Patent ID: 7636613

Claim:
A device for controlling an actuator, said device comprising: a controller mounted within an explosion-proof housing having an outer surface, said controller being adapted for controlling one or more outputs connected to the actuator for controlling an operation of the actuator; a data input interface for receiving data from the actuator and/or from other equipment being acted on by said actuator; a memory for storing expected parameters of said actuator; an operator interface provided on the outer surface of the housing for accepting operator commands and/or settings for input to said controller; and a display on the outer surface of the housing for displaying an output of said controller, wherein said controller is adapted for comparing said data, and/or derived parameters of said data, with said expected parameters, to monitor a health and status of one or both of the actuator and the other equipment, wherein said controller is further adapted to indicate the health and the status to the operator utilizing said display, wherein said controller is also adapted for executing a pre-programmed dynamic step response test of the actuator for generating said data, and wherein the pre-programmed dynamic step response test is executed under a normal operating condition of the actuator without taking the actuator off-line, and wherein said controller is also adapted to indicate actuator thrusts and respective corresponding positions that occur during the pre-programmed dynamic step response test, utilizing said display.