A PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLER (PLC) is an industrial computer control system that continuously monitors the state of input devices

and makes decisions based upon a custom program, to control the state of devices connected as outputs. Almost any production line, machine function or process can be automated using a PLC. The speed and accuracy of the operation can be greatly enhanced using this type of control system. But the biggest benefit in using a PLC is the ability to change and replicate the operation or process while collecting and communicating vital information. A PLC consists of following main parts

PLC Operations consist of four steps 1. Input Scan: Scans the state of the Inputs 2. Program Scan: Executes the program logic 3. Output Scan: Energize/de-energize the outputs 4. Housekeeping Advantages PLCs have been gaining popularity on the factory floor and will probably remain predominant for some time to come. Most of this is because of the advantages they offer. Cost effective for controlling complex systems. Flexible and can be reapplied to control other systems quickly and easily. Computational abilities allow more sophisticated control. Trouble shooting aids make programming easier and reduce downtime. Reliable components make these likely to operate for years before failure. Better accuracy Reduced critical wiring Reduced operator dependency Simple operation

ARCHITECTURE OF PLC
The basic building blocks of PLC are as follows Power supply unit This provides power to all the subunits such as CPU, Memory, I/O processing Unit, Display and keyboard etc. Central Processing Unit (CPU) CPU is a heart of PLC as it is responsible for organising all the controller activities. CPU decides the sequence of different operations to be executed, by using the instructions written in memory. These instructions are loaded there by means of the keyboard. In addition to this it can perform some other functions such as counting, comparing, timing etc. Memory Memory is either RAM or ROM type. ROM is read only memory which contains the program for system operation or control. This program is called as monitor program. RAM is the random access memory which can be used by the user to read and write his instructions. I/O Processing Unit I/O means input or output interface. The input interface accepts the signals from various machines or signals from different points of the same machine. These signals are then converted into binary signals so that CPU can act upon them. Output interface will convert the PLC signals into the signals compatible to the machines to be driven. These signals are used to control various machines.

Figure 1.1 Block Diagram of PLC

Applications of PLCs
1) 2) 3) 4) To control individually various processes. To supervise various processes or single processes. In control of any time varying parameter. It is being used as major problem solving tool in many industrial applications.