UNIT 6 - PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLER

CONTENTS
I. Overview
II. Feature
III. System Scale
IV. History
I. OVERVIEW
I.1 READING
Programmable Logic Controller, PLC, or Programmable Controller is a digital
computer used for automation of industrial processes, such as control of machinery on
factory assembly lines. Unlike general-purpose computers, the PLC is designed for multiple
inputs and outputs arrangements, extended temperature ranges, immunity to electrical noise,
and resistance to vibration and impact. Programs to control machine operation are typically
stored in battery-backed or non-volatile memory. A PLC is an example of a real time system
since output results must be produced in response to input conditions within a bounded time,
otherwise unintended operation will result.
I.2 VOCABULARY
Arrangement (n) [ə'reindʒmənt]: Cấu hình
Assembly (n) [ə'sembli]: Lắp ráp
Battery-backed (adj) ['bætəri bækt]: Có pin nuôi
General (adj) ['dʒenərəl]: Chung, phổ biến
Immunity (n) ['impækt]: Miễn
Impact (n) ['impækt]: Va chạm mạnh
Input (n) ['input]: Đầu vào
Line (n) [lain]: Dây truyền
Logic (n) ['lɔdʒik]: Lôgic
Noise (n) [nɔiz]: Nhiễu
Non-volatile (adj) [,nɔn , 'vɔlətail]: Bền
Output (n) ['autput]: Đầu ra
Program (n) ['prougræm]: Chương trình
Programmable (adj) ['prougræməbl]: Khả lập trình
Purpose (n) ['pə:pəs]: Mục đích
Range (n) [reindʒ]: Dải
Real-time (n) [riəl taim]: Thời gian thực
Resistance (n) [ri'zistəns]: Độ bền
Store (v) [stɔ:]: Lưu giữ

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 Unlike (pre) [ʌn'laik]: Trái với
Temperature (n) ['temprət∫ə]: Nhiệt độ
Vibration (n) [vai'brei∫n]: Rung động
I.3 READING COMPREHENSION
Answer the following questions:
1. What does PLC stand for?
2. What is a PLC and where can we find PLCs?
3. What are differences between PLCs and general-purpose computers?
4. Where are the programs for PLCs stored?
5. What is the key feature of real time systems?
II. FEATURES
II.1 READING
The main difference from other computers is that PLCs are armored for severe
condition (dust, moisture, heat, cold, etc) and have the facility for extensive input/output
(I/O) arrangements. These connect the PLC to sensors and actuators. PLCs read limit
switches, analog process variables (such as temperature and pressure), and the positions of
complex positioning systems. On the actuator side, PLCs operate electric motors, pneumatic
or hydraulic cylinders, or magnetic relays. The input/output arrangements may be built into a
simple PLC, or the PLC may have external I/O modules attached to a computer network that
plugs into the PLC.
PLCs were invented as replacements for automated systems that would use hundreds
or thousands of relay, timer, and sequencer. Often, a single PLC can be programmed to
replace thousands of relays. Programmable controllers were initially adopted by the
automotive manufacturing industry, where software revision replaced the re-wiring of hard-
wired control panels when production models changed.
Many of the earliest PLCs expressed all decision making logic in simple ladder logic
which appeared similar to electrical diagrams. The electricians were quite able to trace out
circuit problems with diagrams using ladder logic. This program notation was chosen to
reduce training demands for the existing technicians. Other early PLCs used a form of
instruction list programming.
The functionality of the PLC has evolved over the years to include sequential relay
control, motion control, process control, and networking. The data handling, storage,
processing power and communication capabilities of some modern PLCs are approximately
equivalent to desktop computers. PLC-like programming combined with remote I/O
hardware, allow a general-purpose desktop computer to overlap some PLCs in certain
applications.
Under the IEC 61131-3 standard, PLCs can be programmed using standards-based
programming languages. A graphical programming notation called Sequential Function
Charts is available on certain programmable controllers.

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 Control panel with a PLC
II.2 VOCABULARY
Actuator (n) ['æktjueit]: Cơ cấu chấp hành
Analog/analogue (n) ['ænəlɔg]: Tương tự
Approximately (adv) [ə'prɔksimitli]: Khoảng chừng, độ chừng
Armor (v) ['ɑ:mə]: Bọc thép
Attach (v) [ə'tæt∫]: Nối với, gắn với
Adopt (v) [ə'dɔpt]: Dùng
Automotive (adj) [,ɔ:tə'moutiv]: Ôtô
` Chart (n) [t∫ɑ:t]: Lưu đồ
Circuit (n) ['sə:kit]:: Mạch
Cold (n) [kould]: Lạnh
Cylinder (n) ['silində]: Xylanh
Data handling (n) ['deitə 'hændliη]: Xử lý dữ liệu
Decision making (n) [di'siʒn 'meikiη] Ra quyết định
Diagram (n) ['daiəgræm]: Sơ đồ
Dust (n) [dʌst]: Bụi
Electrician (n) [ilek'tri∫n]: Thợ điện
Express (v) [iks'pres]: Diễn đạt, biểu diễn
Evolve (v) [i'vɔlv]: Tiến hoá
Extensive (adj) [iks'tensiv]: Rộng, lớn
External (adj) [eks'tə:nl]: Bên ngoài
Facility (n) [fə'siliti]: Chỗ
Functionality (n) ['fʌηk∫ənliti]: Chức năng

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Motor (n) ['moutə]: Động cơ
Hardware (n) ['hɑ:dweə]: Phần cứng
Hard-wired (adj) ['ha:d,waiəd]: Đi dây, nối dây
Heat (n) [hi:t]: Nhiệt, nóng
Hydraulic (adj) [hai'drɔ:lik]: Thủy lực
IEC: International Electrical Committee
Instruction (n) [in'strʌk∫n]: Chỉ dẫn
Ladder logic (n) ['lædə 'lɔdʒik]: Lôgic thang
Limit switch (n) ['limit swit∫]: Công tắc hành trình
PLC-like (adj) [pi: el si: laik]:: Kiểu PLC
Magnetic (adj) [mæg'netik]: Từ tính
Module (n) ['mɔdju:l]: Khối
Moisture (n) ['mɔist∫ə]: Hơi ẩm
Motion (n) ['mou∫n]: Chuyển động
Network (n) ['netwə:k]: Mạng, hệ thống
Networking (n) ['netwə:kiη]: Kết nối mạng
Notation (n) [nou'tei∫n]: Ký hiệu
Overlap (v) ['ouvəlæp]: Thay thế
Panel (n) ['pænl]: Bảng, bàn
Pneumatic (adj) [nju:'mætik]: Khí nén
Plug (v) [plʌg]: Nối
Position (v) [pə'zi∫n]: Định vị
Pressure (n) ['pre∫ə(r)] : áp suất
Processing power (n) ['prousesiη 'pauə]: Công suất xử lý
Read (v) [ri:d]: Thu thập
Relay (n) [ri'lei]: Công tắc tiếp điểm, thiết bị bảo vệ
Remote (adj) [ri'mout]: Xa
Revision (n) [ri'viʒn]: Sửa đổi
Re-wiring (n) [re 'waiəriη]: Đi lại dây, nối lại dây
Sensor (n) ['sensə]: Cảm biến
Sequential (adj) [si'kwen∫əl]:: Tuần tự
Sequential Function Chart: Lưu đồ hàm tuần tự
Sequencer (n) ['si:kwənsə]:: Bộ xếp dãy
Software (n) ['sɔftweə]: Phần mềm
Standards-based (adj) ['stændəd beisd]: Dựa theo chuẩn
Storage (n) ['stɔ:ridʒ]: Lưu trữ
Timer (n) ['taimə]: Bộ định thời gian

