Abstract: A communications adapter is provided for interfacing between a master device and an I/O device (body) having an output and/or an input. In the case of the I/O body having an output, the adapter has a TCP port for coupling to the master device via a transmission path for receiving a request message. The adapter also has a connector for operable coupling to the I/O device for receiving the output of the I/O device. The adapter further has an interface circuit operably connected to the TCP port and the connector for transmitting a response message over the transmission path in response to the request message, the response message correlating to the output received from the I/O device. The request message and the response message is limited to a length that is less than a TCP transaction length and/or a maximum transmission unit limit, or both, depending on the embodiment of the present invention.

Abstract: A process and system for updating an operating system for an information processing device via a console link or mass memory. The information processing device including a power supply with an energy reserve, a microprocessor, an erasable flash EPROM type memory, a backed up RAM memory, and a device for detecting main power supply failures. When making an update, the existing operating system transfers a boot program into the backed up RAM, then executes this boot program stored in RAM, this boot program stored in RAM erasing the Flash EPROM memory and then loading the new operating system into the Flash EPROM from the console link or the mass memory.

Abstract: The invention relates to a monitoring circuit for at least one supply voltage (UB, UH), including a first threshold switch (20), which if the supply voltage (UB) drops below a predeterminable threshold value generates a first warning signal (USWN), and a second threshold switch (66), which after a fixed warning period tw elapses generates a second warning signal (TOTUSN). In order that the warning signals will be generated without bounce, it is provided that the threshold switches (20, 66) each have an internal counting circuit for determining time periods tv1, tv2, after which the first and second warning signals (USWN, TOTUSN) generated are reset.

Abstract: This invention relates to a display apparatus mounted on the front face of a programmable logic controller equipped with input-output modules or couplers (12) and characterized in that it is composed of a diode matrix (3) driven by an integrated display control circuit (4) linked by a series connection (S) to the digital-Boolean processor of the programmable logic controller (9).

Abstract: A battery terminal contactor for attachment to a battery housing is disclosed. The battery terminal contactor comprises a contactor portion and a base portion flexibly secured to the contactor portion. The base portion includes a fixed portion and a latch portion. The latch portion is resiliently connected to the fixed portion. The latch portion has a beveled hook portion for engaging an abutment on the battery housing as the battery terminal contactor is inserted in the housing, to bias the hook portion around the abutment to permit the hook portion to securely engage the abutment and secure the battery terminal contactor to the battery housing.

Abstract: A field bus network of input and output devices is coupled to a control system through an I/O interface module, regardless of their data structures. The I/O interface module is coupled to the control systemthrough a serial communication port. Local input and output devices are coupled to the interface I/O module through a local I/O interface and networked input and output devices are coupled to the interface I/O module through a field bus communication adapter. A different adapter is required for each type of field bus protocol. The interface I/O module includes a microprocessor based device to generate and control the various interactions between the local devices, networked devices, and the controllsystem and also to provide for a visual and status display of the fieldbus and local I/O data local.

Abstract: A control system includes an Internet web interface to a network of at least one programmable logic control system running an application program for controlling output devices in response to status of input devices. The Web interface runs Web pages from an Ethernet board coupled directly to the PLC back plane and includes an HTTP protocol interpreter, a PLC back plane driver, a TCP/IP stack, and an Ethernet board kernel. The Web interface provides access to the PLC back plane by a user at a remote location through the Internet. The interface translates the industry standard Ethernet, TCP/IP and HTTP protocols used on the Internet into data recognizable to the PLC. Using this interface, the user can retrieve all pertinent data regarding the operation of the programmable logic controller system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for connecting two circuit boards together. The device constitutes four side walls joined to define an aperture, a pin array disposed completely within the aperture, at least one resilient finger which acts to retain said pin array within the aperture, and a shoulder on at least one of the four side walls which prevents the pin array from passing through the aperture.

Abstract: A motion controller and a method of controlling the motion of a plurality of axes which prevents a discontinuous position command being generated to a follower axis. A follower mode transfer function circuit or routine generates a position command in response to a master axis position. This function can be in the form of electronic gearing or camming. A bias latch is utilized to offset any change in position resulting from a change in mode, such as changing from electronic gearing to electronic camming, changing cam profiles or gearing ratios, or changing the master axis. The latch is summed with the transfer function position command and a standard move command profile generator position command to provide the follower axis position command. The latch is recalculated each time the follower mode is changed.

