JP2007200040A - Controller, production system, control application changeover program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a controller controlling a production device by execution of a control application program, capable of easily and promptly restoring a state that the original control application program is executed even when the controller comes into a trouble state after a change when changing the control application program. <P>SOLUTION: This controller has: an HDD 47 storing the old application program 1 and the new application program 3 for controlling the production device 51 in a control computer system 40 for controlling the production device 51; and an arithmetic part 42 capable of executing the application programs 1, 3. The HDD 47 further stores an application changeover program 4 for changing over between the old application program 1 and the new application program 3, and selectively making the arithmetic part 42 execute one of them. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a manufacturing apparatus, and more particularly to a control apparatus that controls a manufacturing apparatus (production apparatus) that is continuously operating continuously by executing a control application program. More specifically, the present invention relates to a state in which the control device is defective after the change (such as an inoperable state) when the control application program is changed in the control device that controls the manufacturing apparatus by executing the control application program. In particular, the present invention relates to a control device that can easily and quickly restore the state in which the original control application program is being executed. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a manufacturing system using the control device, a control application switching program and a recording medium used for the control device.

  In recent years, the development of computer technology is steadily progressing, and version upgrades of application software and OS (Operating System) programs provided by manufacturers are carried out in a very short cycle. As a result, version upgrades for function improvements such as adding functions and improving processing speed are also performed in extremely short cycles in the control application programs for various devices used in factories and production sites. The current situation is. Conventionally, when upgrading such a control application program or updating some functions, the new control application program or its reference file is directly overwritten on the original control application program or its reference file. There was almost no way to do an overwrite installation.

  However, in such an update installation method that directly overwrites the original control application program and its reference file, if an unexpected error occurs during the update installation, the update installation will not be completed. Instead, the old version of the control application program and its reference file are destroyed. For this reason, there are problems that an old version of the control application program that has been operating normally does not operate or data stored in the reference file is lost.

  In addition, if a problem occurs in the new version of the control application program after updating the control application program, it is necessary to return to the old version of the control application program again (work to reinstall the old version of the control application program). . Therefore, the control application program becomes inoperable for a long time from the occurrence of the malfunction until this work is completed. Therefore, especially when the control application program controls various production devices used at the production site, the application program is inoperable for a long time, resulting in a significant adverse effect on production. There was a danger that could lead to a huge loss.

  In order to deal with such a problem, in Patent Document 1 below, when a new version of a program is updated and installed on a computer in which an old version of the program has been installed, an attempt is made to update the program after creating a backup file of the old version of the program. An update installation method is disclosed in which it is determined whether or not the update is successful, and if the update fails, an old version program is recovered based on the contents of the backup file.

In the following Patent Document 1, by adopting the above update installation method, even when the update installation work fails, the old application program is recovered based on the contents of the backup file, thereby quickly recovering to the old version program. It is described that the unusable state of the program can be shortened.
JP 2000-315157 A (published on November 14, 2000)

  Certainly, by adopting the method disclosed in Patent Document 1 above, if the update installation operation fails, it is possible to quickly recover the operation of the old version of the program. Impossible state can be shortened.

  However, in the method of Patent Document 1, the backup file is deleted when the update installation operation is completed. Therefore, when a problem occurs in the new version of the program after the completion of the update installation work, the old application program does not exist in the computer. Therefore, it becomes necessary to install the old version of the program again, and there is a risk that the unusable state of the program will be prolonged.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to change a control application program in a control apparatus that controls a manufacturing apparatus, particularly a manufacturing apparatus that is continuously operating continuously, by executing a control application program. In such a case, even if the control device is in a defective state (such as an inoperable state) after the change, it is possible to easily and quickly restore the state in which the original control application program is being executed. An apparatus, a manufacturing system using the control device, and a control application switching program and a recording medium used for the control device are provided.

  In order to solve the above problems, the control device of the present invention stores a first control application program and a second control application program for controlling the manufacturing device in the control device for controlling the manufacturing device. And a computer capable of executing the first control application program and the second control application program. The program storage unit includes the first control application program and the second control application. A control application switching program for switching the program and causing the computer to selectively execute one of these is further stored, and the computer executes the control application switching program to thereby execute the first control application switching program. It is characterized that it is controlling the application program and the switching between the second control application program can be performed in both directions.

  Moreover, the manufacturing system of this invention is provided with the said control apparatus and the manufacturing apparatus controlled by the said control apparatus, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  The control application switching program of the present invention includes a program storage unit for storing the first control application program and the second control application program for controlling the manufacturing apparatus, the first control application program, and the first control application program. A program used in a control device comprising a computer capable of executing two control application programs, one of which is switched between the first control application program and the second control application program bidirectionally Is to make the computer execute selectively. The recording medium of the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium in which the control application switching program is recorded.

  According to each said structure, the control application which stores the 1st control application program and the 2nd control application program, and switches these between the 1st control application program and the 2nd control application program bidirectionally A switching program is further stored. Therefore, the switching between the first control application program and the second control application program can be performed bidirectionally only by the user (or computer) instructing the switching using the control application switching program.

  Therefore, when the control application program is changed, even if the control device becomes defective after the change, the state in which the original control application program is being executed can be restored easily and quickly. Therefore, the inoperable state of the manufacturing apparatus can be greatly shortened, so that adverse effects on the manufacturing (for example, occurrence of a period during which manufacturing is impossible) are minimized, and losses associated with the adverse effects (for example, product failure) (Decrease in the number of manufactured products) can be reduced.

  The control device according to the present invention preferably further includes a reference file storage unit that stores at least one reference file shared by the first control application program and the second control application program in the control device having the above-described configuration.

  According to the above configuration, since only one reference file is stored, the reference file is stored as compared with the case where the reference file corresponding to each of the first control application program and the second control application program is stored. The storage area for doing so can be reduced.

  In the control device according to the present invention, the second control application program is created after the first control application program in the control device configured as described above, and the function improvement (addition of functions and processing speed) is added to the first control application program. Improvement etc.).

  According to the above configuration, when the first control application program is updated to the second control application program for improving the function (so-called version upgrade is performed), even if the control device becomes defective after the update. The state in which the first control application program is being executed can be restored easily and quickly. Therefore, the inoperable state of the manufacturing apparatus can be greatly shortened, so that adverse effects on the manufacturing (for example, occurrence of a period during which manufacturing is impossible) are minimized, and losses associated with the adverse effects (for example, product failure) (Decrease in the number of manufactured products) can be reduced.

  In the control device of the present invention, when the control application switching program switches between the first control application program and the second control application program, the information in the reference file is stored in the control device having the above configuration. The configuration is inherited between the control application program and the second control application program.

  According to the above configuration, information in the reference file can be continuously accumulated without losing information. That is, according to the above configuration, the continuity of the program environment (such as variable values) at the time of switching can be maintained by sharing the reference file used in the first and second applications. This is very important particularly in the case of a control device that performs control that requires “continuous operation” and “same condition operation”, that is, control of a manufacturing apparatus.

  In the control device of the present invention, the control application switching program is configured such that the second control application program is updated when a failure occurs in the second control application program after the first control application program is updated to the second control application program. It can be used to return the application program to the first control application program.

  Further, the present invention is preferably used for controlling a manufacturing apparatus that is continuously operating.

  In addition, the control device of the present invention switches the first control application program to the second control application program by executing the control application switching program when the second control application program becomes executable. An automatic update unit that executes the process may be further included.

  According to the above configuration, switching from the first control application program to the second control application program can be performed more promptly and without a user instruction.

  In addition, the control device according to the present invention executes the control application switching program when detecting that a defect has occurred in the second control application program, thereby changing the second control application program to the first control application. An automatic return unit that executes processing for switching to a program may be further included.

  According to the above configuration, switching from the second control application program to the first control application program can be performed more promptly and without a user instruction. Therefore, it is possible to return from a state in which the control application program has failed to a state in which the control application program is operating normally, more promptly and without user instruction.

