FR2719402A1 - Industrial computer for automation applications - Google Patents

Abstract

The industrial computer has a parallelepipedic box (1) with two internal layers (E1,E2). The internal space is divided into five zones, each of suitable dimensions to accept standard modules.The power supply module fits in the first zone (Z1), which is electrically shielded from the other zones. Another zone (Z5) accepts the control panel module, and a third zone (Z3) accepts the input/output circuitry. The lower layer accepts a standard PC compatible circuit board in a specific zone (Z2). The real-time multi-tasking executive is in another zone (Z3) completing the bottom layer.

Description

INDUSTRIAL CALCULATOR

  The invention relates to the technical sector of computers

  for automation in different industrial applications.

  There are already many computers on the market which very often allow management of different functions from independent sub-assemblies, including a modular power supply, an industrial computer with microprocessor, an industrial PC assembly conforming to the standard, an autonomous operator dialogue interface, a communication interface to a network or a field bus, various input and output cards serving as interfaces, a

associated software workshop.

  By design, and the independence of the different sub-assemblies, these computers are generally large. The aim sought after according to the invention was to design a new industrial computer which is very compact and which makes it possible to ensure

  several functions located in a reduced volumetric space.

  According to a first characteristic, the computer comprises a parallelepipedic volume box defining two stages of functions with five characteristic zones allowing possible locations for different functions, and on the first stage at least one supply zone equipped with shielding appropriate, and on the second floor, a control and connection dashboard area and an input / output area supporting different types of modules

identical structure.

  According to another characteristic, each module comprises in its central part a display zone and a control zone, the latter integrating a circuit called "EPLD", and on either side of the circuit being provided interface zones allowing the introduction input / output functions, and

  end zones reserved for connectors.

  According to another characteristic, the computer comprises in the location of the first stage, a computer zone

  industrial with real-time and multi-tasking vocation.

  According to another characteristic, the computer comprises in the location of the first floor an area receiving a computer

  of the industrial PC type on a standard bus.

  According to another characteristic, the computer module is defined with specific locations reserved for sub-assemblies, said module being produced, with at this level a control and display area allowing - 3- integration of a module EPLD (electrically programmable logic circuit), on either side of the interface zones allowing the addition of inputs / outputs, and at the end of the

connection areas.

  According to another characteristic, each module is produced by

  symmetry from its middle part.

  According to another characteristic, the input / output modules are interchangeable depending on the application of the housing, this interchangeability being made possible by the structure

  of the module and that of the first stage of the housing.

  These and other features will become apparent from the

description.

  To fix the object of the invention illustrated in the drawings - Figure 1 is a view of the industrial computer housing according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a view illustrating said housing associated with a daughter housing; - Figure 3 is a view illustrating the module - Figure 4 is a schematic view illustrating a typical module; - Figure 5 is a plan view according to Figure 4 - Figure 6 is a view illustrating a block diagram -4- assembly. In order to make the object of the invention more concrete, it is now described in a nonlimiting manner illustrated in the figures

drawings.

  The industrial computer according to the invention is integrated into a

  housing referenced as a whole by (1).

  It is produced in a parallelepipedic form with two stages (E1, E2). This box defines five characteristic zones which are successively: a power supply zone Z1 equipped with appropriate shielding, a zone Z2 receiving a computer of the industrial PC type on a standard bus; - a zone Z3 receiving an industrial computer with vocation

real-time and multi-tasking.

  The three zones Z1, Z2, Z3 are located on the first stage of the housing. On the second stage of the housing, there is a zone Z4 of inputs / outputs supporting modules which will be specified below and a zone Z5 of dashboard and control and

connection.

  - Depending on the versions of the computer, it includes at least means corresponding to zones Z1, Z4 and Z5. Depending on the computer configurations, it can integrate separately or in

  combination in addition to the means used in zones Z2 and Z3.

  As a variant, each version of the industrial computer can be equipped with a daughter unit (2) connected by a connection cable (3) to increase the capacity of input / output modules. In this case, the daughter box is identical in design to the previous one, but is equipped only with the power zone

  Z1 and the input / output zone Z4.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the input / output modules of the computer are shown in FIG. 3 and

  fit on stage E1 of the housing.

  These modules are identical in shape to each other, and are original in particular to present a configuration

  particular and symmetrical with respect to their middle part.

  More particularly, each module M comprises in its central part a display area (M1) and a control area (4), the latter incorporating a circuit called EPLD (electrically programmable logic circuit). On both sides of this EPLD circuit, M2 interface zones are provided allowing the input / output functions to be introduced, and M3 zones -6-

  end reserved for connectors.

  According to a specificity, the core of each module M is designed in an identical manner using a programmable EPLD circuit and transformable into an ASIC circuit (integrated circuit for specific applications). Thus, FIGS. 4 and 5 show the plan of a module. It includes a printed circuit (5) supported on a support (6), and receiving in its central part the EPLD circuit (4) and on either side of the input / output functions (7). Near the ends, the connector support (8) is disposed with removable terminals (9), while a cover (10) comes to bear and is fixed on the connector supports. An originality lies in the racking in the central zone of the module on the zone (Z4)

  of the floor at the level of the printed circuit board bus.

  Referring to Figure 6, there is shown the mounting of the

  housing with its components according to the two aforementioned stages.

  Each module, whatever its type, presents different functions with, on the one hand, an auto-configuration of the inputs / outputs, light-emitting diodes of faults and

a personalization function.

  Concerning the auto-configuration function of the inputs / outputs, -7- each module when addressed, returns a code representative of the type of interface it supports, as well as the number of channels that compose it (24 inputs / 16 relay outputs, 8 analog inputs, 4 encoder inputs, etc.). This allows the central unit to control the configuration of the modules present in relation to the software configuration and to prohibit, for example, startup. This allows the software workshop self-learning on demand of the current configuration. Associated with a software workshop, this allows to generate

  database files automatically.

  According to the second function relating to the light-emitting diodes of faults, each module has on the front face a red light-emitting diode indicative of a fault

  can be controlled by software from the central entrance.

  Regarding the personalization function, each module is provided with a register indicating a serial or privileged customer number. This number, specific to each integrator, obliges the end customer to obtain supplies from this supplier. The identical coding modules are the only ones compatible with each other and

  with central unit provided with this same register.

  All these functions are integrated in the electrical diagram

  which is itself integrated into the EPLD circuit.

  -8- Some of the modules of the aforementioned type can provide additional functions, such as: - acquisition of "all or nothing" information without multiplexing, - management of "all or nothing" output with relays or transistors, - with multiplexed input, - with analog input, - with analog output,

- with encoder input.

  As part of the modules allowing the acquisition of "all or nothing" information, the following functions can be provided: - Programmable filtering of bounces on the "all or nothing" inputs. To this end, the "all or nothing" input acquisition modules are equipped with a register authorizing the central unit to choose a rebound filtering period of a few micro-seconds to several seconds. Filtering is performed on the module

  itself and not by the central processing unit after acquisition.

- Calculation of the state of the contacts.

  The filtering described above is parallel to a direct acquisition of the inputs which allow the core of the module to count

  the number of rebounds before stability observed on the inputs.

  This value will be the image of the state of the contacts of the inputs to be acquired. A high limit not to be exceeded can then

trigger the operator alert.

- Fast counting.

  Logs searchable by software represent the count of the number of status changes for each input

  from an initialization caused by the central unit.

  - Accounting for activation time.

  Each entry is associated with a register representing its activation time since the last reset as well as

the number of state changes.

  Within the framework of the modules allowing the management of "all or nothing" output, with relays or transistors, the following functions can be ensured:

- Market accounting.

  Each output is associated with a register representing its cumulative activation time since the last power-up as well as the number of state changes that have appeared. This allows a simpler design of preventive maintenance software (time control, engine running, valves, etc.).

- Mutual exclusion.

  -10- A register authorizes mutual exclusion of two or more exits. This function is used in safety when piloting any contrary actions. It is a security on the

software failure.

  Within the framework of modules with multiplexed inputs allowing, on the same card, the acquisition of 64 "all or nothing" inputs by multiplexing of 8 columns and recovery of the signal on 8 lines, the following functions can be provided

- Internal multiplexing.

  The multiplexing of the inputs is ensured by the EPLD circuit and does not require any software intervention. The values of

  entries are stored in internal registers.

- Polling period.

  The scanning period is programmable by software by writing to a register, as well as the optimization of the number of

scrutinized columns.

  Within the framework of analog input modules of all kinds thermocouples, strain gauges, etc., the following functions can be provided

- Self-scanning of inputs.

  The EPLD circuit will manage itself the periodic acquisition of the inputs towards the converters, which avoids the load of the microprocessor.

- Bargraph on analog.

  Analog inputs / outputs are more difficult to measure than "all or nothing" fitted with state light emitting diodes. Their measurement requires the use of a measuring device and the installation diagram. The front face of the analog modules includes a push button which allows, by successive presses, to choose the channel to supervise, its number being displayed on the 12 light-emitting diodes at the bottom, and the analog value then appears in real time on the 12 light-emitting diodes from the top in the form of a bargraph.

- Detection of alarm thresholds.

  Programming alarm registers and

  recovery of the status of these alarms.

- Filtering.

  Programmable filtering by integration of an algorithm

  smoothing inside the EPLD circuit.

- Minimum and maximum detection.

  Automatic detection of minima and maxima since the last

  reset and storage in internal registers.

