JP5771548B2 - Controller - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a controller for controlling an analog quantity such as temperature.

  There are controllers to control analog process quantities such as temperature and flow rate. Controllers are used for control for automation systems such as manufacturing facilities and building management. The controller is composed mainly of a CPU, and includes a storage unit that stores a function for maintaining an analog amount such as temperature at a set target value, such as PID control, and control parameters used for the operation of each function. PID control performs control of a control target such as an air conditioner based on information such as measured temperature and information stored in a storage unit. In recent years, a communication function for communicating information with other devices is provided.

  The setting values such as the control parameters in the controller described above are changed by connecting an external device for setting information to the target controller. For example, when a plurality of controllers are connected by Ethernet (registered trademark) to form a LAN (Local Area Network), an information setting device is connected to the LAN to communicate with the target controller. Establish and perform predetermined setting changes. In connection using such a network, various setting changes can be quickly made to a plurality of controllers, such as simultaneous setting changes to a plurality of controllers connected to the network. . However, in such a connection, the information setting device also needs a LAN connection function, and it is necessary to change the setting so that information such as its own address information (IP address) matches the network to be connected. It becomes.

  In addition, there is also a method in which a predetermined controller and information setting device are connected on a one-to-one basis by bus connection or the like, and a predetermined setting is performed. As such a connection form, there are, for example, connection by UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter), connection by USB (Universal Serial Bus), and the like. Such a connection does not require various settings for the connection as described above, and it is very easy to establish communication between devices.

JP 2000-172597 A

  Here, in the case of a simple setting change of the controller, in the connection using the LAN as described above, there is a problem that various settings for connecting the information setting device are required, and the work becomes complicated. On the other hand, in the one-to-one connection described above, it is very easy to establish communication between the information setting device, the target, and the controller. In the case of a simple setting change of the controller, the operation can be easily performed. it can.

  However, in the one-to-one connection, since one information setting device cannot be connected to a plurality of controllers at the same time, even if the setting for each controller is simple, the setting change target is a plurality of controllers. In this case, many reconnections occur, and the work becomes complicated.

  In addition, when using a LAN that does not require reconnection, a gateway or bridge having a firewall function is used to establish communication without the need for changing the settings for LAN connection as described above. It is also possible (see Patent Document 1). However, when such a repeater is provided exclusively, it is not easy to construct a network using the repeater, which causes an increase in equipment cost.

  As described above, conventionally, there has been a problem that simple setting changes for a plurality of controllers cannot be easily performed without cost.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily perform a simple setting change for a plurality of controllers without cost.

  The controller according to the present invention includes a device connection means to which a device to be controlled is connected, a control means for controlling a control amount of a control device connected to the device connection means with a set control parameter, a control parameter Network connection for connecting the device itself to a network using an IP address to which another controller is connected, and a setting device connection means for connecting the information setting device for changing the setting and the device itself in a point-to-point manner Means, an own device information storage unit storing an IP address of the own device and device identification information for identifying the own device, an IP address of another controller connected to the network, and a device identification of the other controller The other device information storage unit in which the information is stored in association with the device identification information and the setting change information transferred from the information setting device connected by the setting device connection means Transfer information receiving means for receiving the transfer information, and address conversion for extracting the IP address corresponding to the device identification information included in the transfer information received by the transfer information receiving means from the other device information storage unit and making it a destination IP address Means and transmission means for transmitting the transfer information to the network with the destination IP address as the destination.

  In the above controller, a receiving means for receiving communication information transmitted from another controller to the own device via a network, and an information setting device in which the communication information received by the receiving means is connected by a setting device connecting means Information transfer means for transferring the information to the communication device, and the information transfer means transmits the communication information by extracting the device identification information of the information setting device as the transfer destination included in the communication information received by the receiving means by the address conversion means. Is transferred to the information setting device.

  As described above, according to the present invention, simple setting changes for a plurality of controllers can be easily performed without cost.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a controller according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the controller in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation example of the controller according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a controller according to an embodiment of the present invention. This controller includes a device connection unit 101, a control unit 102, a setting device connection unit 103, a network connection unit 104, a local device information storage unit 105, another device information storage unit 106, a transfer information reception unit 107, an address conversion unit 108, And a transmission unit 109. The controller includes a receiving unit 110, an information transfer unit 111, and a control information storage unit 112.

  The device connection unit 101 is connected to a device to be controlled. For example, the equipment connection unit 101 is connected to an air conditioning facility or a process device. The control unit 102 controls the control amount of the control device connected to the device connection unit 101 with the set control parameter. For example, based on the control parameters set in the control information storage unit 112, the heating mechanism of the process device is set so that the measured temperature value received from the process device connected to the device connection unit 101 becomes the set value. Control.

