DE102014016817A1 - Method for managing and configuring field devices of an automation system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for managing and configuring field devices of an automation system with a configuration tool, which is designed to physically detect a field device in the automation system, logically integrate it into the automation system and configure it in the automation system, the configuration tool for this purpose predefined first field device-specific information packet which at least partially describes the functions and data of the field device. To improve the overview, it is proposed that a value (21 to 91) be assigned to each screen element (2 to 9) of a screen (1), and that the screen element (8) with highest significance (81) be displayed in the visible screen area (1) while the less significant screen elements (2 to 7 and 9) (21 to 71 and 91) are invisible depending on the size of the screen (1).

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for managing and configuring field devices of an automation system. The invention finds particular use in process automation or machine control for controlling processes and / or plant components.

Automation systems for controlling a technical process or a technical installation usually comprise a control device (PLC), which are integrated in a network of a plurality of intelligent electrical devices. Smart electronic devices include microprocessor-based devices such as protection and control devices, motor protection devices, intelligent switches and voltage regulators, frequency converters, pressure and temperature transmitters, flow meters, and actuators.

From the post "FDI Device Integration - Best of Both Worlds", atp edition 6/2010, pages 16 to 19 , is known to field devices with the FDI concept ( Field Device Integration IEC-62769 ) into an automation system. The basis of this concept is the provision of information for the configuration of field devices in a device-specific FDI package. This FDI package includes a fixed amount of information consisting of a Device Definition, Business Logic, User Interface Description and User Interface Plug-ins. The device definition includes management information and the device model. The Business Logic describes the communication logic for the device and serves to ensure the consistency of the device model. The User Interface Description describes the presentation of the device parameters and device functions. The user interface plug-ins are programmed components of surface portions for displaying the device parameters and functions.

When configuring field devices using EDD (Electronic Device Description) technology IEC 61804 A device manufacturer provides an EDD that includes information about the communication with the device, the business logic, and the user interfaces, that is, which input forms should be presented to a user. For example, business logic includes when which parameters should be written.

The FDI technology uses these mechanisms of EDD and provides the concept of the FDI package, which may contain besides EDD still other information such as user manual, but also so-called UIPs (User Interface Plugln), the other user interfaces in other technologies, such as .NET assemblies, which, unlike EDD based user interfaces, consists of programmed and component compiled code.

Typically, FDI packages are created by device manufacturers and used by system manufacturers to integrate and configure device manufacturers' devices in their system.

In addition to a single user element with different parameters, graphs and other elements, the EDD can also define new windows and dialogs. A host has some freedom and can, for example, display several menus defined in the EDD simultaneously in different windows or user interfaces from different device instances.

Known EDD host systems either limit the number of windows or open any number of windows for the various devices. The overview of the assignment of the windows to the devices is lost.

In addition, the EDD specification allows defining an input context that includes changes to a device configuration that the user has already made on the surface, but has not yet written to the device or the offline configuration. It is possible according to the specification that different windows and dialogs work on different input contexts of the same device. This concept makes it even more difficult for a user to map the windows not only to the device but also to a particular input context.

In the prior art, EDD host systems display the windows described in the EDD as windows of the application so that the user can compare multiple window contents. However, the windows are difficult to assign to a specific device instance and even more difficult to assign to a specific input context of this device instance. When a user wants to apply or discard an input context, it is difficult to tell which windows are affected.

In such a programming tool, information about the devices is visualized and functions, such as parameterizations, are executed. To do this, the user first has to select a device from a large number of devices.

Moreover, in known programming tools one and the same device is disadvantageously displayed in different ways. For example, a different device object and icon is displayed in the tree structure than in the list view of the devices. Also, the difference is Device functionality based on the representation. The presentation is not uniform and therefore difficult for the user to learn. Also, the different representations differ in terms of device functionality that the user can perform. Thus, the user can not execute the same device functions in the list display as if he were to take the device object in the tree. The user must therefore know in which display he can find and execute which device functions.

From the DE 102 45 890 B4 is a screen element, HMI device, automation system and computer program product for visualization and configuration of single and multiple user texts and known in a data processing system associated use known. It can be seen from the disclosure that the devices are offered for selection in a hierarchical tree structure, with each user branch and each non-branching branch having a combination of a user text and a point of use assigned to each branching branch. Details about a device are stored in nested menu levels. Thus, the operation and in particular the search for details of a device to a time-consuming process.

The device handling in terms of configuration, diagnostics and monitoring is carried out by various screen elements. Typically, the user works with a screen element to configure the device and then uses another screen element to perform device diagnostics. Depending on the situation, however, the user can also observe and configure several screen elements together on one screen. However, many screen elements on a screen shrink the visible area per screen element. Consequently, only a limited area on the screen is available for each screen element, so that the screen elements are only partially visible. The user now has to manually focus the appropriate, important area of a screen element.

