JP2003058257A - Temperature controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a temperature controller capable of easily preparing data of a command and a response and shortening data communication time. SOLUTION: The temperature controller is provided with parameter/group registration means M1-Mn for registering a plurality of parameters such as a specified output value, a status state and a set temperature value corresponding to one group command code included in command (request command) information DCi supplied from host equipment Ua. At the time of receiving the command (request command) information DCi including the group command code, parameter values of a plurality of the parameters hierarchically registered as the group command code are read simultaneously and pieces of response information (parameter values) DR1-DRn are transmitted to the host equipment Ua.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a temperature controller for setting or transmitting a parameter of a control operation based on a command from a host device, and particularly treating a plurality of parameters as one group to shorten a data communication time. Regarding the temperature controller.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional temperature controller, a memory area for storing a parameter required for a control operation for a controlled device and a parameter value corresponding to this parameter is provided, and the parameter value during the control operation is updated. What has been done is known.

The conventional temperature controller thus constructed has a communication function having an interface such as RS485, and is connected to a host computer such as a personal computer or PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) having the same communication function. The parameters are transmitted and received between each other.

In the transmission and reception of parameters, when a read command or a write command called a command is supplied from the host device to the temperature controller, a response called a response corresponding to each command is sent from the temperature controller to the host device. .

FIG. 5 shows an example of a conventional basic data format of commands and responses. The data structure of the command is shown in (a) and the data structure of the response is shown in (b). The command and the response are composed in a pair, and the command is set in the host device and the response is set in the temperature controller by a program.

The commands and responses include a start character @, a unit number for specifying each temperature controller, a command type for reading or writing, a command code for specifying parameters, an end code for setting a communication result, and a parameter value. It is composed of a data portion to represent, a frame check sequence FCS, and “*” and “CR” representing the end of a command or response, and a predetermined number of bytes (1 byte = 8 bits) is allocated to each.

No parameter value is set in the data portion of the parameter read (request) command, but a dummy data value (for example, "0000") is set. Also,
In the data part of the parameter write (setting) command,
The parameter (data) value of the parameter set in the temperature controller is set.

On the other hand, the parameter (data) value of the requested parameter is set in the data portion of the response corresponding to the parameter read (request) command. Also, the parameter value is not set in the data part of the response corresponding to the parameter write (setting) command,
A dummy data value (for example, "0000") is set.

The command type of the command and the response is a code for identifying whether the parameter is read (request) or written (set) (for example, read = 1,
Write = 2) is set.

In the command code, the number of the parameter to be written (set) in the temperature controller or read (requested) from the temperature controller or the address number of the memory area in which the parameter is stored is set to write or read. The target parameter of is specified.

As described above, in the conventional parameter transmission / reception using the command and response, a pair of command and response is required for writing or reading one parameter, respectively.

[0012]

The parameter transmission / reception using the conventional command and response shown in FIG. 5 requires a pair of command and response for writing or reading one parameter. When requesting the parameter values of n parameters from the device to the temperature controller, a total of 2n data transmissions including n commands and n responses must be executed between the host device and the temperature controller. However, there is a problem that it takes a lot of time to communicate data. In particular, when a plurality of temperature controllers are connected to one host device and a plurality of parameters are required for each, a time required for data communication becomes enormous.

For example, when the temperature controller controls a device to be controlled such as a liquid crystal baking device, the number of temperature controllers is large and data communication is performed even if the baking temperature is monitored by a read command from the host device. If it takes a long time, the short-term fluctuation of the baking temperature may be overlooked, and in some cases, the liquid crystal that would otherwise be defective may be regarded as a good product. Therefore, there is a strong demand from the user to reduce the data communication time. There is.

In order to solve such a problem, a data format in which a plurality of parameters are described in one command has been proposed and put into practical use. FIG. 6 shows an example of a data format of a command having a plurality of command codes. In FIG. 6, since the command describes c1, c2, and c3 in the command code, it is possible to request or set the parameter values of three parameters with one command. On the other hand, as for the response, three parameter values can be set in one response. That is, 3
The request for each parameter value can be realized by transmitting / receiving a pair of (two) data, and the data communication time can be shortened.

