Programmable controller processor with an intelligent functional module interface

A programmable controller having a rack with a set of signal busses, a plurality of removable input and output modules coupled to the set of signal busses and coupled to sensing and actuating devices on machinery controlled by the programmable controller, and a processor module;

• said processor module comprising:
• a system memory means for storing a ladder logic control program for operating the machinery, and for storing data representing the status of the sensing and actuating devices;
• a ladder logic instruction processor which executes a defined set of instructions that form the ladder logic control program;
• a processor section for executing instructions of the ladder logic control programs which can not be executed by said ladder logic processor;
• internal module buses coupling said system memory, said ladder logic processor and said processor section for transmission of data and control signals therebetween;
• and
• a rack interface coupled to said internal module buses and coupled to the set of signal busses, and including:
• a) means for exchanging data with said input and output modules over the set of data and control signal buses in response to control signals from said processor section;
• b) means for storing configuration information defining a set of expected bit transitions;
• c) means for detecting when the defined set of expected bit transitions occurs in data read from a designated input module, and providing an indication of that occurrence;
• and
• d) means for signalling said processor section when said means for detecting provides the indication.

In a programmable controller having a plurality of input and output modules that interface electrical signals with sensing and actuating devices on machinery operated by the programmable controller, and a set of data and control signal buses to which the input and output modules are coupled;

• a processor comprising:
• means for exchanging data with said input and output modules over the set of data and control signal buses;
• means for storing a selection mask that identifies which bits in the data from a predefined input module are to be tested for a transition;
• means for storing a polarity mask that identifies a transition direction for each of the bits identified by the selection mask;
• means for performing logical operations on data read from an input module to detect an occurrence of transitions defined by the selection mask and the polarity mask.