JP2001005684A - Controller and control system using the control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a controller allowed to be dispersedly arranged in the field of a plant or the like. SOLUTION: The controller 4 has a communication unit 6 provided with a correspondence table between identification(ID) numbers for identifying an object to be communicated with on a communication cable 3 and ID numbers on a field cable 7 and a protocol conversion part for mutually converting protocols on the cable 3 and protocols on the cable 7. A control device 9 is provided with a communication unit 10 corresponding to protocols on the cable 7. When an engineering device 1 or a monitoring device 2 communicates with the control device 9, the control device 4 identifies an object to be communicated with on the basis of the correspondence table and the protocol conversion part mutually converts protocols between the communication cable 3 and the field cable 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control device for controlling a field such as a plant or a factory, and a control system using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional control / monitoring system disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 856. In the figure, 101a, 1
01b and 101c are control devices, 102a, 102b and 1
02c is a process monitoring computer (monitoring device), and 103 is a network of distributed shared memory that connects the control devices 101a, 101b, 101c and the process monitoring computers 102a, 102b, 102c, respectively.

The operation will be described. Each control device 101
a, 101b, and 101c acquire process information and the like from a plant (not shown), and transmit necessary information while executing a control task to other control devices and process monitoring computers 102a, 102b, and 102c.
The operation of transmitting via the. Each process monitoring computer 102a, 102b, 102c
a, 101b, and 101c, respectively, to acquire the process information and perform processing such as outputting the acquired information to a monitoring screen.

FIG. 15 shows, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 9-34.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of each CPU card in a conventional control device having two control systems, a control system and a standby system, disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 5623. In the figure, 151 is a control system CPU card, and 152 is a standby system CPU card. 153 is an arithmetic microprocessor in the control system CPU card 151, 154 is a data memory, 155
Is a data transfer circuit (data writing circuit), and 156 is a FIFO
This is a transfer memory composed of an O memory. Fifteen
Reference numeral 7 denotes an arithmetic microprocessor in the standby CPU card 152, reference numeral 158 denotes a data memory, reference numeral 159 denotes a data transfer circuit (data write circuit), and reference numeral 160 denotes a transfer memory.

Next, the operation of the duplicated control device shown in FIG. 15 will be described. The operation microprocessor 153 in the control system CPU card 151 includes a data memory 154.
Write the data. At this time, the data transfer circuit 155
Recognizes that data has been written to the data memory 154 from the address / operation result data 161 given from the operation microprocessor 153 and the program counter value 162 of the executed program,
The address / operation result data 161 and the program counter value 162 are written to the transfer memory 160 of the standby CPU card 152. Control system CPU card 1
When the data transfer circuit 155 in the CPU 51 executes the writing operation to the transfer memory 160 of the standby CPU card 152 for a predetermined period, the data transfer circuit 155
The transfer memory 1 of the standby CPU card 152 as 3
Write to 60.

When the above-described checkpoint 163 is written from the control system CPU card 151 to the transfer memory 160, the data transfer circuit 159 of the standby system CPU card 152 stores the above-mentioned address written in the transfer memory 160. The operation result data 161 and the program counter value 162 are read and written to the data memory 158.

[0007]

Since the conventional monitoring and control system is configured as shown in FIG. 14, it is necessary to connect the control device to the network 103, and it is necessary to disperse the control devices in the field. There were problems such as inability to do so.

Further, in the conventional control device shown in FIG. 15, every time the arithmetic microprocessor in the CPU card of the control system writes the arithmetic result data to the data memory, it recognizes that the data has been written to the data memory. However, there is a problem that a data transfer circuit having the above is required, which complicates the system. Further, since it is necessary to store the above-mentioned data to be transferred in the transfer memory of the standby CPU card at regular intervals, a FIFO memory is used as the transfer memory. Was.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and can be arranged in a distributed manner in a field, and can perform high-speed control that cannot be realized by transmitting a control signal via a field cable. It is an object of the present invention to obtain a control device having a simple and inexpensive hardware configuration which can be performed and can shorten the design period.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a control unit for executing a control operation, a communication unit having a communication function corresponding to a field cable, controlled by the control unit, and performing communication via the field cable. And an input / output unit that is controlled by the control unit, receives state information of the field monitoring target, and outputs control information to the monitoring target in the field.

[0011] Further, there is further provided an internal bus for connecting the control unit, the communication unit and the input / output unit.

The input / output unit includes a unique module for performing a unique process and an interface module for interfacing with the control means.

Further, the control device includes a control system control unit having a control unit and a communication unit for performing control at normal times, and a standby system control unit for taking over the control when the control system control unit fails. The control device transfers data stored in the control system control unit to the standby system control unit at a predetermined execution cycle, and stores the same data as the data in the standby system control unit. .

