Claims What is claimed is:

1.

A control system (48) for a modular conveyor (12) having a motorized roller (38) for moving objects (16) on the modular conveyor (12) and an object sensor (42) for sensing objects (16) on the modular conveyor (12), the control system (48) comprising : a drive controller (80) adapted to control a motorized roller (38) in the modular conveyor; a communications port (82) adapted to connect the control system (48) to an addressbased network (30), to send outgoing addressed data to other devices in the addressbased network (30), and to receive incoming addressed data from the address based network; and a logic system (84) adapted to receive an input signal from one of the object sensor (42) and the communications port (82), and to provide a roller control signal to the motorized roller (38) according to the input signal.

2.	The control system (48) of claim 1, wherein the logic system (84) is further adapted to provide an object presence signal to the communications port (82) as outgoing addressed data.

3.	The control system (48) of claim 1, wherein the drive controller (80) further comprises a power input (65) adapted to receive electrical power, and wherein the roller control signal comprises electrical power applied to a motor in the motorized roller (38).

4.	The control system (48) of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of drive controllers (80) and a plurality of associated motorized rollers (38) and object sensors (42).

5.	The control system (48) of claim 1, wherein the logic system (48) is programmable and adapted to receive incoming programming addressed data via the communications port (82).

6.

The control system (48) of claim 1, wherein the logic system (84) is adapted to accept incoming addressed data to control the motorized rotor (38) according to at least one of direction of the motorized roller, delay time between sensing of an object (16) by an object sensor (42) and activation of the motorized roller (38), an accumulation mode of conveyor (10) operation, a singulation release mode of conveyor (10) operation, and a slug release mode of conveyor operation.

7.	The control system (48) of claim 1, wherein the logic system (84) is adapted to receive the input signal from the communications port (82), and wherein the input signal is indicative of an address of another conveyor section (12) from which an external object presence signal is received.

8.

The control system (48) of claim 1, wherein the logic system (84) is adapted to provide outgoing data to the communications port (82), and wherein the outgoing data comprises at least one of a jam indication, a state of the object sensor (42), direction of the motorized roller (38), speed of the motorized roller (38), current of a motor in the motorized roller (38), and temperature of a motor in the motorized roller (38).

9.

The control system (48) of claim 1, wherein the addressbased network (30) comprises a fixed number of addresses, and wherein the addressbased network (30) comprises a bridge (32) attachable to the addressbased network (30) allowing two addressbased networks (30) to intercommunication, whereby an arbitrary number of control systems (48) may be interconnected.

10.	The control system (48) of claim 1, wherein the communications port (82) and the logic system (84) are part of a single integrated circuit (72).

11.	The control system (48) of claim 1, wherein the drive controller (80), the communications port (82), and the logic system (84) are part of a single integrated circuit (72).

12.

The control system (48) of claim 1, wherein the logic system (84) further comprises: an output device (88,154); means for associating the output device (88, 154) with a logic function (186, 224,246); means for providing an output value (152) to the output device (88,154) according to the logic function (186); means for ignoring explicit messages (164,184) from the addressbased network (30,202,260); means for ignoring value messages from the addressbased network (30,202, 260); means for selectively ignoring fault messages according to an override attribute (280); and means for selectively ignoring idle messages according to the override attribute (280);.

13.

The control system (48) of claim 12, wherein the means for associating the output device (88,154) with the logic function (186,224,246) comprises means for creating a binding (172) between the output device (88, 154) and at least one of a function block (170), a hardware input (174,176), a fault (180), and an output (88).

14.

The control system (48) of claim 12, wherein the means for providing the output value (152) according to the logic function (186,224,246) comprises means for selectively using an idle action (270) and setting the output value (152) according to an idle value (272) when the logic function (186) is disabled.

15.

The control system (48) of claim 12, wherein the means for ignoring explicit messages (164,184) from the addressbased network (30,202,260) comprises means for sending an object state conflict error to the addressbased network (30,202, 260) in response to an explicit message (164,184) from the addressbased network (30, 202,260).

16.

