Programmable controller with hardwired backup connecting terminals and related control system using programmable controller and hardwired backup

An improved means for controlling a given operating system, said means including a plurality of sensors for monitoring given parameters of said system and for producing a plurality of monitored signals representative of said parameters, a plurality of controlled devices for varying given parameters of said system in response to a respectively associated plurality of control signals, a programmable controller including a memory programmable with a set of binary coded instructions and a processor for processing a plurality of binary data input signals in accordance with the set of instructions stored in said memory to produce a plurality of binary data output signals, a plurality of input converters for converting said monitored signals into binary data signals compatible with the remainder of said programmable controller, means for continually transmitting each of said binary data signals from said input converters to said processor as input signals for said processor, a plurality of output converters for converting said binary data output signals of said processor into a plurality of control signals compatible with said controlled devices, and means for continually transmitting said plurality of binary data output signals from said processor to said plurality of output converters with each of said output converters receiving a respectively associated one of said latter signals, and wherein the improvement comprises a hardwired logic circuit for converting a set of binary data input signals into a set of binary data output signals in accordance with a fixed logic scheme, means for continually supplying at least one of said binary data output signals from one of said input converters to said hardwired logic circuit as an input to said hardwired logic circuit, and means for continually supplying at least one binary data output signal from said hardwired logic circuit to one of said output converters as an input to said output converter in ORed relation to the input signal supplied to the same output converter by said processor.