However, in the data format shown in FIG. 6, when the number of command codes increases, the command data communication time increases and the number of command codes that can be described is limited. Therefore, the number of temperature controllers is large. If the number of required parameters is large, it is not possible to realize the reduction of the data communication time that sufficiently satisfies the user's request.

Further, the data formats shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 have a problem that command and response data creation is complicated and requires a lot of man-hours.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a temperature controller which can easily create command and response data and can significantly reduce the data communication time. is there.

[0018]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a temperature controller according to the present invention uses a plurality of parameters in a temperature controller for setting or transmitting parameters for control operation based on a command from a host device. It is characterized in that it is provided with parameter / group registration means for registering in association with one group, and setting or transmitting a plurality of parameters in response to a group command supplied from a higher model.

The temperature controller according to the present invention comprises parameter / group registration means for registering a plurality of parameters in association with one group, and sets a plurality of parameters in response to a group command supplied from a higher model. Or, since it is transmitted, multiple parameters can be represented by one group without describing each parameter number or address in the command, and the command and response data can be easily created, and the command and response Since the number of data can be reduced, the data communication time can be significantly shortened.

Further, the parameter / group registration means according to the present invention is characterized by including a memory having a memory area for storing a group corresponding to a plurality of parameters.

Since the parameter / group registration means according to the present invention comprises a memory having a memory area for storing a group corresponding to a plurality of parameters, a memory area for storing the group is set and realized by software. Can
The structure can be simplified by using the conventional temperature controller.

[0022]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a system block configuration diagram of an embodiment to which a temperature controller according to the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, the system includes a host computer Ua of a personal computer or PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), temperature controllers T1 to Tn, and a control target device E1.
To En.

Host device Ua and temperature controllers T1 to Tn
Has a communication function of an interface such as RS458,
Host device U connected to each other with communication cables L1 to Ln
Data communication is performed between a and the temperature controllers T1 to Tn.

The host device Ua supplies command (setting command) information DCi (i = 1 to n) to the temperature controllers T1 to Tn to set parameters corresponding to various setting commands, and the temperature controllers T1 to Tn. Control information DS1 to DSn supplied from the control target devices E1 to En.

Further, the host device Ua supplies command (request command) information DCi to the temperature controllers T1 to Tn so that the temperature controllers T1 to Tn respond to specified output values, status statuses or set temperature values. (Response) Information (parameter value) DR1 to DRn is received to manage the data.

Further, the host device Ua monitors the control operation of the temperature controllers T1 to Tn based on the received response information (parameter values) DR1 to DRn.

The temperature controllers T1 to Tn set parameters corresponding to the command (setting command) information DCi supplied from the host device Ua, and supply control information DS1 to DSn to the control target devices E1 to En for control. Perform an action.

Further, the temperature controllers T1 to Tn correspond to one group command code included in the command (request command) information DCi supplied from the higher-level equipment Ua, and the designated output value, status status, set temperature value, etc. Parameter / group registration means M1 to Mn for registering a plurality of parameters, and when the command (request command) information DCi including the group command code is received, the parameter values of the plurality of parameters hierarchically registered as a group command code. Read at once, and response information (parameter value) DR1 to D
Rn is transmitted to the upper device Ua.

The parameter / group registration means M1 to Mn includes a memory having a memory area for storing groups corresponding to a plurality of parameters, registers the groups corresponding to a plurality of parameters by software control, and designates a group. Read the corresponding parameters. It

FIG. 2 is an image diagram of the memory area of the parameter / group registration means according to the present invention. In FIG.
An area for registering one group corresponding to a plurality of parameters is provided in a memory area composed of parameters and data (parameter values). Parameters a to c corresponding to the set group number X1, parameters d and e corresponding to the group number X2,
.., parameters x to z are registered corresponding to the group number Xn. Note that parameter values (data) corresponding to the parameters a to z are stored (for example, the parameter a has data “XXXXX”).

