JP2004094421A - System for performing input/output definition of data in control controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system capable of efficiently and properly performing the input/output definitions of data. <P>SOLUTION: This system for performing the input/output definitions in a control controller is provided with a point setting processing part 12 and an optimal design information storage part 15. The optimal design information storage part 15 stores the model information of data input/output equipment such as a sensor 4 or an actuator 5 and design information optimal to the data input/output equipment. Then, a point setting processing part 12 reads and displays the optimal design information associated with the model information from the optimal design information storage part 15 in accordance with the input of the model information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system for defining data input / output in a control controller and a method for defining data input / output.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a control system for a plant or a building, a controller collects data of a field device installed at a site via a communication line, controls the device, and transmits the data to an alarm or a start / stop of the device. Is displayed on the screen as data for use, operation data, and the like. Here, the field device is a data input / output device such as a sensor or an actuator.
[0003]
In order for the controller to collect data in this way, I / O (input / output terminals), which is hardware for connecting field devices, and points, which are data management units on software, are prepared. It is necessary to define input / output of data by defining a correspondence, that is, linking.
[0004]
Therefore, in order to operate the control system, I / O for connecting devices is selected, a point type is selected, and various parameters are set. There is a need to perform engineering work such as performing. The engineering tool used for this engineering work includes a user interface for defining I / O, a user interface for generating points, and a user interface for setting parameters of the points.
[0005]
Specifically, the point type is determined for each connected field device based on the experience and knowledge of the designer. Then, the designer has to generate points by inputting parameters such as a name, a range, a unit, and a decimal point position for each determined point. Furthermore, I / O had to be linked to that point.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, such conventional engineering work requires the designer to set each point type and parameter value for each type of connected device based on experience and knowledge, which requires a great deal of labor and time. There is a problem that it has to be spent and is inefficient.
[0007]
In addition, since the work of linking the I / O corresponding to the generated points must be performed for each point, a great deal of time and effort must be spent on this linking work, which is inefficient. There was also. When I / O data acquired by one controller is transferred to another controller and used, it takes a lot of time and effort to set communication parameters.
[0008]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a system capable of efficiently and appropriately defining data input / output in a control controller.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A system according to the present invention is a system for defining data input / output in a control controller, and stores optimal design information in which identification information unique to the data input / output device and design information optimal for the data input / output device are associated and stored. Means (for example, an optimal design information storage unit 15 in the embodiment of the present invention) and, in response to the input of the identification information, read out and display the optimal design information associated with the identification information from the optimal design information storage means. This is provided with an optimum design information display unit (for example, the point setting processing unit 12 in the embodiment of the present invention). With such a configuration, data input / output definition can be executed efficiently.
[0010]
In a preferred embodiment, the optimal design information stored in the optimal design information storage means includes point information optimal for the data input / output device.
[0011]
The optimal design information stored in the optimal design information storage means includes allocation condition information required for allocating a point corresponding to the data input / output device to an I / O of a controller. An allocation status information storage unit (for example, a design result storage unit 16 in the embodiment of the present invention) that stores allocation status information including the allocation status and type of the I / O, The allocation condition information associated with the identification information is read from the optimal design information storage means, and a data input specified by the identification information is read based on the allocation condition information and the allocation status information stored in the allocation information storage means. An I / O allocating means for automatically allocating a point corresponding to the output device to an I / O may be provided. With such a configuration, it is possible to increase the efficiency of the I / O allocation processing.
[0012]
It is preferable that the optimal design information stored in the optimal design information storage means includes network parameter information optimal for the data input / output device.
[0013]
The identification information in the preferred embodiment is model number information. Further, a device symbol storage means (for example, a correspondence table shown in FIG. 17 in the embodiment of the present invention) for storing the model number information in association with a device symbol whose input is easier than the model number information; It is preferable to include a model number information conversion unit (for example, the point setting processing unit 12 according to the embodiment of the present invention) that acquires corresponding model number information from the device symbol storage unit in response to the input of the information. With such a configuration, the input operation can be made more efficient.
[0014]
On the other hand, a method for defining data input / output in a controller according to the present invention includes the steps of registering identification information unique to a data input / output device and design information optimal for the data input / output device, and inputting the identification information. A step of reading out the optimal design information associated with the identification information input from the optimal design information storage means, and a step of displaying the read optimal design information. With such a method, data input / output definition can be executed efficiently.
[0015]
The optimal design information in a preferred embodiment includes point information optimal for the data input / output device.
[0016]
Further, the optimal design information includes allocation condition information required for allocating a point corresponding to the data input / output device to the I / O of the controller, and, in response to the input of the identification information, The allocation condition information associated with the identification information is read, and a point corresponding to the data input / output device specified by the identification information is determined based on the allocation condition information and the allocation status information including the I / O allocation status and type. Preferably, the method further comprises the step of automatically allocating to the I / O. With such a method, it is possible to increase the efficiency of the I / O allocation processing.
