular space therebetween and having first and second ends;
• signal means for producing a desired position signal;
• driving means for transmitting an energization signal in response to said desired position signal;
• a coil disposed in said annular space having a plurality of windings, said coil being adapted to receive said energization signal and responsively produce a magnetic field about said coil proportional to the magnitude of said energization signal causing one of said coil and said core to move relative to the other;
• a sensing device disposed in the bore of said core and adapted to detect the magnetic field introduced in the cylindrical space and responsively produce a sensed position signal proportional to the magnetic flux density passing through the cylindrical space, the magnetic flux density passing though the cylindrical space being proportional to the movement of one of said coil and said core;
• and
• signal conditioning means for receiving said sensed position signal and responsively producing an actual position signal indicative of the position of the moving one of said coil and said core relative to the other of said coil and said core.