Programmable controller unit and method of processing user program
AssigneeOMRON Corporation
InventorsShuji Otani, Toshiro Izumi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A unit such as an I/O unit for a programmable controller stores a user program in a RAM but at least a portion of this user program is made into a library. At least a portion and maybe the whole of this user program is made into library and stored in a flash memory. The program thus made into a library can be executed when necessary but the flash memory is made in accessible by the tool and the program stored therein is protected from unauthorized person trying to read its content.
Claims12
A unit for a programmable controller, said unit comprising:
- a first memory device that is mounted to said unit and stores a user program;
- a second memory device mounted to said unit;
- library-creating means for creating a library out of at least a portion of said user program and storing said library in said second memory device;
- and
- program-executing means for executing a program made into said library stored in said second memory device;
- wherein said second memory device is inaccessible by a tool that uploads said user program.
A programmable controller comprising:
- a first memory device that is mounted to said programmable controller and stores a user program;
- a second memory device mounted to said programmable controller;
- library-creating means for creating a library out of at least a portion of said user program and storing said library in said second memory device;
- and
- program-executing means for executing a program made into said library stored in said second memory device;
- wherein said second memory device is inaccessible by a tool that uploads said user program.
A method of processing a user program, said method comprising the steps of:
- storing said user program in a first memory device of a programmable controller, said programmable controller including a second memory device not accessible by a tool that uploads said user program;
- making at least a portion of said user program stored in said first memory device into a library and protecting the program made into said library by storing in said second memory device;
- and
- causing the program made into said library and stored in said second memory device to be executed whenever required while said user program is executed.
A unit for a programmable controller including an input circuit for receiving an input signal, program-executing means for executing a user program based on said input signal and an output circuit for outputting results of executing said user program, said unit comprising:
- a first memory mounted to said unit and storing a user program;
- and
- a second memory mounted to said unit and preliminarily storing a program made into a part library, said user program being created by a tool and having inserted therein a dedicated command for calling and executing said program made into a part library, said program-executing means serving to scan said user program stored in said first memory device, to call and execute said program made into a part library by executing said dedicated command in said user program and to return to and execute said user program after calling said program, said second memory being made inaccessible by said tool such that said program made into a part library is not accessible.
A unit for a programmable controller including an input circuit for receiving an input signal, program-executing means for executing a user program based on said input signal and an output circuit for outputting results of executing said user program, said unit comprising:
- a first memory mounted to said unit and storing a flag, said flag being stored in said first memory by operating a tool;
- and
- a second memory mounted to said unit and preliminarily storing a program made into a total library, said flag causing said program made into a total library to be called and executed, said program-executing means serving to call and execute said program made into a total library in said second memory device according to said flag in said first memory, said second memory being made inaccessible by said tool such that said program made into a total library is not accessible.
A unit for a programmable controller, said unit comprising:
- a first memory device mounted to said unit and storing a user program which is created by a tool and has a dedicated command inserted therein for calling and executing a program made into a library;
- a second memory device mounted to said unit and preliminarily storing said program made into a library;
- and
- program-executing means for scanning and executing said user program and executing said program made into a library by using said dedicated command from said first memory device to call said program made into a library;
- wherein said program made into library is preliminarily stored in said second memory device and is protected by being made inaccessible by said tool used when said user program was created.
A unit for a programmable controller, said unit comprising:
- a first memory device mounted to said unit and storing a flag set by a tool;
- a second memory device mounted to said unit and preliminarily storing a program made into a library;
- and
- program-executing means for reading said flag stored in said first memory and calling said program made into a library from said second memory device to execute if said flag is set to indicate that said program should be executed;
- wherein said program made into library is preliminarily stored in said second memory device and is protected by being made inaccessible by said tool used for setting said flag.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.