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 Trace out (v) [treis aut]: Xác định
Training (n) ['treiniη]: Đào tạo
Variable (n) ['veəriəbl]: Biến số
II.3 READING COMPREHENSION
Answer the following questions:
1. What are the severe conditions for which PLCs are armored?
2. How can PLCs be connected to sensors and actuators?
3. What do PLCs read?
4. What can be analog process variables?
5. What are the actuators PLCs operate?
6. What are the possible facilities for I/O arrangements for PLCs?
7. Why were PLCs invented?
8. What a single PLC can be programmed to do?
9. Where were the first PLCs used?
10. Initially, what led to the need for PLCs?
11. What is the expression decision making logic in many of the earliest PLCs
and what is it like?
12. What can help electricians to find out circuit problems with diagrams?
13. Why ladder logic was chosen?
14. What is the other early type of PLC programming?
15. What does the functionality of PLC include?
16. What are the capabilities of modern PLC that can be equivalent to those of
desktop computers?
17. What make a general purpose computer can do the job of PLCs in some
applications?
18. What can be the programming language for PLCs?
III. SYSTEM SCALE
III.1 READING
A small PLC has a fixed number of inputs and outputs. Typically, expansions are
available if the base model does not have enough I/O.
Modular PLCs have a chassis (also called a rack) into which modules with different
functions are placed. The processor and selection of I/O modules is customized for the
particular application. Several racks can be administered by a single processor, and may
have thousands of inputs and outputs. A special high speed serial I/O link is used so that
racks can be distributed away from the processor, reducing the wiring costs for large plants.
PLCs used in larger I/O systems may have peer-to-peer (P2P) communication
between processors. This allows separate parts of a complex process to have individual
control while allowing the subsystems to co-ordinate over the communication link. These
communication links are also often used for HMI (Human-Machine Interface) devices such
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as keypads or PC-type workstations. Some of today's PLCs can communicate over a wide
range of media including RS-485, Coaxial, and even Ethernet for I/O control at network
speeds up to 100 Mbit/s.
III.2 VOCABULARY
Administer (v) [əd'ministə]: Quản lý
Base model (n) [beis 'mɔdl]: Mẫu cơ bản, mẫu chuẩn
Chassis (n) ['∫æsi]: Khung
Coaxial (adj) [kou'æksiəl]: Đồng trục
Co-ordinate (v) [kou'ɔ:dineit]: Phối hợp
Customize (v) ['kʌstəmaiz]: Làm theo yêu cầu
Distribute (v) [dis'tribju:t]: Bố trí
Ethernet (n): Mạng máy tính cáp
Expansion (n) [iks'pæn∫n]: Mở rộng
Fixed (adj) [fikst]: Cố định
Individual (adj) [,indi'vidjuəl]: Riêng biệt
Interface (n) ['intəfeis]: Giao diện
Keypad (n) ['ki: pæd]: Bàn phím
Link (n) [liηk]: Đường nối
Media (n, pl.) ['mi:diə]: Phương tiện, môi trường
Modular (adj) ['mɔdjulə]: Theo khối
Peer (n) [piə]: Điểm
Processor (n) ['prousesə(r)]: Bộ xử lý
Separate (adj) ['seprət]:: Riêng
Serial (adj) ['siəriəl]: Nối tiếp
Subsystem (n) [sʌb'sistəm]: Hệ thốnng cấp dưới
Rack (n) [ræk]: Giá
Typically (adv) ['tipikli]: Thường thì
Wiring (n) ['waiəriη]: Đi dây
Workstation (n) ['wə:k'stei∫n]: Máy tính công nghiệp (chuyên dụng)

III.3 READING COMPREHENSION

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 What is the numbers of input and output a PLC may have?
7. Can racks of a PLC be placed far apart? And how racks of a PLC can be
linked?
8. For large I/O systems, where the use of a single PLC is insufficient, how do
we do?
9. How can we control a complex process?
6. 10. What allows the control of complex process by several PLC?
11. What stands for HMI? And how they can be linked PLCs?
12. What are the media for PLCs to communicate?

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