US5237652A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Programming system for programmable logic controller
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-11-30
•
Granted: 1993-08-17
•
Expires: 2010-11-30
Abstract
Abstract A system for creating a program for a programmable logic controller (PLC). The user inputs a ladder logic command in an alphanumeric format, and the system creates a corresponding ladder logic graph on a display means. The user may then verify the relationship depicted in the graph, before forwarding the ladder logic command to the PLC.
Inventors
- 👤 Kirby L. McManus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:17
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/05; G05B19/056
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A system for generating a display useful for creating a program for a programmable logic controller (PLC), the program comprising one or more alphanumeric ladder logic commands, the PLC being adapted to execute said ladder logic commands, each ladder logic command comprising an output variable and logic specifications indicating the manner in which the output variable is to be determined, the system comprising: means for accepting user input data specifying one or more ladder logic commands in an alphanumeric format; and means for converting one or more selected ladder logic commands in alphanumeric format into a corresponding ladder logic graph and for displaying said ladder logic graph, the ladder logic graph including an output symbol corresponding to the output variable, and one or more connection symbols that graphically indicate the logic specifications of the selected ladder logic command.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
138 words
A system for generating a display useful for creating a program for a programmable logic controller (PLC), the program comprising one or more alphanumeric ladder logic commands, the PLC being adapted to execute said ladder logic commands, each ladder logic command comprising an output variable and logic specifications indicating the manner in which the output variable is to be determined, the system comprising: means for accepting user input data specifying one or more ladder logic commands in an alphanumeric format; and means for converting one or more selected ladder logic commands in alphanumeric format into a corresponding ladder logic graph and for displaying said ladder logic graph, the ladder logic graph including an output symbol corresponding to the output variable, and one or more connection symbols that graphically indicate the logic specifications of the selected ladder logic command.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1, wherein each ladder logic command comprises one or more input variables, and wherein the ladder logic graph includes an input symbol corresponding to each input variable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 2, wherein each connection symbol comprises one or more line-like elements interconnecting the input and output symbols.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system of claim 3, wherein the logic specifications include an AND specifier specifying a logical AND operation, an OR specifier specifying a logical OR condition, and wherein the line-like elements connect a pair of input symbols in parallel to signify a logical OR operation, and interconnect a pair of input symbols in series to signify a logical AND operation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1, wherein each input and output symbol includes an identifier for the symbol in an alphanumeric format.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the ladder logic graph comprises a two-dimensional array of grid elements, and wherein each input and each output symbol occupies one grid element.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of generating a display useful for creating a program for a programmable logic controller (PLC), the program comprising one or more alphanumeric ladder logic commands, the PLC being adapted to execute said ladder logic commands, each ladder logic command comprising an output variable and logic specifications indicating the manner in which the output variable is to be determined, the method comprising the steps of: accepting user input data specifying one or more ladder logic commands in an alphanumeric format; and converting the one or more specified ladder logic commands in alphanumeric format into a corresponding ladder logic graph, the ladder logic graph including an output symbol corresponding to the output variable and one or more connection symbols that graphically indicate the logic specifications of the selected ladder logic format; and displaying said ladder logic graph.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of generating a display useful for creating a program for a programmable logic controller (PLC), the program comprising one or more alphanumeric ladder logic commands, the PLC being adapted to execute said ladder logic commands, each ladder logic command comprising an output variable and logic specifications indicating the manner in which the output variable is to be determined, the method comprising the steps of: accepting user input data specifying one or more ladder logic commands in an alphanumeric format; and converting the one or more specified ladder logic commands in alphanumeric format into a corresponding ladder logic graph, the ladder logic graph including an output symbol corresponding to the output variable and one or more connection symbols that graphically indicate the logic specifications of the selected ladder logic format; and displaying said ladder logic graph.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 7, wherein each ladder logic command comprises one or more input variables, and wherein the ladder logic graph includes an input symbol corresponding to each input variable.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 8, wherein each connection symbol comprises one or more line-like elements interconnecting the input and output symbols.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the logic specifications include an AND specifier specifying a logical AND operation, an OR specifier specifying a logical OR condition, and wherein the line-like elements connect a pair of input symbols in parallel to signify a logical OR operation, and interconnect a pair of input symbols in series to signify a logical AND operation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 7, wherein each input and output symbol includes an identifier for the symbol in an alphanumeric format.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the ladder logic graph comprises a two-dimensional array of grid elements, and wherein each input and each output symbol occupies one grid element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
CA971252A
Cited
US4038562A
Cited
US4326207A
Cited
GB2099667A
Cited
GB2112974A
Cited
US4792918A
Cited
US4608628A
Cited
US4703414A
Cited
US4845627A
Cited
WO1989006010A1
Cited
DE3808135A1
Cited
WO1989009961A1
Cited
WO1989009976A1
Cited
US5062052A
Cited
US5062052B1
Cited
US4991076A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-08-16 | 1997-02-15 | 1997-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-16 | 2001-02-15 | 2001-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-16 | 2005-02-15 | 2005-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |