Equipment control system and method

A device control method in which a device is controlled by a programmable control system having a first unit and a plurality of second units, said first unit and said plurality of second units being individually provided, comprising:

• the first control step of outputting an operation signal based on an operation sequence of a to-be-controlled device in said first control unit;
• the first communication step of transmitting the operation signal from said first control unit to the plurality of second control units;
• the second communication step of informing conditions of said device mutually among said plurality of second units to obtain condition information including conditions of equipment detected by other second units;
• and
• the second control step of performing drive control of said equipment on the basis of the operation signal input through the first communication step and the condition information.

A control apparatus constituting a device control system, comprising:

• receiving means for receiving a drive command from an external control apparatus;
• communication means for communicating with another external control apparatus to share input signals from a to-be-controlled device;
• and
• control means for operating said device connected to said control apparatus on the basis of the drive command received by said receiving means, the input signal from said device connected to said control apparatus, and the input signals obtained by said communication means.

A programmable controller system, comprising:

• a first unit which instructs operation of devices;
• and
• a plurality of second units which detects conditions of devices and operates the devices, said first unit and said plurality of second units being individually provided, said first unit comprising:
• output means for outputting a control signal for operating a to-be-controlled device in accordance with a sequence program which defines operation sequence of the devices, and each of said plurality of second units comprising:
• obtaining means for obtaining conditions of the devices from other second units to obtain condition information including conditions detected by other second units;
• and
• control means for controlling the to-be-controlled device based on said condition information and the control signal outputted by said output means.

A process control system having a first unit and a plurality of second units, said first and second units being individually provided, comprising:

• first control means for outputting an operation signal based on an operation sequence in said first unit;
• first communication means for transmitting the operation signal to said plurality of second units;
• second communication means for informing condition information including condition data obtained by other second units mutually among said plurality of second units;
• and
• second control means for performing process control on the basis of the operation signal input by said first communication means and said condition information.

A process control system having a first unit and a plurality of second units, said first and second units being individually provided, comprising:

• a first controller for outputting an operation signal based on an operation sequence in said first unit;
• a first communication assembly for transmitting the operation signal to said plurality of second units;
• a second communication assembly for informing condition information including condition data obtained by other second units mutually among said plurality of second units;
• and
• a second controller for performing process control on the basis of the operation signal input by said first communication means and said condition information.