  According to the present invention, as described above, when the control application program is changed, even when the control device becomes defective after the change, the state in which the original control application program is executed can be easily and It can be restored quickly. Therefore, the inoperable state of the manufacturing apparatus can be greatly shortened, so that adverse effects on the manufacturing (for example, occurrence of a period during which manufacturing is impossible) are minimized, and losses associated with the adverse effects (for example, product failure) (Decrease in the number of manufactured products) can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, as one embodiment of a control device according to the present invention, a control computer system will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the control computer system 40 according to the present embodiment controls the manufacturing apparatus 51, for example, performs control for ion doping stabilization in a manufacturing apparatus that manufactures a semiconductor device including an ion doping process. belongs to. The control computer system 40 can receive an instruction from the user via an input device 52 such as a keyboard and a mouse, and can display information on the display device 53. The control computer system 40, the input device 52, and the display device 53 constitute an apparatus control system that controls the manufacturing apparatus 51. In addition, a manufacturing system 50 is configured by the device control system and the manufacturing device 51, and the manufacturing system 50 is configured to operate only after being controlled by the device control system. Note that the device control system may include other output devices such as an audio output device and a printing device instead of the display device 53.

  The control computer system 40 includes a calculation unit (computer) 41 including a CPU (central processing unit) 42 and a memory 46, and a hard disk drive (abbreviated as “HDD” in the figure) 47 as a program storage unit and a reference file storage unit. And.

  The hard disk drive 47 includes an old version control application program (hereinafter referred to as “old application program”) 1 as a first control application program for controlling the manufacturing apparatus 51, and a second version for controlling the manufacturing apparatus 51. A new version of the control application program (hereinafter referred to as “new application program”) 3, a plurality of types of parameter tables 2 (hereinafter referred to as reference files shared by the old application program 1 and the new application program 3) And appropriately referred to as “parameter table group”), and the old application program 1 and the new application program 3 are switched bidirectionally to selectively select one of them. Control application switching program to be executed by the calculation unit 41 (hereinafter, referred to as "application switching program") containing the 4. The new application program 3 is created after the old application program 1 and the new application program 3 is improved in function. The parameter table 2 is a file in which a plurality of parameters and their values are associated and stored as a table.

  The calculation unit 41 can execute the old application program 1, the new application program 3, and the application switching program 4. That is, the CPU 42 of the calculation unit 41 includes an old application program execution unit 43 that executes the old application program 1, a new application program execution unit 44 that executes the new application program 3, and an application switching program 4, as shown in FIG. It can function as the application switching program execution unit 45 to be executed. While the application switching program 4 is being executed, only one of the old application program executing unit 43 and the new application program executing unit 44 is controlled by the application switching program executing unit 45 (the old application program 1 or the new application program 3). The old application program execution unit 43 and the new application program execution unit 44 are controlled so as to execute. Further, the application switching program execution unit 45 executes the application switching program 4, so that the calculation unit 42 (the old application program execution unit 43 or the new application program execution unit) according to the application switching instruction input from the input device 52. The control application program to be executed in (44) can be switched bidirectionally between the old application program 1 and the new application program 3.

  Both the old application program execution unit 43 and the new application program execution unit 44 refer to the information in the parameter table group 2 when the corresponding control application program (the old application program 1 or the new application program 3) is executed. ing. That is, the information in the parameter table group 2 is stored between the old application program 1 and the new application program 3 when the control application program executed by the computing unit 42 is switched between the old application program 1 and the new application program 3. It has come to be taken over.

  Next, a method of updating from the old application program 1 to the new application program 3 and returning from the new application program 3 to the old application program 1 in the control computer system 40 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  First, in order to perform the update, the user performs an operation for update installation. This operation is performed by, for example, a recording medium reading device (for example, a CD-ROM) in which a removable recording medium (for example, a CD-ROM) recording an installer program including data of the new application program 3 and the application switching program 4 is connected to the control computer system 40 (for example, CD-ROM) and an instruction for starting the installer program is input to the input device 52. By this user operation, the CPU 42 loads the installer program on the recording medium into the memory 46 and executes the installer program. The installer program causes the CPU 42 to execute processing for copying the data of the new application program 3 and the application switching program 4 from the recording medium to the hard disk drive 47. Further, the installer program causes the CPU 42 to execute processing for loading the application switching program 4 stored in the hard disk drive 47 into the memory 46 and starting the application switching program 4.

