Apparatus and methods for flexible input/output signaling over a same signaling channel are described. A programmable interface circuit includes a signaling channel that can be adapted, prior to use or during operation, for transmission and/or reception of different types of analog and digital signals. The interface circuit can be used for communications between an isolating communication controller and components of a machine that use diverse signaling types.

Methods and apparatus to configure process control systems based on generic process system libraries are disclosed. An example method includes instantiating an instance of a generic process system library. The instance is associated with items of equipment and corresponding process signals of a process control system. The generic process system library comprises at least one of generic process graphic data or generic control strategy data corresponding to the items of equipment and the corresponding process signals of the process control system. The example method further includes configuring the instance of the generic process system library by incorporating process-specific data associated with the operation of the process control system with the at least one of the generic process graphic data or the generic control strategy data.

A method is set forth that serves to execute an event-oriented control program on a programmable logic controller of an automation system, wherein the control program comprises a plurality of functional modules, wherein an execution of the individual functional modules is triggered in an event-controlled manner on the occurrence of activation events that are each associated with the individual functional modules, and wherein priorities are assigned to each of the activation events. The method comprises the following steps: detecting activation events that have occurred; and executing the functional modules that are each associated with the activation events that have occurred in an execution sequence defined on the basis of the priorities of the individual activation events.

Apparatus and methods for flexible input/output signaling over a same signaling channel are described. A programmable interface circuit includes a signaling channel that can be adapted, prior to use or during operation, for transmission and/or reception of different types of analog and digital signals. The interface circuit can be used for communications between an isolating communication controller and components of a machine that use diverse signaling types.

Apparatus and methods for flexible input/output signaling over a same signaling channel are described. A programmable interface circuit includes a signaling channel that can be adapted, prior to use or during operation, for transmission and/or reception of different types of analog and digital signals. The interface circuit can be used for communications between an isolating communication controller and components of a machine that use diverse signaling types.

Apparatus and methods for flexible input/output signaling over a same signaling channel are described. A programmable interface circuit includes a signaling channel that can be adapted, prior to use or during operation, for transmission and/or reception of different types of analog and digital signals. The interface circuit can be used for communications between an isolating communication controller and components of a machine that use diverse signaling types.

A safety control system for switching on and safely switching off at least one actuator, including at least one input module for evaluating an input signal of a safety transmitter and for generating an output signal, and at least one output module for the safe actuation of the at least one actuator as a function of the output signal of the input module. The input signal has different signal parameters as a function of the type of safety transmitter. Furthermore, the safety control system includes a setting unit having a memory in which the signal parameters for the input module are stored, and the input module evaluates the input signal as a function of the signal parameters.

A system for storing data in an industrial production environment includes a distributed database stored on a plurality of intelligent programmable logic controller devices. Each respective intelligent programmable logic controller device includes a volatile computer-readable storage medium containing a process image area; a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium; a control application; an input/output component; a historian component; and a distributed data management component. The control application is configured to provide operating instructions to a production unit. The input/output component is configured to update the process image area during each scan cycle with data associated with the production unit. The historian component is configured to store automation system data including the operating instructions and contents of the process image area on the non-volatile computer-readable storage medium. The distributed data management component is configured to facilitate distributed operations involving the automation system data by the plurality of intelligent programmable logic controller devices.

A control device includes a storage unit that stores a program, a program execution unit that executes the program stored in the storage unit to control a device to be controlled, and a backup execution unit that stores, at the start of a backup operation of the program currently being executed, the program, information for identifying a location currently in execution in the program, information for identifying a location currently being held in the program, and operation data, in a backup storage unit.

A method is set forth that serves to execute an event-oriented control program on a programmable logic controller of an automation system, wherein the control program comprises a plurality of functional modules, wherein an execution of the individual functional modules is triggered in an event-controlled manner on the occurrence of activation events that are each associated with the individual functional modules, and wherein priorities are assigned to each of the activation events. The method comprises the following steps: detecting activation events that have occurred; and executing the functional modules that are each associated with the activation events that have occurred in an execution sequence defined on the basis of the priorities of the individual activation events.