Pulse width modulated outputs for an output module in 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 and a plurality of configuration parameters, wherein the configuration parameters define a minimum on time and a period for at least one pulse width modulated waveform;
• and
• a processor configured to execute the series of instructions to:
• read the configuration parameters,
• determine a desired on time for each pulse width modulated waveform,
• compare the desired on time to the minimum on time,
• generate a first pulse width modulated output waveform as a function of the configuration parameters if the desired 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 desired on time is less than the minimum on time, and
• output the first pulse width modulated output waveform and the second pulse width modulated output waveform 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 memory device configured to store a series of instructions and a plurality of configuration parameters, wherein the configuration parameters define a fixed number of pulses for at least one pulse width modulated waveform;
• and
• a processor configured to execute the series of instructions to read the configuration parameters and generate at least one pulse width modulated output waveform having the fixed number of pulses.