  As a result, the user can switch the control application to be executed using the application switching program 4.

  A control application switching process by the application switching program 4 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows an operation flow of the application switching program execution unit 45 when the application switching program 4 is started during the operation of the old application program 1.

  First, the application switching program execution unit 45 waits until the user performs a switching operation from the old application program 1 to the new application program 3 on the input device 52 (NO in S1). When such a switching operation is performed on the input device 52 (YES in S1), the application switching program execution unit 45 instructs the old application program execution unit 43 to end the old application program 1 (S2). In accordance with this instruction, the old application program execution unit 43 ends the old application program 1. Subsequently, the application switching program execution unit 45 instructs the new application program execution unit 44 to start the new application program 3 (S3). In accordance with this instruction, the new application program execution unit 44 loads the new application program 3 onto the memory 46 and starts it.

  Next, the application switching program execution unit 45 waits until the user performs a switching operation from the new application program 3 to the old application program 1 on the input device 52 (NO in S4). When such a switching operation is performed on the input device 52 (YES in S4), the application switching program execution unit 45 instructs the new application program execution unit 44 to end the new application program 3 (S5). In accordance with this instruction, the new application program execution unit 44 ends the new application program 3. Subsequently, the application switching program execution unit 45 instructs the old application program execution unit 43 to start the old application program 1 (S6). In accordance with this instruction, the old application program execution unit 43 loads the old application program 1 onto the memory 46 and starts it.

  As described above, the control application program executed by the CPU 42 is switched bidirectionally from the old application program 1 to the new application program 3 and from the new application program 3 to the old application program 1 in accordance with the user switching operation. Therefore, not only the update from the old application program 1 to the new application program 3, but also the return from the new application program 3 to the old application program 1 can be performed quickly and easily. Therefore, after the old application program 1 is updated to the new application program 3, when a problem (trouble) occurs in the new application program 3, the application switching program 4 is used so that the new application program can be quickly and easily used. 3 can be returned to the old application program to restore the normal operating state.

  Next, the operation of the old application program execution unit 43 after starting the old application program 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  When starting the old application program 1, the old application program execution unit 43 first determines whether or not the parameter table 2 available for the old application program 1 is at a predetermined position (path) in the hard disk drive 47 (S11). If the parameter table 2 is at a predetermined position, the old application program execution unit 43 reads the information of the parameter table 2 (S12). Therefore, before this, if the available parameter table 2 of the old application program 1 is stored at a predetermined position in the hard disk drive 47 by the new application program 3, the old application program execution unit 43 Information will be taken over. On the other hand, if the parameter table 2 is not at a predetermined position, a new parameter table 2 storing preset information (such as parameter initial setting values) is created (S13).

  Next, the old application program execution unit 43 controls the manufacturing apparatus 51 based on at least one of the information in the parameter table 2 read in S12 and the information in the parameter table 2 created in S13 (S14). Thereafter, every time a parameter change instruction is input to the input device 52 by the user (YES in S15), the old application program execution unit 43 updates the information in the parameter table 2 (S16), and the updated information in the parameter table 2 is updated. Based on the above, the manufacturing apparatus 51 is controlled (S14). When the old application program execution unit 43 receives an instruction to terminate the old application program 1 from the application switching program execution unit 45 (S2 in FIG. 2), the old application program execution unit 43 terminates the execution of the old application program 1 (S18).

  Next, the operation of the new application program execution unit 44 after starting the new application program 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the new application program execution unit 44 activates the new application program 3, it first determines whether the parameter table 2 available for the new application program 3 is at a predetermined position in the hard disk drive 47 (S21). If the parameter table 2 is at a predetermined position, the new application program execution unit 44 reads the information of the parameter table 2 (S22). Therefore, before this, if the available parameter table 2 of the new application program 3 is stored at a predetermined position in the hard disk drive 47 by the old application program 1, the new application program execution unit 44 Information will be taken over. On the other hand, if the parameter table 2 is not at a predetermined position, a new parameter table 2 storing preset information (such as parameter initial setting values) is created (S23).