The control system (48) of claim 12, wherein the means for selectively ignoring fault messages according to an override attribute (280) comprises means for selectively using a fault action (274) and setting the output value (152) according to a fault value (276) and the means for selectively ignoring idle messages according to the override attribute (280) comprises means for selectively using an idle action and setting the output value (152) according to an idle value (272).

17.

The control system (48) of claim 1, wherein the logic system (84) further comprises: an output module (88,154), comprising: a value source selector (156, 222,240) adapted to receive messages from the addressbased network (30,202,260); a local logic function (186,224,246) associated with the value source selector (156, 222,240) to create a binding (172), and providing a signal thereto; and an output (226,242) receiving an output value (152) from the value source selector (156, 222,240) based on the signal from the local logic function (186,224,246), and having an output signal; wherein the value source selector (156,222,240) is adapted to selectively ignore I/O (162,182) and explicit messages (164,184) from the addressbased network (30, 202,260) based on the binding (172), selectively use an idle action (270) and set the output value (152) according to an idle value (272) when the local logic function (186,224,246) is disabled, selectively use a fault action (274) and set the output value (152) according to a fault value (276) based on an override attribute, and selectively ignore idle messages according to the override attribute (280).

18.	The control system (48) of claim 17, wherein the logic system (84) further comprises a memory (254), wherein the value source selector (156,222,240) is a processor (252), and wherein the local logic function (186,224,246) is a program in the memory (254).

19.

The control system (48) of claim 1, wherein the logic system (84) further comprises: an output (88,358,402,502,602) providing an output signal (504,604) according to an output value (508,608); an indicator (356,416,524,624) adapted to receive message information from the communications port (82,360,406,544,644) and providing indicator data (524, 624); and a logic unit (510,610) receiving message information from the communications port (82,360,406,544,644), receiving indicator data from the indicator (356,416, 524,624), and performing a logic function (418,510); wherein the logic unit (510,610) selectively provides the output value (508, 608) to the output (88,358,402,502,602) according to one of the message information and the logic function (418,510).

20.

The control system (48) of claim 19, wherein the indicator data (524, 624) comprises at least one of an I/O connection health indicator (520,620), a messaging connection health indicator (526,626), an I/O connection error indicator (528,628), a run event indicator (530,630), an idle event indicator (530,630), a network error indicator (532,632), an I/O point fault indicator (534,634), a hardware input indicator (536,636), a hardware output indicator (538,638), and I/O data (540, 640).

21.	The control system (48) of claim 20, wherein the logic unit (84) comprises a processor (40), a memory (412), and a control program.

22.	The control system (48) of claim 21, wherein the logic function (84) comprises at least one function block (512,514,516,518) bound to the indicator (356, 416,524,624).

23.	The control system (48) of claim 20, wherein the memory (412) comprises at least one indicator (356,416,524,624) including the indicator data (524, 624).

24.	The control system (48) of claim 23, wherein the processor (410) updates the indicator (356,416,524,624) according to network messages and the device status.

25.	The control system (48) of claim 24, wherein the function block (512, 514,516,518) comprises at least one of a boolean operator (512,518), a flipflop, a counter, and a timer.

26.	The control system (48) of claim 19, wherein the logic function (418, 510) comprises at least one function block (512, 514,516,518) bound to the indicator (356,416,524,624).

27.	The control system (48) of claim 19, wherein the logic function (418, 510) comprises at least one of a boolean operator, a flipflop, a counter, and a timer.

28.

The control system (48) of claim 1, wherein the logic system (84) is further adapted to execute a stored program and to receive a message (750,760,770, 900,910) from a master device via the communications port (82,724,734), wherein the message (750,760,770,900,910) comprises a parameter (756,768,776,908, 914), and wherein the logic system (84) is further adapted to execute at least a portion of the stored program according to the parameter (756,768,776,908,914) and to subsequently suspend execution of the stored program according to the parameter (756, 768,776,908,914).

29.

The control system (48) of claim 28, wherein the message (750,760, 770,900,910) further comprises a step type (766,906), and wherein the logic system (84) is adapted to execute the at least a portion of the stored program and suspend execution of the stored program according to the step type (766,906).

30.	The control system (48) of claim 29, wherein the step type (766,906) is a timed step and the parameter (768,908) is a step time value.

