JP3020776B2 - Process instrumentation system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process instrumentation system used for process control of various plants and the like, and more particularly to a process input / output system between a plurality of programmable controllers using a single process input / output system. The present invention relates to a process instrumentation system provided with a technology capable of transmitting and receiving output data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some conventional process instrumentation systems include:
Figure plurality of programmable controllers 2 ₁ As on LAN1 shown in 2, 2 _2, ... are connected, these controllers 2 _1, 2 _2, ... each common process output system 3 _1, 3 _2, ... Data In some cases, the process 4 that is a control target is controlled as necessary while exchanging and transmitting the information.

In such a system, when each programmable controller accesses a common process input / output system, data is mutually exchanged indirectly via the LAN 1.

Hereinafter, a specific operation example will be described. Now, when the controller 2 ₂ retrieves the data from the common process output system 3 ₁ via LAN1, the controller 2
When ₂ makes a data request to the controller 2 ₁ via LAN1, the controller 2 ₁ processes output system 3 ₁
And read the process data. Thereafter, when the controller 2 ₁ registers the process data on the LAN1, the controller 2 ₂ that requires data stored in a memory (not shown) having a built-in read the registration process data from the LAN1, operation Used for control.

[0005] Conversely, when the controller 2 ₂ outputs data, the controller 2 ₂ feeds the data to the controller 2 ₁ via LAN1, the controller 2 ₁ processes output system 3 ₁ the data received this data To the process input / output system 3
₁ stores the data and controls the process 4 using the data as needed.

[0006]

Accordingly, in the above-described process instrumentation system, since a plurality of controllers exchange process data with each other via the LAN 1, a process from requesting process data to outputting an operation result is requested. There is a problem that the processing time is long and cannot be applied to a system that requires high-speed control of the process 4.
In addition, there is a problem that a high-speed and large-capacity LAN 1 is required, and the cost of the system is significantly increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a process instrumentation system capable of shortening a processing time from a data request to outputting a calculation result and realizing high-speed control of a process. The purpose is to: Another object of the present invention is to provide a process instrumentation system capable of promptly and quickly performing an emergency response process when an event requiring urgency occurs.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of controllers take in input data of a process as needed and execute required processing. In a process instrumentation system that outputs data to be controlled and controls the process,
A process input / output interface unit is provided between the plurality of controllers and one external system input / output system capable of expanding the storage capacity for taking in data from the process while controlling the process under instructions of the controllers, The process input / output interface unit includes an interface device and a plurality of process input / output cards for storing input / output of predetermined input / output data of the process and storing the input / output data.
The interface device includes a common memory that stores common data necessary for data transmission of the plurality of controllers, and a process area selection unit that determines a data access destination from a command signal sent from each of the controllers. A controller which sends a status signal including any of the data of the common memory, the data of a certain process input / output card or the data of the external process input / output system selected by the process area selecting unit to which the command signal has been transmitted. Is a process instrumentation system for transmission to

Next, according to a second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of controllers take in input data of a process as needed and execute required processing, and output data to be controlled to execute the process. In a process instrumentation system to be controlled, a process is performed between the plurality of controllers and one external process input / output system capable of expanding the storage capacity for taking in data from the process while controlling the process under instructions of the controllers. An input / output interface unit is provided, and the process input / output interface unit is provided with an interface device having an interrupt output selecting unit. The interrupt output selecting unit receives an interrupt request signal from the external process input / output system. Emergency response processing to the predetermined controller A process instrumentation system for delivering an interrupt request signal for causing.

[0010]

Accordingly, the invention corresponding to claim 1 has a plurality of controllers and one unit by taking the above means.
A process input / output interface unit for inputting / outputting predetermined input / output data of a process and an input / output data of a process and providing the process input / output interface unit between the system and an external process input / output system, and a controller executes the program execution process When reading necessary data based on a table that prescribes the relationship between data types and addresses in advance, when a command signal is transmitted by specifying an address for securing the necessary data, the process area selecting unit of the interface device is Selects a common memory, a certain process input / output card and an external process input / output system based on a command signal having an address, and sends necessary data as a status signal, so that necessary data can be quickly sent to the controller without using a LAN. Can be provided Request from the can realize shortening of the processing time until completion of the computation, it is possible to turn increase the speed of the process control of the controller.