  Next, the new application program execution unit 44 controls the manufacturing apparatus 51 based on at least one of the information in the parameter table 2 read in S22 and the information in the parameter table 2 created in S23 (S24). Thereafter, each time a parameter change instruction is input to the input device 52 by the user (YES in S25), the new application program execution unit 44 updates the information in the parameter table 2 (S26), and the updated information in the parameter table 2 Based on the above, the manufacturing apparatus 51 is controlled (S24). When the new application program execution unit 44 receives an instruction to terminate the new application program 3 from the application switching program execution unit 45 (S5 in FIG. 2), the new application program execution unit 44 terminates the execution of the new application program 3 (S28).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing the program state before and after the update installation of the new application program 103 in the conventional control computer system. The program state before update installation and the program state after update installation in the conventional control computer system are as shown in states 21 and 22 in FIG. 7, respectively. In the conventional control computer system, only the old application program 101 exists in the state 21 before update installation, and only the new application program 103 exists in the state 22 after update installation, as application programs.

  In the state 21 before update installation, the parameter table group 102 is used by the old application program 101, and in the state 22 after update installation, the parameter table group 102 is used by the new application program 103. The parameter table group 102 and the parameter table group 102 have common data items (parameter types), but their contents (information) are different. That is, the parameter table group 102 used in the old application program 101 is not inherited by the new application program 103.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the program state before and after the update installation of the new application program 3 in the apparatus control system according to the present embodiment. That is, FIG. 5 schematically shows the program state 11 in the control computer system 40 before the update installation of the new application program 3 and the program state 12 in the control computer system 40 after the update installation of the new application program 3. It shows.

  In the apparatus control system according to the present embodiment, only the old application program 1 exists in the same control computer system 40 as shown in the program state 11 of FIG. 5 before update installation. In the apparatus control system according to this embodiment, after update installation, unlike the conventional control computer system, the old application program 1 and the new application program 3 are stored in the same control computer system 40 as shown in the program state 12 of FIG. The old application program 1 and the new application program 3 can be arbitrarily selected and used by the application switching program 4.

  The parameter table group 2 that can be shared by the old application program 1 and the new application program 3 is used by the application program (the old application program 1 or the new application program 3) selected by the application switching program 4, and its contents (information ) Is inherited even if the application program is switched.

  Next, FIG. 6 schematically shows an operating state of the conventional device control system and the device control system according to the present embodiment when some trouble occurs in the new application (3 or 103) after the update installation is completed.

  Here, in order to more clearly show the difference between the two apparatus control systems, the new application program 3 is replaced with the conventional method (old application program) with respect to the conventional apparatus control system operating with the old application program 1. In the present embodiment, the new application program 3 and the application switching program 4 are installed in the apparatus control system that is operating only with the old application program 1. Compared to the case of the device control system according to the present invention.

  First, in the conventional apparatus control system, during the old application program operation period (period in which the manufacturing apparatus 51 is controlled by the old application program 1) 31, the manufacturing apparatus is controlled by the operation (execution) of the old application program 1. Yes. Next, update installation of the application program is performed on the device control system. In order to switch the execution application program, an update installation work time (time required for the application update work) 33 for performing a predetermined update installation work is required. In the conventional apparatus control system, since the execution of the old application program 1 is stopped at the start of the update installation work, the control operation of the manufacturing apparatus by the apparatus control system is stopped during the update installation work time 33. For this reason, the apparatus control system starts the control operation of the manufacturing apparatus by the new application program 3 at the time after the update installation work time 33 has elapsed from the start of the update installation.

  In the subsequent new application program operation period (period in which the manufacturing apparatus 51 is controlled by the new application program 3) 32, the apparatus control system performs the control operation of the manufacturing apparatus by the new application program 3. However, if a problem occurs in the new application program 3 at the time point 34 after the start of the control operation of the manufacturing apparatus by the new application program 3, it is necessary to return the apparatus control system to a state in which the manufacturing apparatus is controlled by the old application program. . In the conventional apparatus control system, since the old application program 1 is deleted at this point 34, in order to return the apparatus control system to a state in which the manufacturing apparatus is controlled by the old application program, an update installation work is required again. To do. Therefore, the manufacturing apparatus cannot be used during the update installation work time 33 from the defect occurrence time 34.

