JP2002111694A - Communication apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication apparatus for transit which can be installed additionally to existing communication system constituted of a high order communication apparatus and a low order communication apparatus, without causing reconstruction of the high order communication apparatus, in a communication apparatus which is installed between the high order communication apparatus and the low order communication apparatus and transfers data. SOLUTION: Each of the display units 28, 29 is provided with a communication processing means and an additional function processing means. When a data request command is received from a personal computer 27, the communication processing means transmits the command as it is to a controllers 21 to 25, and transmits response as it is to the personal computer when the response is received from the controller. When response is received from the controller, the additional function processing means executes display processing on the basis of display data contained in the response.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication device, and more particularly to a relay communication device provided between an upper communication device and a lower communication device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional communication system applied to control of a solder bath. In the drawing, reference numeral 10 denotes a solder bath which maintains a controlled temperature in each of a plurality of high-temperature chambers. , 11 to 15 are controllers of addresses 1 to 5 for controlling the respective high-temperature chambers of the solder bath 10.
Reference numeral 6 denotes a communication line commonly connected to the controllers 11 to 15, and reference numeral 17 denotes a personal computer which communicates with the controllers 11 to 15 via the communication line 16 and manages the solder bath 10.

Next, the operation will be described. Solder bath 10
Is set to a different temperature (for example, 100 ° C., 200 ° C., 280 ° C. as shown in the drawing) for each high-temperature chamber, and a product such as a printed circuit board passes through each chamber in order to perform a soldering process. When adjusting the temperature, the operator operates the adjusting means such as a dial provided in the controller corresponding to the high-temperature room to be adjusted. The personal computer 17 transmits the communication information of the data request command to the controller address corresponding to the adjusted high-temperature room. The controller that has received the communication information of the data request command from the personal computer 17 transmits the temperature measurement data from the temperature detecting sensors provided at a plurality of locations in the corresponding high-temperature chamber to the personal computer 17. The operator of the personal computer 17 displays the detected temperature measurement data on a display, and determines whether the set temperature is appropriate.

However, since the solder bath 10 at the production site is at a high temperature, the personal computer 17 is installed in a control room or the like remote from the site of the solder bath 10, so that the operation of adjusting the temperature becomes complicated. there were. That is, the personal computer 1
If the temperature measurement data displayed in 7 is different from the desired set value, the operator of the personal computer 17 goes to the site of the solder bath 10 to report it to the worker, and the worker On the basis of this, the adjusting means must be operated again.

As a countermeasure, a communication device having a display section is provided between the personal computer 17 and each of the controllers 11 to 15 (for example, in the vicinity of the solder tank 10), and a worker at the site directly views the temperature measurement data. There are communication systems that can do this. FIG. 7 shows the configuration of this communication system,
In the figure, reference numeral 18 denotes a communication device having an address 1 provided between a personal computer 17 and controllers 11 to 13;
Reference numeral 9 denotes a communication device having an address 2 provided between the personal computer 17 and the controllers 14 and 15. That is,
The communication devices 18 and 19 are installed between the personal computer 17 as the upper communication device and the controllers 11 to 15 as the lower communication devices.

Next, the operation will be described. Generally, in a communication system composed of a higher-level communication device and a lower-level communication device, the higher-level communication device reads out data stored in the lower-level communication device by executing the following procedure. 1. The upper communication device transmits a command for reading data to the lower communication device. 2. The lower communication device that has received this command transmits a response including data to the higher communication device. 3. The upper communication device receives this response and obtains data.

In this case, as shown in FIG.
Normally, multiple lower-level communication devices are connected,
A unique address is set to the lower communication device, and the higher communication device specifies the lower communication device and performs communication. That is, by adding this address information to the command and response messages, the lower communication device determines whether or not the command is addressed to itself, and the higher communication device determines which lower communication device is the response from. . As described above, the communication device is generally set with a unique address, and communication is generally performed using a command and response message including the address number.

