Programming device for programming state controllers

Claim 1

A programming device for programming a programmable state controller, the programming device comprising: a memory for storing a structured text representing a control task, the structured text including a plurality of substructures, each substructure including: a first keyword followed by a first character string designating an instantaneous state, a second keyword arranged after the first character string and followed by a second character string designating an input vector, a third keyword arranged after the second character string and followed by a third character string designating a subsequent state, a fourth keyword arranged after the third character string and followed by a fourth character string designating an output vector; a display for displaying the structured text; means for generating a control table that is executable by the programmable state controller, the control table including: an instantaneous state generated in accordance with the first keyword and the first character string, an input vector assignment generated in accordance with the second keyword and the second character string, a subsequent state generated in accordance with the third keyword and the third character string, and a control data vector assignment generated in accordance with the fourth keyword and the fourth character string.