JP2000172303A - Distributed controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a distributed controller which can avoid adverse influence owing to on-line maintenance. SOLUTION: In a distributed controller, a controller 50 and a control station 2 are mutually connected with a communication cable 100. The controller 50 evaluates again a source at the time of online maintenance, generates a new data base based on the source, detects a difference with the existing data base in the control station 2 and displays a warning on an operation generated by the difference on a display means 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a distributed control device, and more particularly to a distributed control device having an improved online maintenance function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional distributed control device includes a control device of a master station installed in a control room or the like and a control device of a plurality of slave stations distributed and installed in a field or the like. The respective control devices are mutually connected by a communication system such as a communication cable, and control a plant or the like by performing data communication or the like with each other.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of such a conventional distributed control apparatus. In FIG. 7, 1 is I
Controllers 2 and 3 which are control devices of a master station such as CS (Information Command Station) are provided with FCS (Feeld Co.
4 is a digital input / output device (hereinafter referred to as DI / DO) provided in the control station 2, and 5 is an analog input / output device provided in the control station 3. An output device (hereinafter simply referred to as I / O), 100 is a communication cable.

[0004] The controller 1 is connected to a communication cable 100 to which control stations 2 and 3 are also connected. Also, output signals from field devices (not shown) such as various sensors are input to DI / DO 4 and I / O 5 provided in the control stations 2 and 3, respectively, and control for controlling the field devices is performed. A signal is output.

Here, the online maintenance function in the conventional example shown in FIG. 7 will be described. The online maintenance function is a function for temporarily stopping only the functional part to be changed without stopping the entire control station for maintenance.

The controller 1 creates a new database in the control station 2 and 3 used for control stored in the controller 1 in which a part that needs to be changed for maintenance or the like is modified. Is overwritten and downloaded to the control station 2. Then, the control station 2 performs control based on the new database downloaded from the controller 1.

For example, DI / DO of the control station 2
When changing the settings and the like of the control station 4, the controller 1 uses D
A new database in which the setting of the I / DO 4 is changed is created, and the created database is downloaded to the control station 2 via the communication cable 100. By these processes, D in the control station 2
The setting change of the I / DO4 ends.

As a result, the DI / D of the control station 2
Although the operation of the function O4 is temporarily stopped at the time of download, maintenance such as setting change can be performed without stopping the entire control station 2. Further, when the controller 1 and the control station 2 are physically separated from each other, it is possible to perform maintenance without going to the place where the control station 2 is installed.

[0009]

However, various functions and the like in the database stored in the control station rarely exist alone, and generally, they are connected or referred to each other and have various relations. There are many cases. Therefore, when a part of the function is changed by maintenance, not only the function but also a function related to this function may be affected. That is, there has been a problem that a function unexpected by a worker may be stopped during maintenance.

When the input / output device is maintained for DI / DO or the like, the function of the entire input / output device is stopped. There is a problem that the field devices connected to the device may be affected.

Furthermore, in the case of a digital output, the output becomes "0 (reset)" at the time of maintenance, and there is a problem that there is a risk of adversely affecting the entire plant or the like. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to realize a distributed control device capable of avoiding the adverse effects of online maintenance.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a distributed control apparatus in which a controller and a control station are interconnected by a communication cable. The controller performs a re-evaluation of the source during online maintenance and creates a new database based on this source,
By detecting a difference from the existing database in the control station and displaying a warning about an operation caused by the difference on the display means, it is possible to avoid an adverse effect due to online maintenance.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the distributed control apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the controller downloads the created database to the control station based on a judgment of an operator. The adverse effects of online maintenance can be avoided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the distributed control apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the controller displays necessary instructions on display means, thereby avoiding adverse effects due to online maintenance. Work can be performed to avoid the influence of online maintenance.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the distributed control device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the controller displays information of a function which is mutually related to the function to be maintained on the display means. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the unexpected function of the operator from stopping during the maintenance.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing one embodiment of a distributed control device according to the present invention. 1, 2, 4 and 100 are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 7, 6 is a control circuit such as a CPU, 7 is a communication means such as a network card, 8
Is a storage circuit storing a source for creating a database of the control station, 9 is a storage circuit storing the created database, 10 is an LCD display, CRT
Is a storage circuit in which an existing database is stored. Also. Reference numerals 6 to 10 constitute a controller 50 which is a control device of a master station such as an ICS.

A communication cable 100 is connected to the communication means 7, and inputs and outputs of the communication means 7 are connected to the control circuit 6. The input and output of the control circuit 6 are connected to the storage circuit 9 and the storage circuit 8
Is connected to the control circuit 6, and the control signal of the control circuit 6 is connected to the display means 10.

On the other hand, the communication cable 100 is connected to the control station 2 and has a DI /
A DO4 and a storage circuit 11 are provided.

The operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will now be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6. FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the control circuit 6, and FIGS. 3 to 6 are explanatory diagrams illustrating an example of a display screen displayed on the display unit 10.

At "S001" in FIG. 2, the control circuit 6 reads out the source from the storage circuit 8 in which the source changed by the online maintenance is stored, performs re-evaluation of the change or correction of the content, and performs the re-evaluation. "S00
In step 2 ", the source is compiled to create a new database and stored in the storage circuit 9.

In "S003" in FIG. 2, the control circuit 6 detects a difference between an existing database stored in the storage circuit 11 of the control station 2 and a newly created database.

In step S004 in FIG. 2, a warning or instruction relating to the operation caused by the difference is displayed on the display unit 1.
On the other hand, whether or not to download to the control station is determined in "S005" in FIG. If you do not download,
The process returns to the middle “S001”.

On the other hand, when downloading, FIG.
In the middle “S006”, the control circuit 6 reads the newly created database stored in the storage circuit 9 and overwrites this database to the storage circuit 11 of the control station 2 via the communication means 7 to download.

For example, "DS01" in FIG.
0 is a display screen, “MW01” in FIG. 3 is a message display window, and “MS01” in FIG.
01 "and" BT01 "and" B "in FIG.
A button indicated by T02 "is displayed.

In FIG. 3, "MS01" displays "Reset output", and a warning is displayed indicating that the output of the target device will be reset due to maintenance such as a change. Therefore, the operator is warned "output reset"
If it is determined that there is no problem, "BT01" shown in FIG.
Press the "Yes button" to download the newly created database to the control station. If there is a problem, press the "No button" indicated by "BT02" in FIG. 3 to re-evaluate the source.

For example, "DS11" in FIG. 4 is a display screen displayed on the display means 10, and "MW1" in FIG.
Reference numeral 1 "denotes a message display window, and FIG.
The message shown in the middle “MS11” and the “BT11” in FIG.
And a button "BT12" are displayed.

In FIG. 4, "MS11" indicates that "xxx is"
Stop for about a minute. Is displayed, and a warning is displayed to the effect that the target device will stop functioning for a certain period due to maintenance such as a change. Therefore, if the operator determines that there is no problem with the “function stop” that has been warned, “BT11” in FIG.
Is clicked on to download the newly created database to the control station, and if there is a problem, the "No button" shown in "BT12" in FIG. 4 is pressed to re-evaluate the source.

As a result, by displaying a warning about an operation accompanying a maintenance such as a change on the display means 10 to determine whether or not the database can be downloaded to the control station, it is possible to avoid the adverse effect of the online maintenance. .

On the other hand, for example, "DS21" in FIG. 5 is a display screen displayed on the display means 10, and "MW2" in FIG.
1 "is a message display window, in which a figure 5
The message shown in "MS21" and "BT21" in FIG.
And a button "BT22" are displayed.

In FIG. 5, “MS21” indicates that “functions in the range of xxx will be stopped. Please stop xxx.”. Devices that may be affected by maintenance such as changes are displayed. An instruction to stop is displayed. Therefore,
If the operator determines that there is no problem with the instructed “stop xxx”, the operator performs “stop xxx” and “BT” in FIG.
21 "is pressed to download the newly created database to the control station. If there is a problem, the" No button "shown in" BT22 "in FIG. 5 is pressed to re-evaluate the source.

As a result, not only a warning relating to an operation accompanying maintenance such as a change, but also necessary instructions are displayed on the display means 10 to determine whether or not the database can be downloaded to the control station, thereby avoiding the adverse effects of online maintenance. Work can be performed while avoiding the effects of online maintenance.

Further, for example, "DS31" in FIG. 6 is a display screen displayed on the display means 10, and "MW31" in FIG.
31 "is a message display window, inside of which is shown in FIG.
The message shown in the middle “MS31” and the “BT31” in FIG.
And a button "BT32" are displayed.

In FIG. 6, "MS31" includes "XXX" and "XXX".
Please note that the functions are combined. Is displayed, and information indicating that there is a function that is mutually related to the function targeted for maintenance such as a change is displayed. Therefore, if the operator determines that there is no problem in the related information between the displayed functions, the operator presses the "Yes button" shown in "BT31" in FIG. 6 to execute the download of the newly created database to the control station, and If there is a
Press the "No button" shown on BT32 "to re-evaluate the source.

As a result, the information of the function which is mutually related to the function to be maintained such as change is displayed on the display means 10.
Is displayed on the control station to determine whether the database can be downloaded to the control station, so that it is possible to prevent the unexpected function of the operator from stopping during the maintenance.

In the description of FIG. 1, the difference from the existing database stored in the storage circuit 11 is detected, but a copy of the existing database is stored in the storage circuit 9 in the controller 1. The difference from this may be detected.

For simplicity of description, the controller 1
Although the storage circuits 8 and 9 are provided therein, the source and the database may of course be stored in one storage circuit.

[0037]

As is apparent from the above description,
According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, an adverse effect due to online maintenance is avoided by displaying on the display means a warning regarding an operation associated with maintenance such as a change to determine whether the database can be downloaded to the control station. It becomes possible to do.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, not only a warning about an operation accompanying a maintenance such as a change but also a necessary instruction is displayed on the display means to determine whether the database can be downloaded to the control station. ,
It is possible to avoid the adverse effects of online maintenance and to perform the work of avoiding the effects of online maintenance.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, information on a function related to a function to be maintained, such as a change, is displayed on the display means to determine whether the database can be downloaded to the control station. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the unexpected function of the operator from stopping during the maintenance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of a distributed control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a control circuit.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a display screen displayed on a display unit.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a display screen displayed on a display unit.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed on a display means.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed on the display means.

FIG. 7 is a configuration block diagram illustrating an example of a conventional distributed control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,50 controller 2,3 control station 4 digital input / output device 5 analog input / output device 6 control circuit 7 communication means 8,9,11 storage circuit 10 display means 100 communication cable

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A distributed control device in which a controller and a control station are interconnected by a communication cable, wherein the controller re-evaluates a source during online maintenance and creates a new database based on the source. A distributed control apparatus, wherein a difference from an existing database in the control station is detected, and a warning about an operation caused by the difference is displayed on a display unit. 2. The distributed control device according to claim 1, wherein the controller downloads the created database to the control station based on a judgment of an operator. 3. The distributed control device according to claim 1, wherein said controller displays necessary instructions on a display means. 4. The distributed control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controller displays information of a function which is mutually related to a function to be maintained on a display means.