Module 3.

IEC Language : SFC

Unity training course V1.0 - Module 3.A : IEC Language SFC 1

 What is SFC ?

 SFC : Sequential Function Chart

 Graphic method of representing a sequential

control system by using a sequence of steps
and transitions

 Each step is a command or action that is either

active or inactive

 The flow of control passes from one step to

the next through a conditional transition that is
either true or false

 Standard IEC 1131-3

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 SFC rules

 Sequential program is composed of :

 SFC sections (top level)
 Action sections
 Transition sections

 SFC sections are only allowed in the MAST task

 Each SFC section contains one or several SFC graphs

 A SFC section has 200 rows and 32 columns

 A SFC section can contain 1024 steps

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 Steps
 A SFC section is a "state machine"; the state being define by the
active steps (100 steps maximum in multiple token)

 Normal step
 Becomes active when the prior transition is true
 Becomes inactive when the succeeding transition is true
 Each step contains none, one or several actions

 Initial step
 Starts the sequence when the application is initialized
 Don't contain action
 One initial step must be defined in each sequential chain
(graph)

 Qualifier can be declared for each step

 A supervision and a delay times can be defined for each step

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 Macro step

 Macro step
 Use to call the macro step sections
 The macro step sections must be activated
in the Tools Project Settings

 Input step
 First step of a macro step section
 The IN step is automatically created
 Cannot be deleted or inserted

 Output step
 Last step of a macro step section
 The OUT step is automatically created
 Cannot be deleted or inserted

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 Transition

 For each transition the condition can be :

 A boolean variable

 A transition section
– Transition condition is edited using the LD, FBD, ST
or IL language
– The result of the evaluation of the transition condition
is assigned to a boolean variable with the same name
as the transition itself

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 Jump

 To represent a direct link which is not drawn in its full

length

 Can be placed in all places in a chart but after a transition

 Several jumps are possible to the same target

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 Alternative branch / joint

 Alternative branch (OR divergence)

 The branch to execute is determined by the result of
each transition condition following the alternative
branch
 The branch transition conditions are processed from
left to right

 Alternative joint (OR convergence)

 The different sequences are joined again into one
branch where processing continues
 Normally one step is allowed after an alternative joint
 A parallel branch is also allowed after an alternative
joint

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 Parallel branch / joint

 Parallel branch / joint

 Processing is split up into several sequences (32 maximum)
 The parallel sequences are processed independently from left to
right
 Normally one transition is allowed above a parallel branch
 An alternative joint is also allowed above a parallel branch

 Parallel joint (AND convergence)

 Combine the parallel sequences to one branch
 The transition following a parallel joint is evaluated when all the
predecessor steps have been set (synchronization of the
parallel sequences)
 Normally one transition is allowed after a parallel branch
 An alternative branch is also allowed after a parallel joint

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 Sequences
 To minimize the object creation structure sequences are
proposed
 Simple sequence
– Beginning with a step / with a transition

 Parallel sequence with step (s) containing

– AND divergence
– Branches
– AND convergence
– Final transition
 Selection sequence with transition (s) containing
– OR divergence
– Branches
– OR convergence
– Final step

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 Links

 Direct link connects a step to a transition or a

transition to a step

 Link exists only if the source and destination

already exist

 Link never connects step to step or transition to

transition

 Link never overlaps another object (step, transition,

jump)

 Links can overlap or cross each other

 A link is composed of orthogonal segments

 An arrow indicated that the link is from bottom to

top

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 SFC Editor

 Freeform editor based on Window Multiple Document Interfaces

 Opening a chart section or a macro expansion section launch the
editor
 A cell can contain every type of objects (the lines are not
dedicated for step or transition)
 A section has 200 rows and 32 columns

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 Objects of a SFC program

 Step
 Macro step
 Transition
 Jump
 Alternative branch / Alternative joint (OR divergence /
convergence)
 Parallel branch / parallel joint (AND divergence / convergence)
 Link
 Comment
 Simple sequence beginning with step / transition
 Parallel sequence / selection sequence

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 Normal / Expanded View

Normal view Expanded view

 Expanded view of the section displays the action list of the

steps
 Zooms can be applied to the editor

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 Steps naming

 The steps naming is IEC like

 The step name is automatically generated and can be
edited (free name)

 A step name must be unique throughout the entire

project

 Step name length is 32 characters maximum

 Automatically generated step name has the following

structure : S_n_m (for step) or MS_n_m (for macro
step)
– S = Step or MS = Macro Step
– n = number of section (consecutive number)
– m = number of step in the section (consecutive
number)

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 Step properties
 3 tabs to define the step properties
 General
 Step name
 Initial step attribute
 Supervision times and delay
time
– Literal form (ie 10 ms)
– SFCSTEP_TIMES variable
 Actions
 Qualifier
 Action time
 Action type (variable, direct
address, section)
 Comment

