Abstract: An output module includes a first connection terminal, a second connection terminal, a power supply terminal, a controller, an output device, and a first cutoff switch. The first connection terminal is connected to a high potential side terminal of an external load. The second connection terminal is connected to a low potential side terminal of the external load. The power supply terminal is provided with an external power supply from an external power source. The output device is configured to operate by receiving a power supply generated by or based on the external power supply and to output an analog voltage or an analog current of a value instructed by the controller toward the first connection terminal. The first cutoff switch is configured to be controlled by the controller to open and close a first path between the second connection terminal and a ground.

Abstract: An output module of an industrial control apparatus includes an output circuit controlling an electrical connection between a power supply terminal and an output terminal and a controller controlling an operation of the output circuit. The output circuit includes multiple switches, which are connected in series between the power supply terminal and the output terminal, and a voltage divider circuit outputting a divided voltage. The controller controls on/off states of the switches, and detects a short circuit of the switches based on the divided voltage. When the divided voltage detected during an off period while the multiple switches are in off states is within a normal voltage range, the controller determines that no short circuit is occurred. When the divided voltage detected during the off period is out of the normal voltage range, the controller determines that a short circuit is occurred in at least one of the switches.

Abstract: An output control apparatus that controls opening and closing between an output terminal connected to an external apparatus and a power supply terminal to which power for the external apparatus is supplied is provided. The output control apparatus includes a first switching element and a second switching element that are connected in series between the power supply terminal and the output terminal, a data generation portion that generates output data for turning on and off the first switching element and the second switching element based on a control command received from outside, a first controller that controls drive of the first switching element, and a second controller that controls drive of the second switching element.

Abstract: A relay fault diagnosis device includes: at least one C-contact relay that has a common terminal, a normally open terminal and a normally closed terminal; a read-back circuit that is connected to the normally closed terminal of the relay; and a diagnostic section that outputs a test signal to the common terminal to diagnose a fault in the relay.

Abstract: An output module includes a first connection terminal, a second connection terminal, a power supply terminal, a controller, an output device, and a first cutoff switch. The first connection terminal is connected to a high potential side terminal of an external load. The second connection terminal is connected to a low potential side terminal of the external load. The power supply terminal is provided with an external power supply from an external power source. The output device is configured to operate by receiving a power supply generated by or based on the external power supply and to output an analog voltage or an analog current of a value instructed by the controller toward the first connection terminal. The first cutoff switch is configured to be controlled by the controller to open and close a first path between the second connection terminal and a ground.

Abstract: An input module of an industrial control apparatus receives a digital signal from an external source, outputs a binary signal as an internal signal, and determines a level of the digital signal based on the internal signal. The input module determines that the digital signal has a low level when a low level of the internal signal continues for a certain time period, determines that the digital signal has a high level when the internal signal switches from the low level to a high level and then switches to the low level again, and determines an occurrence of a fixing failure when the internal signal switches from the low level to the high level and then fails to switch to the low level again.

Abstract: An output module of an industrial control apparatus includes an output circuit controlling an electrical connection between a power supply terminal and an output terminal and a controller controlling an operation of the output circuit. The output circuit includes multiple switches, which are connected in series between the power supply terminal and the output terminal, and a voltage divider circuit outputting a divided voltage. The controller controls on/off states of the switches, and detects a short circuit of the switches based on the divided voltage. When the divided voltage detected during an off period while the multiple switches are in off states is within a normal voltage range, the controller determines that no short circuit is occurred. When the divided voltage detected during the off period is out of the normal voltage range, the controller determines that a short circuit is occurred in at least one of the switches.

Abstract: An input module of an industrial control apparatus receives a digital signal from an external source, outputs a binary signal as an internal signal, and determines a level of the digital signal based on the internal signal. The input module determines that the digital signal has a low level when a low level of the internal signal continues for a certain time period, determines that the digital signal has a high level when the internal signal switches from the low level to a high level and then switches to the low level again, and determines an occurrence of a fixing failure when the internal signal switches from the low level to the high level and then fails to switch to the low level again.

Abstract: An output control apparatus that controls opening and closing between an output terminal connected to an external apparatus and a power supply terminal to which power for the external apparatus is supplied is provided. The output control apparatus includes a first switching element and a second switching element that are connected in series between the power supply terminal and the output terminal, a data generation portion that generates output data for turning on and off the first switching element and the second switching element based on a control command received from outside, a first controller that controls drive of the first switching element, and a second controller that controls drive of the second switching element.

Abstract: An input/output module includes a control unit and a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit includes a series-connection body including three or more resistors, a comparator, a connection path, and a switch. One of inverting and non-inverting input terminals of the comparator serves as a monitoring terminal, and the other serves as a threshold terminal. Input voltage of the threshold terminal when the switch is turned off is set to a high-voltage-side threshold, and the input voltage when the switch is turned on is set to a low-voltage-side threshold. The control unit makes a diagnosis that an abnormality in which the power supply voltage falls outside of an operable voltage range or an abnormality in the monitoring unit has occurred, when logic of an output signal of the comparator is determined to be unchanged over a determination time that is a longer amount of time than a predetermined amount of time.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an industrial control apparatus that minimizes the increase in time taken for detecting a short-circuit in the apparatus and the decrease in the number of unoccupied terminals of a microcomputer due to detection of a short-circuit event. The industrial control apparatus includes first and second voltage supplying units, first and second circuits, an amplification command circuit, and a voltage amplifier incorporated into the first circuit. The amplification command circuit compares the input signal from the first circuit with that of the second signal, and if the comparison results in agreement, outputs to the voltage amplifier an amplification command signal indicating an amplification factor that allows a pre-amplified signal inputted to the voltage amplifier after being amplified to have a voltage out of the range of detecting connection or non-connection of the first input device to the first circuit.

Abstract: A relay fault diagnosis device includes: at least one C-contact relay that has a common terminal, a normally open terminal and a normally closed terminal; a read-back circuit that is connected to the normally closed terminal of the relay; and a diagnostic section that outputs a test signal to the common terminal to diagnose a fault in the relay.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an industrial control apparatus that minimizes the increase in time taken for detecting a short-circuit in the apparatus and the decrease in the number of unoccupied terminals of a microcomputer due to detection of a short-circuit event. The industrial control apparatus includes first and second voltage supplying units, first and second circuits, an amplification command circuit, and a voltage amplifier incorporated into the first circuit. The amplification command circuit compares the input signal from the first circuit with that of the second signal, and if the comparison results in agreement, outputs to the voltage amplifier an amplification command signal indicating an amplification factor that allows a pre-amplified signal inputted to the voltage amplifier after being amplified to have a voltage out of the range of detecting connection or non-connection of the first input device to the first circuit.

Abstract: In an I/O module, a communication enables communications between first and second external devices upon a voltage being supplied from a power source thereto. A shutoff switch shuts off supply of the voltage to the communication controller when turned off. A capacitor is charged based on the voltage supplied from the voltage source while the shutoff switch is in an on state. The capacitor supplies an operating voltage to the communication controller while the shutoff switch is turned off. The communication controller detects a voltage across the capacitor as a diagnostic voltage, and outputs a turn-off command to the shutoff switch for turning off the shutoff switch. The communication controller determines whether there is a fixedly closed malfunction in the shutoff switch based on the diagnostic voltage while outputting the turn-off command to the shutoff switch.

Abstract: An input/output module includes a control unit and a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit includes a series-connection body including three or more resistors, a comparator, a connection path, and a switch. One of inverting and non-inverting input terminals of the comparator serves as a monitoring terminal, and the other serves as a threshold terminal. Input voltage of the threshold terminal when the switch is turned off is set to a high-voltage-side threshold, and the input voltage when the switch is turned on is set to a low-voltage-side threshold. The control unit makes a diagnosis that an abnormality in which the power supply voltage falls outside of an operable voltage range or an abnormality in the monitoring unit has occurred, when logic of an output signal of the comparator is determined to be unchanged over a determination time that is a longer amount of time than a predetermined amount of time.

Abstract: In an I/O module, a communication enables communications between first and second external devices upon a voltage being supplied from a power source thereto. A shutoff switch shuts off supply of the voltage to the communication controller when turned off. A capacitor is charged based on the voltage supplied from the voltage source while the shutoff switch is in an on state. The capacitor supplies an operating voltage to the communication controller while the shutoff switch is turned off. The communication controller detects a voltage across the capacitor as a diagnostic voltage, and outputs a turn-off command to the shutoff switch for turning off the shutoff switch. The communication controller determines whether there is a fixedly closed malfunction in the shutoff switch based on the diagnostic voltage while outputting the turn-off command to the shutoff switch.

Abstract: A process for producing a biogas by solid-state fermentation of a solid biomass material which comprises the steps of: (1) pelletizing the biomass material into pellets; (2) introducing the pellets into an acid fermentation zone; (3) subjecting the biomass material in the pellets to solid-state acid fermentation under facultative anaerobic conditions or under semi-aerobic conditions kept in an oxygen concentration of 0.01% to 5.

Abstract: A carrier for microorganism incubation of a diffusion type in which microelements and inorganic nutrient salts which are useful in proliferation of microorganism are included in a porous material is provided. This carrier may be employed in a bioreactor for treatment of waste water where high activity and high density of the microorganism is desired.

Abstract: Mesophilic methane bacteria obtained from digested sludge are acclimatized in an H2/CO2 medium and the acclimatized methane bacteria are grown on a support inclusive of inorganic nutritional salts of trace metal elements by using an immobilized bed bioreactor. The grown bacteria are allowed to metabolize a mixed gas, prepared by adding hydrogen to at least one of coal gas and biogas, into methane and at the same time, cobalamin contained in the fermented liquor is recovered as an extracellular product in the form of cyanocobalamin by using potassium cyanide to thereby produce vitamin B12 efficiently in a high content and high yield.

Abstract: Mesophilic methane bacteria obtained from digested sludge are acclimatized in an H2/CO2 medium and the acclimatized methane bacteria are grown on a support inclusive of inorganic nutritional salts of trace metal elements by using an immobilized bed bioreactor. The grown bacteria are allowed to metabolize a mixed gas, prepared by adding hydrogen to at least one of coal gas and biogas, into methane and at the same time, cobalamin contained in the fermented liquor is recovered as an extracellular product in the form of cyanocobalamin by using potassium cyanide to thereby produce vitamin B12 efficiently in a high content and high yield.