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US5867382A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Generic control systems using a virtual rack module
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1996-09-10
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Granted: 1999-02-02
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Expires: 2016-09-10
Abstract
Abstract A Virtual Rack module for a programmable logic controller. The Virtual Rack module comprises a subroutine written using a programming language understandable to the programmable logic controller, preferably using the relay ladder logic programming language. The main control program and the Virtual Rack module are compiled on the programming terminal connected to the programmable logic controller and then downloaded into the memory of the programmable logic controller. Once downloaded, the programmer can use configuration screens generated by the Virtual Rack module and displayed on the programming terminal to configure various input and output devices independent of when and where the input and output devices are connected to the programmable logic controller.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael G. McLaughlin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:51
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/05; G05B19/056; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/10; G05B2219/13; G05B2219/13004; G05B2219/13015
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of using a Virtual Rack module, comprising the steps of: installing an executable code containing a main control program and a Virtual Rack module in a programmable logic controller; configuring at least one module type connected to the programmable logic controller during runtime by using at least one configuration screen generated by the Virtual Rack module, whereby the Virtual Rack module allows the selected module type to be configured independent of when and where the at least one module type was installed in the programmable logic controller without creating a different executable code.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of using a Virtual Rack module, comprising the steps of: installing an executable code containing a main control program and a Virtual Rack module in a programmable logic controller; configuring at least one module type connected to the programmable logic controller during runtime by using at least one configuration screen generated by the Virtual Rack module, whereby the Virtual Rack module allows the selected module type to be configured independent of when and where the at least one module type was installed in the programmable logic controller without creating a different executable code.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of selecting a slot to be configured in said configuration step by clicking on a slot number display box located on the at least one configuration screen generated by the Virtual Rack module.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of selecting the at least one module type by clicking on a radio button located on the at least one configuration screen generated by the Virtual Rack module.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of activating the at least one module type by clicking on a change slot type button located on the at least one configuration screen generated by the Virtual Rack module.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one configuration screen generated by the Virtual Rack module comprises a configuration screen for a Digital Input module type.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one configuration screen for the Digital Input module type includes at least one of a channel number reference, a polarity and a state configuration field.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one configuration screen generated by the Virtual Rack module comprises a configuration screen for a Digital Output module type.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one configuration screen for the Digital Output module type includes at least one of a channel number reference, a state and a force configuration field.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one configuration screen generated by the Virtual Rack module comprises a configuration screen for an Analog Input module type.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one configuration screen for the Analog Input module type includes at least one of a channel number reference, a Low R, a High R, a factor, and a value configuration field.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one configuration screen generated by the Virtual Rack module comprises a configuration screen for an Analog Output module type.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one configuration screen for the Analog Output module type includes at least one of a channel number reference, a low R, a high R, a force analog and a value configuration field.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the force analog configuration screen generated by the Virtual Rack module includes sliders for allowing a programmer to check operation of a field device by directly forcing a current signal to the field device and displaying a current output of the field device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one configuration screen generated by the Virtual Rack module comprises a configuration screen for a Flex Analog Output module type.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one configuration screen for the Flex Analog Output module type includes at least one of a channel number reference, a low R, a high R, a force analog and a value configuration field.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the force analog configuration screen generated by the Virtual Rack module includes sliders for allowing the programmer to check operation of a field device by directly forcing a current signal to the field device and displaying a current output of the field device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one configuration screen generated by the Virtual Rack module comprises a configuration screen for a 16/16 Block module type.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one configuration screen for the 16/16 Block module type includes at least one of a channel number reference, a polarity, a state configuration field in an input section of the 16/16 Block module type, and at least one of a state and a force configuration field in an output section of the 16/16 Block module type.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one configuration screen generated by the Virtual Rack module comprises a configuration screen for a VHSC module type.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one configuration screen for the VHSC module type includes at least one of a channel number reference, a counter total display, an On Latch, an Off Latch, an Enable Output, a counter mode, a counter reset and a rollover configuration field.