CN100397268C - Method and structure of storage device using PLC - Google Patents

Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments may provide a method for utilizing a memory cartridge connected to a PLC, the memory cartridge containing a plurality of memory segments. The method may comprise a number of acts including: providing a storage box, the storage box housing the storage module; and providing the storage box with a project file. The project file may contain a user program, a recipe containing a plurality of input values, each input value from the plurality of input values corresponding to a process variable, and the structure of the data log file stored separately from the data log file.

Description

Method and structure of storage device using PLC

Cross References to Related Applications

This application claims pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/436,252 (Attorney Docket No. 2002P20757US) filed December 23, 2002 and pending Serial No. 60 filed December 23, 2002 /436,249 (Attorney Docket No. 2002P20758US), and both applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Background technique

Commercially available programmable logic controllers (PLCs) may be equipped with storage devices for storage. The memory device, which may be a memory cartridge, is often an electronically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) device. A common method using memory boxes involves the storage of PLC configuration and programming information.

U.S. Patent No. 5,727,170 (Mitchell) cites in its statement: "The PLC has a user-configurable protocol port attached to it. Briefly stated, at the PLC communication port or as a result of a user program or I/O event, a special flag bit can be set, which allows the communication port to be activated. This is done by the flag bit causing an interrupt to occur in the PLC user program, which allows the user to utilize a user-specified protocol scheme when this particular bit is not set rather than standard communication/programming protocol communication." See abstract.

U.S. Patent No. 5,485,590 (Hyatt) cites by claim: "The module enables a programmable controller to be connected to multiple serial communication networks on which data can be exchanged according to different protocols. The module has a central controller And for each network independent port circuit. Each port circuit includes a microprocessor and a shared memory, the central controller and the port microprocessor have the right to use the shared memory to exchange data. The central controller transfers data from the shared The memory is transferred to the module output coupled to other components of the programmable controller. The removable storage box stores multiple programs for execution by the port microprocessor to exchange data over the network using different communication protocols. Configuration data is stored in module that defines which program is to be transferred from the storage box to the shared memory of each port circuit.Protocol parameter configuration queries are stored for each program so that the user can be queried to select parameter values for the communication protocol used by the program .” See Abstract.

U.S. Patent No. 5,991,510 (Beaulieu) cites by claim: "The robot drive has operating and configuration parameters stored at the installed location in a readily removable storage device on or near the drive such that parameters such as arm design and System layout-related special data including teaching sites can be maintained in relation to the drive and installation, whereby the drive system can be installed and replaced in a minimum of time, since the storage device does not require reprogramming. Static memory or master secret This removable storage device in the form of a key (e.g., Dallas Key or EProm, etc.) can be affixed to the robot body or away from a nearby board, and can store arm design parameters, programmed while on the robot or off-line, And become the only part that is configured to be designed and manufactured relative to the arm. Furthermore, the nominal system layout parameters can be pre-stored in the key, and when the key is fixed on the robot driver, the robot automatically has information on both the arm design and the system layout, this information will help avoid collisions and provide a starting point for precise teaching of the staging. In addition, when the robot is installed, the precise position parameters of each staging can be stored in the key. This key will thus contain all the information necessary to make the robot unique to the unique system, and when the robot drive is replaced, by securing the original key to or near the new robot, the original robot will be taken All parameters." See Abstract.

U.S. Patent No. 4,937,419 (Kolodziej) cites by claim: "Programmable welding and machine controllers are used to control welding machines. The controllers include a central processing unit containing a stored control program that is connected to a running The memory of the welding operation of the machine as well as the operation of the machine itself.The controller receives input from the machine in its different operating states as well as the data entry and display unit and the current monitor of the welding operation, which is controlled by heating output to activate the ignition circuit to control the welding operation. A backup of this stored program is available through an accessory port of the memory backup storage unit.” See Abstract.

summary

Certain exemplary embodiments may provide a method for utilizing a memory cartridge connected to a PLC, the memory cartridge containing a plurality of memory segments. The method may comprise a number of acts including: providing a storage box, the storage box housing the storage module; and providing the storage box with a project file. The project file may contain a user program, a recipe containing a plurality of input values each corresponding to a process variable, and a structure of the data log file stored separately from the data log file.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention and its various potential embodiments will be more readily understood from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system 1000;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a data structure 2000;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 3000;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 4000;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 5000;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 6000;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 7000;

Figure 8 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 8000; and

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an information device 9000 .

