Programmable controller and method of operation thereof

A programmable controller which operates based on the contents of a first storage means for storing at least one of input signal states, output signal states, and predetermined internal data, said controller comprising:

• second storage means for sequentially storing a predetermined number of data blocks, each of said data blocks comprising address data corresponding to first addresses in said first storage means, write data to be written to a predetermined number of addresses of said first storage means beginning at said first addresses, write data quantity data, and at least one of cycle designation data and timing data;
• a determining means for detecting the presence of a task write signal;
• changing means for reading said data blocks from said second storage means one block at a time and changing said contents of said first storage means sequentially with said address data and said write data of said data blocks in accordance with at least one of said cycle designation data and said timing data to perform a program task upon detection of the presence of said write task signal, and for operating said controller with the contents said first storage means to perform said processing cycles with at least one of said input states, output signal states, and predetermined internal data in the absence of said task write signal;
• and
• counting means for counting a number of data changes performed by said changing means, wherein said changing means ceases operation of said program task when said number equals said write data quantity data in the absence of said task write signal.

A method for operating a programmable controller based on the contents of a first storage means for storing at least one of input signal states, output signal states, and predetermined internal data, and having a second storage means for storing address data corresponding to addresses of said first storage means, write data, and at least one of:

• cycle designation data and timing data, wherein said method comprises the steps of:
• detecting the presence or absence of a write task signal;
• performing processing cycles based on at least one of said input signal states, output signal states, and predetermined internal data in the absence of said write task signal;
• inputting data from said second storage means to said first storage means upon detection of the presence of said write task signal;
• determining write data quantity data based on the contents of said second storage means;
• changing said contents of said first storage means in accordance with said address data and write data after detection of the presence of said write task signal based upon at least one of said cycle designation data and said timing data;
• counting a number of data written from said second storage means to said first storage means;
• and
• returning the program controller to performing said processing cycles when said number of written data equals said write data quantity data.

A method for operating a programmable controller based on the contents of a first storage means for storing input signal states, output signal states, and predetermined internal data, and having a second storage means for storing address data corresponding to addresses of said first storage means, write data, and write data quantity data and at least one of:

• cycle designation data and timing data, wherein said method comprises the steps of:
• detecting the presence or absence a write task signal;
• performing processing cycles based on at least one of said input states, output states, and predetermined internal data in the absence of said write task signal;
• sequentially inputting a predetermined number of data blocks from said second storage means, each of said data blocks comprising address data corresponding to a first addresses of said first storage means and write data to be written to a predetermined number of addresses of said first storage means beginning at said first address upon detection of the presence of said write task signal;
• reading said data blocks from said second storage means one block at a time after detection of the presence of said write task signal;
• determining write data quantity data based on the contents of said second storage means;
• changing said contents of said first storage means sequentially in accordance with said address data and said write data of said read data blocks after detection of the presence of said write task signal based upon said write data quantity data and at least one of said cycle designation data and said timing data;
• counting a number of data written from said second storage means to said first storage means;
• and
• returning the program controller to performing said processing cycles when said number of data equals said write data quantity data.