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Industrial Control and Automation terms and Abbreviations (Glossary)

Industry Terms / Abbreviations

PLC

Programmable Logic Controller

HMI

Human Machine Interface

MMI

Man Machine Interface

I/O

Inputs/Outputs

OEM

Original Engineering Manufacturer

RTC

Real Time Clock, This refers to a built in clock that has time relative to the time of that in the real world

SQL

"Structured Query Language" is a special purpose programming language for managing data held in a relational database

Unitary PLC

A "Unitary PLC" is also more commonly referred to as a brick PLC due to its standalone appearance.

A Unitary PLC is the more simple type of controller, and contains all of the basic system components within a single housing, or box. These components typically include the processor, which runs the software program, in addition to inputs and outputs. A commonly used example of a unitary PLC type is the Micrologix 1000, built by Allen Bradley. The Micrologix 1000 includes on-board memory for storing programs, 32 digital input and output ports, and a communications port used to program the unit. This setup is typical of many unitary systems.

Bootstrap Mode

"Bootstrap mode" is a state that you can force a PLC to enter on power-up to allow the user to edit certain PLC functions without runnning the loaded program. There are several different ways to enter "bootstrap mode" depending on the PLC you are using.

On Unitronics PLCs; pressing the touchscreen durin power-up will enter Bootstrap mode or if no Touchscreen is available then holding the 'esc' & 'info' buttons durin power-up will also enter Bootstrap mode.

TCP/IP

Transmission Control Protocol/ Internet Protocol, basic communication language for private network or the internet in general

FB Protocol

Function Block Protocol is a piece of repeatable, reusable code in the form of a function block that can be used to simplify more complicated programming tasks such as ASCII communication

OPLC

Operator PLC, this defines an all in one PLC & HMI unit

OPC

OLE for Process control. This is a software interface standard that allows Windows programs to communicate with industrial Hardware devices such as PLCs

RS232

Is a standard for Serial Communication data transmission.

RS485

Is a standard for digital communication networks and can be used over a long distance in electrically noisy encvironments. RS485 can also be used to communicate with multiple units simultaneously unlike RS232

PID Controller

Proportional Integral Derivative Controller, uses anticipatory control by calculating the amount of error/difference between a user defined set point and actual position used to correct outputs accordingly

MODBUS

The original and most widely used communications system for industrial PLC & controller communications

CANbus

Is a Controller Area Network, a Bus system designed to allow PLCs and microcontrollers to communicate with each other without the need for a host Computer

DF1

Communication system standardised for use mainly in American countries

SNMPT

Simple Network Management Protocol, is a protocol for network management. Used to confiigure and gather information from devices on an 'Internet Protocol' Network

Unitronics File Extensions

Unitronics File Extensions

The file extensions created by Unitronics Software are explained in this file- HERE

.vlp

VisiLogic Program file

.vld

VisiLogic Display file

.vlx

VisiLogic Sub Routine file

.151

Previous version Backup file (Created when program created with older version of VisiLogic is opened in a newer version of VisiLogic)

.ulpr

UniLogic Program file

.ulg

Log single line of date from a data table

.upd

Data table structure file for data table export

.udt

For DT->SD function blocks stored on SD card

.ura

Remote access/operator for monochrome PLC/HMI

.urc

Remote access/operator cache file for colour PLC/HMI

.vxx

Project file only (.v35 - .v57 - .v10)

.cxx

Project + OS file (.c35 - .C57 - .c10)

.fdt

Full data table (all 120Kb data table area)

.oxx

OS files (.O13, .O35, .O57, .O10)

.dxx

Operand data (.D13, .D35, .D57, .D10)

.udb

Free format SD card data block

.utr

Trend file

.udc

UniDownloader file, for use with UniDownloader application (Enables Download of program to PLC without access through visilogic)

Product Abbreviations

*Part Number*-N

The '-N' indicates that this product is unbranded with no Unitronics logo on the front panel of the PLC. In all other aspects these PLCs are exactly the same.

V*Part Number*

The 'V' in the product name defines that this unit is from the 'Vision™' Series of PLC controllers

*Part Number*-J-*Part Number*

The '-J-' in the product name defines that this unit is black in colour with a wipe clean front.

SM*Part Number*

The 'SM' in the product name defines that this unit is from the 'Samba™' Series of PLC controllers

V200

The 'V200' modules are snap-in I/O and Communication for the V230, V260, V280, V290, V530, V570, V560, V700, V1040 and V1210 PLCs from the Vision Series

V100

The The 'V100' modules are snap-in I/O and Communication for the Samba Series as well as the V120, V130, V350, V430 and V1210 PLCs from the Vision Series

*Part Number*-J-*Part Number*

The -J- in the product number refers to black unbranded styling on the PLC rather than the standard grey bezzelled Unitronics branded design