Asynchronously operating signal diagnostic system for a programmable machine function controller
First Claim
1. A programmable machine function controller of the type comprised in part of a memory having a first section containing a machine control program representing at least one cycle of operation associated with a machine, said cycle of operation being comprised of a number of cycle steps and each cycle step being defined by a number of cycle input signals, said machine control program defining the states of output signals being generated to a contact bus in electrical communication with the machine in response to predetermined states of the input signals, and said controller further comprising means for continuously and iteratively reading the memory and a logic circuit responsive to the memory for controlling the states of the output signals as a function of the actual input signal states corresponding to the input signal states defined by the program, wherein the improvement comprises:
- a. a second section of said memory for storing a first diagnostic program defining a test of error states of selected cycle input signals associated with the particular cycle steps defining the machine cycles of operation, said diagnostic program being stored in the memory for controlling the testing of the states of the selected cycle input signals;
b. means operating asynchronously with the controller for generating a first input signal to initiate a test of one of the machine cycles of operation;
c. means responsive to the controller and the generating means for detecting a first output signal representing a particular cycle step in the one of the machine cycles of operation;
d. means responsive to the controller and the generating means for detecting a second output signal representing an error state of one of the selected cycle input signals as defined by the first diagnostic program; and
e. means having inputs responsive to the first input signal and the first and second output signals for displaying a representation of the inputs.
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Abstract
A diagnostic apparatus for use with a programmable machine function controller having a memory for storing a machine control program wherein the controller continuously scans the memory and generates output signals in response to input signals having signal states corresponding to the desired states as defined by the machine control program. The diagnostic apparatus includes a second program for testing the input signals as they are required by the machine control program to execute cycle steps and cycles of operation relative to the machine. The diagnostic apparatus operates asynchronously with the machine function controller to sequentially check the cycles of operation, many of which may be occurring simultaneously. In checking each cycle of operation, the diagnostic apparatus checks each cycle step and further checks the state of each input signal associated with each cycle step. The diagnostic apparatus is operative to continuously display a representation of the failure conditions detected. Finally, the apparatus detects and displays a representation of input signal failures which are independent of any of the cycles of operation associated with the machine.
41 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A programmable machine function controller of the type comprised in part of a memory having a first section containing a machine control program representing at least one cycle of operation associated with a machine, said cycle of operation being comprised of a number of cycle steps and each cycle step being defined by a number of cycle input signals, said machine control program defining the states of output signals being generated to a contact bus in electrical communication with the machine in response to predetermined states of the input signals, and said controller further comprising means for continuously and iteratively reading the memory and a logic circuit responsive to the memory for controlling the states of the output signals as a function of the actual input signal states corresponding to the input signal states defined by the program, wherein the improvement comprises:
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a. a second section of said memory for storing a first diagnostic program defining a test of error states of selected cycle input signals associated with the particular cycle steps defining the machine cycles of operation, said diagnostic program being stored in the memory for controlling the testing of the states of the selected cycle input signals; b. means operating asynchronously with the controller for generating a first input signal to initiate a test of one of the machine cycles of operation; c. means responsive to the controller and the generating means for detecting a first output signal representing a particular cycle step in the one of the machine cycles of operation; d. means responsive to the controller and the generating means for detecting a second output signal representing an error state of one of the selected cycle input signals as defined by the first diagnostic program; and e. means having inputs responsive to the first input signal and the first and second output signals for displaying a representation of the inputs. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. The controller of claim 15, wherein the second section of said memory further comprises:
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a. a first storage area for storing a first program operating in conjunction with the controller for producing the first output signal, said first output signal being generated in response to the simultaneous occurrence of the first input signal and a third input signal representing a cycle step associated with the cycle of operation being tested; and b. a second storage area for storing a second program operating it in conjunction with the controller for producing the second output signal, said second output signal being generated in response to the simultaneous occurrence of the first and third input signals and a cycle input signal being in an error state as defined by the second program. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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- 9. The controller of claim 16, wherein the third section of said memory further comprises a third storage area for storing a third program operating in conjunction with the controller for producing a third output signal, said third output signal being generated in response to the simultaneous occurrence of the second input signal and one of the noncycle input signals being in an error state as defined by the third program.
Specification