Detailed description

As used herein, an I/O device may include any sensory-oriented input and/or output device, such as audio, video, haptic (including temperature, pressure, pain, texture, etc.), smell, and/or Taste devices including, for example, monitors, displays, keyboards, keypads, touchpads, pointing devices, microphones, speakers, video cameras, cameras, scanners, and/or printers, potentially including I/O devices that can The port to be attached or connected to.

As used herein, a presentation device renders a person perceivable as, for example, data, commands, text, graphics, audio, video, animation, and/or hyperlinks, etc.

As used herein, an information appliance may be any general purpose and/or special purpose computer such as a personal computer, workstation, server, minicomputer, mainframe, supercomputer, computer terminal, laptop, wearable computer, and and/or personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile terminals, Bluetooth devices, communicators, "smart" phones (such as flip-flop Treo-type devices), instant messaging service (such as Blackberry) receivers, pagers, fax machines, cellular phones, Conventional telephones, telephonic devices, programmed microprocessors or microcontrollers and/or peripheral integrated circuit elements, ASICs or other integrated circuits, hardware electronic logic circuits such as discrete element circuits, and/or circuits such as PLDs, PLAs, FPGAs , or programmable logic devices such as PAL, etc. In general, any device on which resides a finite state machine capable of executing at least some of the methods, structures, or/and graphical user interfaces described herein may be used as an information device. An information device may contain well-known components such as one or more network interfaces, one or more processors, one or more memories containing instructions, and/or one or more input/output (I/O) devices, among others.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an information device 9000 . The information device 9000 may include a network interface 9100 . Network interface device 9100 may include a telephone, cellular telephone, cellular modem, telephone data modem, fax modem, walkie-talkie, Ethernet card, cable modem, digital subscriber line interface, bridge, network hub, router, or other similar device . The information device 9000 may be directly and/or indirectly connected to other information devices via the network interface 9100 .

The information device 9000 may further include a processor 9200 . Processor 9200 may be a central processor, a local processor, a remote processor, a parallel processor, and/or a distributed processor, among others. The processor may be a general purpose microprocessor such as the Pentium III series of microprocessors manufactured by Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, California. In another embodiment, the processor may be an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) or a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) that has been designed to implement at least one of the methods disclosed herein in its hardware and/or firmware. Some examples. The processor 9200 may adapt the information device 9000 for execution according to a plurality of instructions.

The information device 9000 may further include a memory 9300 . Memory 9300 may include any device capable of storing analog or digital information, including, for example, nonvolatile memory, volatile memory, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash memory, magnetic media, hard disk, floppy disk , tape, optical media, compact disc, compact card (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), and/or disk array (raid array), etc. The memory may be coupled to the processor and may store instructions suitable for execution by the processor according to embodiments disclosed herein. Memory 9300 may be adapted to store instructions 9400 .

Instructions 9400 may comprise a plurality of instructions written in a machine readable language. When the instructions 9400 are executed by the processor 9200, the instructions 9400 may be adapted to process information. In an efficient embodiment, the information utilized by processor 9200 using instructions 9400 may inform and/or be modified by a processing operation.

The information device 9000 may further include an I/O device 9500 . I/O device 9500 may be adapted to allow information device 9000 to communicate directly and/or indirectly with other information devices and/or users.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system 1000 . As shown, system 1000 may include a controller 1200 such as a programmable logic controller (PLC). System 1000 may include machines and/or processes that may be monitored and/or controlled by PLC 1200 . System 1000 may further include hardware and/or software adapted to allow a user to communicate with PLC 1200 . PLC 1200 may be a commercially ordered PLC. Alternatively, PLC 1200 may be an information device. The PLC 1200 can be used to monitor and/or control processes such as industrial processes. For example, PLC 1200 may monitor and/or control an alarm indicator, a relay, a sensor, another controller, and/or a motion device such as a stepper motor controller, servo controller, brake controller, etc. Motion controllers; motion drives such as stepper drives, servo drives, etc.; and/or actuators such as stepper motors, servo motors, linear motors, electric motors, ball screws, servo valves, hydraulic actuators, pneumatic valves, etc.