If several screen elements are visible on a screen and the user has to move the important area manually into the field of view for each screen element, then he needs time and a considerable number of operating actions.

The invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a device for the management and configuration of field devices of an automation system, whose clarity is maintained even with a variety of simultaneously processed screen elements of devices and functions.

According to the invention, this object is solved by the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

The invention relates to a device for managing and configuring field devices of an automation system with a configuration tool that is configured to physically detect a field device in the automation system, logically integrate into the automation system and configure in the automation system, the configuration tool for this purpose predefined first field device-specific information packet which at least partially describes the functions and data of the field device.

According to the invention, it is provided that each screen element of a screen is assigned a weighting and that the screen element is displayed with the highest value in the visible screen area of the configuration tool, while the screen elements with lesser weight are invisible depending on the size of the screen.

Advantageously, the screen element, which is highly likely to be operated, is in immediate access by the user. As a result, manual intervention by the user to search for and bring to the foreground an operation pending screen element are largely avoided.

According to a further feature of the invention, the significance of a screen element is calculated from static and dynamic components.

According to a further feature of the invention, the significance of a screen element is dynamically increased by the frequency of its use.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment. In the only figure is a screen 1 a configuration tool shown in principle. On the screen 1 is a plurality of screen elements 2 ... 9 over the screen 1 shown distributed. The configuration tool has a visible screen area 10 whose area is smaller than the area of the screen 1 , This case regularly occurs when a tablet PC, a smartphone, a PDA or the like is used as the configuration tool. The limitation of the display area of the visible screen area 10 As a result, not all screen elements 2 ... 9 Of the screen 1 are displayed over the entire surface and therefore outside the visible screen area 10 lie.

Each screen element 2 ... 9 Of the screen 1 becomes a value 21 ... 91 assigned. It can be provided that the valency 21 ... 91 follows the system of grades, according to which a "1" is the highest value 21 ... 91 represents, behind the all other valences 21 ... 91 fall behind. Alternatively, however, it may also be provided that the valency 21 ... 91 follows the bonus system, where the "0" is the lowest valency 21 ... 91 and the highest score is the highest rating 21 ... 91 represents.

In a first embodiment of the invention, the valence 21 ... 91 a screen element 2 ... 9 Of the screen 1 calculated from static and dynamic components. Thus it can be provided as a static component that a trend representation has a higher significance 21 ... 91 has as a combo box. In addition, it can be provided that in the screen elements 2 ... 9 parameters shown different valences 21 ... 91 be assigned. This is a primary value - in a temperature sensor, the measured temperature - a higher value 21 ... 91 assigned as a configuration parameter such as the sensor type used.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the valency 21 ... 91 a screen element 2 ... 9 Of the screen 1 dynamically increased by the frequency of its use. It is assumed that a screen element 2 ... 9 that used to be more common in the past than other screen elements 2 ... 9 will be accessed more frequently in the future.

When displaying the screen elements 2 ... 9 Of the screen 1 on the visible screen area 10 become the assigned weights 21 ... 91 the screen elements to be displayed 2 ... 9 analyzed and interpreted.

The screen element 8th with the highest quality 81 will be in the visible screen area 10 is displayed while the screen elements 2 ... 7 and 9 with less value 21 ... 71 and 91 outside the visible screen area 10 lie. The representation of the value 21 ... 91 follows in the figure shown the school grading system. The valences 21 ... 91 be on the visible screen area 10 not shown; they serve in the figure only the illustative assignment.

Advantageously, the screen elements are located 8th , which is highly likely to be operated, in direct access by the user in the visible screen area 10 , This will allow manual intervention by the user for searching and in the visible screen area 10 get one of the screen elements to be operated 8th largely avoided.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

screen

10

visible screen area

2 ... 9

screen element

21 ... 91

valence

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10245890 B4 [0013]

Cited non-patent literature

• "FDI Device Integration - Best of Both Worlds", atp edition 6/2010, pages 16 to 19 [0003]
• Field Device Integration IEC-62769 [0003]
• IEC 61804 [0004]

Claims (3)

Method for managing and configuring field devices of an automation system with a configuration tool that is configured to physically detect a field device in the automation system, logically integrate it into the automation system and configure it in the automation system, the configuration tool for this purpose using a predetermined first field device-specific information packet, which at least partially describes the functions and data of the field device, characterized in that each screen element ( 2 to 9 ) of a screen ( 1 ) a value ( 21 to 91 ) and that the screen element ( 8th ) with highest value ( 81 ) in the visible screen area ( 10 ) of the configuration tool while the screen elements ( 2 to 7 and 9 ) of lesser value ( 21 to 71 and 91 ) depending on the size of the screen ( 1 ) remain invisible. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the valency ( 21 to 91 ) of a screen element ( 2 to 9 ) is calculated from static and dynamic components. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the valency ( 21 to 91 ) of a screen element ( 2 to 9 ) is increased dynamically by the frequency of its use.

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