Programmable controller

• US 5,406,473 A
• Filed: 07/21/1993
• Issued: 04/11/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Uno, Teiji, Yoshikura, Fuyuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Envall, Jr., Roy N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US08/095,040
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 364/136, 364/138, 364/140, 364/141, 364/147, 364/131-135, 364/188-193, 395/133
• US Class Current: 700/20
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/056 Programming the PLC
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/006 Identification G06F11/2289 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A programmable controller (PC) for controlling equipments in accordance with a sequence program. A program memory is provided with an equipment code storage region for storing global equipment codes for indicating the equipments each of which is allotted an individual I/O address. When an equipment code is input, an equipment code interpreter determines the local I/O address which corresponds to the equipment code. The equipment code is composed of a PC number code, an equipment type code, an equipment number code and the like. The equipment code is displayed together with the sequence program.

Claims

1. A programmable control system including a plurality of programmable controllers for controlling allotted pieces of equipment in accordance with a sequence program, each of said programmable controllers comprising:

program storing means for storing said sequence program, said program storing means includes a region for storing local I/O addresses each of which is alloted to a corresponding one of said pieces of equipment, and a region for storing a command, which is designated together with one of said local I/O addresses;

input means for inputting equipment information code provided by a user, wherein said equipment information code is global equipment identification code, which uniquely identifies a particular piece of equipment in such a manner that any one of said plurality of programmable controllers may identify the particular piece of equipment;

equipment information storing means for storing the equipment information code; and

equipment information converting means for converting said equipment information code into a corresponding local I/O address when said equipment information code is input by the user.

2. A programmable controller for controlling pieces of equipment in accordance with a sequence program, said programmable controller comprising:

program storing means which stores said sequence program and which includes a region for storing a local I/O address which is allotted to each of said pieces of equipment and a region for storing a command which is designated together with said I/O address;

input means for inputting equipment information code provided by a user, wherein said equipment information code is global equipment identification code which is allotted to said I/O address and is composed of at least number codes for said programmable controller, and type and number codes for said pieces

equipment information storing means for storing the equipment information code; and

equipment information converting means for converting said equipment information code into a corresponding I/O address when said equipment information code is input by the user.

3. A programmable controller according to claim 2, wherein said equipment information code is stored in one-for-one correspondence with said I/O address.

4. A programmable controller according to claim 2, further comprising table storing means for storing a table which shows the corresponding relationship between said equipment information code and said I/O address.