PLC 1200 may contain a central processing unit (CPU) via which instructions may be processed and appropriate control signals determined. PLC 1200 may further include and/or be coupled to input-output (I/O) devices. This I/O device can present information obtained from the PLC1200. Users can also interact with PLC 1200 via I/O devices. As used herein, interacting means receiving alerts or notifications, revising or switching programs, checking control algorithms, and/or modifying graphical displays, among others.

A storage device such as storage box 1100 may be coupled to PLC 1200 directly or via a network. In some embodiments, memory cartridge 1100 may be plugged into and/or directly connected to PLC 1200 . The storage device may be nonvolatile memory, volatile memory, ROM, random access memory, flash memory, magnetic media, hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic tape, optical media, optical disk, CD, DVD, and/or disk array, among others. The storage device may provide storage of instructions or data usable by the PLC's CPU.

In an exemplary embodiment, PLC 1200 may be coupled to user interface device 1300 through network 1600 . Network 1600 can be public, private, circuit switched, packet switched, virtual, wireless, telephone, cellular, cable, DSL, satellite, microwave, AC power, twisted pair, Ethernet, token ring , LAN, WAN, Internet, intranet, wireless, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, airport, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and/or any equivalent thereof, among others.

Through user interface device 1300 , the user can interact with PLC 1200 . The user interface device 1300 may be an information device. For example, through user interface device 1300 , the user may be connectable to PLC 1200 and/or controllably monitor process by PLC 1200 . The user may also interact with PLC 1200 through user interface device 1300 .

PLC 1200 may be further coupled to process element 1400 via network 1600 . Process elements 1400 may include machine tools, robots, chemical reactors, furnaces, reactors, assembly machines, packaging machines, and/or portions of conveyor equipment, among others. In an efficient embodiment, process element 1400 may be controlled, influenced, and/or monitored via PLC 1200 .

The PLC can further communicate with the user through the network interface device 1500 . Network interface device 1500 may be a telephone, cellular telephone, modem, cellular modem, telephone data modem, fax modem, walkie-talkie, Ethernet card, cable modem, digital subscriber line interface, bridge, network hub, router, or other similar equipment. Network interface device 1500 may be adapted to allow a user to communicate with PLC 1200 when located remotely from PLC 1200 . Network 1600 may be further coupled to peripheral network 1700 through network interface device 1500 . Perimeter network 1700 may be public, private, circuit switched, packet switched, virtual, wireless, telephone, cellular, cable, DSL, satellite, microwave, AC power, twisted pair, Ethernet, token Ring, LAN, WAN, Internet, Intranet, Wireless, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airport, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and/or any equivalent thereof, etc.

The peripheral network 1700 may further be connected to a remote user interface device 1800 . Remote user interface device 1800 may be an information device including an I/O device. In an efficient embodiment, peripheral network 1700 may be adapted to allow users to interact with PLC 1200 . Perimeter network 1700 may allow users to interact with PLCs 1200 at locations hundreds or even thousands of miles away from PLCs 1200 . Peripheral network 1700 may be used to enhance utility and reduce programming, management, and/or maintenance costs attributable to PLC 1200 and/or monitoring and/or control of process element 1400 . Process element 1400 may be one of multiple process elements.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a data structure 2000 . An exemplary embodiment of data structure 2000 may include project file 2100 . Project file 2100 may be stored on a storage device such as a storage box. Project file 2100 may contain program 2200, recipe 2300, information representing data log file structure 2400, information representing recipe structure 2500, and/or supporting documentation 2600, among others. Data log file structure 2400 may be stored separately from corresponding data log files, which may be stored on any storage device. The recipe structure 2500 may be stored separately from the corresponding recipe 2300 . Project file 2100, and/or one or more elements thereof, may be adapted to allow a PLC to monitor and/or control process elements.

