Programmable logic controller computer system with micro field processor and programmable bus interface unit

US5978593A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• GE Fanuc Automation North America, Inc. · US

Inventor

• Daniel White Sexton · Niskayuna, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 5, 1996
• Grant date: Nov 2, 1999
• Expiry date: Sep 5, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05B19/054
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

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.