International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology- Volume4Issue3- 2013

The Principle of Programmable Logic Controller

and its role in Automation
Avvaru Ravi Kiran#1, B.Venkat Sundeep*2, Ch. Sree Vardhan #3, Neel Mathews!4
#

Electronics and Communications, KL University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India

*Assistant Professor, Electronics and Communications, KL University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India
!
General Manager Mobility Solutions, Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles Pvt Ltd, Bangalore, India

Abstract This paper introduces Programmable logic controller,

discusses the topics of PLC. This paper also discusses the role of
PLC in Automation engineering which is a cross sectional
discipline that requires proportional knowledge in hardware and
software development and their applications.
Keywords PLC, Ladder Logic, Automation

I. INTRODUCTION
This Systems and processes requiring "on/off" control
abound in modern commerce and industry, but such control
systems are rarely built from either electromechanical relays
or discrete logic gates. Instead, digital computers fill the need,
which may be programmed to do a variety of logical functions.
The purpose of a PLC was to directly replace
electromechanical relays as logic elements, substituting
instead a solid-state digital computer with a stored program,
able to emulate the interconnection of many relays to perform
certain logical tasks. A Programmable Logic Controller,
PLC or Programmable Controller is a digital computer used
for automation of electromechanical processes.
The Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) is basically a
computer. Even the smallest PLC has a microprocessor, which
qualifies it as a computer.
PLCs are used in many industries and machines. Unlike
general-purpose computers, the PLC is designed for multiple
inputs and output arrangements, extended temperature ranges,
immunity to electrical noise, and resistance to vibration and
impact. A PLC has many "input" terminals, through which it
interprets "high" and "low" logical states from sensors and
switches. It also has many output terminals, through which it
outputs "high" and "low" signals to power lights, solenoids,
contactors, small motors, and other devices lending
themselves to on/off control. In an effort to make PLCs easy
to program, their programming language was designed to
resemble ladder logic diagrams. Thus, an industrial electrician
or electrical engineer accustomed to reading ladder logic
schematics would feel comfortable programming a PLC to
perform the same control functions.

ISSN: 2231-538

The following illustration shows a simple PLC, as it might

appear from a front view. Two screw terminals provide
connection to 120 volts AC for powering the PLC's internal
circuitry, labelled L1 and L2. Six screw terminals on the lefthand side provide connection to input devices, each terminal
representing a different input "channel" with its own "X" label.
The lower-left screw terminal is a "Common" connection,
which is generally connected to L2 (neutral) of the 120 VAC
power source.

II. PLC TOPICS

A. Features
The main difference from other computers is that PLCs are
armored for severe conditions (such as dust, moisture, heat,
cold) and have the facility for extensive input/output (I/O)
arrangements. These connect the PLC to sensors and actuators.

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International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology- Volume4Issue3- 2013

PLCs read a set of digital and analog inputs, process logic
statements, and generate analog and digital outputs to the
industrial automation process

Here are a few examples of how the ladder logic program

might look like. In real world applications, there may be
hundreds or thousands of rungs.

1. ---- [ ] ---------|--[ ]--|------ ( )

X

|--[ ]--|
Z

The above realizes the function: S = X AND (Y OR Z)

------[ ]--------------[ ]---------------( )

Key Switch 1
Key Switch 2
Door Motor

Fig: Control panel with PLC (grey elements in the center).

The unit consists of separate elements, from left to
right; power supply, controller, relay units for in- and output.

B. Programming
PLCs are programmed using application software on
personal computers. The computer is connected to the PLC
through Ethernet, RS-232, RS-485 or RS-422 cabling. The
programming software allows entry and editing of the ladderstyle logic. Ladder logic is a programming language that
represents a program by a graphical diagram based on
the circuit diagrams of relay logic hardware. It is primarily
used to develop software for programmable logic
controllers (PLCs) used in industrial control applications. The
name is based on the observation that programs in this
language resemble ladders, with two vertical rails and a series
of horizontal rungs between them.

ISSN: 2231-538

The above circuit shows two key switches that security

guards might use to activate an electric motor on a bank vault
door. When the normally open contacts of both switches close,
electricity is able to flow to the motor which opens the door.
This is a logical AND.
Generally the software provides functions for debugging and
troubleshooting the PLC software, for example, by
highlighting portions of the logic to show current status during
operation or via simulation. The software will upload and
download the PLC program, for backup and restoration
purposes. In some models of programmable controller, the
program is transferred from a personal computer to the PLC
through a programming board which writes the program into a
removable chip such as an EEPROM or EPROM.

C. Scan time

A PLC performs a repetitive cycle of operations. First, the

PLC sequentially scans the input devices and updates a
memory table indicating their status. Next, the PLC executes
its control programming, or ladder logic. As it processes the
ladder logic, the PLC updates a memory table which indicates

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International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology- Volume4Issue3- 2013

whether output devices should be ON or OFF. Finally, the
PLC uses the output table to actually change the condition of
the output devices.

The Automation in the industry is going to be more multiplied

over time than ever before.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles Pvt Ltd for

cooperating with us. We also thank faculty Mr. Ch. Sree
Vardhan for his valuable contribution in preparing this paper
and helping us out many a time when we needed guidance.
We are indebted to the Department of Electronics and
Communication Engineering of KL University for providing
the software and support required.
REFERENCES
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Fig: Scan Time

[3]

Engineers can now have numerical control over automated

devices. The result has been a rapidly expanding range of
applications and human activities. Information technology,
together with industrial machinery and processes, can assist in
the design, implementation, and monitoring of control systems.
One
example
of
an industrial
control
system is
a programmable logic controller (PLC). PLCs are specialized
hardened computers which are frequently used to synchronize
the flow of inputs from (physical) sensors and events with the
flow of outputs to actuators and events.

[4]
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III. CONCLUSIONS
Programmable Logic controllers (PLCs) are widely used in
motion control, positioning control and torque control. The
main intensions of this paper are fully unfolded. The
Programmable Logic is the one of most influential inventions
of this Century. The impact of the Automation in the Industry
is realised more now than ever in this field of manufacturing.

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