Programmable logic controller computer system with micro field processor and programmable bus interface unit
First Claim
1. A programmable logic controller computer system comprising:
- a host programmable logic controller;
a field bus coupled to the host programmable logic controller;
a main bus;
a plurality of I/O ports coupled to the main bus;
a field programmable logic controller coupled to the main bus; and
a programmable bus interface unit, coupled to the host programmable logic controller via the field bus and further coupled via the main bus to the plurality of I/O ports and the field programmable logic controller, the bus interface unit being programmable to control mapping between the host programmable logic controller, the plurality of I/O ports and the field programmable logic controller, and having means for mapping a selected one of the plurality of I/O ports to another one of the plurality of I/O ports.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A programmable logic controller computer system is provided which achieves great flexibility in communication among the components of the system. The computer system includes a host programmable logic controller coupled by a field bus to a programmable bus interface unit. The programmable bus interface unit is located at a field station which includes a main bus to which a micro field processor and a plurality of I/O modules are coupled. The micro field processor is capable of locally processing I/O data from the I/O modules without involving the host PLC. A hand-held programmer is coupled to the programmable bus interface unit to permit the user to program an I/O map into the bus interface unit. The I/O map specifies mapping among the I/O modules, the micro field processor and the host programmable logic controllers. In this manner, communication among the I/O modules, the micro field processor and the host programmable logic controller is flexibly specified and controlled. Moreover, field bus traffic from the I/O modules back to the host programmable logic controller is significantly reduced.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A programmable logic controller computer system comprising:
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a host programmable logic controller; a field bus coupled to the host programmable logic controller; a main bus; a plurality of I/O ports coupled to the main bus; a field programmable logic controller coupled to the main bus; and a programmable bus interface unit, coupled to the host programmable logic controller via the field bus and further coupled via the main bus to the plurality of I/O ports and the field programmable logic controller, the bus interface unit being programmable to control mapping between the host programmable logic controller, the plurality of I/O ports and the field programmable logic controller, and having means for mapping a selected one of the plurality of I/O ports to another one of the plurality of I/O ports. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. In a programmable logic controller computer system including a host programmable logic controller, a field bus being coupled to the host programmable logic controller, a programmable bus interface unit coupled between the field bus and a main bus including a plurality of I/O ports, a field programmable logic controller being coupled to the main bus, a method of operating the system comprising the steps of:
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initializing the programmable logic controller computer system; mapping, in the programmable bus interface unit, between the host programmable logic controller, the I/O ports and the field programmable logic controller; providing mapping information to the bus interface unit, the mapping information indicating mapping between the host programmable logic controller, the I/O ports and the field programmable logic controller, the mapping information further indicating mapping from a selected I/O port to another I/O port; and processing information from the I/O ports locally by the field programmable logic controller. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification