DE29809074U1 - Connection unit for coupling an operator control and monitoring system for process control tasks with automation devices via a communication medium - Google Patents

Description

GR 98 G 3351

Description

Connection unit for coupling an operating and monitoring system for control tasks with automation devices via a communication medium

The present invention relates to a connection unit for coupling an operating and monitoring system for control tasks with automation devices via a communication medium.

In the field of control system technology, operating and monitoring systems are required for monitoring and/or controlling industrial plants. Among other things, they are used for the visual representation of process operations, measurement and control variables and/or operating units. These operating and monitoring systems can be connected to automation devices such as controls, regulators, measurement value acquisition units and the like via communication media such as bus systems, networks and the like. The information generated in the area of automation devices, for example input, state and output variables describing process sequences as well as their relationships with one another, setpoints, target states and the like, as they occur in various process and production plants, for example in power plants, refineries, freight systems and the like, can be processed and edited using the operating and monitoring systems.

There is a need for uniform visualization and operating concepts, on the one hand to enable the operating personnel to handle them easily, so that, for example, a quick familiarization period with different control systems is possible due to a uniform basic structure that is familiar to the user, and on the other hand to enable

GR 98 G 3351 .: .". .".:··· .·· ··

to enable a modular structure at many levels of the control system, for example with standardized components.

In order to be able to use the most comprehensive possible applications, it is necessary to be able to operate independently of the given automation devices, i.e. to provide operating and monitoring systems that are largely independent of the automation devices in terms of their control technology tasks.

The present invention is based on the object of specifying a connection unit for coupling an operating and monitoring system for control tasks with automation devices via a communication medium, which enables extremely simple, user-friendly and cost-effective handling of automation devices.

To technically solve this problem, a generic connection unit is provided which has an interface for connecting an operating and monitoring system, at least one interface for connecting a type of automation device via a communication medium and a memory, whereby a device-specific connection between the operating and monitoring system and an automation device can be established by means of a first memory area and information can be exchanged between the operating and monitoring system and the automation device by means of a second memory area.

The memory areas of the connection unit make it possible to exchange information between automation devices and an operating and monitoring system on a device-specific basis, i.e. for each individual automation device. The information to be exchanged is stored by the operating and monitoring system

GR 98 G 3351

or stored by an automation device in the second memory area of the connection unit, from where the information can then be transferred to the automation device or the operating and monitoring system for exchange. Various programmable logic controllers such as SIMATIC, CompAS, Dekatel-G and the like can be considered as automation device types.

By using the connection unit according to the invention, it is possible to connect automation devices to an operating and monitoring system, whereby it is irrelevant from the point of view of the operating and monitoring system what type of automation device is involved. This enables the operating personnel to handle the automation devices easily, i.e. in a simple and user-friendly manner, since the operating and monitoring system provides uniform configuration of various automation devices based on a uniform basic structure that is familiar to the user. In addition, handling the automation devices in this way is extremely cost-effective, since on the one hand the training times for the operating personnel are reduced and on the other hand an existing operating and monitoring system can be used. The connection unit according to the invention thus provides a modular extension for control systems.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the second memory area can be mapped on the operating and monitoring system or automation device side depending on the device-specific connection. This creates the possibility of converting information on the part of the connection unit, i.e. preparing information from the automation device in such a way that it is understandable for the operating and monitoring system and vice versa, i.e. preparing information from the operating and monitoring system in such a way that it is understandable for the operating and monitoring system.

GR 98 G 3351

4
ride that these are understandable for the automation device,

are therefore processable.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the memory areas of the connection unit can be configured in a structured manner. This allows connection and information properties to be defined for both the device-specific connections and the corresponding information to be exchanged, which ultimately enable a clear assignment by the operating and monitoring system or by the automation devices. One possible implementation is, for example, by plug connections that can be grouped together, which provide different access options to the memory areas of the connection unit by the operating and monitoring system or by the automation devices.