Program 2200 may comprise a set of machine readable instructions. Program 2200 may be transferred to a PLC. Program 2200 can be executed on a PLC. Program 2200 may be stored in project file 2100 . In an effective embodiment, the program 2200 is and/or can be adapted to facilitate execution by the PLC such as displaying process flow, transmitting information, storing information, processing information, prompting user input, controlling process variables, and/or reporting process output, etc. Waiting for the task.

Recipe 2300 may contain at least one of a plurality of input values, each input value from a plurality of input values corresponding to a process variable. Each process variable can be used to monitor and/or control the process through the PLC. Recipe 2300 may contain values for setting parameters such as machine speed, machine size, product type, product composition, product size, product label, package type, package size, package label, pressure, temperature, and/or any other relevant process parameters . Recipe 2300 may be stored in project file 2100 . A recipe 2300 may be communicated to provide settings to a program 2200 for rendering a markable product and/or an operable process using the PLC. Alternatively, the recipe 2300 may be communicated to a different processing device and/or software to provide settings to render a markable product and/or an operable process.

The information representing the data log structure 2400 may include a symbolic representation of how the data log files are formatted for storage and retrieval. Information representative of the data log file structure 2400 may be stored in the project file 2100 . The information representing the data log file structure 2400 may contain a series of values and/or characters related to the structural characteristics of the data log file. The data log file and/or information representing the data log structure 2400 may be stored on the storage cartridge or on another storage device. Information representing data log file structure 2400 may be suitable for rendering a machine-storable and/or machine-readable data log file. Information representing the data log file structure 2400 may be stored separately from the data log file.

The information representing the prescription structure 2500 may include a symbolic representation of how the prescription is formatted for storage and retrieval. Information representing recipe structure 2500 may be stored in project file 2100 . The information representing the prescription structure 2500 may contain a series of values and/or characters related to structural features of the prescription. Information representing prescription structure 2500 may be suitable for rendering the machine-storable and/or machine-readable prescription. Information representing the prescription structure 2500 may be stored separately from the prescription.

Supporting document 2600 may contain textual and/or visual representations of information that may be ingested to improve understanding of the PLC, memory cartridge, PLC-related hardware component, PLC-related software component, and/or controlled process Wait for understanding. Supporting documentation 2600 may be stored in project file 2100 . In an exemplary embodiment, supporting documentation 2600 may be reviewed by a user at a user interface device to facilitate understanding and/or modifying PLCs, PLC-related hardware, PLC-related software, procedures, project files, data log files, Information representing the structure of the data log file, a recipe, and/or information representing the structure of the recipe, and the like. Alternatively, supporting document 2600 may be presented to the user via an I/O device connectable to the information device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 3000 for using a storage device. At act 3100, a starting storage segment on a storage cartridge may be located where the project file, or any component thereof, may be read and/or written. Alternatively, the starting storage segment may be located on a storage device. In an efficient embodiment, the project file may occupy a single memory segment. Alternatively, in an efficient embodiment, the project file may occupy multiple memory segments.

At act 3200, the project file can be provided to a storage box. Alternatively, the project file may be provided to the storage device. Providing the project file to the storage device may allow information contained in the project file to be sequentially transferred to the PLC. For example, in the event of a power failure, in which the volatile memory is erased in the PLC, some of the information erased from the volatile memory can be recovered from the project file stored in the storage device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 4000 for using the storage device. At act 4050, the user may request to obtain (eg, see, hear, render, and/or obtain rights to use) information that is stored and/or storable on the storage device. This information may include programming code, programming code documentation, supporting documentation pertaining to hardware and/or software associated with the PLC, process data, prescription code, and/or prescription information, one or more data logs, and the like. The user can potentially enhance monitoring, control, and/or management of the PLC and/or at least one process element with the obtained information.

At act 4100, the user may be prompted to select a language for presenting information from multiple language selections. The user may be enabled to provide choices corresponding to the selected language. The user may be allowed to make selections on I/O devices connectable to the information device. Language selections may include any languages such as English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, and/or Chinese, among others. The user may select a language by providing user input corresponding to the selected language.

