Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for networking programmable logic controllers to host computers

US5159673A · kind A · utility

132Cited by
4References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 11, 1992
Grant dateOct 27, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 11, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L51/48
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A control system allows for transferring messages between a programmable logic controller and a host computer over an Ethernet communications network. The messages include a routing address specifying an originating drop number, a destination drop number, and a routing drop number. The system is responsive to the routing address for transferring the messages between the programmable logic controller and the host computer. The host computer can immediately obtain messages from a programmable logic controller without interruption of the execution of its ladder program. The host computer can also receive unsolicited messages from the programmable logic controller.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.