The automation devices are advantageously programmable logic controllers. Programmable logic controllers enable the use of various control modules that are optimized for a wide range of tasks and functions and can be individually combined through modular use of the programmable logic controller. For example, in a programmable logic controller, various input and output modules for analog and digital signals, controller modules for providing a wide range of controllers, functional modules, for example for controlling motors and the like, communication modules for communication between the programmable logic controller and programming devices, computers and the like, can be used and used uniformly. For example, communication can be implemented via various bus systems such as PROFIBUS, Ethernet, multipoint interfaces (MPI), K-Bus and the like. The advantage of using a programmable logic controller is that

GR 98 G 3351

The fact that existing modules can be used.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the automation devices of the type Dekatel-G of the

Viessmann and the communication medium is a K-Bus. The Dekatel-G is primarily used for remote control, remote monitoring, fault and error monitoring and configuration of heating systems.
10

Further advantages and features of the invention emerge from the following description based on an exemplary embodiment. Shown are:

FIG 1 shows a schematic representation of the integration of a connection unit according to the invention into a control system;

FIG 2 shows an embodiment for configuring information from an operating and monitoring system and

FIG 3 shows an embodiment for configuring information from an automation device.

FIG 1 shows a schematic representation of a connection unit 1, which connects an operating and monitoring system for control tasks 2 via a communication medium 3 with automation devices 4, here of the type Dekatel-G from Viessmann. The connection unit 1 thus realizes the connection of the operating and monitoring system 2 to an automation device 4.

The connection unit 1 has a memory (not shown here), whereby a device-specific connection between the operating and monitoring

GR 98 G 3351

ection system 2 and an automation device 4 and information in the form of data records can be exchanged between the operating and monitoring system 2 and the automation device 4 using a second memory area. The connection unit 1 maps the specific properties of the automation device 4 onto a standardized interface 5 of the operating and monitoring system 2.

The operating and monitoring system 2 consists of several system modules 6, which are intended for example for creating graphics, generating messages, recording and archiving process data, as well as for protocol printouts and the like. These modules 6 work on a common database, which is managed by an intelligent data manager 7. The data manager 7 handles communication with the connection unit 1 via the interface 5. In addition, the operating and monitoring system 2 has a database 8, which can be accessed both by the applications provided with the various system modules 6 and by the connection unit 1 via the data manager, both for reading and writing.

The possible services of the connection unit 1 are used by the operating and monitoring system 2 through the data manager 7 via the standardized interface 5 of the data manager 7. For communication, the connection unit 1 also has an interface 9, which is used for communication with the operating and monitoring system 2 and describes both formal and dynamic processes with regard to connection establishment and information exchange between the operating and monitoring system 2 and the connection unit 1. In this way, it is possible to integrate the connection unit 1 dynamically into the operating and monitoring system 2. The connection unit 1 represents access to a specific type of automation system.

GR 98 G 3351

7
ization device, here Dekatel-G from Viessmann, where

a specific protocol, to be described in more detail below, is used, which enables access to an automation device 4 from the connection unit 1. 5

On the part of the operating and monitoring system 2, it is possible for the data manager 7 to enable connections to different types of automation devices 4 via the communication medium 3 via uniformly standardized interfaces 5 with various connection units 1, whereby the connections can be active simultaneously if required.

By using the standardized interface 5, it is possible for the connection unit 1 to use subordinate communication mechanisms on the part of the operating and monitoring system 2 without the connection unit 1 knowing their exact function. In this so-called configuration mode, the connection unit 1 is only used to support the operating and monitoring system 2 for the configuration of logical connections and variable process information, also referred to as process variables below.

In the so-called runtime mode, the connection unit 1 uses communication functions that will be described in more detail below. Since a real connection is to be established here, the presence of a corresponding automation device 4, a communication medium 3 and the like is required.

The separation of configuration mode and runtime mode enables the user to fully configure applications without the necessary communication software and hardware already being available. This means that control systems can be configured in advance.

GR 98 G 3351

The exchange of information between the connection unit 1 and the data manager 7 of the operating and monitoring system 2 takes place via so-called process variables. The information is contained in the variable values. This mechanism is prescribed by the operating and monitoring system 2 and is implemented, for example, as follows:

If an application represented by the system modules 6 changes a variable value, the data manager 7 calls a send function of the connection unit 1. The connection unit 1 converts the value of this variable into a value that can be interpreted by the automation devices 4, in this case the Dekatel-G. This value is stored in a second memory area of the memory of the connection unit 1. This process is shown in FIG 1, for example, by the arrow marked 10. The connection unit 1 then calls a corresponding acknowledgment function that contains a reference to this variable, as shown in FIG 1, for example, by the arrow marked 11. Only after receipt of the acknowledgment 11 does the changed variable for the data manager 7 of the operating and monitoring system 2 also count as changed for the application called with one of the system modules 6.