FIG. 3 is a data format diagram of an embodiment of the command according to the present invention. In FIG. 3, the unit number of the command is set to the number T1 of the temperature controller T1, and the command code requires a plurality of parameters a to.
By setting one group number X1 corresponding to c, one command can specify three parameters a to c corresponding to the group number X1 of the temperature controller T1.
As a result, three parameter (data) values (“○○○○”, corresponding to the three parameters ac in one response,
"□□□□", "△△△△") can be read.

Similarly, with respect to the temperature controllers T2 to Tn, the parameter (data) values corresponding to a plurality of parameters can be read by the command having one group number.

The group number can be set by simple numbers or symbols, and commands can be easily created.

Thus, the temperature controller T according to the present invention
1 to Tn are parameter / group registration means M1 to Mn for registering a plurality of parameters a to c in association with one group X1.
Since a plurality of parameters a to c are set or transmitted corresponding to the group command (request command) DCi supplied from the higher-order model Ua, a plurality of parameters a to c are not described in the command The parameters can be represented by one group, the command and response data can be easily created, and the number of command and response data can be reduced, so that the data communication time can be significantly shortened.

Further, since the parameter / group registration means M1 to Mn according to the present invention comprises a memory having a memory area for storing the group X1 corresponding to the plurality of parameters a to c, the memory area for storing the group X1. Can be implemented by software, and the conventional temperature controller can be used to simplify the configuration.

Next, the operation of the temperature controller will be described. FIG. 4 is an operation flow chart of the temperature controller according to the present invention. In step S1, the command of the group command code X1 is received from the higher-level device Ua.

In step S2, it is determined whether or not there are a plurality of parameters ac corresponding to the group X1. If parameters a to c are present, the process proceeds to step S3, and if parameters a to c are not present, the process proceeds to step S5.

In step S3, the parameter (data) values of the plurality of parameters ac corresponding to the group X1 ("○○"
"○○", "□□□□", "△△△△") are read.

In step S4, a plurality of parameter (data) values ("○○○○", "□□□□", "△△△"
Δ)) is transmitted to the higher-level device Ua with one response. In step S5, the error code is transmitted to the higher-level device Ua as a response.

[0040]

As described above, the temperature controller according to the present invention is provided with the parameter / group registering means for registering a plurality of parameters in association with one group, and is adapted to the group command supplied from the host model. Since multiple parameters are set or transmitted correspondingly, multiple parameters can be represented by one group without describing individual parameter numbers or addresses in the command, making it easy to create command and response data. In addition, since the number of command and response data can be reduced, the data communication time can be significantly shortened.

Further, since the parameter / group registering means according to the present invention has a memory having a memory area for storing a group corresponding to a plurality of parameters, the memory area for storing the group is set and realized by software. The conventional temperature controller can be used to simplify the configuration.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system block configuration diagram of an embodiment to which a temperature controller according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an image diagram of a memory area of a parameter / group registration unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a data format diagram of an embodiment of a command according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an operation flow chart of the temperature controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 5: Example of conventional basic data format of command and response

FIG. 6 is an example of a data format of a command having a plurality of command codes.

[Explanation of symbols]

Ua Host device T1-Tn temperature controller M1-Mn parameters / group registration means E1 to En controlled equipment L1-Ln communication cable DCi command information DR1 to DRn response information DS1 to DSn control information X1 to Xn group number

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 5H323 AA27 BB02 CA06 CA10 EE02                       HH02 KK05 MM06 NN03 QQ05                       SS05                 5K048 AA08 BA21 CA02 DA02 DC03                       EA11 EB03 EB06 FC01 GC03                       HA02

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A temperature controller for setting or transmitting a parameter of a control operation based on a command from a host device, comprising parameter / group registering means for registering a plurality of parameters in association with one group, A temperature controller characterized in that the plurality of parameters are set or transmitted in response to a group command supplied from a model. 2. The temperature controller according to claim 1, wherein the parameter / group registration means includes a memory having a memory area for storing the group corresponding to the plurality of parameters.