Therefore, even in the case of FIG. 7, when the personal computer 17 wants to obtain temperature measurement data of an arbitrary high-temperature room,
For example, to obtain temperature measurement data of two high-temperature chambers corresponding to the controller 13 and the controller 15,
First, the communication information is transmitted by accessing the communication device 18 at the address 1. The communication information includes a data request command for the temperature measurement data of the corresponding high-temperature chamber by accessing the controller 13 at the address 3, that is, the address information and the command. The communication device 18 transmits the communication information including the data request command to the controller 13 at the address 3, and extracts the temperature measurement data included in the response received from the controller 13. An address 3 of the controller 13 is added to the temperature measurement data, and the temperature measurement data is transmitted to the personal computer 17 in a format clearly indicating that the response is a response from the controller 13.

Next, the personal computer 17 accesses the communication device 19 at the address 2 to transmit communication information. The communication information includes a data request command of the temperature measurement data of the corresponding high-temperature chamber by accessing the controller 15 at the address 5. The communication device 19 transmits the communication information including the data request command to the controller 15, and extracts the temperature measurement data included in the response received from the controller 15. The address 5 of the controller 15 is added to the temperature measurement data, and the personal computer 17
Send to Therefore, if the communication devices 18 and 19 having the display unit are installed on site, the worker can directly check the temperature measurement data by the communication devices 18 and 19 when adjusting the temperature of the high-temperature room.

[0010]

Since the communication system shown in FIG. 7 is configured as described above, there is a problem that the program of the personal computer 17 as a higher-level communication device must be changed. That is, in the case of FIG. 6, the program which can be processed only by the address management of each controller is changed, and a command for transmitting the address management of the communication devices 18 and 19 to the destination controller is newly added. However, there is a problem that it is necessary and the remodeling becomes extremely complicated.

The control of the solder bath 10 as shown in FIG.
In general, when a communication system including an upper communication device (for example, a personal computer) and a lower communication device (for example, a controller) operates as an existing system,
Thereafter, a new additional function based on the data read from the lower communication device may be added. For example, there is a case where a data display function (as in the example of FIG. 7), a lower-level communication device diagnosis function, a data buffering function, and the like are added as new functions. When a communication device equipped with these additional functions is installed as a repeater between a higher-layer communication device and a lower-layer communication device, it is normal for the communication device to have a device-specific address. It is necessary to change the process (program) of the higher-level communication device so that a command including a unique address can be transmitted and a response can be received.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and is provided between a higher-level communication device and a lower-level communication device, and involves a modification of the higher-level communication device in a communication device for relaying data. It is an object of the present invention to provide a relay communication device that can be additionally installed in an existing communication system including an upper communication device and a lower communication device without using the communication device.

[0013]

A communication device according to the present invention, when receiving communication information from a higher-level communication device, transmits the communication information to the lower-level communication device in the same format, and transmits the communication information from the lower-level communication device. A communication processing means for transmitting the communication information as it is to the upper communication device when received, and an additional function based on the specific information included in the communication information when receiving the communication information from the lower communication device And additional function processing means for executing processing.

[0014] In the communication device according to the present invention, the communication processing means transmits a command requesting specific information to the lower communication device, and the additional function processing means outputs the specific information received by the communication processing means from the lower communication device. This executes the additional function processing based on the response.

In the communication device according to the present invention, the additional function processing means executes an additional function process for displaying a state of the lower communication device included in the specific information.

In the communication device according to the present invention, the communication processing means sequentially transmits a command for requesting specific information to a plurality of lower communication devices and receives a response of the specific information from the transmitted lower communication device. The routine process is executed, and when communication information from the higher-level communication device to any lower-level communication device is received, the routine process is interrupted and the communication process related to the communication information received from the higher-level communication device is executed.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a communication system to which a communication device according to the present invention is applied. In the drawing, reference numerals 21 to 25 denote controllers (lower-layer communication devices) of addresses 1 to 5 for controlling each high-temperature chamber of a solder bath (not shown). , 26 is RS23
2C, communication line composed of RS485, etc., 27 is a personal computer (upper communication device), 28 is a display (communication device) of address 0 provided between the personal computer 27 and the controllers 21 to 23, 29 is the personal computer 27 and the controller 2
This is a display (communication device) having an address 0 provided between the display device 4 and the display device 25.

Here, the address 0 indicates that no address is set, that is, the state at the time of factory shipment. Accordingly, the personal computer 27 is not aware of the existence of the communication devices 28 and 29, and the communication lines 26 are provided with the controllers 21 to 25 of the addresses 1 to 5.
Appears to be connected directly.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of each of the controllers 21 to 25. In the figure, reference numeral 31 denotes a CPU for controlling each controller, and 32 denotes a converter for converting an analog signal of a temperature measured value from a sensor into a digital signal. Then CP
A measured value input I / F (interface) to be input to U31, a control output I / F 33 for converting a digital control signal from the CPU 31 into an analog signal and outputting the analog signal to a control unit;
34 receives a digital signal from the operation switch and
DI (Digital Input) I /
Reference numerals F and 35 denote DO (digital out) I / Fs for outputting a digital signal for alarm notification from the CPU 31 to the alarm section.
Is an option I / F for transmitting and receiving signals to and from optional devices, 37 is a memory storing programs and the like for the CPU 31, and 38 is a display 28 or 29 which is a higher-level communication device.
(That is, a communication device) and a higher-level I / F that relays data between the CPU 31.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of each of the displays 28 and 29. In FIG.
CPUs (communication processing means and additional function processing means) for controlling the communication devices 8 and 29;
A lower I / F 43 for relaying data with the PU 41 stores a program for the CPU 41, a memory having an area for data buffering, and a fetches an operation switch digital signal for alarm and inputs it to the CPU 41. A DI I / F 45 outputs a digital signal of an alarm notification from the CPU 41 to the alarm unit.
Is a key input unit for inputting a key signal such as control selection to the CPU 41, and 47 is a personal computer 27 which is a higher-level communication device.
Upper I / F for relaying data between the
Reference numeral 8 denotes an LED for displaying a value of temperature measurement data and the like.

Next, the operation of the communication system of FIG. 1 will be described. 4A shows communication information between the host computer 27 and the display 28, and FIG.
And communication information between the controllers 21 to 23. FIG. 5 shows a transmission / reception sequence of the communication information in FIG.

The CPU 41 of the display 28 sequentially accesses the controllers 21 to 23 at the addresses 1 to 3 and issues a command (controller 1 READ, controller 2 READ, etc.) for reading these data (for example, temperature measurement data). A routine process for transmitting and extracting data from the response received from the controller is executed. Then, after storing the received data in the memory 43, the data is displayed on the LED 48.

When an access request to a specific controller (the controller 23 at address 3 in the examples of FIGS. 4 and 5) is received from the personal computer during this routine processing, after the processing of the currently accessed controller is completed. Suspends access to the next controller and sends the command of the access request from the personal computer to the corresponding controller as it is. Then, the response received from the controller is directly transmitted to the personal computer. In this case, if data such as temperature measurement data is included in the response to the personal computer, the data is copied (stored) to the memory 43 and then displayed on the LED 48.

Therefore, the personal computer 27 transmits a data request command to the specific controller 23 and receives a response from the controller 23, and thus does not become aware of the presence of the display unit 28 with the controller 23. . It recognizes as if the controller 23 is directly connected to the communication line 26. Similarly, when the data request command is transmitted to the controllers 24 and 25, it is as if the controllers 24 and 25 are directly connected to the communication line 26 without being aware of the presence of the display 29 during that time. Recognize.

As described above, each display 2 as a communication device
8 and 29, when a data request command as communication information is received from the personal computer 27 which is a higher-level communication device,
A communication processing means for transmitting the data request command in the same format to the controller as the lower-level communication device and, when receiving a response as communication information from the controller, transmitting the response to the personal computer 27 in the same format; When a response is received from the device, additional function processing means for executing display processing as additional function processing based on specific information included in the response, for example, display data, is provided.

