In order to monitor the operational status of a plant, a plant monitoring apparatus 10 includes: a control program acquisition unit 11 configured to acquire a control program for controlling the plant on the basis of sensor data from a sensor installed in the plant; a causal relationship extraction unit 12 configured to extract, from the control program, causal relationships between a plurality of signals that are used in the plant; a causal relationship specification unit 13 configured to specify the current state of the plurality of signals and compare the specified state and the extracted causal relationships to specify a causal relationship corresponding to the specified state; and a display unit 14 configured to display the specified causal relationship on a screen.

The controller communicable with a second controller include circuitry configured to: execute a processing to operate a first machine in collaboration with a second machine controlled by the second controller in a real space; modify the processing in response to determining that, instead of controlling the second machine, the second controller controls a virtual second machine that simulates operations of the second machine in a virtual space; and execute the modified processing to operate the first machine in the real space in collaboration with the virtual second machine that operates in the virtual space.

An object of the present subject matter is to appropriately acquire and analyze a camera image for monitoring and to constantly monitor a monitoring target with high accuracy. A programmable logic controller (PLC) includes: an image processing section for sequentially acquiring the image data of the camera image from the camera sensor and generating characteristic amount data indicating a characteristic amount of image data in a preset monitoring region; a time-series data acquisition section for sequentially collecting characteristic amount data from the image processing section and acquiring time-series data of a characteristic amount; and a monitoring section for monitoring time-series data of a current characteristic amount acquired by the time-series data acquisition section in accordance with a monitoring timing defined by the device of the device memory.

An object of the present subject matter is to appropriately acquire and analyze a camera image for monitoring and to constantly monitor a monitoring target with high accuracy. A programmable logic controller (PLC) includes: an image processing section for sequentially acquiring the image data of the camera image from the camera sensor and generating characteristic amount data indicating a characteristic amount of image data in a preset monitoring region; a time-series data acquisition section for sequentially collecting characteristic amount data from the image processing section and acquiring time-series data of a characteristic amount; and a monitoring section for monitoring time-series data of a current characteristic amount acquired by the time-series data acquisition section in accordance with a monitoring timing defined by the device of the device memory.

A PLC according to an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The PLC according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a master unit; and a plurality of interface units which access the master unit via a system bus. The master unit includes: a control unit for controlling input/output and processing commands; and a plurality of first RJ45 terminals for input/output of data, wherein a maximum of eight signals are arranged via each pin of each of the first RJ45 terminals. Each of the interface units includes a connection means for connecting a signal between a second RJ45 terminal for connecting a signal line from each of the first RJ45 terminals and an external device, wherein the interface units are configured to be expandable by the number of the first RJ45 terminals.

An ultrasonic device may include an electromechanical ultrasonic system defined by a predetermined resonant frequency, in which the system may include an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade. A method of estimating a state of an end effector of the ultrasonic device may include applying a drive signal defined by a magnitude and a frequency to the ultrasonic transducer, sweeping the frequency of the drive signal from below a first resonance to above the first resonance of the electromagnetic ultrasonic system, measuring and recording, impedance/admittance circle variables R.sub.e, G.sub.e, X.sub.e, and B.sub.e, comparing, the measured impedance/admittance circle variables R.sub.e, G.sub.e, X.sub.e, and B.sub.e to reference impedance/admittance circle variables R.sub.ref, G.sub.ref, X.sub.ref, and B.sub.ref, and determining, a state or condition of the end effector based on the result of the comparison. An electromechanical ultrasonic system may include a control circuit to effect the method.

A method and system for identification of an item is provided, wherein the system comprises includes a conveyor belt, a conveyor belt controller and a reader operable to receive at least one reading from at least one tag attached to the item and extract from the reading a measurement of the phase of the signal transmitted by the tag and received at at least one antenna of the reader, the antenna being adapted to be arranged at a read point along the conveyor belt, wherein the conveyor belt controller is configured to start the conveyor belt at a first time instant, after the item has been placed on the conveyor belt, and to stop the conveyor belt at a second time instant, when the item has passed the antenna of the reader.

A method and system for identification of an item is provided, wherein the system comprises includes a conveyor belt, a conveyor belt controller and a reader operable to receive at least one reading from at least one tag attached to the item and extract from the reading a measurement of the phase of the signal transmitted by the tag and received at at least one antenna of the reader, the antenna being adapted to be arranged at a read point along the conveyor belt, wherein the conveyor belt controller is configured to start the conveyor belt at a first time instant, after the item has been placed on the conveyor belt, and to stop the conveyor belt at a second time instant, when the item has passed the antenna of the reader.

The present invention discloses a method for controlling a process in a process plant using a controller. The method comprises receivable associated with the process, determining a first value of at least one key performance indicator associated with the transition from the process data of the first process variable between the first steady state and the second steady state, comparing the determined first value of the at least one key performance indicator against a threshold value of the at least one key performance indicator; and determining a correction factor for modifying a set point of the process variable based on the comparison, for controlling the process.

A var compensator circuit is provided. The var compensator circuit includes a gas tube switch and a reactive impedance. The gas tube switch is configured to be coupled to a transmission line. The transmission line is configured to deliver real power and reactive power to a load at an alternating current (AC) line voltage. The reactive impedance is configured to be coupled to the transmission line at the AC line voltage through the gas tube switch. The reactive impedance is configured to modify the reactive power configured to be delivered to the load.