Abstract: A system that enables controlling motion over a network comprises an interface that receives motion control data that includes a time stamp from the network. Additionally, the system includes a motion control component that utilizes the received motion control data to update properties associated with the motion control component based at least in part on the time stamp. The system can also include a clock that is synchronized with disparate clocks associated with disparate motion control components located on the network.

Abstract: A system that enables controlling motion over a network comprises an interface that receives motion control data that includes a time stamp from the network. Additionally, the system includes a motion control component that utilizes the received motion control data to update properties associated with the motion control component based at least in part on the time stamp. The system can also include a clock that is synchronized with disparate clocks associated with disparate motion control components located on the network.

Abstract: In an industrial controller associated with independent I/O modules for exchanging signals between a controlled machine and the controller, a control program executed by the controller is associated with an I/O map identifying functionality of the independent I/O modules. At initialization of the controller, function keys are transmitted to the I/O modules, the latter which confirm that they are capable of the functions expected by the control program. The I/O modules may change their function according to the function keys and may accept functions not identical to those performed by the I/O module if the I/O module performs at greater functionality.

Abstract: A programmable controller has a rack that houses and electrically connects a number of I/O modules and a processor module. The processor module includes a external communication network interface, a system memory, a processor section which executes a user-defined control program and a I/O interface that handles the exchange of data with the other modules. The I/O interface has circuitry for pre-processing data from defined input modules, thereby relieving the processing section of certain tasks. The shared memory contains information defining the input module from which to obtain data for pre-processing and the bits of that data to be examined for specified logic level transitions. The stored information also designates the frequency at which the data is to be read from the defined input module and how many occurrences of the specified logic level transitions must take place before the I/O interface signals the processor section that the pre-processing is complete.

Abstract: The voltage between a work instrument and a workpiece varies with the distance between them. A microcoded controller is used to compare the voltage between the work instrument and the workpiece when the instrument moves relative to the workpiece, to generate a correction signal. The correction signal is the sum of a proportional term, a derivative term and an integral term. A servo means responds to the correction signal to correct the distance between the work instrument and the work piece so as to maintain the voltage between them at a set level. A battery-backed memory is used to store crucial parameters necessary for operating the automatic control system to prevent loss of the parameters from the controller memory caused by power interruptions. A stepper motor operating in either the full of half step mode may be used to move the work instrument away from or towards the work piece in response to the correction signal.