Provided is a programmable logic controller comprising: a CPU module; and an input module that generates internal data corresponding to an input signal input from the outside, wherein the input module includes a first control unit and a second control unit, the second control unit generates the second control data by encoding second input data into data that cannot be decoded by the first control unit, the first control unit outputs the first control data including first input data and the second control data, the input module generates the internal data based on the first control data and transmit the internal data to the CPU module and the CPU module extracts the first input data and the second input data to determine whether the input data is correct.

To cause multiple field devices to operate together in coordination in accordance with a predetermined program through a network allowing periodic communication, a control device includes an estimator that calculates, based on a position of a first field device in a first cycle, a position of the first field device operable in accordance with a first program in a second cycle following the first cycle, and a processor that determines, based on the first program, a first command value to cause the first field device to operate, transmits the first command value to the first field device through an interface allowing communication with the field devices, determines, based on the estimated position and a second program, a second command value to cause a second field device to operate in coordination with the first field device, and transmits the second command value to the second field device through the interface.

A method and redundant control system for an actuator in which two redundant control computers are connected via buses to a respective peripheral station containing an interface module and at least one periphery module, wherein the actuator is connected to mutually decoupled signal outputs of two periphery modules, each forming an output module, of the two peripheral stations, where output values generated by the two redundant control computers for the actuator are transmitted by the interface modules to the output modules, wherein upon detection of a bus fault, the respective interface module transmits a command to all downstream output modules to output substitute values, and where output modules to which the actuator is connected exchange information about receipt of the command via a communication link and implement it only if another output module concerned has also received the command so as to prevent failure modes in redundant operation.

An automation network comprises at least one master subscriber, at least one switch, and at least one subscriber. The master subscriber comprises master ports, the switch comprises switching ports, and the subscriber comprises ports, each comprising a transmitter and a receiver. The master subscriber is configured to output first and second telegrams to first and second switching ports via first and second master ports and first and second master communication paths. The switch is configured to forward the first telegram to a first port of a subscriber via a first communication path, and to forward the second telegram to a second port of a subscriber via a second communication path. In error mode, the switch and the subscriber are configured to return the first telegram to the master subscriber via the first master port, and/or to return the second telegram to the master subscriber via the second master port.

A controller for controlling a control object includes a communication interface, an instruction executor, and an access processor. The communication interface accesses a database device. The instruction executor executes a user program including an access instruction for accessing the database device, the user program being associated with control of the control object. The access processor generates an access request in response to execution of the access instruction and causes the communication interface to transmit the access request. The access processor extracts an access request satisfying a prescribed condition from an error list including access requests recorded when access to the database device fails and causes the communication interface to retransmit the access request extracted.

The present disclosure is directed to systems, methods and devices for facilitating object-based cross-domain industrial automation control. An object library comprising a plurality of objects may be maintained. One or more of the objects may represent physical counterparts for use in an industrial automation process. Each object of the plurality of objects in the object library may have at least one property that an automated control device operation can be programmed to act on. Each object of the plurality of objects may also have at least one property that a human machine interface component can utilize in generating display elements corresponding to the objects for display on the human machine interface. When modifications to objects in the object library are received, those modifications may be automatically deployed and incorporated in controller logic and HMI graphics and control.

A dynamic environment (e.g., an automated industrial process) has multiple conditions in response to which corresponding actions are required, and comprises various equipment, control device(s) to control the equipment, and one or more sensors to generate input signal(s) representing a monitored condition of the environment. A control system for the environment comprises a master processor and one or more co-processors, wherein the master processor configures a given co-processor to evaluate only a first subset of conditions expected to occur in the environment within a specified time period (e.g., less than a response time of the master processor), and to provide first control information representing an action to be taken if a particular condition of the first subset is satisfied. The co-processor receives the input signal(s) representing the monitored condition, processes the input signal(s) so as to determine if the particular condition of the first subset is satisfied, and provides the first control information to the control devices so as to control the equipment. Exemplary applications include dynamic environments in which machine vision techniques and/or equipment are employed.

A network system includes: a first master device configured to carry out, in every cycle, (i) a process of receiving data from a first slave device, (ii) a process of carrying out, in accordance with pre-allocation, a part of a first process with respect to the data which has been received, (iii) a process of transmitting data corresponding to a remainder of the first process to an outside entity in accordance with the pre-allocation and receiving a result corresponding the remainder of the first process, and (iv) a process of transmitting, to the first slave device, a result corresponding to the first process; at least one second master device configured to transmit, to the first master device before a period allocated to the first process within the cycle ends, the result corresponding to the remainder of the first process with respect to the data received from the first master device; a first network configured to transmit data between the first slave device and the first master device; and a second network configured to transmit data between the first master device and the at least one second master device.

A network system includes: a first master device configured to carry out, in every cycle, (i) a process of receiving data from a first slave device, (ii) a process of carrying out, in accordance with pre-allocation, a part of a first process with respect to the data, (iii) a process of transmitting data corresponding to a remainder of the first process to an outside entity in accordance with the pre-allocation and receiving a result corresponding the remainder of the first process, and (iv) a process of transmitting, to the first slave device, a result corresponding to the first process; and at least one second master device configured to transmit, to the first master device before a period allocated to the first process within the cycle ends, the result corresponding to the remainder of the first process with respect to the data received from the first master device.

A apparatus having a control network and a first controller comprising a microprocessor configured to support communication functions, control execution functions, I/O functions, and control network interface functions, a second controller configured as a redundant partner to the first controller, and an I/O link and I/O modules.