Programmable logic control system

• US 6,301,509 B1
• Filed: 09/04/1998
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Obata, Yoshimori
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Paul P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CABRERA, ZOILA E
• Application Number:
  US09/148,693
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 700/11, 700/12, 700/18, 700/19, 700/20, 710/128, 710/126, 710/110, 710/120
• US Class Current: 700/11
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/054 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/1105 I-O
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/1109 Expansion, extension of I-O
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/1111 I-o grouped on one board
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/15018 Communication, serial data transmission, modem
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/15108 Intelligent I-O is a plc itself, with limited interface
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/15111 Intelligent interface behaves like a plc, by special communucation pro

Abstract

The invention is aimed at providing a programmable logic control system capable of executing a plurality of functions to realize high-speed data communication between itself and a control input/output unit without degrading the performance of the programmable logic control system, thereby significantly enhancing the performance and simplifying maintenance. To attain the aim, the programmable logic control system comprises a plurality of separate modules obtained by grouping the operating sections and the input/output sections of the controllers in the form of separate modules, and mounted on a back board. On the back board, there is also provided a control input/output unit connector. A signal is used for the control input/output unit connector connected parallel to the separate modules via the back board, so that communication can be performed, during use of a bus, between the separate modules and the control input/output unit.

Claims

1. A programmable logic control system to be connected to a computer, the system comprising:

at least one input/output module including at least one port connected to at least one target device to be controlled;

at least one processor module configured to control said at least one target device;

a communication bus electrically connected in parallel to said at least one input/output module and to said at least one processor module; and

a communication signal bus electrically connected in parallel to said at least one input/output module and said at least one processor module, wherein at least one of said at least one input/output module and said at least one processor module is connected to said computer by at least said communication signal bus.

2. The programmable logic control system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first serial communication circuit connected to said at least one input/output module and said communication signal bus; and

a second serial communication circuit connected to said at least one processor module and said communication signal bus.

3. The programmable logic control system according to claim 1, further comprising a mount board including a plurality of connectors for said at least one input/output module or said at least one processor module, said communication bus and said communication signal bus being provided on the mount board.

4. The programmable logic control system according to claim 3, wherein said mount board further comprises address recognition means for allocating addresses of said plurality of connectors to said at least one input/output module or said at least one processor module.

5. The programmable logic control system according to claim 4, wherein said computer displays a state of said at least one target device connected to said at least one input/output module designated by said address recognition means, and wherein when said computer is connected to two or more target devices to be controlled, said computer simultaneously displays states of at least two of said target devices to be controlled.

6. The programmable logic control system according to claim 1, wherein said communication bus further comprises a computer connector for detachably connecting said computer with said communication bus.

7. The programmable logic control system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one input/output module comprises a first connector and a second connector which connect a portion of said communication bus and a portion of said communication signal bus to said at least one input/output module, wherein said processor module further comprises a third connector and a fourth connector which connect a portion of said communication bus and a portion of said communication signal bus to said at least one input/output module and wherein said first and second connectors, said third and fourth connectors, said first and fourth connectors, and said third and fourth connectors are electrically connectable.