Patent ID: 8392718
Filing Date: 2013-03-05
Classification: G05B,G06F

Abstract:
1. A programmable controller system comprising: a programmable controller having a password protect function; a control program development aid device comprising a personal computer having a control program development aid device program module installed therein; and a communication device that connects said programmable controller with said control program development aid device; wherein said programmable controller comprises: a password memory that stores a password; a microprocessor that executes a protect setting function for storing a protect setting condition by writing a specified password in said password memory in response to a protect setting command received through said communication device; a protect releasing device that stores a protect releasing condition by erasing or initializing said password stored in said password memory means in response to a password releasing command with said specified password through said communication device; and a command executing device that executes specified operations in response to one of operation commands that include program write-in command and program readout command if protect is released; wherein said control program development aid device includes: a command creating device that creates said operation commands in response to a specified operation; and an add-on device that responds to the creation of an operation command by said command creating device for automatically adding a protect releasing command and a protect setting command each with a specified unpublished password in front and behind said created operation command and to issue said commands to said programmable controller, said device being a software module different from said control program development aid device program module with a function as said control program development aid device; and wherein said control program development aid device program module checks at the time of startup thereof whether or not said software module with said add-on device exists in an external memory device of said personal computer, links, if said software module with said add-on device exists, said software module with said add-on device as a part of a program of said control program development aid device program module, and causes said add-on device to operate; and wherein said personal computer has a hardware key detachably attached thereto, said hardware key containing a memory that stores a specified password code; and wherein said software module with said add-on device operates on the condition of certification of said hardware key; wherein the unpublished password used by said add-on device corresponds to said specified password code in said hardware key.