[0017]
Further, it is preferable that the optimal design information includes network parameter information optimal for the data input / output device.
[0018]
The identification information in the preferred embodiment is model number information. Further, it is preferable to include a step of inputting a device symbol that is easier to input than the model number information and a step of acquiring corresponding model number information in accordance with the input of the device symbol. By such a method, the input operation can be made more efficient.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
First Embodiment of the Invention
The data input / output definition system according to the first embodiment of the present invention can input point information or the like corresponding to a field device using a model number, and further automatically associates points with I / O. Can be done.
[0020]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a system according to the present embodiment. The system is mainly configured by a point design support device 1. The point design support device 1 is connected to the central monitoring device 2 and the controller 3 via a communication cable. The communication cable is, for example, a coaxial cable, a twisted pair cable, an optical fiber cable, or the like. The controller 3 is connected to field devices such as the sensor 4 and the actuator 5 via an I / O by a communication cable. The I / O refers to an input / output terminal of data on hardware in the controller 3.
[0021]
FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram of the point design support device 1. The point design support device 1 is configured by, for example, a general-purpose computer, a dedicated server computer, or the like. The point design support apparatus 1 includes a control unit 11, a point setting processing unit 12, an operation unit 13, a display unit 14, an optimal design information storage unit 15, and a design result storage unit 16. The point design support device 1 further includes a configuration such as a modem, a printer, an FD drive, a CD drive, etc., but is not shown for simplification of description.
[0022]
The control unit 11 includes a central control unit (CPU), a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), an input / output port, and the like, and has an OS program and an application program for executing the processing of the point setting processing unit 12. Operate based on
[0023]
The point setting processing unit 12 has a function of executing a series of processes for defining data input / output in the controller. Specific functions will be described later in detail with reference to flowcharts and screen display examples.
[0024]
The operation unit 13 is a unit for inputting data, and is constituted by, for example, a keyboard and a mouse. The display unit 14 is a unit that outputs data, and is configured by, for example, a display.
[0025]
The optimal design information storage section 15 stores preset optimal design information for each model number of field devices such as sensors and actuators. The optimum design information includes point information, I / O assignment condition information, and network parameter information. These point information, I / O allocation condition information, and optimal value of network parameter information are read out from the optimal design information storage unit 15 in accordance with a model number input at the time of point design and displayed on a screen. . Therefore, it is possible to save the trouble of inputting the design information one by one at the time of point design, so that the input can be made more efficient and errors such as input errors can be reduced.
[0026]
FIG. 3 shows an example of a table in which the model numbers of the field devices are associated with the optimum point information. In the table of FIG. 3, TY6560A, H615A, and the like indicated as device model numbers are model number information of the field devices. In the table of FIG. 3, information indicating a point type, a range, a decimal point, and a unit is point information. Further, the point type is information that specifies the type of data handled at points such as analog input, analog output, digital input, digital output, and integration. In the example shown in FIG. 3, AI indicates the input of an analog signal. In the example shown in the table of FIG. 3, two field devices having a model number of CY71 are registered. This is because a field device called CY71 requires a plurality of points when one is connected, and thus point information for a plurality of points is registered.
[0027]
FIG. 4 shows an example of a table in which the model numbers of field devices and the allocation condition information for I / O are associated with each other. Here, the allocation condition information is information unique to each field device, which is a condition for connecting the field device to the I / O of the control controller. For example, the type of the I / O module to which the field device can be connected is , Connectable I / O identification information. The type of the I / O module is information for specifying the type of data handled in the I / O to which a field device can be connected, such as an analog input, an analog output, a digital input, and a digital output. The connectable I / O identification information is information for specifying which I / O of the I / O in the I / O module the field device can connect to. In the table of FIG. 4, information indicating the module type, I / O1, I / O2, and I / O3 is the allocation condition information. In the table of FIG. 4, it is specified that the field device having the model number TY6560A can be connected to the I / O module of the AI type and connected to the terminal of the I / O1. Here, the positional relationship of the I / O modules in the controller will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the control controller is provided with a plurality of I / O modules. I / O modules are specified by columns and rows. This I / O module can be appropriately expanded in the controller, and a maximum of five modules can be arranged in one row. Each I / O module has a plurality of I / Os (here, four I / Os). Which I / O can be connected is determined by the field device.
[0028]
FIG. 6 shows an example of a table in which the model numbers of the field devices are associated with network parameter information for communication between the control controllers. In the table of FIG. 6, network parameter information such as an optimal network variable type and a transmission cycle is stored for each field device specified by each model number.