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 Step times

 Delay time < Minimum Supervision Time < Maximum

Supervision Time
 Maximum Supervision Time
 Maximum time for which the step should be active
 If step is active after this time :
– Error message
– The step is colored in magenta (animation mode)
 Minimum Supervision Time
 Minimum time for which the step should be active
 If step becomes inactive before this time :
– Error message
– The step is colored in yellow (animation mode)
 Delay time (step dwell time)
 Minimum time for which the step must be active

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 Qualifiers
 Define the control for the action linked to a step

 None / N : action is set (1) when the step is active

 R (Reset) : action is reset (0) when the step is active
 S (Set) : action is set and remains at 1 even if the step becomes
inactive
 L (time Limited) : action is set during active period of the step
 D (Delayed) : action will be set after a time duration and remains
at 1 during active period of the step
 P (Pulse) : the action is set when the step is active and remains
at 1 for one program cycle
 DS (Delayed and Set) : action is set after a time duration and
remains at 1 even if the step becomes inactive. If the step
becomes inactive before the time has elapsed the action is not
set

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 Qualifiers (cont)

 Define the control for the action linked to a step

 P1 (Plus, positive edge) : the action is set for one program

cycle when the step is active (0 -> 1 edge)
 P0 (Plus, negative edge) : the action is set for one
program cycle when the step is active (1 -> 0 edge)

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 Transition properties

Bool variable (ie Valve_1)

Bool value (0 or 1)
Bool address (%M, %I, ...)

 2 pages to define the transition properties

 Invert transition condition (active at 0)
 Type of transition condition (transition section or variable)
 Comment

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 Transition section

 In IL and ST, it contains a logic expression of which the

result is automatically assigned to the transition variable
(ie. memory assignment ST not allowed in IL, assignment
instruction := not allowed in ST)

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 Transition section (cont)

 In FBD, it contains a AND block with output linked to transition

variable
 In LD, it contains a network with a coil linked to transition
variable

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 Jump properties

 2 pages to define the jump properties

 Jump target (step or macro step name)

 Comment

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 Branch / joint properties

 "Handles" to adjust the size to the desired

length

 Branch properties dialog box

 Number of output pins (size of the object)
 Position of the input pin

 Joint properties dialog box

 Number of input pins (size of the object)
 Position of the output pin

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 Colors of SFC objects
 The colors are use when the section is animated
 Step
– Green : step is active
– White : step is inactive
– Yellow : step time is smaller than the minimum
supervision time
– Magenta : step time is greater than the maximum
supervision time

 Macro step
– Green (upper part) : macro step becomes active
– Green (upper and lower parts) : OUT step of the macro
is active
– White : macro step time is inactive
– yellow : macro step time is smaller than the minimum
supervision time
– Magenta : macro step time is greater than the
maximum supervision time

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 Colors of SFC objects (cont)

 The colors are use when the section is animated

 Transition linked to a boolean variable or a simple boolean

expression
 Green : boolean variable or expression is TRUE
 Red : boolean variable or expression is FALSE

 Transition linked to a section

 Black : prior step is inactive
 Green : conditions of the section are TRUE
 Red : conditions of the section are FALSE

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 Single-token execution

 Only one initial step

 One step is active except in parallel branches (one

step per branch)
 A transition is evaluated if the previous step is active

 Branch transitions are processed from left to right

 Only one branch is active in alternative branches

 With parallel branches a transition activates several

steps (32 max)
 Jumps into or out of a parallel branch are not
possible

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 Multiple-token execution

 Several initial steps (0 to 100)

 A macro step can contains initial steps
 Several steps are active at same time
 A transition is evaluated if the previous step
is active
 More than one branch can be active in
alternative branches
 With parallel branches a transition activates
several steps
 Jumps into or out of a parallel branch are
possible
 Steps are activated from a non-SFC section
(SETSTEP block)

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 Chart system objects

 The system objects to manage the chart are replaced by EF /

EFB
PL7 object Function Replace by
%S21 Clear all seps + set INIT (SFCCNTRL EFB)
all initial steps INITCHART function
%S22 Clear all steps CLEAR (SFCCNTRL EFB)
CLEARCHART function
%S23 Freeze all steps DISTRANS (SFCCNTRL EFB)
FREEZECHART function
%S24 Clear all macro-steps INIT (SFCCNTRL EFB)
%SW22 - 25 Macro-step clearing INITCHART function
%S26 Sequence error Event viewer
%SW125 - 127
%SW20 Number of active No equivalent
%SW21 Number of valid No equivalent

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 New features from Grafcet

 Several SFC sections are possible

 PRL/GRAPH/POST sequence does not exist.

PRL and POST are replaced by non-SFC
sections

 Multiple token (several steps active at same

time)

 Initial step inside a macro section

 Setting and resetting of steps is possible in all

sections (except SFC action and subroutine
sections) (only in PRL with Grafcet)

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 On-line Modifications

 Full modifications in online mode

 SFC section can be created in online mode

 SFC steps can be :

 Added
 Modified the properties and actions
 Deleted

 SFC transitions can be :

 Added
 Modified the type and expression
 Deleted

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