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of operating a programmable logic controller to create a generic control system by using a Virtual Rack module, comprising the steps of: creating a main control program and a Virtual Rack module using a programming terminal connected to the programmable logic controller; compiling the main control program and the Virtual Rack module to create an executable code; and downloading the executable code from the programming terminal into the programmable logic controller, whereby the Virtual Rack module creates a generic control system when called by the main control program and allows a user to configure at least one module type connected to the programmable logic controller during runtime independent of where and when the at least one module type was connected to the programmable logic controller without creating a different executable code.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of operating a programmable logic controller to create a generic control system by using a Virtual Rack module, comprising the steps of: creating a main control program and a Virtual Rack module using a programming terminal connected to the programmable logic controller; compiling the main control program and the Virtual Rack module to create an executable code; and downloading the executable code from the programming terminal into the programmable logic controller, whereby the Virtual Rack module creates a generic control system when called by the main control program and allows a user to configure at least one module type connected to the programmable logic controller during runtime independent of where and when the at least one module type was connected to the programmable logic controller without creating a different executable code.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 21, wherein the main control program and the Virtual Rack module are created using a programming language understandable by the programmable logic controller.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 22, wherein the programming language comprises relay ladder logic programming language.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of creating a generic control system, the method comprising the steps of: downloading an executable code including a main control program and a Virtual Rack module into a memory of a programmable device; selecting at least one module type connected to the programmable device by using a configuration screen generated by the Virtual Rack module; and configuring the at least one module type during runtime using the configuration screen generated by the Virtual Rack module without creating a different executable code.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of creating a generic control system, the method comprising the steps of: downloading an executable code including a main control program and a Virtual Rack module into a memory of a programmable device; selecting at least one module type connected to the programmable device by using a configuration screen generated by the Virtual Rack module; and configuring the at least one module type during runtime using the configuration screen generated by the Virtual Rack module without creating a different executable code.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of creating a generic control system in a programmable logic controller by using a Virtual Rack module, comprising the steps of: programming a ladder logic program to create an executable code containing a software engine for the generic control system; creating a configuration screen for configuring the software engine; and using the configuration screen for assigning channel numbers in the Virtual Rack module to addresses in the programmable logic controller during runtime without creating a different executable code.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of creating a generic control system in a programmable logic controller by using a Virtual Rack module, comprising the steps of: programming a ladder logic program to create an executable code containing a software engine for the generic control system; creating a configuration screen for configuring the software engine; and using the configuration screen for assigning channel numbers in the Virtual Rack module to addresses in the programmable logic controller during runtime without creating a different executable code.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
109 words
An apparatus for creating a generic control system by using a Virtual Rack module, comprising: a programming terminal having a data storage device for storing a set of program instructions compiled from a main control program that includes a Virtual Rack module; a programmable device connected to said programming computer, said programmable device including a memory for storing the set of program instructions from said programming terminal and a microprocessor for processing the set of program instructions stored in the memory, wherein said generic control system allows configuration of at least one module type connected to the programmable device during runtime without creating a different set of program instructions.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
109 words
An apparatus for creating a generic control system by using a Virtual Rack module, comprising: a programming terminal having a data storage device for storing a set of program instructions compiled from a main control program that includes a Virtual Rack module; a programmable device connected to said programming computer, said programmable device including a memory for storing the set of program instructions from said programming terminal and a microprocessor for processing the set of program instructions stored in the memory, wherein said generic control system allows configuration of at least one module type connected to the programmable device during runtime without creating a different set of program instructions.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the memory of said programmable logic controller comprises an electronically erasable programmable read-only memory.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising at least one module type installed in a slot of said programmable logic controller.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said at least one module type comprises a Digital Input module type.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said at least one module type comprises a Digital Output module type.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said at least one module type comprises a Analog Input module type.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said at least one module type comprises a Analog Output module type.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said at least one module type comprises a Flex Analog Output module type.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said at least one module type comprises a 16/16 Block module type.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said at least one module type comprises a VHSC module type.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-02-01 | 2002-08-03 | 2003-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-01 | 2006-08-03 | 2007-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-01 | 2010-08-03 | 2011-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |