An actuator (1) comprises an electric motor (11) for moving an actuated part (2) to an actuated position. The actuator (1) further comprises a controller (10) connected to the electric motor (11) and configured to determine a motor current of the electric motor (11) and to detect motor rotations. The controller (10) is further configured to determine the actuated position by counting the motor rotations detected while the motor current is at or above a current threshold indicative of a load torque, and by not counting motor rotations detected while the motor current is below said current threshold.

A method for processing operating data (e.g., position, setpoint, and pressure) for a valve assembly. The method is configured to associate characteristics of operation for the valve assembly with a root cause and/or a contributing factor. In one embodiment, the method can assign a first amplitude with a value that quantifies movement or jump of the valve stem that results from stick-slip on the valve assembly. The method can also assign a second amplitude with a value that quantifies a change in the data for the setpoint. The method can further ascertain the relationship or position of the first amplitude relative to the second amplitude, or vice versa. The method can use the relationship between the first amplitude and the second amplitude to indicate the root cause of the operation of the valve assembly.

An integrated diagnostics system utilizes online and offline diagnostics techniques to evaluate control valves found in process plant environments. The integrated diagnostics system improves on existing diagnostic systems, which typically rely exclusively on online diagnostics or offline diagnostics.

A valve control device includes a drive circuit for supplying a drive signal to an actuator adjusting an opening degree of a valve via a prescribed transmission line, generates a PWM signal on the basis of a target opening degree supplied from the outside and a sensor signal that indicates a real opening degree of the valve, and supplies the PWM signal to the drive circuit. The valve control device includes a disconnection detection unit which detects, on the basis of the PWM signal and a monitor signal of the drive signal, whether the transmission line is disconnected.

An actuator (1) comprises an electric motor (11) for moving an actuated part (2) to an actuated position. The actuator (1) further comprises a controller (10) connected to the electric motor (11) and configured to determine a motor current of the electric motor (11) and to detect motor rotations. The controller (10) is further configured to determine the actuated position by counting the motor rotations detected while the motor current is at or above a current threshold indicative of a load torque, and by not counting motor rotations detected while the motor current is below said current threshold.

A method for processing operating data (e.g., position, setpoint, and pressure) for a valve assembly. The method is configured to associate characteristics of operation for the valve assembly with a root cause and/or a contributing factor. In one embodiment, the method can assign a first amplitude with a value that quantifies movement or jump of the valve stem that results from stick-slip on the valve assembly. The method can also assign a second amplitude with a value that quantifies a change in the data for the setpoint. The method can further ascertain the relationship or position of the first amplitude relative to the second amplitude, or vice versa. The method can use the relationship between the first amplitude and the second amplitude to indicate the root cause of the operation of the valve assembly.

A displacement device comprise a stator having a plurality of electrically conductive coils shaped to provide: a first plurality of coil traces generally elongated in a stator-x direction and distributed over at least a first portion of a first layer; a second plurality of coil traces generally elongated in a stator-y direction and distributed over at least a second portion of a second layer. The first and second portions of the first and second layers overlapping one another in a stator-z direction. The displacement device also comprises a moveable stage having one or more magnet arrays. The moveable stage is moveable relative to the stator within a two-dimensional working region. The one or more magnet arrays include a first magnet array comprising a plurality of first magnetization segments, each having a corresponding first magnetization direction. The displacement device comprises one or more amplifiers connected to drive a plurality of currents in the plurality of electrically conductive coils; and a controller configured to control the currents driven by the one or more amplifiers and to thereby cause the moveable stage to track a desired position, (x.sub.r,y.sub.r), within the working region.

Methods and apparatus to use vibration data to determine a condition of a process control device are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a vibration monitoring circuit to: collect first vibration data associated with a process control device during calibration of the process control device; calculate an operating threshold of the process control device based on the first vibration data; collect usage information associated with the process control device, the usage information indicative of a remaining portion of useful life associated with the process control device; adjust the operating threshold based on the usage information, the adjusted operating threshold reflective of the remaining portion of useful life associated with the process control device; and determine a condition of the process control device if second vibration data associated with the process control device collected after the calibration exceeds the adjusted operating threshold.

An integrated furnace controller (IFC) for use in a gas-powered heating system includes a modulating gas valve assembly having a modulating gas valve to variably control a flow of gas through the gas valve assembly and a control circuit. The IFC includes a processor, a memory, and a communication interface. The IFC is communicatively coupled to the modulating gas valve assembly and a mobile device. The memory stores instructions that program the processor to receive, using the communication interface, a valve offset output from the mobile device, store the valve offset in the memory, receive a call for heat, and output one or more commands to the modulating gas valve assembly in response to the call for heat. The one or more commands causing the modulating gas valve assembly to control the modulating gas valve based on a desired gas flow rate and the valve offset.

A diagnosis method for continuous function monitoring of a process valve during normal operation. The diagnosis method includes the steps of determining process set data (S) with discrete-time process set values from an input signal supplied to the process valve, b) determining process actual data (s) with discrete-time process actual values using a displacement-measurement system assigned to the process valve, and c) analyzing the process actual data (s) dependent on the process set data (S) by comparing the process set data (S) and the process actual data (s) with each other to detect defined error states.