- 12 -

  - Detection of breaks or links with the source.

  The internal EPLD circuit by comparison of the readings carried out can determine the break in the connection with the

source of the analog variable.

- Scaling.

  Two registers per channel allow correction of a x + b type scales at each acquisition. The results

  are available in internal registers.

  The following functions can be provided for analog output modules

  - Ceiling of the minimum and / or maximum values.

  Two registers per channel contain the ceiling values and

  floor not to be exceeded, even if the software gives the order.

  This is useful during the test phases to limit the

  actuator values (motor speed for example).

- programmable shift.

  The programmable offset per channel makes it possible to fill a fault often encountered during piloting tests, which

  is the insensitivity of analog actuators.

  Within the framework of the incremental encoder input modules -13 - providing the standard signals A, A, B, B, O, O, the following functions can be provided:

  - Position, speed, acceleration and direction.

  The EPLD circuit makes it possible to have, for the software in real time and simultaneously, the position, the speed,

  acceleration and direction of any axis.

  - Detection, number of pulses per revolution.

  It is possible for the EPLD circuit to detect an encoder failure by constantly monitoring the number of encoder tops

  emitted on a lathe by checking the original signals (O and 0).

  The computer according to the invention thus presents by its design a great originality and offers in a new way

a multitude of functions.

-14 -

Claims (5)

  -1- Industrial computer, characterized in that it comprises a box (1) of parallelepiped volume defining two stages (El - E2) of functions with five characteristic zones allowing possible locations for different functions, and on the first stage at least a supply zone (Z1) equipped with appropriate shielding, and on the second floor, a control and connection dashboard zone (Z5) and an input / output zone (Z4) supporting   different types of modules of identical structure.   -2- Computer according to claim 1, characterized in that the first stage further comprises a zone (Z2) receiving a computer of industrial PC type on a standard bus and a zone (Z3) receiving a computer with real time and multi purpose - tasks.   -3- Computer according to any one of claims 1 and   2, characterized in that it comprises, in its central part, a display area (M1) and a control area (4), the latter incorporating a circuit called "EPLD", and on either side of this circuit being provided with interface zones (M2) allowing the introduction of the input / output functions, and   end zones (M3) reserved for connectors. - 15 -   -4- Computer according to any one of claims   previous, characterized in that the computer module is defined with specific locations reserved for sub-assemblies, said module being produced, with at this level a control and display area (M1l) allowing the integration of a EPLD module (electrically programmable logic circuit), on either side of the interface zones (M2) allowing the addition of inputs / outputs, and at the end of the connection areas (M3).   -5- Computer according to claim 4, characterized in that each module is produced by symmetry from its middle part. -6Computer according to claim 4, characterized in that the input / output modules are interchangeable depending on the application of the housing, this interchangeability being made possible by the structure of the module and that of the first stage of the housing. -7- Computer according to claims 4, 5 and 6, characterized in that each module comprises a printed circuit (5) bearing on a support (6) receiving, in its central part, the EPLD circuit and, on both sides and d 'other of it, the input / output functions (7), near the ends being arranged the connection support (8) with removable edges (9), a -16 cowling (10) coming to bear and fixing on the connection supports.   -8- Computer according to any one of claims 1 to 7,   characterized in that each module has different functions with auto-configuration of the inputs / outputs, light-emitting diodes of faults, and a personalization function. -9Computer according to claim 8, characterized in that, in its personalization function, each module is provided with a register indicating a serial number or privileged customer, and in that the identical coding modules are the only compatible with each other and the only ones compatible with the unit   central with this same register.   -10- Computer according to any one of claims 8 and   9, characterized in that the modules can provide additional functions: - acquisition of "all or nothing" information without multiplexing - management of "all or nothing" output with relays or transistors, with multiplexed inputs, - with analog inputs, - analog outputs, - with encoder inputs.   -17 - -11- Computer according to claim 10, characterized in that the modules allowing the acquisition of "all or nothing" information have the additional functions, calculation of the state   contacts and / or activation time accounting.   -12- Computer according to claim 10, characterized in that the "all or nothing" output modules provide in particular the functions of running accounting and / or mutual exclusion. -13- Computer according to claim 10, characterized in that the analog input module provides in particular the auto-scanning functions of the inputs and / or bargraph on   analog and / or minimum and maximum detection.   -14- Computer according to claim 10, characterized in that the analog output modules include in particular the capping functions of the minimum and maximum values, and / or programmable offset.   -15- Computer according to claim 10, characterized in that the encoder input modules include in particular the position, speed, acceleration and direction functions, and / or   detection of number of pulses per revolution. - 18 -   -16- Computer according to any one of claims 1 to   9, characterized by the plug-in in the central zone of the module on   the area (Z4) of the floor at the level of the printed circuit board bus.