Next, in the invention according to claim 2, an interrupt output selection section is provided in the interface device of the process input / output interface unit. Therefore, when an interrupt request signal is issued from an external process input / output system, the interrupt output selection section is provided. Since an interrupt request signal is transmitted to a predetermined controller, when an event requiring an urgent process occurs, an emergency response process is performed by a certain controller, so that appropriate emergency measures can be taken.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. This process instrumentation system includes an interface device 12 for relaying data without connecting a plurality of programmable controllers 11 ₁ , 11 ₂ ,... To a LAN as in the prior art, and a plurality of process input / output cards 13 ₁ , 13 _2. , Are connected to a single process input / output system 15 via a process input / output interface unit 14 having a built-in interface. The process input / output system 15 has a configuration in which a large number of input / output cards are connected in a tree shape via an interface card, whereby the input / output cards can be expanded. Reference numeral 16 denotes a process to be controlled.

Each of the programmable controllers 11
_{, 1} , _{2 2} ,...
_1, 13 _2, ..., a table common memory and process input-output system 15 described later to define the type and address data indicating whether to save ensuring any data about the process 16 is provided, actually programmed When you need some kind of data in the process of performing
Command data is transmitted by specifying an address having a relationship with a certain data type required in the table.

The interface device 12 selects a controller based on a command signal associated with an access request from the controller side, and relays a status signal accompanied by data from a component corresponding to the address to request a data. A controller selector 21 for sending to the controller, and a command signal from the controller via the controller selector 21 relayed to the process input / output system 15 and sent to the process input / output system 15; A command / status input / output unit 22 that receives a signal and sends it to the controller that has requested the data via the controller selection unit 21
, And each of the controllers 11 ₁ , 11 ₂ ,.
A common memory 2 for storing, for example, data necessary for data transmission, which defines data exchange between ₁ , 13 ₂ ,.
3 and the process input / output interface unit 14
, A command / status input / output unit 25 for relaying command signals and status signals to a plurality of process input / output cards 13 ₁ , 13 ₂ ,. from the command signal, the common memory 23, card 13 _1, 13 _2, ... and the process output system 15
And an interrupt output selecting unit 27 that transmits an interrupt request signal sent from the process input / output system 15 to a predetermined controller. . Which controller transmits the interrupt request signal is determined by the process input / output system 15 or the interrupt output selection unit 27. At this time, for example, if a given controller is inoperative due to a stop or the like, the interrupt output signal is output. The selection unit 27 selects another controller based on its own judgment or an instruction from the process input / output system 15, and sends an interrupt request signal.

The plurality of process input / output cards 13 ₁ ,
13 ₂ ,... Control the process 16 on the basis of an access by a command signal from the controller irrespective of the process input / output system 15.
6 has a function of storing the data of the control result and transmitting the data secured in response to the data request by the command signal to the corresponding controller.

Next, the operation of the system configured as described above will be described. Now, each controller 11 ₁ , 1
When a certain controller 11 ₁ wants to take out a certain type of data from a process input / output card 13 _{2 in the} process of executing a program, for example, 1 ₂ ,..., An address corresponding to a certain data type specified in a table , A command signal for requesting data is transmitted.

On the other hand, in the controller selection section 21 of the interface device 12, each of the controllers 11 ₁ , 11 ₂ ,
..., after receiving a command signal from the side, selects a controller to be connected according to the command generation order.

[0018] At this time, the access area selection unit 26, common memory 23 on the basis of a command signal with a selected example, the controller 11 _first address by the controller selector 21, the process input and output card 13 _1,
13 ₂ ,..., The process input / output system 15 is selected.

[0019] Now, the access area selection unit 26, when it is determined to require data from the address of the example of the process input and output card 13 ₂ from the controller 11 ₁ of the command signal, in the same unit in the command / status output unit 25 Communicate to that effect. Here, the same unit in the command / status output unit 25 sends the process output card 13 ₂ reads the data subjected to relay command status signal, to the controller 11 ₁ in question via the controller selector 21 I do.

[0020] Thus, the data process input and output card 13 ₂ via the same unit in the command / status output unit 25 is sent to the controller 11 _1, thereby output from the controller card 13 _1, 13 _2, ... Will be realized. Thus, the process input / output cards 13 ₁ , 13 ₁
By providing ₂ ,..., Necessary data can be sent to the controller at the data relay stage, and the number of external process input / output systems can be greatly reduced.

Next, when the controller 11 ₁ , 11 ₂ ,... Sends a command signal to the external process input / output system 15 by designating an address, the access area selection unit 26 sends the command to the external process input / output system 15. The access is determined, and the command / status input / output unit 22 is selected.