Further, the control system control section includes a control system data memory means having a data area for storing data and a buffer area for temporarily storing data, and a data area for each time data is written to the data area. A control system buffer storage unit for storing an address of a data area in which data is stored in a buffer area; a control system transfer memory unit for temporarily storing data to be transferred to a standby system control unit; A control system transfer unit that collectively transfers the data and addresses stored in the buffer area by the storage unit at a predetermined execution cycle to the control system transfer memory unit, and the standby system control unit stores the data. A standby data memory unit having a standby data area for storing data and a standby buffer area for temporarily storing data; A standby-system buffer storage unit for determining whether or not the transfer of data and addresses into the storage unit has been completed, and when the transfer has been completed, storing the data and the address in the standby-system buffer area of the standby-system data memory unit; And standby data storage means for writing the data stored in the standby buffer area to the standby data area based on the address.

A second control system data memory including a data area for storing data and an area specification table for specifying a divided data area in the data area to be transferred to the standby system control unit; Means, and a second control-system transfer memory means for temporarily storing data of the divided data area specified by the area specification table, and a standby-system control unit comprising: A second standby system data memory means comprising a data area and a standby system area designation table for designating a divided data area in the data area in which data transferred from the control system control unit is to be stored; Second standby data storage means for storing the data stored in the storage memory means in the divided data area designated by the standby area designation table.

Further, the present invention relates to a monitoring means connected to a communication cable for monitoring a plurality of monitoring targets distributed in a field, and a control means connected to a field cable provided in the field. A control unit that performs control operations, a communication unit that has a communication function corresponding to a field cable, is controlled by the control unit, and performs communication via a field cable, and a control unit that controls the An input / output unit that receives status information of the monitoring target of the device and outputs control information to the monitoring target in the field,
A control unit comprising: a communication unit connected to a communication cable and a field cable; and when the monitoring unit communicates with the control unit, an identification unit for identifying a target to be communicated by receiving a signal from the monitoring unit; And a second control unit including a protocol conversion unit that converts the protocol of the field cable and the protocol of the field cable into and out of each other.

The control means further includes an internal bus for connecting the control unit, the communication unit, and the input / output unit.

Further, the input / output unit of the control means is as follows:
It is composed of a unique module for performing unique processing and an interface module for interfacing with the control means.

Further, at least one of the control means and the second control means includes a control system control unit for performing control in a normal state and a standby system control unit for taking over the control when the control system control unit fails. Has a duplex configuration,
The data stored in the control system control unit is transferred to the standby system control unit at a predetermined execution cycle, and the same data as the data is stored in the standby system control unit.

Further, the control system control section includes a control system data memory means having a data area for storing data and a buffer area for temporarily storing data, and a data area for storing data each time data is written to the data area. A control system buffer storage unit for storing an address of a data area in which data is stored in a buffer area; a control system transfer memory unit for temporarily storing data to be transferred to a standby system control unit; A control system transfer unit that collectively transfers the data and addresses stored in the buffer area by the storage unit at a predetermined execution cycle to the control system transfer memory unit, and the standby system control unit stores the data. A standby data memory unit having a standby data area for storing data and a standby buffer area for temporarily storing data; A standby-system buffer storage unit for determining whether or not the transfer of data and addresses into the storage unit has been completed, and when the transfer has been completed, storing the data and the address in the standby-system buffer area of the standby-system data memory unit; And standby data storage means for writing the data stored in the standby buffer area to the standby data area based on the address.

A second control system data memory including a data area for storing data and an area specification table for specifying a divided data area in the data area to be transferred to the standby system control unit; Means, and a second control-system transfer memory means for temporarily storing data of the divided data area specified by the area specification table, and a standby-system control unit comprising: A second standby system data memory means comprising a data area and a standby system area designation table for designating a divided data area in the data area in which data transferred from the control system control unit is to be stored; Second standby data storage means for storing the data stored in the storage memory means in the divided data area designated by the standby area designation table.

[0022] Further, it is connected to the field cable and the monitoring target in the field, is controlled by one of the control means and the second control means via the field cable, and inputs the status information of the monitoring target in the field. And an input / output means for outputting control information input from the control means and the second control means to a monitoring target in the field.

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a control system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 4 denotes a control device on the communication cable side connected to the communication cable, and 9 denotes a control device on the field cable side connected to the field cable 7 and distributed and installed in a field such as a plant or a factory. is there. The control devices 4 and 9 both control the field devices distributed and installed in the field as described above. Reference numeral 1 denotes an engineering device for creating a program to be executed by the control device 4 and the control device 9. 2 is a control device 4 and a control device 9
Is a monitoring device that collects field data via the PC. A communication cable 3 connects the engineering device 1, the monitoring device 2, and the control device 4. The control device 4
Input / output unit 8a housed in input / output device 8, which will be described later.
Control. The control device 4 has a control unit 5 for executing a control operation and a communication unit 6 for performing communication via a field cable 7. 7 is a control device 4
And a field cable such as a twisted pair cable provided in a field connecting the input / output device 8 and the control device 9.

The input / output units 8a are installed in a distributed manner in a field such as a plant or a factory, and have input / output units 8a for directly inputting state information of the field and directly outputting control information to respective processes of the field. Input / output device. The input / output device 8 also has an input / output unit 8a and a communication unit 8b for performing communication via the field cable 7. Control device 9
A control unit 11 for executing a control operation similar to the control unit 5 of the control device 4; an input / output unit 12 for interfacing with a field device 14 similar to the input / output unit 8a of the input / output device 8; A communication unit 10 that supports the protocol of the field cable 7 for performing communication via the field cable 7. Reference numeral 13 denotes an input / output cable for connecting the input / output device 8 or the control device 9 to a field device 14 in the field.

