Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi Information Control Systems, Inc.

Akihiro Ohhashi

Noboru Azusawa

Tadashi Okamoto

Takeshi Katoh

Makoto Tachikawa

Junichi Hamano

Hitoshi Saitoh

A process controlling method and apparatus which uses a flowchart language program and ladder programs with an intermediate register accessible using the same name by both the flowchart language program and the ladder programs. Each ladder program defines the operation of a machine, including an interlock condition of the machine operation. The flowchart language program defines an automatic operation flow which sequentially activates the ladder programs using the data in the intermediate register. This arrangement allows the flowchart language program to be separated from the ladder programs improving productivity, serviceability and security of the programs.

Apparatus and method for controlling a system process

A process controlling method uses a flowchart language program and ladder programs with an intermediate register to be accessible with the same name by both the flowchart language program and the ladder programs. Each ladder program defines the operation of a machine, including an interlock condition or the like of the machine operation. The flowchart language program defines an automatic operation flow which sequentially activates the ladder programs using the data in the intermediate register. This arrangement allows the flowchart language program to be separated from the ladder programs, thereby improving productivity, serviceability and security of the programs.

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Hitachi, Japan

Akihiro Ohhashi