At this time, the command / status input / output unit 22 relays the command signal from the controller and sends it to the process input / output system 15 side, where the process input / output system 15 responds to the command signal. Since the status signal is transmitted, the command / status input / output unit 22 receives the status signal and transmits it to the controller via the controller selection unit 21.

On the other hand, when data necessary for data transmission is required from the controllers 11 ₁ , 11 ₂ ,..., A command signal specifying an address is similarly transmitted.
The access area selection unit 26 determines that the access is to the common memory 23, reads data necessary for transmission, and sends the data to the controller via the controller selection unit 21.

Further, the interface device 12 is provided with an interrupt output selection unit 27 for preferentially selecting a predetermined controller, for example, 11 ₁ , so that the interrupt request signal sent from the process input / output system 15 is determined in advance. To the specified controller so that the controller receiving the interrupt request signal
An emergency response process can be executed for the emergency event that has occurred.

Therefore, according to the configuration of the embodiment described above, the process area selecting section 26 controls the common memory 23, the cards 13 ₁ and 13 based on the command signals sent from the controllers 11 ₁ , 11 ₂ ,. _2, it is determined whether any of the access ... and process input-output system 15, since the back to the controller to the appropriate data in the card 13 ₁ as a status signal in the case of a card for example, 13 _1, as in the conventional LAN The required data can be sent to the controller at a high speed without using a computer, and the conventional process input / output system can be greatly reduced.

Further, by transmitting an interrupt request signal sent from the process input / output system 15 to a predetermined controller by the interrupt output selecting section 27 of the interface device 12, it is possible to quickly cope with an emergency in the process 16. .

Further, the process input / output cards 13 ₁ , 1
3 _2, ... and is for storing process data for each of the process input and output system 15 processes 16, it is possible to extend by a process output system 15 particularly in the case that requires extended storage of data, this Can standardize the process input / output cards 13 ₁ , 13 ₂ ,.

In the above embodiment, the controller is selected in advance by the interrupt output selector 27. However, the controller may be specified in accordance with an instruction from the process input / output system 15, for example. In addition, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following various effects can be obtained. First, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in response to a data request from a controller, necessary data can be quickly provided to the controller, thereby shortening a processing time from a request for inputting process data to outputting an operation result. And high-speed control of the process can be realized.

Further, by providing a card for storing input / output data for a process in the process input / output unit for relaying data, the number of external process input / output systems can be reduced, and the cost of the system can be greatly reduced. it can.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a necessary emergency response process is quickly performed in response to an emergency event of a process by providing a component having a relay function with an interrupt connection function of a specific controller. And contribute to the stable operation of the process.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a process instrumentation system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a conventional process instrumentation system.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ₁ , 11 ₂ , ... Programmable controller,
12 interface device, 13 ₁ , 13 ₂ , process input / output card, 14 process input / output unit,
15 external process input / output system, 16 process (control target), 21 controller selection unit, 22 command / status input / output unit, 23 common memory, 25
Command / status input / output unit in the same unit, 26 ...
Access area selection unit 27 interrupt output selection unit.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A process instrumentation system in which a plurality of controllers take in input data of a process as needed and execute required processing, and output data to be controlled to control the process. A process input / output interface unit is provided between the controller and the external process input / output system of one system capable of expanding the storage capacity for taking in data from the process while controlling the process under instructions of the controllers. The input / output interface unit has an interface device and a plurality of process input / output cards for inputting / outputting predetermined input / output data of the process and storing the input / output data. Common required for data transmission of multiple controllers And a process area selector for determining a data access destination from a command signal sent from each of the controllers. The data of the common memory selected by the process area selector is A process instrumentation system for transmitting a status signal including data of a process input / output card or data of the external process input / output system to a controller to which the command signal has been transmitted. 2. A process instrumentation system in which a plurality of controllers take in input data of a process as needed and execute required processing, and output data to be controlled to control the process. A process input / output interface unit is provided between the controller and the external process input / output system of one system capable of expanding the storage capacity for taking in data from the process while controlling the process under instructions of the controllers. The input / output interface unit is provided with an interface device having an interrupt output selection unit. The interrupt output selection unit receives an interrupt request signal from the external process input / output system, and sends the interrupt request signal to a predetermined controller. Interrupt request signal for performing emergency response processing A process instrumentation system for transmitting a signal.