Therefore, even when the display 28 or 29 is provided between the personal computer 27 and the controllers 21 to 23 or 24 and 25, the personal computer 27 is connected to the display 28, 2
9 as if it were a controller 2
It operates as if direct communication is performed with 1 to 25. When a data request command is transmitted from a plurality of controllers 21 to 25 by designating an arbitrary controller, a response can be obtained from the controller. As a result, it is not necessary to modify the program of the personal computer 27 or the like. On the other hand, the display can take in specific information such as display data from the response received from the controller and execute additional function processing such as display processing.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
In the display devices 28 and 29 provided between the personal computer 27 and the controllers 21 to 25 and relaying data, the existing communication constituted by the personal computer 27 and the controllers 21 to 25 can be performed without modifying the personal computer 27. Relay display 2 that can be additionally installed in the system
8, 29 is provided.

In this case, the indicators 28, 2
9, the communication processing means transmits a command requesting display data to the controllers 21 to 25, and the additional function processing means performs additional function processing based on the response of the display data received from the controllers 21 to 25 by the communication processing means. Execute a certain display process. Therefore, the display units 28 and 29 for relaying between the personal computer 27 and the controllers 21 to 25 also have their own controllers 21 to 25.
To send a data request command to obtain a required response.

Further, in this case, the display 28,
The additional function processing unit 29 performs an additional function process of displaying temperature measurement data of the controllers 21 to 25 included in the display data. Therefore, the display 2
By arranging 8, 29 near the solder bath controlled by the controllers 21 to 25, temperature measurement data of each high-temperature room of the solder bath can be directly checked by an on-site worker. An effect is obtained that is effective when performed by a corresponding controller. Furthermore, by configuring the display means of the indicators 28 and 29 with LEDs as in the embodiment, it is possible to obtain the effect of being inexpensive and excellent in environmental protection such as temperature as compared with an LCD (liquid crystal display). .

Furthermore, in this case, the display 2
The communication processing units 8 and 29 execute a routine process of sequentially transmitting a command requesting specific information to the plurality of controllers 21 to 25 and receiving a response of the specific information from the transmitted controller. When a data request command to an arbitrary controller is received from the personal computer 27, the routine processing is interrupted and communication processing relating to the data request command received from the personal computer 27 is executed.

Therefore, the personal computer 27 has a display 28,
Even when the controller 29 is performing routine processing for a controller, a response is immediately obtained from the controller to a data request command transmitted to an arbitrary controller without being aware of the existence of the indicators 28 and 29. The effect that it can be obtained is obtained.

In the above embodiment, the communication processing means of the display units 28 and 29 transmits a data request command from the personal computer 27 which is the higher-level communication device to the controller which is the lower-level communication device of the command. Although the response from the controller is transmitted to the personal computer 27, the specific information to be processed by the additional function processing means of the display units 28 and 29 is communicated with the host communication device and the display processing of the temperature measurement data. However, the command transmitted from the upper communication device to the lower communication device relayed by the communication processing means is not limited to the data request command.

That is, when the communication processing means of the communication device that relays between the upper communication device and the lower communication device receives the communication information of the command from the upper communication device, it transmits the communication information to the lower communication device. When receiving the communication information of the response from the lower communication device, the communication device transmits the communication information to the higher communication device. In this case, the level of the electric signal in the communication with the upper communication device and the level of the electric signal in the communication with the lower communication device are the same.

For example, when the communication means (the communication line 26 in the embodiment) with the higher-level communication device is based on RS232C, the communication means with the lower-level communication device is also configured with RS232C. Therefore, the level of the electrical signal is
−12V to + 12V. When the communication means with the upper communication device is RS485, the communication means with the lower communication device is also constituted by RS485. Therefore, the level of the electric signal is 0V to + 5V.

