Devices, systems, and methods for configuring a programmable logic controller

A system comprising:

• a circuit of a PLC (programmable logic controller) to automatically cause a plurality of distinct user interfaces to be rendered, each user interface from said plurality of distinct user interfaces adapted to configure a corresponding software application from a plurality of software applications associated with operating a PLC, for a selected software application from said plurality of software applications, said circuit adapted to automatically select and provide a first user interface if said PLC is executing a control program, wherein said control program is a set of machine instructions adapted to read inputs from one or more sensors and control one or more actuators, and a second user interface if said PLC is not executing said control program, said first user interface adapted to facilitate debugging said selected software application, said first user interface adapted to receive a debugging input from a user, said second user interface adapted to provide a current set of configuration parameters associated with said selected software application, said second user interface adapted to receive a configuration input from said user, and responsive to said configuration input, said second user interface adapted to change one or more configuration parameters from said current set of configuration parameters;
• wherein at least one of said plurality of distinct user interfaces is adapted to cause an automatic generation of a high-speed control procedure, said high-speed control procedure adapted to be executed by said PLC;
• and
• a software generator adapted to automatically generate a set of computer readable instructions for the PLC to control electrical inputs and outputs of the PLC responsive to information provided via at least one of said plurality of user interfaces.

A method comprising:

• rendering a plurality of distinct user interfaces automatically from a programmable logic controller (PLC);
• configuring a corresponding software application from a plurality of software applications associated with operating a programmable logic controller (PLC) via each user interface from said plurality of distinct user interfaces;
• selecting and providing automatically, for a selected software application from said plurality of software applications, via a user interface renderer, a first user interface if said PLC is executing a control program, wherein said control program is a set of machine instructions adapted to read inputs from one or more sensors and control one or more actuators, and a second user interface if said PLC is not executing said control program, wherein said first user interface is adapted to facilitate debugging said selected software application and receive a debugging input from a user, said second user interface adapted to provide a current set of configuration parameters associated with said selected software application, and receive a configuration input from said user, and responsive to said configuration input, said second user interface adapted to change one or more configuration parameters from said current set of configuration parameters;
• causing at least one of said plurality of distinct user interfaces to automatically generate a high-speed control procedure, said high-speed control procedure adapted to be executed by said PLC;
• providing a software generator;
• and
• automatically generating a set of computer readable instructions for the PLC to control electrical inputs and outputs of the PLC with said software generator in response to information provided via at least one of said plurality of user interfaces.

A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising machine instructions for activities comprising:

• automatically causing a plurality of distinct user interfaces to be rendered, each user interface from said plurality of distinct user interfaces adapted to configure a corresponding software application from a plurality of software applications associated with operating a programmable logic controller (PLC), for a selected software application from said plurality of software applications, a user interface renderer adapted to automatically select and provide a first user interface if said PLC is executing a control program, wherein said control program is a set of machine instructions adapted to read inputs from one or more sensors and control one or more actuators, and a second user interface if said PLC is not executing said control program, said first user interface adapted to facilitate debugging said selected software application, said first user interface adapted to receive a debugging input from a user, said second user interface adapted to provide a current set of configuration parameters associated with said selected software application, said second user interface adapted to receive a configuration input from said user, and responsive to said configuration input, said second user interface adapted to change one or more configuration parameters from said current set of configuration parameters;
• causing at least one of said plurality of distinct user interfaces to automatically generate a high-speed control procedure, said high-speed control procedure adapted to be executed by said PLC;
• and
• automatically generating a set of computer readable instructions for the PLC to control electrical inputs and outputs of the PLC with a software generator in response to information provided via at least one of said plurality of user interfaces.