To read a value from an automation device 4, the data manager 7 can use a similar mechanism, shown here by arrow 10, to make one or more variable requests by calling a corresponding function of the connection unit 1. The requested information is then passed on to the data manager 7 after a corresponding conversion by the connection unit 1 via a corresponding acknowledgement function, shown here by arrow 11.

GR 98 G 3351

9
It is possible for the variable requests from the data manager 7 to be satisfied by the connection unit 1 from a memory, whereby the information required to satisfy the requests from the data manager 7 is stored in the memory of the connection unit 1. The stored information can be information or data that has already been sent by the corresponding automation device and received by the connection unit 1. If the connection unit 1 has not received any information from the corresponding automation device 4, the variable request called up by the data manager 7 of the operating and monitoring system 2 is acknowledged negatively, here - as already explained - shown as an example by the arrow marked 11.

To cyclically read variables, the corresponding functions of the connection unit 1 must be cyclically called by the data manager 7 of the operating and monitoring system 2.

The automation devices 4 always send their information, i.e. variable values, cyclically via the communication medium 3, without a corresponding order from the connection unit 1, as shown by the arrows 16. On the part of the connection unit 1, the data is received by the connection unit 1 via the interface 12 of the connection unit 1, which is matched to the type of automation devices 4, in this case Dekatel-G (shown by the arrow 14) and converted. The connection unit 1 then reports the corresponding process variable to the data manager 7 by calling a corresponding function and the data manager 7 then notifies the correspondingly required application via the system modules.

GR 98 G 3351 ·· ♦ '

10
As already explained, the connection unit 1 supports exactly one type of automation device via the interface 12, in this case the Dekatel-G type. However, several logical connections can be assigned to an automation device 4 using the first memory area, whereby the information or process variables to be exchanged are always assigned to a logical connection.

The interface 12 of the connection unit 1 thus clearly represents the type of automation device 4. In principle, it is possible to design the connection unit 1 with various interfaces 12 intended to represent different types of automation devices 4. Each logical connection is mapped precisely to an interface, for example serial interfaces. It is therefore possible to operate several Dekatel-G devices with the connection unit according to the invention.

Each logical connection is managed by the connection unit 1. The process variables are considered by the connection unit to be specific to the automation device, i.e. the variables have properties specified by the operating and monitoring system 2 and specific to the connection unit, which are explained in more detail below in connection with Figures 2 and 3.

FIGS 2 and 3 show configuration masks provided by the operating and monitoring system 2 for project planning.

The configuration mask shown in FIG 2 is used for the configuration of process variables that are used globally in the system. The process variables represent links between the memory locations in the automation devices and the data manager 7 of the operating and monitoring system 2

GR 98 G 3351

11
, the storage locations of the automation devices 4 being given here by a telegram sent to the communication medium 3.

.. The embodiment of a configuration mask shown in FIG 2 shows how the operating and monitoring system defines process variables globally in terms of their properties, i.e. in terms of name, data type, length and the like. As can be seen in FIG 2, the variables defined in this way can be scaled differently and limited in terms of their value range.

To configure a logical connection, the operating and monitoring system provides an appropriate input mask for general properties of the connection, for example the name of the logical connection and the like. For the connection unit-specific properties, the operating and monitoring system 2 requests an appropriate input mask from the connection unit 1. In response to this request, the connection unit 1 passes on a suitable dialog object, which is used to parameterize the connection unit-specific properties.

In addition to the task of providing appropriate input masks for an interactive dialog with the operating and control system 2, the connection unit 1 also has the task of introducing new process variables during operation, i.e. during runtime mode, of providing a so-called non-dialog-oriented interface, which is used to introduce new process variables during runtime for a so-called generic parameterization. The connection unit-specific properties are described below in connection with FIG 3.

