Abstract: An effective non-intrusive data-based monitoring method may reduce the cost of control loop performance maintenance by screening and short-listing those control loops or valves that need maintenance. The invention comprises a data-based, model-free, non-invasive method that can automatically detect and quantify stiction present in control valves. The method does not require the implementation of any additional valve travel test or, as commonly known, bump test of the control loop. The method may detect and quantify stiction using controlled variable (pv), controller output (op) and set point (sp) data. It does not require valve positioner (mv) data.

Abstract: A control apparatus that can partially identify model parameters is provided. The apparatus for controlling an object that is modeled using at least one first model parameter and at least one second model parameter comprises a partial model parameter identifier for recursively identifying the second model parameter based on an output from the object and an input into the object, and a controller for using the first model parameter that is pre-identified and the second model parameter identified by the partial model parameter identifier to determine an input into the controller so that the output from the object converges to a desired value. Since all model parameters are not required to be recursively identified, the time for causing the model parameters to converge to optimal values can be shortened. The computational complexity for the identifier can be reduced.

Abstract: A domestic appliance, shown in the form of a refrigerator, includes a cabinet within which is defined at least one compartment. A controller is mounted to the appliance for controlling various operating parameters of the appliance. The controller also includes a memory having stored therein a plurality of operating parameters associated with a plurality of appliance models. The appliance has an identification element affixed thereto and a communication device that is operatively connected to the controller. The communication device receives signals that provide programming instructions to the controller to activate particular ones of the plurality of operating parameters associated with the respective appliance model. In this manner, a universal controller can be employed in any one of a wide range of appliance models.

Abstract: A service providing method for monitoring a mounting tact of a component mounting apparatus includes collecting, from the service receiver, mounting tact information including a mounting tact result value of the component mounting apparatus from the service receiver by use of a service provider via a communication system. The method additionally includes judging whether a mounting operation of the component mounting apparatus has a tact loss corresponding to an amount by which a mounting tact is greater than a standard mounting tact as a result of analysis of the collected mounting tact information and determining and feeding back, to the service receiver via the communication system, NC data for allowing the component mounting apparatus to be operated.

Abstract: A building automation system (BAS) comprising a plurality of end devices, at least one communication network, and a protocol-independent server engine. The end devices are each associated with at least one of a space, a system, or a subsystem for at least a portion of a building or a campus. The communication network supports a plurality of communication protocols and communicatively couples at least a portion of the plurality of end devices. The server engine is communicatively coupled to the at least one communication network and includes means for selectively implementing a dynamic extensibility capability for the BAS that establishes communications with and control of the plurality of end devices over the plurality of communication protocols, and means for selectively implementing an automatic configuration capability for the BAS that supports addition of end devices to the plurality of end devices by determining at least one characteristic of each end device.

Abstract: The invention comprises devices and methods for providing operational power to a solar-powered irrigation control system. In one aspect, a method includes producing electrical energy from light, storing the electrical energy in a capacitive module, and operating an irrigation controller using the stored electrical energy independent of another power source. In another aspect, a device includes a control system comprising a computer having a programmed irrigation schedule which operates at least one irrigation device, a photovoltaic power module, and a capacitive module connected to said photovoltaic power module to store the electrical energy provided by the photovoltaic power module, where the capacitive module provides power for the control system to operate the at least one irrigation device independent of another power source.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for monitoring an operation parameter of a process tool, independently of a process system recipe, are provided. In general, an indirect effect that results from implementing an event from a process system recipe on the process system is monitored without using the specific values or setpoints that are entered for such event into the process system to thereby change a state of such process system. In one embodiment, the behavior of a process device as it transitions between different states is monitored for a single cycle of operation or over time to detect trends that indicate a potential failure of the process device. When a trend that indicates a potential failure is detected, an alarm is generated. In one implementation, the time for reaching a particular stage of operation may be repeatedly monitored over a plurality of device cycles. For example, the time to open a valve or door may be monitored.

Abstract: A building automation system (BAS) comprising a plurality of end devices, at least one communication network, and a protocol-independent server engine. In one embodiment, the BAS comprises real and non-real end devices. In another embodiment, the BAS comprises real and virtual end devices. The BAS may also comprise a user interface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor-machine interface for the coupling of at least one sensor to at least one machine with at least one sensor input for receiving sensor status signals, at least one machine output, for transmission of machine control signals, a programme memory and a controller for programme-controlled operation of the machine output dependent on the signals received by means of the sensor input and a method for operating such an interface.

Abstract: A building automation system (BAS) architecture is disclosed. The BAS comprises, in one embodiment, an architecture comprising a communication network and having a dynamic extensibility capability and an automatic configuration capability; an engine communicatively coupled to the communication network; and at least one control device communicatively coupled to the communication network, the control device being known or unknown to the engine. The engine can be adapted to selectively implement the dynamic extensibility capability to establish communications with and to control both known and unknown control devices. The engine can be further adapted to selectively implement the automatic configuration capability to determine at least one characteristic of both known and unknown control devices. A method of adding a control device to a building automation system (BAS) by dynamically extending and automatically configuring an architecture of the BAS is also disclosed.

Abstract: A power feeding system includes a power feeding apparatus and a power line communication unit. The power feeding apparatus feeds power from a power line to an external apparatus. The power line communication unit communicates via the power line, which is a communication medium. The power feeding apparatus includes an acquisition unit, a restriction unit and a determination unit. The acquisition unit acquires restriction information used to restrict the feeding of the power to the external apparatus. The restriction unit restricts the feeding of the power to the external apparatus to which the power feeding apparatus is to feed the power. The determination unit determines as to whether or not the restriction unit has to restrict the feeding of the power, based on the restriction information acquired by the acquisition unit.

Abstract: Controller scaling and parameterization are described. Techniques that can be improved by employing the scaling and parameterization include, but are not limited to, controller design, tuning and optimization. The scaling and parameterization methods described here apply to transfer function based controllers, including PID controllers. The parameterization methods also applies to state feedback and state observer based controllers, as well as linear active disturbance rejection controllers.

Abstract: A numerical controller controlling a 5-axis machine tool compensates setting error that arises when a workpiece is set on the table. Error in the three linear axes and the two rotation axes are compensated using preset error amounts to keep the calculated tool position and tool direction in a command coordinate system. If a trigonometric function used for error compensation has a plurality of solution sets, the solution set closest to the tool direction in the command coordinate system is selected from the plurality of solution sets and used as the positions of the two rotation axes compensated in the above error compensation.

Abstract: A condition of an industrial process is diagnosed based upon process variable information related to a value of a measured process variable. Histogram information is calculated based upon the determined process variable information and time information related to a duration of time the measured process variable has the value. Condition of the industrial process is diagnosed based upon the calculated histogram information.