Next, the operation will be described. Monitoring device 2
Collects field data on field devices 14 installed in a field such as a plant or a factory via the control device 4, and monitors the field devices 14 based on the collected data. The control device 4 downloads the program from the engineering device 1 via the communication cable 3 and the control unit 5 controls the field device 1
In addition to controlling the input / output unit 8a of the input / output device 8 to which the status information of 4 is directly input, the communication unit 6 rinses the field data input to the input / output device 8 and transmits it to the monitoring device 2. . Further, the control device 4
The monitoring result of the monitoring device 2 is input, and based on the result, control information to be transmitted to each process in the field is created, and output to the input / output device 8 via the field cable 7. The input / output device 8 outputs the control information to each process in the field by the input / output unit 8a,
Thereby, the operation of the field device 14 is controlled.

The control device 9 performs the same operation as the control device 4 described above, and further includes an input / output unit 12 similar to the input / output unit 8a of the input / output device 8, so that the status information of the field device 14 is directly transmitted. Input or output control information directly to each process in the field. When the program is downloaded from the engineering device 1 to the control device 9, and when the monitoring device 2 collects field data from the control device 9, communication is performed via the control device 4. In FIG. 1, the control device 9 is not physically connected to the communication cable 3, but has an identification number on the communication cable 3 and is logically connected. In order to make this possible in the system, the control unit 4 has a correspondence table in the communication unit 6 between the identification numbers on the communication cable 3 and the identification numbers on the field cable 7. FIG. 2 is an example of this correspondence table. 2, the identification number 1 on the communication cable 3 is an identification number indicating the control device 4 on the field cable 7, and the identification number 2 is an identification number indicating the control device 9 on the field cable 7. Engineering device 1 or monitoring device 2
When the communication is performed with the control device 4, the identification number 1 on the communication cable 3 is set as the destination of the communication data. When the engineering device 1 or the monitoring device 2 communicates with the control device 9, the identification number 2 on the communication cable 3 is set as the destination of the communication data. At this time, the control device 4 recognizes the communication from the correspondence table shown in FIG. 2 to the control device 9, and the control device 4 performs communication on the field cable 7.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the state of communication at this time in the control device 4. In the figure, reference numeral 15 denotes a protocol conversion unit provided in the communication unit 6 of the control device 4 for converting a protocol on the communication cable 3 into a protocol on the field cable 7. Reference numeral 17 denotes communication data on the communication cable 3 that includes a protocol 17a of the communication cable 3 and communication contents 17b to be actually transmitted. 18
Is communication data on the field cable 7 composed of a protocol 18a of the field cable 7 and communication contents 18b to be actually transmitted. The communication contents 17a and 18b are the same contents.

The control device 4 converts the protocol 17a on the communication cable 3 into the protocol 18 on the field cable 7.
a protocol conversion unit 15 for converting the communication data 17 into a protocol 1 of communication data 17 output from a device (for example, the engineering device 1 or the monitoring device 2) on the communication cable 3.
7a is converted to the protocol 18a of the field cable 7 to create the communication data 18, and the field cable 7
Communication with the above devices (for example, the control device 9 and the input / output device 8) is performed. When the communication direction is reversed, the protocol conversion unit 15 converts the protocol 18a on the field cable 7 into the protocol 17a on the communication cable 3.

The services provided by the control device 9 to the engineering device 1 and the monitoring device 2 are the same as those of the control device 4 described above. The control device 9
By providing the communication unit 10 corresponding to the protocol of the field cable 7, the control device 9 can convert the protocol via the control device 4 and respond to requests from the engineering device 1 and the monitoring device 2.

As described above, in this embodiment, the control device 9 for controlling the field devices 14 dispersedly arranged in a field such as a plant or a factory.
And the monitoring device 2 connected to the communication cable 3,
By providing the control device 4 including the protocol conversion unit for converting the protocol of the communication cable 3 and the protocol of the field cable 7 between each other, the control device 9 can be connected to the field cable 7 instead of the communication cable 3. This makes it possible to disperse and arrange the control devices 9 in the field.

Embodiment 2 In the first embodiment,
Although the case where the control devices are dispersedly arranged in the field has been described, further, in this embodiment, the internal connection structure of the control device in the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a connection structure between units of the control device 9 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, an internal bus 20 is provided for connection between the units so that high-speed data transfer between the control unit 11 and the input / output unit 12 can be performed. Further, since the input / output unit 12 is connected to the field device 14 via the input / output cable 13 as shown in FIG.
4 and output to the field device 14 can be performed at high speed. Note that the overall configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment described above, and therefore, FIG. 1 will be referred to and the description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, in this embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the control device 9 can be distributed in the field, and the control device 9 can be Since the input / output unit 12 for performing the interface of the above is provided and connected to the field device 14 via the input / output cable 13, high-speed control that cannot be realized by transmitting a control signal via the field cable 7 can be performed. In addition, since the internal bus 20 for connecting each unit in the control device 9 is provided, high-speed data transfer can be performed between the control unit 11 and the input / output unit 12, and a high-speed field is required. It is possible to respond to the device 14 more.

Embodiment 3 In the second embodiment, the case where the input from the field device 14 and the output to the field device 14 are performed at high speed by the input / output unit 12 and the internal bus 20 has been described. Next, in this embodiment, A case in which an input / output unit applicable to various uses is obtained will be described.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are block diagrams showing two configuration examples 12A and 12B of the input / output unit 12 of FIGS. 1 and 4, respectively. In FIGS. 5 and 6,
Reference numeral 25 denotes the control unit 11 (FIG. 1) via the internal bus 20.
And an interface module 26 for connecting to the input / output units 12A and 12B.
Each other module and interface module 2
This is an input / output bus connecting the five terminals. The interface module 25 and the input / output bus 26 can be commonly used by the input / output units 12A and 12B. Differences in the specifications of the input / output unit 12 depending on the field device 14 can be dealt with by changing a specific module to perform processing specific to the unit. Here, the specific module differs in type according to the electrical specification, and is, for example, DC 24 V, 10 mA.
Is a type A unique module 27, DC
The 24V, 1A, open collector input digital input is a type B specific module 28, the DC 24V, 1A, the open collector output digital output is a type C specific module 29, and the DC 24V, 10mA digital output is a type D specific module 30. To be distinguished.

In FIG. 5, unique modules 27 to 30 of types A, B, C and D are mounted one by one.
In FIG. 6, three unique modules 27 of type A and one unique module 30 of type D are mounted.
By changing the type and quantity of the specific modules to be mounted in this manner, input / output units applicable to various applications can be prepared.

As described above, in this embodiment, the input / output unit 12 is composed of the unique modules 27 to 30 for performing unit-specific processing and the interface module 25 for interfacing with the control unit 11 for controlling. By changing the type and the number of specific modules to be mounted, input / output units applicable to various applications can be provided easily and quickly. It is possible to shorten the period. It is needless to say that the input / output unit 8a provided in the input / output device 8 (see FIG. 1) can have the same configuration, and the same effect can be obtained in that case.

Embodiment 4 FIG. In this embodiment, a case where the control device 4 (see FIG. 1) has a duplex configuration will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a redundant control device 4A according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention, which has two control systems, a control system and a standby system. In the figure, reference numeral 4a denotes a control device of a control system, which includes a control unit 35a for performing a control operation, a communication unit 36a for communicating with the input / output device 8 via the field cable 7, and a standby system, which will be described later. Control device 4
b, and a duplex interface unit 37a (hereinafter, referred to as a duplex I / F unit) for transferring data to the external interface b. Reference numeral 4b denotes a control device of a standby system, and similarly, a control unit 35b for performing a control operation.
A communication unit 36b for communicating with the input / output device 8 via the field cable 7, and a duplex interface unit 37b for receiving data from the control device 4a of the control system (hereinafter, referred to as a duplex I / F unit). ).

When the control device 4A has the above-described duplex configuration, the control device 4A is connected to the input / output unit 8 accommodated in the input / output device 8 as in the first to third embodiments.
a (see FIG. 1), but the difference is that the control device 4a of the control system normally controls the
When a failure occurs in the control device 4a of the control system, the standby control device 4b takes over the control. The control device 4a of the control system and the control device 4b of the standby system are provided with a redundant I / F unit 37a of the control system for transmitting and receiving data for taking over control and a redundant I / F unit of the standby system.
Each has an F unit 37b.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of each control unit and a duplicated I / F unit in the duplicated control device of FIG. 7 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 35a is a control unit of a control system, and 35b is a control unit of a standby system. 40a is a microprocessor provided in the control unit 35a of the control system, and 41a is a data memory. In the data memory 41a, a data area 42a for storing control data of a control program and a buffer area 4 for temporarily storing data are provided.
3a. Similarly, 40b is a microprocessor provided in the standby control unit 35b, and 41b is a data memory. In the data memory 41b, a data area 42b for storing control data of a control program and a buffer area 43b for temporarily storing data are provided.