31.	The control system (48) of claim 30, wherein the logic system (84) is adapted to execute the stored program for a fixed time period according to the step time value (768,908), and to stop execution of the stored program after the fixed time period.

32.	The control system (48) of claim 29, wherein the step type (766,906) is step iteration, and the parameter (768,908) is an integer number of iterations.

33.	The control system (48) of claim 32, wherein the logic system (84) is adapted to execute the stored program an integer number of times according to the parameter (756,768,776,908,914), and to stop execution of the stored program after the integer number of iterations.

34.	The control system (48) of claim 1, further comprising a network address associated with the logic system (84), wherein the logic system (84) is adapted to configure itself according to the a network address.

35.

In a modular conveyor control system (48) having a drive controller (80) adapted to control a motorized roller (38) in the modular conveyor (12) and a communications port (82) adapted to connect the control system (48) to an address based network (30), a method (102) for controlling the modular conveyor (12) comprising : providing a logic system (84) in the control system (48); receiving an input signal from one of an object sensor (42) associated with the modular conveyor (12) and the communications port (82); and providing a roller control signal (64) to the motorized roller (38) according to the input signal.

36.

The method (102) of claim 35, wherein the logic system (84) comprises an output device (88,154) adapted to provide an output according to an output value (152), further comprising: associating the output device (88,154) with a logic function (186,224,246); providing the output value (152) according to the logic function (186,224, 246); ignoring explicit messages (108) from the addressbased network (30); ignoring value messages (114) from the addressbased network (30); selectively ignoring fault messages (118) according to an override attribute (280); and selectively ignoring idle messages (130) according to the override attribute (280);.

37.	The method (102) of claim 36, wherein associating the output device (88,154) with the logic function (186,224,246) comprises creating a binding (172) between the output device (88,154) and at least one of a function block (170), a hardware input (174,176), a fault (180), and an output (88).

38.

The method (102) of claim 37, wherein providing the output value (152) according to the logic function (186,224,246) comprises setting the output value (152) according to one of a function block (170), a hardware input (174,176), a fault (180), and an output (88) according to the logic function (186,224,246).

39.	The method (102) of claim 38, wherein providing the output value (152) according to the logic function (186,224,246) further comprises selectively (132) using an idle action (270) and setting the output value (152) according to an idle value (272) when the logic function (186) is disabled.

40.	The method (102) of claim 39, wherein ignoring explicit messages (164, 184) from the addressbased network (30) comprises sending an object state conflict error to the addressbased network (30) in response to an explicit message (164,184) from the addressbased network (30).

41.	The method (102) of claim 39, wherein selectively ignoring fault messages according to an override attribute (280) comprises selectively using a fault action (274) and setting the output value (152) according to a fault value (276).

42.	The method (102) of claim 39, wherein selectively ignoring idle messages according to the override attribute (280) comprises selectively using an idle action (270) and setting the output value (152) according to an idle value (272).

43.	The method (102) of claim 36, wherein providing the output value (152) according to the logic function (186,224,246) comprises selectively using an idle action (270) and setting the output value (152) according to an idle value (272) when the logic function (186,224,246) is disabled.

44.	The method 102 of claim 36, wherein ignoring explicit messages (164, 184) from the addressbased network (30,202,260) comprises sending an object state conflict error to the addressbased network (30,202,260) in response to an explicit message (164,184) from the addressbased network (30,202,260).

45.	The method (102) of claim 36, wherein selectively ignoring fault messages according to an override attribute (280) comprises selectively using a fault action (274) and setting the output value (152) according to a fault value (276).

46.	The method (102) of claim 36, wherein selectively ignoring idle messages according to the override attribute (280) comprises selectively using an idle action (270) and setting the output value (152) according to an idle value (272).

47.

The method (302) of claim 35, wherein the logic system (84) comprises an output device (88,600) having a device status, further comprising: associating the output device (88,154) with a logic function (418,510) in communication with the addressbased network (30,202,260); associating the logic function (418,510) with an indicator (356,416,524,624); receiving a status message from the addressbased network (30,202,260); receiving a value message from the addressbased network (30,202,260); updating the indicator (356,416,524,624) according to the status message and the device status; and selectively providing an output value (508,608) to the output device (88,600) from one of the logic function (418,510) and the value message, according to the logic function (418,510).