Further, in the above embodiment, the additional function processing means of the indicators 28 and 29 is configured to execute the data display function of performing the display processing of the temperature measurement data.
The function of the additional function processing means is not limited to the data display function. For example, the configuration may be such that a lower communication device diagnostic function for diagnosing whether the lower communication device is operating normally or a data buffering function for storing data of the lower communication device in a memory is performed.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, when communication information is received from a higher-level communication device, the communication device transmits the communication information to the lower-level communication device in the same format,
Communication processing means for transmitting the communication information to the higher-level communication device in the same format when receiving the communication information from the lower-level communication device; and identifying the communication information included in the communication information when receiving the communication information from the lower-level communication device. And the additional function processing means for executing the additional function processing based on the information of the upper communication device provided between the upper communication device and the lower communication device and relaying the data. There is an effect of providing a relay communication device that can be additionally installed in an existing communication system including an upper communication device and a lower communication device without any modification.

According to the present invention, in the communication device, the communication processing means transmits a command for requesting specific information to the lower communication device, and the additional function processing means transmits the command requesting the specific information to the lower communication device. Since the additional function processing is configured to be executed based on the response of the information of the communication device, the communication device itself for relay between the upper communication device and the lower communication device also transmits communication information to the lower communication device independently. Thus, there is an effect that communication information of a necessary response can be obtained.

According to the present invention, in the communication device, the additional function processing means is configured to execute the additional function process for displaying the state of the lower communication device included in the specific information. By arranging the communication device in the vicinity of the device controlled by the device, there is an effect that the state of the device can be confirmed on site.

According to the present invention, in the communication device, the communication processing means transmits the command for requesting the specific information to the plurality of lower communication devices in order, and sends the response of the specific information from the lower communication device to the command. Executes a routine process for receiving, and when receiving communication information from the higher-level communication device to any lower-level communication device, interrupts the routine process and executes a communication process related to the communication information received from the higher-level communication device. Therefore, even if the relay communication device is performing routine processing for the lower-level communication device, the higher-level communication device can transmit the communication information transmitted to any lower-level communication device without being aware of the existence of the lower-level communication device. On the other hand, there is an effect that communication information of a response can be promptly obtained from the lower communication device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication system to which a communication device according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a controller in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a display in FIG.

FIG. 4A is a diagram showing relay of communication information between a personal computer and a display in FIG. 1; FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating transmission and reception of communication information between the display and the controller in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a sequence of exchanging communication information between the personal computer, the display, and the controller in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a conventional existing communication system between a personal computer and a controller.

FIG. 7 is a diagram in which relay communication devices are provided in the existing communication system of FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

21, 22, 23, 24, 25 Controller (lower-level communication device) 26 Communication line 27 Personal computer (higher-level communication device) 28, 29 Display (communication device) 32 Measured value input I / F 33 Control output I / F 34, 44 DI I / F 35, 45 DO I / F 36 Option I / F 37, 43 Memory 38, 47 Upper I / F 41 CPU (communication processing means, additional function processing means) 48 LED

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A relay communication device provided between an upper communication device and a lower communication device, wherein when receiving communication information from the upper communication device, the communication information is transmitted to the lower communication device in the same format as the communication information. Send,
Communication processing means for transmitting the communication information to the higher-level communication device in the same format when receiving the communication information from the lower-level communication device; and when the communication information is received from the lower-level communication device, the communication information is included in the communication information. Communication device for executing additional function processing based on the specific information. 2. The communication processing means transmits a command for requesting specific information to a lower communication device, and the additional function processing means responds to the response of the specific information received from the lower communication device by the communication processing means. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the additional function processing is performed based on the information. 3. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the additional function processing means executes an additional function process for displaying a state of the lower communication device included in the specific information. 4. A communication processing unit executes a routine process of sequentially transmitting a command requesting specific information to a plurality of lower communication devices and receiving a response of the specific information from the lower communication device that has transmitted the command. 2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when receiving communication information from the higher-level communication device to any lower-level communication device, said routine process is interrupted and communication processing relating to the communication information received from said higher-level communication device is executed. The communication device according to claim 3.