At act 4200, the user input may be received corresponding to the selected language. The user input may be received as a result of user interaction with an I/O device connected to the information device. This user input can improve communication of information to and from the PLC by transmitting information in a language preferred and/or better understood by the user.

At act 4300, the information can be located on a storage device. This information can be located by the actions of the PLC or any information device connected directly and/or indirectly to the PLC. Locating this information can facilitate communication between the user and the PLC.

At act 4400, the information may be provided to the user in response to user input corresponding to the selected language. This information is provided to the user interface device in the selected language. Alternatively, the information may be provided to any I/O device and/or any information device in a language of choice.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 5000 for using a storage device. At act 5100, a first identifying stamp can be provided for data logging. The first identification stamp may contain calendar data and/or clock time associated with requesting, collecting, receiving, and/or logging data logging. Alternatively, the first identification stamp may relate to a processing unit such as a machine, meter, and/or device etc. associated with the data logging. For example, the first identification stamp may be a processing unit identifier such as a machine number, sensor number, and/or brake number or the like. In useful embodiments, this process identification stamp can assist users in analyzing and sorting data log records.

At act 5200, the PLC can allow the user to select a second identification stamp from a plurality of choices. The identification stamp selection may contain various data and/or time elements containing year, month, day, day of week, hour, time zone, minute, second and/or part of a second, and the like. Alternatively, the second identification stamp may contain various numbers and/or symbols related to the processing unit.

At act 5300, user input corresponding to selection of a second identification stamp may be received from a selection device. The second identification stamp can enhance the user's ability to analyze process log records. Alternatively, the second identification stamp may reduce storage space requirements for data log records by providing a smaller second identification stamp than the first identification stamp.

At act 5400, in response to user input, the selected second identification stamp may be provided to the storage device. In useful embodiments, providing a second identification stamp to the storage device can provide information to a user, and when the user subsequently analyzes the data log record, the information within the second identification stamp can be adapted to improve analysis, classification, and/or Otherwise the efficiency of processing the information in the data log record.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 6000 for using a storage device. At act 6100, a first setting may be provided corresponding to an instruction to erase the data log from the storage device after the data log is read, or not to erase the data log. Instructions to erase or not erase the data log file after reading the data log file may allow the user to more efficiently manage data storage and retrieval on the storage device. Erasing the data log file can provide assurance that no data log records have been previously read on the storage device.

At act 6200, the user may be allowed to select a second setting corresponding to an instruction to erase or not erase the data log from the storage device after the data log is read. This second setting may provide the opposite instruction to the first setting. Providing a second setting may allow a user to increase control over data storage resources.

At act 6300, the data log can be read from the storage device. The data log may then be erased from the storage device or not be erased in response to user input. Reading the data log may allow the user to transmit information for additional processing and/or storage in response to analysis and/or improved need to monitor, control, and/or report on process elements controlled by the PLC.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 7000 for using the storage device. At act 7100, the user may be prompted to allow selection of elements for the stored project file on the storage device. The optional element may contain the project file, the program, the recipe, information representing the structure of the recipe, information representing the structure of a data log file stored separately from the data log file, and/or belonging to the process, PLC, associated with the PLC Supporting documentation for the hardware, and/or software associated with the PLC.

At act 7200, user input corresponding to an option to store at least one project file element may be received from a selection device. Providing the user with storage options may allow the user to customize a storage plan to suit the needs of a unique system, which takes into account factors such as: other devices used to store the project file, the size of the storage box, the storage space for the data log file, etc. The amount of process data collected, the frequency of storing the collected process data for storage in the data log file, the number of prescriptions that can be stored in the storage device, and/or the amount and/or content of supporting documentation available, etc.

At act 7300, in response to user input, project file elements can be written to a storage device. The project file element can be written at the beginning of the empty memory segment. Alternatively, the project file element can overwrite a previously stored project file.

Figure 8 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 8000 for using the memory cartridge. At act 8100, a first head mark representing a starting storage segment of a data log record to be written can be located on the storage device. The data log records may be of a size storable on a single storage segment. Alternatively, the data log record may be of a size storable on multiple memory segments. Storage segments available for data log storage may be spatially and/or logically contiguous, and/or may be contiguously writable.

