Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a system comprising an arithmetic logic unit; a memory comprising a pre-computed table of target pulse widths, changes in pulse width, and pulse counts distributed according to a constrained semi-logarithmic distribution, said memory connected to said arithmetic logic unit via a pipeline mechanism; and a state machine adapted to load each of said target pulse widths and changes in pulse width from said memory into said arithmetic logic unit at pre-determined intervals of pulse count while maintaining control of a pulse width generated by said arithmetic logic unit. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. This abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a system comprising a modem adapted to be integrated into a programmable logic controller and adapted to facilitate communications with a main processor of the programmable logic controller via a communications medium. At least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a method comprising receiving a message from a main processor of a programmable logic controller, modulating the message within the programmable logic controller, and transmitting the message via a communications network. At least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a method comprising receiving a message at a programmable logic controller from a communications network, demodulating the message within the programmable logic controller, and delivering the message to a main processor of the programmable logic controller.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a method comprising obtaining a first frequency and a second frequency. The method also comprises creating a table of values comprising a plurality of target frequencies intermediate to the first and second frequencies, the table of values also comprising a pulse width, a pulse count, and a differential pulse width corresponding to each of the target frequencies from the plurality of target frequencies. The method further comprises outputting at least a portion of the values to a motion device. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. This abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A communication interface responds to a communication protocol for interfacing a controller and any of a plurality of discrete I/O devices. Each discrete I/O device has a different configuration. The interface has a plurality of modes of operation to accommodate the discrete I/O devices. In a first mode of operation, the interface accommodates a first discrete I/O device wherein a plurality of input pins input signals from a particular discrete I/O and a plurality of output pins output signals to the particular discrete I/O device. In a second mode of operation, the interface accommodates a second discrete I/O device wherein the input pins form a bidirectional input/output port and the output pins form a control and address line for controlling the second discrete I/O device and other discrete I/O devices.

Abstract: An expansion module address method and apparatus for a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) is taught. Briefly stated, a PLC base unit sends an address to an expansion module or modules attached thereto. Each expansion module takes the address number it receives and considers it to be its own address number. Unless the number presented to it is a zero, the expansion module decrements the number and passes it onto the next module. Thereby each module knows its own address. Each expansion module has contained therein a plurality of address and data lines which are common to all modules with the exception of one address line which is interrupted by each module circuitry, which is used to decrement the address number and then passes it along the interrupted address line to the next module.

Abstract: A serial access, electrically erasable, programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) is used to store user program and data and is disposed in a memory cartridge. The memory cartridge cooperates a base or master Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and may be used to download a program into one or more master PLC's, or to upload a program from a master PLC to memory cartridge. Each PLC may include at least one input terminal and at least one output terminal for receiving and transmitting signals, at least one microprocessor, at least one memory device, and a connector for accessing the at least one memory device.

Abstract: A high speed programmable logic controller is taught. Briefly stated a Programmable Logic Controller having memory, a microprocessor and a Co-Processor are operatively interconnected using a Harvard style architecture therefore having separate data and instruction busses. The Co-Processor acts as a Boolean Processor and is therefore able to simultaneously perform instruction fetches and executions thereby resulting in substantially increased overall speed of the PLC and therefore allowing for fast process control.

Abstract: The device is intended to be used for recording the position reached by a moving part, such as the arm of an industrial robot moved by a rotary motor (M). The device comprises, in an assembly capable of being associated with the said moving part, an angular-position transducer such as a resolver (2), capable of generating at least one signal (4, 5) indicating the position reached by the motor (M) during a rotation, counting means (12) connected to the angular-position transducer (2), capable of storing a cumulative count of the signal generated by the transducer (2) itself and indicating the position reached by the moving part, and power supply means such as a buffer battery (18) capable of keeping the position transducer (2) and the counting means (12) active even when there is no external power supply.