GR 98 G 3351

12
To store the connection properties in the database 8 of the operating and monitoring system, the information to be exchanged is converted into a binary data structure by the connection unit 1, whereby the conversion takes place into a language-independent and a language-dependent string. The language-independent part, which is used for the logical connection, can be up to 255 bytes long. The language-dependent part is unlimited in terms of size, since it is not used for the logical connection itself. A possible structure of the language-independent part can be as follows:

COM port Value range 5 bytes delimiter COMl - COMl6 1 byte baud rate 5 bytes delimiter fixed 1200 1 byte Data bits 1 byte delimiter Drawing frame:
fix 8 1 byte parity 1 byte delimiter fixed straight 1 byte Stop bits 1 byte delimiter fix 2 1 byte 18 bytes total length

A so-called serial connection between the operating and monitoring system 2 and an automation device 4 is described here. The connection between two partners, here an automation device 4 connected to the K-Bus 3 and the operating and monitoring system 2, cannot be changed, although this would be possible in principle. The allocation of a local address is carried out by the communication medium 3, in this case by the correspondingly provided

GR 98 G 3351 » · . .".&Ggr; ¹

13
Configuration elements of the K-bus, whereby the values of the addresses must be coordinated with the automation device 4, in this case with the Dekatel-G. The number of values is therefore always based on 32-bit float values, because this is the largest variable of the Dekatel-G. All other values, such as WORD, BYTE, BIT, are mapped by the Dekatel-G into these 32-bit float values. Elements that are not required are hidden, for example the bit number for float variables.

As already explained, communication for the purpose of exchanging information takes place cyclically on the part of the automation devices 4, i.e. on the part of the Dekatel-G, whereby a so-called timeout monitoring is provided. For send connections, this timeout is monitored by the automation device 4, and for receive connections, by the connection unit 1. If a corresponding timeout is detected, the corresponding connection is noted by the data manager 7 as faulty or unclear.

The configuration mask shown in FIG 3 can be used to determine the properties of the variables on the part of the automation devices 4.

As already explained several times, an automation device 4 cyclically sends a telegram to the operating and monitoring system 2. The position of a variable in this telegram can be determined precisely using the input or dialog mask shown in FIG. 3. The telegram includes ( number?) 32-bit values, whereby - as can be seen from the mask shown in FIG. 3 - it is possible to specify what type of variable the respective 32-bit value is with regard to the variable properties.

GR 98 G 3351

14
To store the corresponding values in the database 8 of the operating and monitoring system 2, the binary data structure is converted into a string using the connection unit 1 - as already explained - and stored there as a language-independent part as follows:

1 byte Type (O = Bit, 1 = Byte, 2 = WORD, 3 =
Float) 1 byte delimiter 2 bytes Value Number 1 byte delimiter 1 byte Bit number

Since the conversion of the information or data of an automation device 4 is carried out by the connection unit 1, no conversion routines are required on the part of the operating and monitoring system.

By comparing the data lengths planned globally by the operating and monitoring system 2 and those selected by the automation devices 4, the data manager 7 provides a control function for a correct data type.

Claims (7)

GR 98 G 3351 \· · * . . I*** 15 Protection claims 1. Connection unit for coupling an operating and monitoring system for control engineering tasks with automation devices via a communication medium, characterized in that the connection unit (1) has an interface (9) for connecting an operating and monitoring system (2), at least one interface for connecting one type of automation device (4) via a communication medium (3) and a memory, whereby a device-specific connection between the operating and monitoring system (2) and an automation device (4) can be established by means of a first memory area and information can be exchanged between the operating and monitoring system (2) and the automation device (4) by means of a second memory area. 2. Connection unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the second memory area can be mapped on the operating and monitoring system or automation device side depending on the device-specific connection. 3. Connection unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the memory areas are configurable in a structured manner. 4. Connection unit according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the automation devices (4) are programmable logic controllers. 5. Connection unit according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the automation devices are programmable logic controllers GR 98 G 3351 ·· . , lations are of the Dekatel-G type and the communication medium (3) is a K-bus. 6. Connection unit according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the information to be exchanged can be sent cyclically by the automation devices (4). 7. Connection unit according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the information to be exchanged can be sent in a telegram of preferably (number of) 32-bit values.