48.	The method (302) of claim 47, wherein associating the logic function (418,510) with the indicator (356,416,524,624) comprises creating a binding there between.

49.

The method (302) of claim 47, wherein updating the indicator (356, 416,524,624) according to the status message and the device status comprises receiving at least one of an I/O connection health indicator (520,620), a messaging connection health indicator (520,620), an I/O connection error indicator (528,628), a run event indicator (530,630), and idle event indicator (530,630), a network error indicator (532,632), an I/O point fault indicator (534,634), a hardware input indicator (536,636), a hardware output indicator (538,638), and I/O data (540,640) from the status message.

50.

The method (302) of claim 47, wherein the logic function (418,510) comprises at least one function block (512,514,516,518), and wherein selectively providing the output value (508,608) to the output device (88,600) from one of the logic function (418,510) and the value message according to the logic function (418, 510) comprises executing at least one function block (512,514,516,518) according to the indicator (356,416,524,624).

51.	The method (302) of claim 50, wherein the function block (512,514, 516, 518) comprises at least one of a boolean operator (512,518), a flipflop, a counter, and a timer.

52.

The method (302) of claim 51, wherein updating the indicator (356, 416,524,624) according to the status message and the device status comprises receiving at least one of an I/O connection health indicator (520,620), a messaging connection health indicator (526,626), an I/O connection error indicator (528,628), a run event indicator (530,630), and idle event indicator (530,630), a network error indicator (532,632), an I/O point fault indicator (534,634), a hardware input indicator (536,636), a hardware output indicator (538,638), and I/O data (540,640) from the status message.

53.	The method (302) of claim 52, wherein associating the logic function (418,510) with the indicator (356,416,524,624) comprises creating a binding there between.

54.	The method (302) of claim 47, further comprising sending a network message according to at least one of the logic function (418,510) and the indicator (356,416,524,624).

55.

The method of claim 35, further comprising: storing a program in the logic system (84); receiving a message (750, 760,770,900,910) from the communications port (82), wherein the message includes a parameter (756,768,776,908,914); executing at least a portion of the stored program in the logic system according to the parameter (756,768,776,908,914); and suspending execution of the stored program according to the parameter (756, 768,776,908,914).

56.

The method of claim 55, further comprising placing the logic system (84) into a step mode in response to a change mode message (750,770) from the communications port (82,724,734) prior to executing the at least a portion of the stored program in the logic system (84) according to the parameter (756,768,776,908, 914).

57.	The method of claim 56, further comprising repeating executing the at least a portion of the stored program and suspending execution of the stored program, in response to another message from the communications port (82,724,734).

58.	The method of claim 56, further comprising providing data to the communications port (82,724,734) in response to a data request message from the addressbased network (30,702) while execution of the stored program is suspended.

59.	The method of claim 55, further comprising providing data to the communications port (82,724,734) in response to a data request message from the addressbased network (30,702) while execution of the stored program is suspended.

60.	The method of claim 55, wherein the message further comprises a step type (766,906), and wherein executing the at least a portion of the stored program and suspending execution of the stored program are done according to the step type (766, 906).

61.	The method of claim 60, wherein the step type (766,906) is a timed step and the parameter (768,908) is a step time value.

62.

The method of claim 61, wherein executing the at least a portion of the stored program comprises executing the stored program for a fixed time period according to the step time value (768,908), and wherein suspending execution of the stored program comprises stopping program execution after the fixed time period.

63.	The method of claim 60, wherein the step type (766,906) is step iteration, and the parameter (768,908) is an integer number of iterations.

64.

The method of claim 63, wherein executing the at least a portion of the stored program comprises executing the stored program an integer number of times according to the parameter (768,908), and wherein suspending execution of the stored program comprises stopping program execution after the integer number of iterations.

65.

The method of claim 60, further comprising placing the logic system (84) into a step mode in response to a change mode message (750,770) from the communications port (82,724,734) prior to executing the at least a portion of the stored program in the logic system (84) according to the parameter (756,776).

66.	The method of claim 35, further comprising: performing selfconfiguration according to a network address.