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.

Various embodiments of the present technology generally relate to industrial controller firmware. More specifically, some embodiments relate to systems and methods for developing, deploying, and executing loadable embedded software extensions that expand controller functionality beyond that of what is available in a controller's base firmware. Systems and methods described herein provide for a firmware extension development environment, a firmware extension repository, a firmware extension deployment interface, and various firmware extension executions models. During execution of a control program within an industrial controller, when directed by the logic of the control program to perform an external function, industrial controller firmware may call an external component provided by an extension developed in accordance with the present disclosure to perform the external function.

Provided is an extension module for independently storing calibration data, including: a first interface, adapted to receive a first external input signal; a second interface, adapted to output the first output signal of the extension module; a signal processing circuit, connected between the first interface and the second interface; and a first memory, the first memory storing first calibration data, and the first calibration data being associated with the extension module. Furthermore, also provided is a component using the above extension module, and a component calibration method. On the one hand, the extension module of an embodiment may share an ADC sampling circuit on a main module, so that the manufacturing cost of the extension module is reduced. On the other hand, an embodiment can facilitate the replacement of different extension modules for the main module without repeated calibration.

Provided is an extension module for independently storing calibration data, including: a first interface, adapted to receive a first external input signal; a second interface, adapted to output the first output signal of the extension module; a signal processing circuit, connected between the first interface and the second interface; and a first memory, the first memory storing first calibration data, and the first calibration data being associated with the extension module. Furthermore, also provided is a component using the above extension module, and a component calibration method. On the one hand, the extension module of an embodiment may share an ADC sampling circuit on a main module, so that the manufacturing cost of the extension module is reduced. On the other hand, an embodiment can facilitate the replacement of different extension modules for the main module without repeated calibration.

Systems, methods, and devices for monitoring operation of industrial equipment are disclosed. In one embodiment, a monitoring system is provided that includes a passive backplane and one more functional circuits that can couple to the backplane. Each of the functional circuits that are coupled to the backplane can have access to all data that is delivered to the backplane. Therefore, resources (e.g., computing power, or other functionality) from each functional circuits can be shared by all active functional circuits that are coupled to the backplane. Because resources from each of the functional circuits can be shared, and because the functional circuits can be detachably coupled to the backplane, performance of the monitoring systems can be tailored to specific applications. For example, processing power can be increased by coupling additional processing circuits to the backplane.

Systems, methods, and devices for monitoring operation of industrial equipment are disclosed. In one embodiment, a monitoring system is provided that includes a passive backplane and one more functional circuits that can couple to the backplane. Each of the functional circuits that are coupled to the backplane can have access to all data that is delivered to the backplane. Therefore, resources (e.g., computing power, or other functionality) from each functional circuits can be shared by all active functional circuits that are coupled to the backplane. Because resources from each of the functional circuits can be shared, and because the functional circuits can be detachably coupled to the backplane, performance of the monitoring systems can be tailored to specific applications. For example, processing power can be increased by coupling additional processing circuits to the backplane.

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.