CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A MACHINE OR FOR AN INSTALLATION

A control system comprises several slave modules each operative to control a specific function and a master module operative to control all the slave modules. Each slave module comprises a processing circuit cooperating with an input/output interface permitting conversation with the operator and a memory circuit intended to specify the function which must be controlled by the slave module. The master module comprises a processing circuit cooperating with a memory for the conversation software and for processing the information received by the slave modules, and with an input/output interface permitting conversation with the operator. All the modules are interconnected on the one hand by a conversation bus between the modules and, on the other hand, by a master bus which enables the master module to read directly into a memory of each slave module the additional software necessary for conversation with the slave module.