Reference numeral 37a denotes a redundant I / F unit of the control system for transmitting data to the control unit 35b of the standby system;
Reference numeral 37b denotes a standby I / F unit for receiving data from the control system. 44a is the data memory 4
DMA control in a redundant I / F unit 37a of a control system for controlling a DMA transfer process of transferring data to be transferred to the standby control unit 35b among the data in 1a to the transfer memory 45a to be described later. The device is a device, and 45a is the above-mentioned transfer memory. 44b stores the data in the transfer memory 45a of the control system in the buffer area 4 of the data memory 41b in the control unit 35b of the standby system.
A DMA controller 45b in the standby dual I / F unit 37b for controlling the DMA transfer processing for transferring data to the 3b is a standby system transfer memory. FIG.
Is a configuration example of the buffer areas 43a and 43b. As shown in FIG. 9, this area has a FIFO data structure capable of sequentially storing data to be transferred and addresses of the data in the data areas 42a and 42b. This area has an area 50 for storing the number of data currently stored, and the microprocessor 40a
And 40b can determine that a certain amount of data has been stored by referring to this area 50.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The microprocessor 40a in the control unit 35a of the control device 4a of the control system executes one instruction (one step) of the program, and
The calculation result data is written to the data area 42a in a (step ST1). At this time, the microprocessor 4
0a writes the operation result data and the address of the operation result data in the data area 42a also in the buffer area 43a, and increments the number of data in the buffer area 43a (step ST2). The microprocessor 40a of the control system determines whether execution of one program in the execution cycle of the program has been completed or whether the number of data in the buffer area 43a has reached a certain amount (step ST3), and any one of the above is applicable. in case of,
The internal register information such as the program counter is written into the buffer area 43a, and the start of the DMA is notified to the DMA controller 44a of the own system (step ST4). D of control system
The MA control device 44a transfers the operation result data, the address, and the internal register information written in the buffer region 43a of the own system to the transfer memory 45a of the own system (step ST5). The standby DMA controller 44b determines whether the DMA transfer of the control DMA controller 44a has been completed (step ST6).
Notify the A control device 44b of the DMA activation (step S
T7). Next, the standby-system DMA controller 44b transfers the operation result data, the address, and the internal register information written in the transfer memory 45a of the control system to the buffer area 43b of the own system (step ST8). The standby microprocessor 40b is connected to its own DMA controller 4
4b is determined to be completed (step ST
9) If completed, the operation result data transferred to the buffer area 43b of the own system is written to the data area 42b of the own system based on the address, and the value of the internal register is written based on the internal register information. Is updated (step ST1).
0). The above processing is always performed by the control unit 35a of the control system in the execution cycle of whether the execution of one program in the execution cycle of the program is completed or the number of data in the buffer area has reached a certain amount. Even if a failure occurs in the control unit 35a and the control by the control unit 35a of the control system is switched to the control unit 35b of the standby system, the program is executed from the program executed by the control unit 35a of the control system before the failure occurs. And control can be continued.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the configuration of the control device 4 is provided with a standby system for taking over the control in the case where a failure occurs in the control device of the control system which normally performs control. Because of the dual structure, even if a failure occurs in the control device of the control system, the control device of the standby system can immediately take over the control, thereby improving the reliability. Each time data is written to the data area 42a in the data memory 41a mounted on the control unit 35a in the control device 4a of the control system, the data and the address where the data is stored are stored in the data memory 41a. 41a,
The data is stored in a buffer area 43a having a FIFO data structure.
Since the MA control device 44a transfers the data to the data memory 41b of the control unit 35b in the standby control device 4b, a failure occurs in the control system control unit 35a and the control by the control system control unit 35a is stopped. Even if the control unit 35b is switched to the standby control unit 35b, it can be executed from the program executed by the control unit 35a before the failure occurs, and the control can be continued. As in the conventional example, a data transfer circuit for recognizing that data has been written to the data area in the data memory and transferring the data to the standby system, and an F as a transfer memory
There is no need to use an IFO memory, and a redundant control device with a simple and inexpensive hardware configuration can be obtained.

Embodiment 5 FIG. Fourth Embodiment In the fourth embodiment, an example in which the control device of the present invention has a duplicated configuration has been described. Next, in this embodiment, another example in which the control device has a duplicated configuration will be described. Will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of each control unit and a redundant I / F unit in the redundant control device of FIG. 7 for describing Embodiment 5 of the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 7 and 8 indicate the same or corresponding parts, and thus the description thereof will be omitted. 47a is an area specification table for specifying an area of data to be transferred to the standby system in the data area 42a of the control system. 47b is an area designation table for expanding the data transferred from the control system into the data area 42b of the standby system. The overall configuration is the same as that of FIG. 7, and the structural difference from the fourth embodiment of FIG. 8 is that the buffer regions 43a and 43b of FIG.
The point is that these area designation tables 47a and 47b are provided.

FIG. 12 shows an area designation table 47a.
And 47b are configuration examples. In the figure, the data type 55 is the type of data used when the control device executes a program. These data are assigned on the same address in the data areas 42a and 42b, but are divided into a certain size depending on the type of data. This divided data area (hereinafter, referred to as a divided data area)
It is the unit of the data area to be transferred. The column of the start address 57 stores the start address of the divided data area. In the column of the transfer designation flag 58, whether or not the divided data area is transferred is indicated by 1 or 0, and in the case of 1, the area is to be transferred. In the example of FIG. 12, the divided data areas 2 and 3 of the data type A and the divided data area 2 of the data type C are the divided data areas to be transferred.
Before executing the program, the area specification tables 47a and 47b are stored in the control area specification table 47a and the standby system area specification table 47b by specifying the transfer specification flag 58.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the microprocessor 40a of the control system refers to the area designation table 47a of its own system (see FIG. 12) (step ST21). Next, the microprocessor 40a of the control system specifies the start address 57 of the divided data area 56 in which the transfer designation flag 58 is "1", and thereby transfers the data of the divided data area to the own system. It notifies the DMA controller 44a (step ST22). The DMA controller 44a of the control system includes:
The divided data area notified from the own system microprocessor 40a is transferred to the own system transfer memory 45a (step ST23). Standby microprocessor 4
0b judges whether the DMA transfer of the DMA controller 44a of the control system has been completed (step ST24), and if completed, refers to the area designation table 47b of the own system (see FIG. 12) (step ST25) to perform the transfer. The data transfer to the divided data area in which the designation flag 58 is "1" is notified to the DMA controller 44b of the own system by designating the start address 57 of the divided data area 56 (step ST26). . Standby DMA controller 44b
Transfers the data in the transfer memory 45a of the control system to the divided data area notified from the microprocessor 40b of the own system (step ST27). The standby microprocessor 40b is connected to the standby DMA controller 44b.
By confirming that the DMA transfer has been completed, the transfer process ends (step ST28).

