The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 25, 2020
Filed:
Oct. 21, 2016
Johnson Controls Technology Company, Plymouth, MI (US);
Robert K. Alexander, Menomonee Falls, WI (US);
Gary A. Romanowich, Slinger, WI (US);
Russell T. Jenks, Racine, WI (US);
Cory C. Strebe, Wauwatosa, WI (US);
Kevin A. Weiss, Gurnee, IL (US);
Johnson Controls Technology Company, Auburn Hills, MI (US);
Abstract
An actuator in a HVAC system includes an inductive sensor, a conductive target, and a controller. The conductive target has multiple different portions that become aligned with the inductive sensor as a position of the actuator changes. Each of the multiple different portions have a different inductance. The controller receives a signal from the inductive sensor indicating an observed inductance of the portion of the conductive target aligned with the inductive sensor. The controller uses 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. The controller operates the actuator to change the position of the actuator based on the determined position.