An aircraft refueling system (10) includes a master controller (12), a fleet controller (14) in communication with the master controller, a platform controller (18) in communication with the fleet controller, and a fuel control system (16) in communication with the platform controller. Embodiments of an aircraft refueling system may include a primary pressure controller (20), a secondary pressure controller (22), a programmable logic controller (24), and a data logger controller (26). The master controller may be configured to receive and analyze data from at least one of the fleet controller, the platform controller, and the fuel control system; and to modify operational parameters or upgrade the fuel control system based at least in part on the analysis of received data.

The programmable logic controller is a PLC-like controller having an elongate box-shaped main unit, a truncated, box-shaped expansion module, and a cable that couples the main unit to the expansion module. The main unit is a CPU adapter prepared specially to receive an open source microcontroller board, which carries out the instructions of the control process. It performs the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the process, and communicates with outside devices. The expansion module expands the unit with a programmable logic controller programmed using open source software according to the process and requirements with a multiple arrangements of digital and analog inputs and outputs, as well as Special Function Modules (GSM, Ethernet, MPI, Thermocouple, etc.).

A method for operating a smart tool monitoring system is described. The method includes monitoring, by a controller within a smart tool monitoring system, a first parameter associated with a first component internal to the smart tool monitoring system. The method also includes determining, by the controller, whether the first parameter satisfies a first criterion. The method also includes performing a first action in response to a determination that the first parameter satisfies the first criterion. The method also includes receiving a measurement value from a sensor of an article of manufacturing equipment that includes a second component external to the smart tool monitoring system. The method also includes determining, by the controller, whether the measurement value satisfies a second criterion. The method also includes performing a second action in response to a determination that the measurement value satisfies the second criterion.

In one aspect, a device includes a processor, a communication interface accessible to the processor, and storage accessible to the processor. The storage bears instructions executable by the processor to identify an activity associated with a user. The instructions are also executable by the processor to use the communication interface to transmit at least one command to a light output apparatus to adjust light from the light output apparatus based on the identified activity.

A control device includes a task execution unit; a storage unit which stores a variable in a program, which is capable of being referenced and updated; and a collection unit which collects a variable when a task is executed. The storage unit stores reference data corresponding to the variable. A plurality of tasks include: an update task which is capable of updating and referencing the variable; and a reference task which is capable of referencing the reference data. The collection unit collects the reference data when the plurality of tasks are executed.

A PLC communication system includes a PLC; a plurality of devices; three or more communication processing nodes that are provided respectively in the PLC and the devices to allow the PLC to communicate with each of the devices; and a plurality of communication lines that connect the communication processing nodes to each other to allow data communication. The PLC detects an incommunicable state between two of the communication processing nodes. The PLC communication system further includes a display device, and in a case where there are a plurality of types of incommunicable states detected by the PLC, the display device displays a portion where communication lines constituting the incommunicable states among the plurality of communication lines overlap with each other, as a line failure portion.

An engineering tool program causes a computer function as a content-data storing section that stores data in which content classes indicating classifications of content data to be displayed by an engineering tool and types of monitor screens that display the content data are associated, a content-relation managing section that stores content relation management data indicating a hierarchical relation of layers among different content classes, and a display control section that changes, when detecting that first operation is performed, a monitor screen being displayed to a monitor screen corresponding to a content class of an immediately subordinate layer on the basis of the content relation management data and changes, when detecting that second operation is performed, the monitor screen being displayed to a monitor screen corresponding to a content class of an immediately superordinate layer on the basis of the content relation management data.

An engineering tool program causes a computer function as a content-data storing section that stores data in which content classes indicating classifications of content data to be displayed by an engineering tool and types of monitor screens that display the content data are associated, a content-relation managing section that stores content relation management data indicating a hierarchical relation of layers among different content classes, and a display control section that changes, when detecting that first operation is performed, a monitor screen being displayed to a monitor screen corresponding to a content class of an immediately subordinate layer on the basis of the content relation management data and changes, when detecting that second operation is performed, the monitor screen being displayed to a monitor screen corresponding to a content class of an immediately superordinate layer on the basis of the content relation management data.

A system for coupling a modulated voltage signal onto a current loop between a host device and a field device, in various embodiments, can include a circuit and an impedance bridge. The circuit is configured to flow current from the field device between two terminals of an input circuit in the host device, wherein the two terminals are included in the current loop. The impedance bridge is positioned between the two terminals and configured to modulate impedance to convert the current in a field loop produced by the field device into terminal voltage modulation, without introducing a DC voltage burden to the current.

A system for coupling a modulated voltage signal onto a current loop between a host device and a field device, in various embodiments, can include a circuit and an impedance bridge. The circuit is configured to flow current from the field device between two terminals of an input circuit in the host device, wherein the two terminals are included in the current loop. The impedance bridge is positioned between the two terminals and configured to modulate impedance to convert the current in a field loop produced by the field device into terminal voltage modulation, without introducing a DC voltage burden to the current.