At act 8200, a data log record, which may include a second headmark, may be written to at least an initial memory segment. The data log record may be written on at least one blank memory segment.

Alternatively, the data log record may overwrite at least one storage segment used by an older data log record. The second headmark may contain information reflecting the location of the next memory segment for storage of the next data log record. In an exemplary embodiment, the data log file may be written in a logically circular buffer. The logically circular buffer is characterized by data log records written to adjacent buckets, the buffer starting at the starting bucket. The logically circular buffer is further characterized by the writing of the next data log record at the beginning of the buffer when the buffer is full. The next data log record may overwrite the oldest data log record written in the logically circular buffer. For example, if the buffer is full, the next data log record to be written may be written at the beginning of the buffer, thus overwriting the previous data log record at the beginning of the buffer. The logically circular buffer may comprise circular buffers in which memory segments are physically adjacent to each other.

At act 8300, the first head flag can be changed to reflect a record flag of a data log record written in at least the initial memory segment. The record mark (as changed) may indicate successful writing of the data log record including the second head mark.

After act 8200 and before act 8300 is fully completed, a power failure may occur. A power failure before action 8300 is fully complete can leave a data log file with two head flags open at the same time. At act 8400, in an effective embodiment, the PLC may ensure the existence of a single head mark after a power failure via error checking techniques. The error checking technique can be any compensated method, Fletcher checksum method, cyclic redundancy check method, and/or extended exact checksum method, etc. Error checking techniques, possibly with knowledge of the location of the record in question and/or the location and/or orientation of the record being added to the storage device, can identify which record is the most recent and thus which head flag is the error of.

In an efficient embodiment, the PLC can suppress and/or eliminate older, duplicated head marks, or possibly convert older, duplicated head marks to non-head marks causing a single head mark to appear in the data log file , the single head mark corresponds to a new record. Changing the value of the bit disables older, duplicate head marks. Alternatively, on each of the data log records, the PLC can check and test a flag, such as a timestamp flag, to determine the most recent record written.

At act 8400, the data log record can be read from the storage device. In an efficient embodiment, the data log record is readable from at least one storage segment responsive to the data log structure. Information representing the data log structure may be stored separately in the storage device.

Still other embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing detailed description and drawings of certain exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that various changes, modifications, and additional embodiments are possible, and that all such changes, modifications, and embodiments are to be considered within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, regardless of the content of any portion of this application (e.g., headings, sections, abstract, drawings, etc.), there is no specific described or illustrated act or element, any particular such act, unless expressly stated to the contrary. order, or any particular interrelationship of such elements. Furthermore, any action can be repeated, any action can be performed by multiple entities, and/or any element can be duplicated. Furthermore, any acts or elements may be excluded, the order of acts may be varied, and/or the interrelationship of elements may be varied. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

Claims (20)

1. storage box, it comprises:

Be suitable for storing the first of user program, this user program is suitable for control procedure;

Be suitable for storing the second portion of the prescription that comprises a plurality of input values, from each input value in described a plurality of input values corresponding to a process variable; And

Be suitable for third part with the structure of data log files separate storage data log files, the structure of this data log files illustrates each position in this data log files in a plurality of signs stamps, and each sign is stabbed at least one that comprises in calendar data and the clock time.

2. storage box according to claim 1 further comprises:

Be suitable for the 4th part with the structure of described this prescription of prescription separate storage.

3. storage box according to claim 1 further comprises:

Be suitable for storing at least one the 4th part of supporting documentation that relates in described user program, described prescription and the described data log files.

4. storage box according to claim 1 comprises:

Be suitable for storing at least one the 4th part of supporting documentation that relates in described user program, described prescription and the described data log files, wherein this supporting documentation comprises image.

5. method that is used to utilize the storage box that is connected to programmable logic controller (PLC), this storage box comprises a plurality of memory paragraphs, and this method comprises a plurality of actions, and described action comprises:

This storage box is provided, and this storage box accommodates memory module; And

Item file is offered this storage box, this item file comprises user program, comprise a plurality of input values prescription and with the structure of this data log files of data log files separate storage, wherein from each input value in described a plurality of input values corresponding to a process variable, the structure of this data log files illustrates each position in this data log files in a plurality of signs stamps, and each sign is stabbed at least one that comprises in calendar data and the clock time.