Abstract: The heat sink (10) of the present invention is used to absorb and dissipate heat from a solid-state device. The heat sink (10) comprises a generally U-shaped body (18) of a thermally conductive material. The U-shaped body (18) comprises two continuous legs (20, 22) having widths greater than the width of the solid-state device.

Abstract: A motion controller and a method of controlling the motion of a plurality of axes which prevents a discontinuous position command being generated to a follower axis. A follower mode transfer function circuit or routine generates a position command in response to a master axis position. This function can be in the form of electronic gearing or camming. A bias latch is utilized to offset any change in position resulting from a change in mode, such as changing from electronic gearing to electronic camming, changing cam profiles or gearing ratios, or changing the master axis. The latch is summed with the transfer function position command and a standard move command profile generator position command to provide the follower axis position command. The latch is recalculated each time the follower mode is changed.

Abstract: A control system allows a user to access a programmable logic controller (PLC). system over a communication network such as an Internet network using a web browser. The system includes an Internet web interface between the network and the programmable logic controller. The Web interface serves Web pages from an Ethernet interface on a PLC and includes an HTTP protocol interpreter and a TCP/IP stack. The Web interface provides access to the PLC by a user at a remote location through the Internet. The interface translates the industry standard Ethernet, TCP/IP and HTTP protocols used on the Internet into data recognizable to the PLC. Using this interface, the user can retrieve all pertinent data regarding the operation of the programmable logic controller system.

Abstract: An transfer body is provided for interfacing between field devices and a field master. One form of the transfer body is an input/output (IO) body. The IO body has a plurality of in-data registers for accepting data from the field devices, a plurality of out-data registers for sending data to field devices, and an identification register for identifying the data in relation to the field devices. The IO body also has an interface portion having an identification port communicating with the identification register, an in-data port communicating with the in-data registers, and an out-data port communicating with the out-data registers. The body can directly attach to and communicate with a plurality of different types of communications adapters through the interface portion for communication with a field master. The body can also directly attach to and communicate with a PLC type of field master through the interface portion.

Abstract: A door latch assembly, such as for a battery compartment of an electronic device, is disclosed. The door latch assembly comprises a housing having a pair of opposed, spaced flattened pins defining an elongated surface having a depth and a generally perpendicular narrowed surface having a thickness. The door latch assembly further comprises a door having first and second clasps for receiving the respective first and second pins. Each of the clasps includes an aperture and a slot leading to the aperture. The aperture has a breadth substantially equal to the depth of the elongated surface, and the slot has a gap substantially equal to the thickness of the narrowed surface. When assembling the door to the housing, each of the slots slides over the respective elongated surface to receive and captures the respective pin in the respective aperture.

Abstract: A method for uniquely identifying a file, along with its particular version ID, used in an application program by a central processing unit provides a system for file security. The method computes a CRC for a file and then appends a version string and CRC at the end of the file according to its version ID. The added CRC/version record information is non-destructive. Once appended, the record will be transported with the file when ever it is moved or copied. CRC allows the integrity of the file to be verified at any time and is used to detect viruses or corrupted or tampered files at startup and also during runtimes of the file and its associated application. The operating system will store the new file length in a file allocation table and will also copy a file seal with the file. When used with a set of files for a particular installation, the file seal provides a unique bill of materials to identify the exact file contents of the particular installation.

Abstract: This invention relates to a programmable logic controller inputs-outputs system comprising a processing unit (CPU) provided with a memory (M1, M2, M3) and at least one inputs-outputs coupler (C1 or C2 or C3 or C4) provided with a coupler memory (Mc) and forming the link between sensors and pre-actuators and the processing unit (CPU) characterized in that exchanges between the processing unit memory and each coupler memory are structured by logical channels carrying out a job function and grouping all or some physical channels of a coupler and in that the memory (M2) of the processing unit (CPU) contains objects related to each logical channel that form a data structure with standardized contents, these objects being exchanged with the coupler memory (Mc) through a user program by means of an instruction set.

Abstract: A communication network for programmable logic controllers (PLCs) wherein selected memory means of each PLC have at least two ports directly accessible by other PLCs and certain registers of the PLCs are identical to enable efficient, high-speed transfer of blocks of data between the PLCs.