Schneider's PLC function block code aids RFID compliance

Staff -- Control Engineering, 9/1/2004

Palatine, IL—Schneider Electric recently introduced Telemecanique TCP Open, a derived function block code that enables a programmable logic controller (PLC) to communicate easily with any third-party TCP device, including radio frequency (RF) tag readers, printers, barcode readers and even other PLCs. The code was developed for Schneider's Modicon Premium controller.

The function blocks in TCP Open create an object in an object-oriented programming environment. The object automatically opens an Ethernet communication channel to an RF tag reader, records the data, and then closes the channel. The code block can be installed in a PLC's programming software in minutes.