6. method according to claim 5, wherein said item file further comprise the structure with this prescription of described prescription separate storage.

7. method according to claim 5, described item file further comprise at least one the supporting documentation that relates in described user program, described prescription and the described data log files.

8. method that is used to utilize the storage box that is connected to programmable logic controller (PLC), this storage box comprises a plurality of memory paragraphs, and this method comprises a plurality of actions, and described action comprises:

The prompting user selects a kind of language, relates to the information that is stored in the item file in the storage box that is coupled to programmable logic controller (PLC) to show on being connected to the user interface facilities of programmable logic controller (PLC);

Reception is corresponding to user's input of selected language; And

In response to this user's input, on this user interface facilities, show the information that relates to this item file with selected language, this storage box is suitable for storing the structure with the data log files of data log files separate storage, the structure of this data log files illustrates each position in this data log files in a plurality of signs stamps, and each sign is stabbed at least one that comprises in calendar data and the clock time.

9. method according to claim 8 further comprises:

The location is with selected language canned data in described storage box.

10. method according to claim 8 further comprises:

The information of location default language in described storage box.

11. a method that is used to utilize the storage box that is connected to programmable logic controller (PLC), this storage box comprises a plurality of memory paragraphs, and this method comprises a plurality of actions, and described action comprises:

The prompting user selects at least one project file element to be stored in this storage box on being connected to the user interface facilities of programmable logic controller (PLC), this project file element comprises user program, the prescription that comprises a plurality of input values, recipe structure with the prescription separate storage, with the structure of the data log files of data log files separate storage and the document that relates to each element of this item file, wherein from each input value in described a plurality of input values corresponding to a process variable, the structure of this data log files illustrates each position in this data log files in a plurality of signs stamps, and each sign is stabbed at least one that comprises in calendar data and the clock time; And

Reception is corresponding to selecting at least one project file element to be stored in the user's input in the storage box.

12. method according to claim 11 further comprises:

In response to described user's input, described at least one project file element is offered described storage box.

13. method according to claim 11 further comprises:

In response to described user's input, second item file that will comprise described at least one project file element offers described storage box, and this second item file is different from first item file that is stored on this storage box.

14. a method, it comprises:

At the storage box place of programmable logic controller (PLC), storage user program, this user program are suitable for control procedure when being carried out by this programmable logic controller (PLC);

At the storage box place, storage comprises the prescription of a plurality of input values, from each input value in described a plurality of input values corresponding to a process variable; And

At the storage box place, structure with data log files separate storage data log files, the structure of this data log files illustrates each position in this data log files in a plurality of signs stamps, and each sign is stabbed at least one that comprises in calendar data and the clock time.

15. method according to claim 14 further comprises:

On storage box, store the structure of prescription dividually with described prescription.

16. method according to claim 14 further comprises:

Storage relates at least one the supporting documentation in described user program, described prescription and the described data log files on storage box.

17. a method that is used to utilize the storage box that is connected to programmable logic controller (PLC), this storage box comprises a plurality of memory paragraphs, and this method comprises a plurality of actions, and described action comprises:

The prompting user selects a kind of language, comprises the information that is stored in the item file in the memory device that is coupled to programmable logic controller (PLC) to show on being connected to the user interface facilities of programmable logic controller (PLC);

Reception is corresponding to user's input of selected language; And

In response to this user's input, show on this user interface facilities with selected language and to comprise the information that is stored in the item file in the memory device, this memory device is suitable for storing dividually with data log files the structure of data log files, the structure of this data log files illustrates each position in this data log files in a plurality of signs stamps, and each sign is stabbed at least one that comprises in calendar data and the clock time.

18. method according to claim 17 further comprises:

The location is with selected language canned data in described memory device.

19. method according to claim 17 further comprises:

The information of location default language in described memory device.

20. method according to claim 17 further comprises:

The information of location default language in described memory device; And this information is translated as selected language.

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