  The setting device connection unit 103 connects the information setting device for changing the setting of the control parameter and the own device in a point-to-point manner. For example, connection control by UART, USB or the like is performed. The information setting device is, for example, a portable computer, and various settings for the controller can be performed by operating a recorded setting program. The network connection unit 104 connects the own device to a network using an IP address to which another controller is connected. For example, the network is a LAN constructed by Ethernet (registered trademark), and the setting device connection unit 103 is a network adapter that can be connected to a portable computer using a communication cable.

  The own device information storage unit 105 stores the IP address of the own device and device identification information for identifying the own device. The other device information storage unit 106 stores an IP address of another controller connected to the network and device identification information of the other controller in association with each other.

  For example, the own device information storage unit 105 stores “# 1” as device identification information for identifying the own device, and stores “192.168.1.2” as the IP address of the own device. Yes. In addition, as illustrated in Table 1 below, an identifier for identifying another controller is stored in the other device information storage unit 106 together with an IP address set as a network address of the controller. Yes.

  The transfer information receiving unit 107 receives transfer information including device identification information and setting change information transferred from the information setting device connected by the setting device connection unit 103. For example, the transfer information receiving unit 107 indicates that “# 0 → # 2, data indicating that the transfer source is an information setting device of“ # 0 ”and the transfer destination is another controller of“ # 2 ”. Transfer information in the format “” is received from the information setting device. The address conversion unit 108 extracts the IP address corresponding to the transfer destination device identification information included in the transfer information received by the transfer information reception unit 107 from the other device information storage unit 106 and sets it as the transmission destination IP address. For example, the address conversion unit 108 extracts the IP address “192.168.1.3” corresponding to the device identifier “# 2” from the other device information storage unit 106 and sets it as the transmission destination IP address of the transfer information. .

  The transmission unit 109 sets “# 0 → # 2, data” as the transmission destination IP address set by the address conversion unit 108 as described above to the network connected by the network connection unit 104. Send. By transmitting in this way, the other controller of the IP address “192.168.1.3” connected to the network receives the data.

  Moreover, the receiving part 110 receives the communication information transmitted with respect to the own apparatus from the other controller via the network. For example, the transmitted communication information includes transfer information in the format of “# 0 ← # 2, data”. This is data indicating that the transfer source is another controller of “# 2” and the transfer destination is an information setting device of “# 0”. When such communication information is received from the network to which the reception unit 110 is connected by the network connection unit 104, the address conversion unit 108 first extracts the included transfer information. Further, the address conversion unit 108 sets the transfer destination device identification information included in the extracted transfer information as the transfer destination of the transfer information. This device identification information corresponds to the information setting device.

  The information transfer unit 111 transfers the transfer information extracted from the communication information received by the reception unit 110 to the information setting device connected by the setting unit connection unit 103, which is the transfer destination set by the address conversion unit 108. . As a result, the information setting device can process the transferred communication data as being transferred from the controller identified by the device identification information “# 2”.

  What is necessary is just to comprise the controller mentioned above as shown in FIG. The controller shown in FIG. 2 includes a CPU 201, a main memory 202, a storage unit 203, a UART controller 204, a pin jack 205, a LAN adapter 208, an A / D conversion unit 209, a D / A conversion unit 210, a digital input unit 213, and a digital An output unit 214, a power circuit 215, a LAN connector 227, and a power connector 228 are provided. Further, a display / operation unit 211 for displaying simple settings and setting contents, and an external connection connector 212 for connecting to an external device are provided.

  The CPU 201 operates according to an operation program registered in the main memory 202 composed of ROM / RAM. The CPU 201 is connected to the external connection connector 212 through input / output interfaces such as an A / D conversion unit 209, a D / A conversion unit 210, a digital input unit 213, and a digital output unit 214 connected via a parallel bus. A signal is input / output to / from a control target terminal (not shown), and, for example, PID control is executed according to the control target state (sensing information) to control the analog process amount of the control target device.

  The CPU 201 sets a predetermined control characteristic by obtaining a control parameter for executing such PID control from the storage unit 203 configured by an EEPROM memory or the like.

  Further, the CPU 201 drives the LAN adapter 208 by Ethernet (registered trademark), thereby performing information communication with another controller on the connected network via the LAN connector 127. The LAN adapter 208 is a network connection unit. A general-purpose LAN cable is connected to the LAN connector 127.