The above processing is performed by the control unit 35 of the control system.
a is performed every time the execution of all the programs in the execution cycle of the program is completed. , The control can be executed from the program in the execution cycle of the program before the failure occurs, and the control can be continued.

As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, the data area of the control system is divided into certain areas and the area designation table 47a for designating the area to be transferred is provided. DMA controller 44
a, the data is transferred to the data memory 41b in the control device of the standby system. Therefore, as shown in the conventional example of FIG. There is no need to use a data transfer circuit for transferring data to the standby system and a FIFO memory as a transfer memory, and there is an effect that a duplicated control device with a simple and inexpensive hardware configuration can be obtained.

In the fourth and fifth embodiments, an example has been shown in which the control device 4 has a duplicated structure. However, it is needless to say that the control device 9 can have a similar duplicated structure. In that case, the same effect can be obtained.

[0049]

According to the present invention, a control unit for executing a control operation, a communication unit having a communication function corresponding to a field cable, controlled by the control unit, and performing communication via the field cable, The control device is controlled by a unit, and includes an input / output unit for inputting status information of a field monitoring target and outputting control information to the monitoring target in the field. Can be arranged.

Further, since an internal bus for connecting the control unit, the communication unit, and the input / output unit is further provided, high-speed data transfer can be performed between the units, so that a high-speed data transfer is required in the field. Can be monitored.

Further, since the input / output unit is composed of a unique module for performing a unique process and an interface module for interfacing with the control means, it is possible to change the type and the number of the unique modules to be mounted. Therefore, an input / output unit applicable to various uses can be obtained, so that the design period of the input / output unit can be shortened and the manufacturing process can be simplified.

Further, the control device includes a control system control unit having a control unit and a communication unit for performing control at normal times, and a standby system control unit for taking over control when the control system control unit fails. The control device transfers data stored in the control system control unit to the standby system control unit at a predetermined execution cycle, and stores the same data as the data in the standby system control unit. Therefore, even if a failure occurs in the control system control unit and the control is switched to the standby system control unit, the control system control unit can execute the program that was being executed before the failure occurred. Can be immediately continued, and reliability and convenience can be improved.

Further, the control system control unit includes a control system data memory means having a data area for storing data and a buffer area for temporarily storing data, and a data area for storing data each time data is written to the data area. A control system buffer storage unit for storing an address of a data area in which data is stored in a buffer area; a control system transfer memory unit for temporarily storing data to be transferred to a standby system control unit; A control system transfer unit that collectively transfers the data and addresses stored in the buffer area by the storage unit at a predetermined execution cycle to the control system transfer memory unit, and the standby system control unit stores the data. A standby data memory unit having a standby data area for storing data and a standby buffer area for temporarily storing data; A standby-system buffer storage unit for determining whether or not the transfer of data and addresses into the storage unit has been completed, and when the transfer has been completed, storing the data and the address in the standby-system buffer area of the standby-system data memory unit; And standby data storage means for writing the data stored in the standby buffer area to the standby data area based on the address, so that the data area in the data memory as conventionally performed is There is no need to use a data transfer circuit for recognizing that data has been written or a FIFO memory as a transfer memory.
A redundant control device with a simple and inexpensive hardware configuration can be obtained.

Further, the control system control unit includes a second control system data memory having a data area for storing data and an area specification table for specifying a divided data area in the data area to be transferred to the standby system control unit. Means, and a second control-system transfer memory means for temporarily storing data of the divided data area specified by the area specification table, and a standby-system control unit comprising: A second standby system data memory means comprising a data area and a standby system area designation table for designating a divided data area in the data area in which data transferred from the control system control unit is to be stored; Second standby data storage means for storing the data stored in the storage memory means in the divided data area designated by the standby area designation table. This eliminates the need for using a data transfer circuit for recognizing that data has been written to the data area in the data memory and a FIFO memory as a transfer memory, which has been conventionally performed, and is simple and inexpensive. It is possible to obtain a duplex control device having a configuration.

