Generic control systems using a virtual rack module
First Claim
1. A method of using a Virtual Rack module, comprising the steps of:
- installing an executable code containing a main control program and a Virtual Rack module in a programmable logic controller;
configuring at least one module type connected to the programmable logic controller during runtime by using at least one configuration screen generated by the Virtual Rack module,whereby the Virtual Rack module allows the selected module type to be configured independent of when and where the at least one module type was installed in the programmable logic controller without creating a different executable code.
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Abstract
A Virtual Rack module for a programmable logic controller. The Virtual Rack module comprises a subroutine written using a programming language understandable to the programmable logic controller, preferably using the relay ladder logic programming language. The main control program and the Virtual Rack module are compiled on the programming terminal connected to the programmable logic controller and then downloaded into the memory of the programmable logic controller. Once downloaded, the programmer can use configuration screens generated by the Virtual Rack module and displayed on the programming terminal to configure various input and output devices independent of when and where the input and output devices are connected to the programmable logic controller.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method of using a Virtual Rack module, comprising the steps of:
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installing an executable code containing a main control program and a Virtual Rack module in a programmable logic controller; configuring at least one module type connected to the programmable logic controller during runtime by using at least one configuration screen generated by the Virtual Rack module, whereby the Virtual Rack module allows the selected module type to be configured independent of when and where the at least one module type was installed in the programmable logic controller without creating a different executable code. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of operating a programmable logic controller to create a generic control system by using a Virtual Rack module, comprising the steps of:
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creating a main control program and a Virtual Rack module using a programming terminal connected to the programmable logic controller; compiling the main control program and the Virtual Rack module to create an executable code; and downloading the executable code from the programming terminal into the programmable logic controller, whereby the Virtual Rack module creates a generic control system when called by the main control program and allows a user to configure at least one module type connected to the programmable logic controller during runtime independent of where and when the at least one module type was connected to the programmable logic controller without creating a different executable code. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A method of creating a generic control system, the method comprising the steps of:
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downloading an executable code including a main control program and a Virtual Rack module into a memory of a programmable device; selecting at least one module type connected to the programmable device by using a configuration screen generated by the Virtual Rack module; and configuring the at least one module type during runtime using the configuration screen generated by the Virtual Rack module without creating a different executable code.
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25. A method of creating a generic control system in a programmable logic controller by using a Virtual Rack module, comprising the steps of:
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programming a ladder logic program to create an executable code containing a software engine for the generic control system; creating a configuration screen for configuring the software engine; and using the configuration screen for assigning channel numbers in the Virtual Rack module to addresses in the programmable logic controller during runtime without creating a different executable code.
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26. An apparatus for creating a generic control system by using a Virtual Rack module, comprising:
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a programming terminal having a data storage device for storing a set of program instructions compiled from a main control program that includes a Virtual Rack module; a programmable device connected to said programming computer, said programmable device including a memory for storing the set of program instructions from said programming terminal and a microprocessor for processing the set of program instructions stored in the memory, wherein said generic control system allows configuration of at least one module type connected to the programmable device during runtime without creating a different set of program instructions. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification