Abstract: A controller includes a port via which a control command is output to an industrial equipment at every control cycle, a clock configured to generate a control clock based on which the control cycle is generated, and a time counter configured to count a time counter value at every cycle that is equal to the control cycle.

Abstract: Provided is a communication system, in which a first industrial machine and a second industrial machine are configured to communicate to/from each other, the communication system comprising circuitry configured to synchronize first time information updated by the first industrial machine and second time information updated by the second industrial machine with each other, wherein the second industrial machine is configured to: acquire state data on the second industrial machine; and transmit to the first industrial machine the second time information at a time when the state data is acquired and the state data.

Abstract: A control apparatus for performing control processing and user period processing within a control period for an industrial machine includes processing circuitry that sets content of the control processing, and sets an upper limit of the user period processing. The user period processing is different from the control processing.

Abstract: A communication system comprising a first industrial machine and a second industrial machine, which are configured to communicate with each other, wherein the first industrial machine is configured to transmit a copy instruction to the second industrial machine, and wherein the second industrial machine is configured to: update data in a first storage area based on its own operation; copy the data in the first storage area to a second storage area when the copy instruction is received; and transmit the data in the second storage area to the first industrial machine.

Abstract: A data collection system includes a subordinate controller configured to control an electrical device, and a superordinate controller connected to the subordinate controller via synchronous communication and asynchronous communication to control the subordinate controller. The superordinate controller includes a reference signal transmitter to transmit a timing reference signal to the subordinate controller via the synchronous communication. The subordinate controller includes data storage configured to record data relating to the electrical device; a delay time calculator to measure a delay time from a timing at which the subordinate controller receives the timing reference signal to a timing at which the data storage starts recording the data; and a data transmitter configured to transmit the data and the delay time to the superordinate controller via the asynchronous communication or the synchronous communication.

Abstract: A controller includes a port via which a control command is output to an industrial equipment at every control cycle, a clock configured to generate a control clock based on which the control cycle is generated, and a time counter configured to count a time counter value at every cycle that is equal to the control cycle.

Abstract: A control device configured to control an industrial machine, the control device having: a plurality of memories including a first memory configured to hold data when a power supply is off and a second memory configured to inhibit data from being held when the power supply is off; and circuitry configured to: set, in each of a plurality of data units, an attribute indicating whether the data unit is to be held when the power supply is off; and set an address of each data unit such that each data unit is stored in one of the plurality of memories corresponding to the attribute.

Abstract: A programmable controller includes multiple interface circuitry modules and multiple CPU modules. An interface circuitry module of the interface circuitry modules transmits potential signal having electric potential state of different electric potential states to a CPU module of the CPU modules, the CPU module is connectable to a second CPU module of the CPU modules and includes a CPU which performs arithmetic processing and a memory that stores discrimination and definition information, the discrimination information includes binarized information indicating whether the CPU in the CPU module is main or sub CPU, the first discrimination information is set based on the electric potential state of the potential signal input into the CPU module from the interface circuitry module to which the CPU module is connected, and the definition information includes setting information indicating whether the CPU in the CPU module is set in advance as the main CPU or sub CPU.

Abstract: A communication system comprising a first industrial machine and a second industrial machine, which are configured to communicate with each other, wherein the first industrial machine is configured to transmit a copy instruction to the second industrial machine, and wherein the second industrial machine is configured to: update data in a first storage area based on its own operation; copy the data in the first storage area to a second storage area when the copy instruction is received; and transmit the data in the second storage area to the first industrial machine.

Abstract: Provided is a communication system, in which a first industrial machine and a second industrial machine are configured to communicate to/from each other, the communication system comprising circuitry configured to synchronize first time information updated by the first industrial machine and second time information updated by the second industrial machine with each other, wherein the second industrial machine is configured to: acquire state data on the second industrial machine; and transmit to the first industrial machine the second time information at a time when the state data is acquired and the state data.

Abstract: A control apparatus for performing control processing and user period processing within a control period for an industrial machine includes processing circuitry that sets content of the control processing, and sets an upper limit of the user period processing. The user period processing is different from the control processing.

Abstract: A programmable controller to control a control machine includes an arithmetic processor, a non-volatile storage, a volatile storage, and a selection transferor. The non-volatile storage stores a plurality of control projects executable by the arithmetic processor to perform control processing of the control machine. The volatile storage is configured to store at least one control project among the plurality of control projects. The selection transferor is configured to select the at least one control project from among the plurality of control projects stored in the non-volatile storage and transfer the selected one control project to the volatile storage so that the arithmetic processor executes the at least one control project stored in the volatile storage.

Abstract: A programmable controller to control a control machine includes an arithmetic processor, a storage, and a selector. The storage stores a plurality of definition files and a control program. The definition files each define a corresponding relationship between specification information and a plurality of control elements of the control machine. The specification information specifies an input-output end from and to which the programmable controller receives and outputs at least one of a command and information. The control program is executable by the arithmetic processor to input and output at least one of the command and the information from and to the control elements based on at least one of the definition files. The selector is configured to select the at least one definition file to use as a basis on which the arithmetic processor executes the control program.

Abstract: A programmable controller includes multiple interface circuitry modules and multiple CPU modules. An interface circuitry module of the interface circuitry modules transmits potential signal having electric potential state of different electric potential states to a CPU module of the CPU modules, the CPU module is connectable to a second CPU module of the CPU modules and includes a CPU which performs arithmetic processing and a memory that stores discrimination and definition information, the discrimination information includes binarized information indicating whether the CPU in the CPU module is main or sub CPU, the first discrimination information is set based on the electric potential state of the potential signal input into the CPU module from the interface circuitry module to which the CPU module is connected, and the definition information includes setting information indicating whether the CPU in the CPU module is set in advance as the main CPU or sub CPU.