Further, according to the present invention, the monitoring means is connected to the communication cable and monitors a plurality of monitoring targets distributed in the field, and is connected to the field cable provided in the field. A control unit, which performs a control operation, has a communication function corresponding to a field cable, is controlled by the control unit, and performs communication via the field cable, and is controlled by the control unit; The input / output unit outputs status information of the monitoring target in the field and outputs control information to the monitoring target in the field, and is connected to a communication cable and a field cable. When the means communicates with the control means, the identification unit identifies a communication target by receiving a signal from the monitoring means. Since the control system includes a second control unit including a protocol conversion unit that converts a protocol of a communication cable and a protocol of a field cable between each other, the control unit is distributed and arranged in a field. Can be.

Since the control means further includes an internal bus for connecting the control unit, the communication unit and the input / output unit, high-speed data transfer can be performed between the units, and high-speed operation can be achieved. Enables monitoring of monitored objects in required fields.

Further, the input / output unit of the control means is as follows:
An input / output unit that can be applied to various uses by changing the type and the number of mounted specific modules, since the specific module performs specific processing and an interface module that interfaces with control means. Therefore, the design period of the input / output unit can be shortened, and the manufacturing process can be simplified.

Further, at least one of the control means and the second control means includes a control system control unit for performing control in a normal state and a standby system control unit for taking over the control when the control system control unit fails. Has a duplex configuration,
The data stored in the control system control unit is transferred to the standby system control unit at a predetermined execution cycle, and the same data as the data is stored in the standby system control unit. Even if a failure occurs and the control is switched to the standby system control unit, it can be executed from the program that the control system control unit was executing before the failure occurred, and the control can be continued immediately, Reliability and convenience can be improved.

Further, the control system control section includes a control system data memory means having a data area for storing data and a buffer area for temporarily storing data. A control system buffer storage unit for storing an address of a data area in which data is stored in a buffer area; a control system transfer memory unit for temporarily storing data to be transferred to a standby system control unit; A control system transfer unit that collectively transfers the data and addresses stored in the buffer area by the storage unit at a predetermined execution cycle to the control system transfer memory unit, and the standby system control unit stores the data. A standby data memory unit having a standby data area for storing data and a standby buffer area for temporarily storing data; A standby-system buffer storage unit for determining whether or not the transfer of data and addresses into the storage unit has been completed, and when the transfer has been completed, storing the data and the address in the standby-system buffer area of the standby-system data memory unit; And standby data storage means for writing the data stored in the standby buffer area to the standby data area based on the address, so that the data area in the data memory as conventionally performed is There is no need to use a data transfer circuit for recognizing that data has been written or a FIFO memory as a transfer memory.
A redundant control device with a simple and inexpensive hardware configuration can be obtained.

A second control system data memory comprising a data area for storing data and an area specification table for specifying a divided data area in the data area to be transferred to the standby system control section. Means, and a second control-system transfer memory means for temporarily storing data of the divided data area specified by the area specification table, and a standby-system control unit comprising: A second standby system data memory means comprising a data area and a standby system area designation table for designating a divided data area in the data area in which data transferred from the control system control unit is to be stored; Second standby data storage means for storing the data stored in the storage memory means in the divided data area designated by the standby area designation table. This eliminates the need for using a data transfer circuit for recognizing that data has been written to the data area in the data memory and a FIFO memory as a transfer memory, which has been conventionally performed, and is simple and inexpensive. It is possible to obtain a duplex control device having a configuration.

Further, it is connected to a field cable and an object to be monitored in the field, is controlled by one of the control means and the second control means via the field cable, and receives status information of the object to be monitored in the field. And the input / output means for outputting the control information input from the control means and the second control means to the monitoring target in the field, so that the monitoring means is not only the control means, but also the second control means. It is also possible to obtain the status information of the monitoring target in the field through the control unit. Therefore, it is necessary to select whether to use the control unit or the second control unit in accordance with the application and conditions for monitoring in the field. The degree of freedom can be improved, flexibility can be provided, and convenience is further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a correspondence table of identification numbers in control device 4 of the control system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a control device 4 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of protocol conversion in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control device 9 of a control system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a control device 9 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of an input / output unit in the device.

FIG. 6 is a control device 9 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of the input / output unit in the device.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a fourth embodiment and a fifth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a duplex control device in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit and a redundant I / F unit of a redundant control device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a buffer area according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit and a redundant I / F unit of a redundant control device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of an area designation table according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional control / monitoring system.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional duplex control device.

[Description of Signs] 1 engineering device, 2 monitoring device, 3 communication cable, 4, 4A, 4a, 4b, 9 control device, 5, 1
1,35a, 35b control unit, 6,10,36
a, 36b communication unit, 7 field cable,
8 input / output devices, 12 input / output units, 13 input / output cables, 15 protocol converters, 20 internal buses, 2
5 interface modules, 26 input / output buses, 2
7 Type A specific module, 28 Type B specific module, 29 Type C specific module, 30 Type D specific module, 37a, 37b Duplex I / F unit, 40a, 40b Microprocessor, 41a,
41b data memory, 42a, 42b data area,
43a, 43b buffer area, 44a, 44b DMA
Control device, 45a, 45b Transfer memory, 47a, 4
7b Area designation table.