[0029]
The design result storage unit 16 stores design information for which point design has been completed and which has been determined. FIG. 7 shows an example of data stored in the design result storage unit 16. In the example shown in FIG. 7, point information, I / O allocation information, and network parameters are stored in association with each other for each field device specified by the model number. The point information, the I / O allocation information, and the network parameters are information obtained by appropriately modifying and registering the optimum value read from the optimum design information storage unit 15 when performing the point design by the designer. It is. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the field device having the model number TY6560A is assigned to the terminal I / O1 of the I / O module in one row and two columns. The design result information storage unit 16 further stores design information of the controller 3. The design information of the controller 3 includes information of the I / O module. The I / O module information includes I / O position information (row, column) and I / O type.
[0030]
Next, a processing flow in the system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described using a flowchart and a screen display example.
[0031]
FIG. 8 shows the entire processing flow. First, registration of a controller is performed (S101). 9 and 10 show display examples of a registration screen for registering a controller. First, a registration screen shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. On this screen, No. , A model number, a controller name, and a type input field are displayed. The designer inputs the information using the operation unit 13. The screen display example of FIG. 10 shows a state after the information is input. To register after input, click the registration button displayed on the screen. In response to the click of the registration button, the point setting processing unit 12 stores the input information in the design result storage unit 16. Also, registration of an I / O module is performed for each controller. Specifically, the registration of the position information (row, column) of the I / O in the I / O module, the type of the I / O, and the like are performed. Information on the registered I / O modules is stored in the design result storage unit 16.
[0032]
Next, registration of a field device is executed (S102). A detailed processing flow for executing the registration of the field device is shown in a flowchart of FIG. First, a screen for registering a field device as shown in FIG. 12 is displayed. On the screen shown in FIG. 12, a display area of a model number, a point, a data range, a unit / state, and the like, and a display area of I / O module allocation information are displayed. While the screen shown in FIG. 12 is displayed, the model number is entered in the model number input field (S201). The point setting processing unit 12 searches for the model number input from the optimal design information storage unit 15, reads out the optimal point information corresponding to this model number, and displays it on the screen (S202).
[0033]
Further, the point setting processing unit 12 reads out the allocation condition information corresponding to the model number input from the optimal design information storage unit 15. Further, the point setting processing unit 12 based on the allocation condition information and the information indicating the I / O allocation status and the I / O type stored in the design result storage unit 16 (hereinafter, allocation status information). A point corresponding to the field device specified by the model number is automatically assigned to a predetermined I / O, and the result is displayed on a screen (S203).
[0034]
Here, the point and I / O automatic allocation process will be described in detail. First, in order to allocate points and I / Os, both types must match. For example, according to the allocation condition information corresponding to the model number, it is assumed that the type of the point corresponding to the field device specified by the model number is AI. In this case, the point must be assigned to the I / O module of the AI. Therefore, the type of the I / O module and the position information of the I / O in the I / O module stored in the design result storage unit 16 are searched, and the allocation is possible. The selected I / O module is selected. Points are allocated to the I / O of the I / O module selected in this way.
[0035]
Further, the point setting processing unit 12 reads out the network parameter information corresponding to the model number input from the optimal design information storage unit 15 and displays it on the screen (S204).
[0036]
Next, the designer examines whether to change the design information displayed on these screens (S205). When the design information needs to be changed, the designer uses the operation unit 13 to input the details of the change. The point setting processing unit 12 changes the design information according to the input of the change content (S206), and stores the changed design information in the design result storage unit 16 (S207). On the other hand, when there is no need to change the design information, the design information is stored as it is in the design result storage unit 16 (S207).
[0037]
As described above, the system according to the first embodiment of the present invention is configured such that by inputting a model number, it is possible to read out the optimal design information for the field device specified by the model number. Data input / output can be defined. Also, based on the allocation condition information of the field device specified by the model number and the allocation status information of the I / O, a point corresponding to the field device is automatically allocated to an empty I / O module of the same type. Therefore, data input / output definition can be performed more efficiently.
[0038]
Embodiment 2 of the invention
In the system for performing data input definition according to the second embodiment of the present invention, a field device can be input using a device symbol whose input is simpler than the model number. Here, the device symbol is composed of, for example, a character string or a character string whose number of input characters is smaller than that of the model number, and may be anything that is easier to input than the model number.
[0039]
The system according to the second embodiment of the present invention has the same system configuration as the first embodiment of the present invention, and is stored in the processing program of the point setting processing unit 12, the optimal design information storage unit 15, and the design result storage unit 16. Only the data that was used.
[0040]
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a device symbol registration flow in the system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In order to register a device symbol, first, a device symbol and a model number are input (S301). FIG. 15 shows a screen for inputting a device symbol relating to a field device. On this screen, an input screen for the device symbol and the model number of the field device is provided. FIG. 16 shows a screen for inputting a device symbol related to the controller. On this screen, an input screen for the device symbol and the model number of the controller is provided.
[0041]
Next, the input device symbol and the model number are stored in the optimal design information storage unit 15 in association with each other. FIG. 17 shows an example of stored data. In the example shown in FIG. 17, a correspondence table (a) in which device symbols are associated with model numbers of field devices and a correspondence table (b) in which device symbols are associated with model numbers of control controllers are stored.
[0042]
FIG. 18 shows a detailed flow concerning the registration of the field device. The registration of a field device in the system according to the second embodiment of the present invention is different from the flowchart shown in FIG. 11 only in that a device number is obtained by inputting a device symbol. That is, only the step S401 shown in FIG. 18 is different, and the other processing steps are the same, so that the description is omitted.
[0043]
In step S401, first, the designer inputs a device symbol to the system. The point setting processing unit 12 acquires the corresponding model number using the correspondence table shown in FIG. 17 stored in the optimal design information storage unit 15 based on the input device symbol. Hereinafter, the same processing as in the first embodiment of the invention is executed.
[0044]
In the second embodiment of the present invention, a field device can be specified using a device symbol whose input is simpler than a model number, so that data input / output definition can be realized more efficiently.
[0045]
Other embodiments.
In the above-described embodiment, an example is described in which the point design support apparatus according to the present invention is used for setting points in a control system. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be used for setting points in various types of systems. It is.
[0046]
Various configurations of the user interface for inputting device model numbers and device symbols are conceivable, and devices and points can be defined by inputting them in a table format or by creating figures on a visual design tool. Is also good.
[0047]
Various programs installed on the computer to configure the point design support apparatus 1 can be stored in a recording medium, and can be transmitted via a communication medium. The recording medium is, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD, a ROM cartridge, a RAM memory cartridge with a battery backup, a flash memory cartridge, a nonvolatile RAM cartridge, and the like.
[0048]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a system capable of efficiently and appropriately defining data input / output in a control controller.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a point design support system according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a point design support apparatus according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of data in an optimal design information storage unit according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of data in an optimum design information storage unit according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between I / O modules in a controller according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of data in an optimum design information storage unit according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of data in a design result storage unit according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an overall flow in the present embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display according to the embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen display example according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a detailed flow of device registration in the present embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a screen display example according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen display according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a registration flow of a device symbol in the present embodiment.
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a screen display example according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a screen display example according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a correspondence table in the present embodiment.
FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a detailed flow of device registration when a device symbol is input.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Point design support device 2 Central monitoring devices 3a, 3b, 3c Controllers 4a, 4b, 4c Sensors 5a, 5b, 5c, Actuator 11 Control unit 12 Point setting processing unit 13 Operation unit 14 Display unit 15 Optimal design information storage unit 16 Design result storage unit

Claims (12)

A system for defining input / output of data in a control controller,
Optimal design information storage means for storing identification information unique to the data input / output device and design information optimal for the data input / output device in association with each other;
A system comprising an optimum design information display means for reading out and displaying optimum design information associated with the identification information from the optimum design information storage means in response to the input of the identification information. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the optimal design information stored in the optimal design information storage means includes point information optimal for the data input / output device. The optimal design information stored in the optimal design information storage means includes allocation condition information required to allocate a point corresponding to the data input / output device to an I / O of a controller,
Allocation status information storage means for storing allocation status information including the allocation status and type of the I / O,
In response to the input of the identification information, read out the allocation condition information associated with the identification information from the optimal design information storage means, based on the allocation condition information and the allocation status information stored in the allocation information storage means, 2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising I / O allocating means for automatically allocating a point corresponding to the data input / output device specified by the identification information to an I / O. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the optimal design information stored in the optimal design information storage means includes network parameter information optimal for the data input / output device. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the identification information unique to the data input / output device is model number information. A device symbol storage unit that stores the model number information in association with a device symbol whose input is easier than the model number information;
6. The system according to claim 5, further comprising a model number information conversion unit that acquires corresponding model number information from the device symbol storage unit in response to the input of the device symbol. A method for defining data input / output in a control controller,
Registering identification information unique to the data input / output device and design information optimal for the data input / output device;
Inputting the identification information;
Reading the optimal design information associated with the identification information input from the optimal design information storage means,
Displaying the read optimal design information. The method according to claim 7, wherein the optimal design information includes point information optimal for the data input / output device. The optimal design information includes allocation condition information required to allocate a point corresponding to the data input / output device to an I / O of a control controller,
In response to the input of the identification information, the allocation condition information associated with the identification information is read, and based on the allocation condition information and the allocation status information including the allocation status and type of the I / O, The method according to claim 7, further comprising automatically allocating points corresponding to the specified data input / output device to the I / O. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the optimal design information includes network parameter information optimal for the data input / output device. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identification information unique to the data input / output device is model number information. Inputting a device symbol that is easier to input than the model number information;
The method according to claim 11, further comprising obtaining corresponding model number information in response to the input of the device symbol.

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