Output module for an industrial controller

An output module for an industrial controller, comprising:

• a plurality of output terminals configured to generate an output signal;
• a memory device configured to store a series of instructions, a plurality of configuration parameters, and a scheduling module, wherein the configuration parameters define at least one pulse width modulated waveform;
• and
• a processor configured to execute the series of instructions to:
• read the configuration parameters;
• generate at least one pulse width modulated output waveform as a function of the configuration parameters;
• execute the scheduling module to assign the start of the on time for at least one of the pulse width modulated waveforms at a first time within the PWM period and at least one of the pulse width modulated waveforms at a second time within the PWM period;
• and
• output each pulse width modulated waveform at one of the output terminals, wherein:
• the start of the on time for a second pulse width modulated waveform is set equal to the end of the on time for a first pulse width modulated waveform,
• if the end of the on time for the second pulse width modulated waveform is less than the end of the PWM period, the start of the on time for the second pulse width modulated waveform remains set equal to the end of the on time for the first pulse width modulated waveform, but
• if the end of the on time for the second pulse width modulated waveform is greater than the end of the PWM period, a first portion of the on time for the second pulse width modulated waveform executes from the end of the on time for the first pulse width modulated waveform until the end of the PWM period and a second portion of the on time for the second pulse width modulated waveform executes from the start of the PWM period through the remainder of the on time for the second first pulse width modulated waveform.

An output module for an industrial controller, comprising:

• a plurality of output terminals configured to generate an output signal;
• a memory device configured to store a series of instructions and a plurality of configuration parameters, wherein the configuration parameters define at least one pulse width modulated waveform, a minimum on time, a period of the pulse width modulation waveform, and a variable on time;
• and
• a processor configured to execute the series of instructions to:
• read the configuration parameters;
• compare the variable on time to the minimum on time;
• generate a first pulse width modulated output waveform as a function of the configuration parameters if the variable on time is greater than or equal to the minimum on time;
• generate a second pulse width modulated output waveform as a function of the configuration parameters if the variable on time is less than the minimum on time;
• and
• output the first and the second pulse width modulated output waveforms at one of the output terminals.

An output module for an industrial controller, comprising:

• a plurality of output terminals configured to generate an output signal;
• a clock circuit generating a time signal configured to be synchronized to a time signal from a master clock;
• a memory device configured to store a series of instructions, a plurality of configuration parameters, the state of each output terminal, and the time signal in a buffer at a predefined time interval;
• and
• a processor configured to execute the series of instructions to:
• read the configuration parameters;
• detect a fault condition;
• place each of the plurality of outputs in a first fault state as a function of the fault condition and the configuration parameters;
• delay for a time as a function of the configuration parameters;
• and
• place each of the plurality of outputs in a second fault state as a function of the fault condition and the configuration parameters.