Claims (13)

[Claims] A control unit that executes a control operation; a communication unit that has a communication function corresponding to a field cable, is controlled by the control unit, and performs communication via the field cable; And an input / output unit for receiving state information of a field to be monitored and outputting control information to the field to be monitored in the field. 2. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising an internal bus for connecting said control unit, said communication unit and said input / output unit. 3. The input / output unit according to claim 1, wherein the input / output unit includes: a unique module for performing a unique process; and an interface module for performing an interface with the control unit.
The control device according to claim 1. 4. A control system control unit having the control unit and the communication unit for performing control in a normal state, and a standby system control for taking over control when the control system control unit fails. A control unit configured to transfer data stored in the control system control unit to the standby system control unit at a predetermined execution cycle, and to store the data in the standby system control unit. 4. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the same data is stored. 5. The control system control unit comprising: a control system data memory means including a data area for storing data and a buffer area for temporarily storing data; and each time data is written to the data area, A control system buffer storing means for storing the address of the data area in which the data is stored together with the data in the buffer area; and a control system transfer means for temporarily storing data to be transferred to the standby system control unit. Memory means, and control system transfer means for transferring the data and the addresses stored in the buffer area by the control system buffer storage means at a predetermined execution cycle and transferring the data and the addresses to the control system transfer memory means. The standby control unit includes a standby data area for storing data and a standby buffer area for temporarily storing data. A standby data memory means comprising: and determining whether or not the transfer of the data and the address into the control transfer memory means has been completed, and if so, the data and the address. A standby-system buffer storage unit that stores the data stored in the standby-system buffer region in the standby-system buffer region of the standby-system data memory unit. The control device according to claim 4, further comprising system data storage means. 6. A second control system comprising: a data area for storing data; and an area specification table for specifying a divided data area in the data area to be transferred to a standby system control section. Data memory means, and a second control system transfer memory means for temporarily storing data of the divided data area designated by the area designation table, and the standby system control unit comprises: A second standby data memory means, comprising: a standby data area for storing data; and a standby area specification table for specifying a divided data area in the data area in which the data transferred from the control system control unit is to be stored. Storing the data stored in the second control system transfer memory unit in the divided data area specified by the standby system area specification table; Control device according to claim 4, characterized in that it and a standby data storage means. 7. A monitoring means connected to a communication cable for monitoring a plurality of monitoring targets distributed in the field, and a control means connected to a field cable provided in the field. A control unit that performs control calculations, and a communication unit that has a communication function corresponding to the field cable, is controlled by the control unit, and performs communication via the field cable, and is controlled by the control unit; Control means comprising: an input / output unit that receives the status information of the monitoring target in the field and outputs control information to the monitoring target in the field; and the communication cable and the field cable. When the monitoring means communicates with the control means, the monitoring means receives a signal from the monitoring means. And a second control unit including a protocol conversion unit that converts between the communication cable protocol and the field cable protocol between each other. Control system. 8. The control system according to claim 7, wherein said control means further comprises an internal bus for connecting said control unit, said communication unit and said input / output unit. 9. The input / output unit of the control means comprises: a unique module for performing a unique process; and an interface module for interfacing with the control means. 8
The control system according to item 1. 10. A control system control unit for controlling at least one of the control unit and the second control unit in a normal state and a standby system control for taking over control when the control system control unit fails. Having a duplex configuration composed of a controller and a controller.The data stored in the control system controller is transferred to the standby controller at a predetermined execution cycle, and the data is also stored in the standby controller. 10. The control system according to claim 7, wherein the same data is stored. 11. The control system control unit comprising: a control system data memory means having a data area for storing data and a buffer area for temporarily storing data; each time data is written to the data area, A control system buffer storing means for storing the address of the data area in which the data is stored together with the data in the buffer area; and a control system transfer means for temporarily storing data to be transferred to the standby system control unit. Memory means, and control system transfer means for transferring the data and the addresses stored in the buffer area by the control system buffer storage means at a predetermined execution cycle and transferring the data and the addresses to the control system transfer memory means. And the standby control unit has a standby data area for storing data and a standby buffer area for temporarily storing data. A standby system data memory unit having a memory area, and determining whether or not the transfer of the data and the address into the control system transfer memory unit has been completed. Standby buffer storage means for storing an address in the standby buffer area of the standby data memory means; and writing the data stored in the standby buffer area to the standby data area based on the address. The control system according to claim 10, further comprising a standby data storage unit. 12. A second control system comprising: a data area for storing data; and an area specification table for specifying a divided data area in the data area to be transferred to a standby system control section. Data memory means, and a second control system transfer memory means for temporarily storing data of the divided data area designated by the area designation table, and the standby system control unit comprises: A second standby data memory means, comprising: a standby data area for storing data; and a standby area specification table for specifying a divided data area in the data area in which the data transferred from the control system control unit is to be stored. Storing the data stored in the second control system transfer memory means in the divided data area specified by the standby area specification table Claim 10, characterized in that it comprises a and a second standby data storage means
The control system as described. 13. The monitor in the field, which is connected to the field cable and the object to be monitored in the field, is controlled by one of the control means and the second control means via the field cable, and The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising input / output means for inputting status information of the target and outputting control information input from said control means and said second control means to said monitoring target in said field. Item 13. The control system according to any one of Items 7 to 12.