  The storage unit 203 stores the IP address of the controller at the connection destination used for the information communication described above and the device identification information of the controller. In addition, the IP address of the own device is also stored in the storage unit 203. The storage unit 203 includes an own device information storage unit and another device information storage unit.

  Further, the CPU 201 drives the UART controller 204 to establish a serial connection by UART with an information setting device (not shown) connected via the pin jack 205 and transfer information. The UART controller 204 is a setting device connection unit. In addition, power is supplied to the power supply circuit 215 via the power supply connector 228.

  Next, an operation example of the controller in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, a case where data is transferred to the first controller 302 to which the information setting device 301 is connected will be described. As shown in FIG. 3A, in step S301, the device identification information “# 0” of the information setting device 301 is the transfer source, and the device identification information “# 1” of the first controller 302 is the transfer destination. Data is transferred to the first controller 302.

  Next, in step S <b> 302, data having “# 0” as the transfer source and “# 1” as the transfer destination is received by the transfer information receiving unit of the first controller 302. Since it is confirmed by referring to the information stored in the own device information storage unit that the transfer destination is “# 1” and this indicates the own device, in step S303, the data is extracted and controlled. Predetermined processing such as parameter change is performed. Next, in step S304, the information transfer unit 301 receives an acknowledgment (ACK) with “# 1” as the transfer source and “# 0” as the transfer destination, and the information transfer unit sets “# 0” as the device identification information. Forwarded to Next, in step S305, the information setting device 301 accepts an ACK with “# 1” as the transfer source and “# 0” as the transfer destination. In addition, the information setting device 301 acquires device identification information as shown in Table 1 from the first controller 302 by transferring information through the same serial connection. Based on the device identification information acquired in this way, the information setting device 301 transmits and receives data described below.

  Next, the case where the information setting device 301 transmits data to the second controller 303 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3B, first, in step S306, the device identification information “# 0” of the device identification information 301 of the information setting device 301 is used as the transfer source, and the device identification information “#” of the second controller 303 is used. Data having “2” as the transfer destination is transferred to the first controller 302.

  Next, in step S307, data with “# 0” as the transfer source and “# 2” as the transfer destination is received by the transfer information receiving unit of the first controller 302. Since the transfer destination is “# 2” and it is confirmed by referring to the information stored in the other device information storage unit that it is not the own device but indicates the second controller 303, step S308. Then, the address conversion unit sets the IP address “# 2IP” of the corresponding “# 2” as the transmission destination, the IP address “# 1IP” of the own apparatus as the transmission source, and “# 0” as the transfer source. 2 ”is used as the transfer destination data, and the transmission unit transmits the data to the second controller 303.

  Next, in step S 309, data with “# 1IP” as the transmission source, “# 2IP” as the transmission destination, “# 0” as the transfer source, and “# 2” as the transfer destination are stored in the second controller 303. Received by the receiver. Since it is confirmed by referring to the information stored in the own device information storage unit that the transmission destination is “# 2IP” and this indicates the own device, “# 0” is transferred in step S310. Data with “# 2” as the original and the transfer destination is taken out.

  Next, since it is confirmed by referring to the information stored in the own device information storage unit that the transfer destination is “# 2” and indicates the own device, the data is extracted in step S311. Then, predetermined processing such as control parameter change is performed, and in step S312, an ACK having “# 2” as the transfer source and “# 0” as the transfer destination is generated. In addition, since the transmission source of the data that is the basis of this processing is “# 1IP”, in step S313, the address conversion unit transmits an ACK with “# 2” as the transfer source and “# 0” as the transfer destination. The transmission destination is set as “# 1IP” and is transmitted by the transmission unit.

  Next, in step S314, an ACK with the transmission source “# 2IP”, the transmission destination “# 1IP”, “# 2” as the transfer source, and “# 0” as the transfer destination is received by the first controller 302. Received by the receiver. Since the transmission destination is “# 1IP” and it is confirmed by referring to the information stored in the own device information storage unit that this indicates the own device, “# 2” is set as the transfer source “# ACK with “0” as the transfer destination is taken out. Next, in step S315, the address conversion unit sets the transfer destination to “# 0”, and the information transfer unit receives “# 0” as an ACK with “# 2” as the transfer source and “# 0” as the transfer destination. Is transferred to the information setting device 301 having the device identification information. Next, in step S316, the information setting device 301 accepts an ACK with “# 2” as the transfer source and “# 0” as the transfer destination.

  Next, a case where the first controller 302 transmits data to the second controller 303 will be described. First, in S321, data having the device identification information “# 1” of the first controller 302 as a transfer source and the device identification information “# 2” of the second controller 303 as a transfer destination is generated. Next, it is confirmed by referring to the information stored in the other device information storage unit that the transfer destination is “# 2”, which indicates the second controller 303 via the network connection unit. . As a result, in step S322, the address conversion unit sets the corresponding IP address “# 2IP” of “# 2” as the transmission destination, sets the IP address “# 1IP” of its own device as the transmission source, and sets “# 1” as the transmission source. The data is transmitted with “# 2” as the transfer source and the transmission unit transmits the data to the second controller 303.

  Next, in step S 323, data having “# 1IP” as a transmission source, “# 2IP” as a transmission destination, “# 1” as a transfer source, and “# 2” as a transfer destination is stored in the second controller 303. Received by the receiver. Since it is confirmed by referring to the information stored in the local device information storage unit that the transmission destination is “# 2IP” and indicates the local device, “# 1” is transferred in step S324. Data with “# 2” as the original and the transfer destination is taken out.

  Next, since it is confirmed by referring to the information stored in the own device information storage unit that the transfer destination is “# 2” and indicates the own device, the data is extracted in step S325. Then, predetermined processing such as control parameter change is performed, and in step S326, an ACK with “# 2” as the transfer source and “# 1” as the transfer destination is generated. Further, since the data receiving source that is the basis of this processing is “# 1IP”, in step S327, the address conversion unit receives an ACK with “# 2” as the transfer source and “# 1” as the transfer destination. The transmission destination is set as “# 1IP” and is transmitted by the transmission unit.

  Next, in step S328, an ACK with “# 2IP” as the transmission source, “# 1IP” as the transmission destination, “# 2” as the transfer source, and “# 1” as the transfer destination is received by the first controller 302. Received by the receiver. Since the transmission destination is “# 1IP” and it is confirmed by referring to the information stored in the own device information storage unit that this indicates the own device, “# 2” is set as the transfer source “# An ACK with “1” as the transfer destination is extracted, and in step S315, the address conversion unit recognizes that the transfer destination is “# 1”. Since it is confirmed from the information stored in the own device information storage unit that “# 1” is the own device, the first controller 302 performs predetermined information processing on the own device.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in addition to the controller connected to the information setting device, the information setting device connected point-to-point via the network using the controller and the IP address. You can change the settings of other connected controllers. As described above, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to use a gateway or the like having a firewall function, and it is possible to change the setting without connecting an information setting device to each controller individually. A simple setting change for the controller can be easily performed without cost.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and many modifications and combinations can be implemented by those having ordinary knowledge in the art within the technical idea of the present invention. It is obvious. For example, the present invention is not limited to transfer and transmission / reception of control parameters, and monitor values and manual operation values may be transferred and transmitted / received.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 ... Device connection part, 102 ... Control part, 103 ... Setting device connection part, 104 ... Network connection part, 105 ... Own apparatus information storage part, 106 ... Other apparatus information storage part, 107 ... Transfer information reception part, 108 ... Address Conversion unit 109 ... transmission unit 110 110 reception unit 111 information transfer unit 112 control information storage unit

Claims (2)

A device connection means to which a device to be controlled is connected;
Control means for controlling the control amount of the control equipment connected to the equipment connection means with a set control parameter;
Setting device connection means for connecting the information setting device for changing the setting of the control parameter and the own device in a point-to-point manner,
Network connection means for connecting the own device to a network using an IP address to which another controller is connected;
A self-device information storage unit in which the IP address of the self-device and device identification information for identifying the self-device are stored;
An other device information storage unit in which IP addresses of other controllers connected to the network and device identification information of the other controllers are stored in association with each other;
Transfer information receiving means for receiving transfer information including device identification information and setting change information transferred from the information setting device connected by the setting device connecting means;
An address conversion unit that takes out an IP address corresponding to the device identification information included in the transfer information received by the transfer information receiving unit from the other device information storage unit and sets it as a transmission destination IP address;
A controller comprising: transmission means for transmitting the transfer information to the network using the transmission destination IP address as a transmission destination. The controller according to claim 1, wherein
Receiving means for receiving communication information transmitted from the other controller to the device via the network;
Information transfer means for transferring the communication information received by the receiving means to the information setting device connected by the setting device connection means,
The information transfer unit extracts the communication information from the information setting device as the device identification information of the information setting device is extracted as a transfer destination included in the communication information received by the receiving unit by the address conversion unit. A controller characterized by being transferred to.

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