  On the other hand, in the apparatus control system according to the present embodiment, the old application program 1 exists in the control computer system 40 during the period after completion of the update installation work, and is started by the application switching program 4 in place of the old application program 1. Is possible. Therefore, in the apparatus control system according to the present embodiment, when a failure occurs in the new application program 3 at the time point 34 after the start of the control operation of the manufacturing apparatus by the new application program 3, the user performs the update installation work again. The old application program 1 can be recovered quickly and easily by simply performing an application program switching operation using the application switching program 4 to return to a state in which the manufacturing apparatus can be normally controlled. Therefore, the inoperable state of the manufacturing apparatus can be greatly shortened and the influence on production can be minimized. The old application program 1 and the new application program 3 share all or part of the parameter table group 2, and information on the shared parameter table group 2 is exchanged between the old application program 1 and the new application program 3. By taking over, the information in the parameter table group 2 can be continuously accumulated without loss.

  Switching (updating) from the old application program 1 to the new application program 3 and switching (returning) from the new application program 3 to the old application program 1 can be performed by the user based on his / her own judgment. That is, the user determines whether the new application program 3 can be operated, for example, whether the installation (copying) of the new application program 3 has been completed. Switching to the application program 3 can be instructed. Further, the user can determine whether or not a problem has occurred in the old application program 1, and can instruct switching from the new application program 3 to the old application program 1 if a problem has occurred in the old application program 1.

  On the other hand, even if the control computer system 40 performs switching (updating) from the old application program 1 to the new application program 3 and switching (returning) from the new application program 3 to the old application program 1 based on its own judgment. Good.

  That is, the control computer system 40 executes the application switching program 4 when the new application program 3 is changed from an inexecutable (unusable) state to an executable (usable) state, whereby the old application program 3 is executed. An automatic update unit that executes a process of switching the program 1 to the new application program 3 (hereinafter referred to as “automatic update process”) may be further included. Thereby, switching from the old application program 1 to the new application program 3 can be performed more promptly and without a user instruction.

  The automatic update unit can be realized by a computer (CPU 42 and memory 46) executing an automatic update program for causing the computer to execute the automatic update process. That is, the automatic update unit can be realized by the memory 46 loaded with the automatic update program from the recording medium or the like and the CPU 42 executing the automatic update program loaded on the memory 46.

  As a method for the automatic update program (or automatic update unit) to determine whether the new application program 3 can be executed (from an inexecutable state), for example, the new application program 3 is copied to the hard disk drive 47 ( If installed, a method for determining that the new application program 3 can be executed can be adopted. Therefore, the automatic update program may be included in the installer program so that the automatic update program switches from the old application program 1 to the new application program 3 after the installer program installs the new application program 3 on the hard disk drive 47. it can.

  Further, when the control computer system 40 detects that the new application program 3 has failed, the control computer system 40 executes the application switching program 4 to switch the new application program 3 to the old application program 1 (hereinafter, “ It may further include an automatic return unit that executes “automatic return processing”. Thereby, switching from the new application program 3 to the old application program 1 can be performed more promptly and without a user instruction. Therefore, it is possible to return from a state in which the control application program has failed to a state in which the control application program is operating normally, more promptly and without user instruction.

  The automatic return unit can be realized by the computer (CPU 42 and memory 46) executing an automatic return program for causing the computer to execute the automatic return process. That is, the automatic return unit can be realized by the memory 46 loaded with the automatic return program from the recording medium or the like and the CPU 42 executing the automatic return program loaded on the memory 46.

  As a method for the automatic return program (or automatic return unit) to detect that a failure has occurred in the new application program 3, for example, the “control error occurrence frequency” at the time of actual device control execution is detected, and “control A method of determining that a failure has occurred in the new application program 3 when the “error occurrence frequency” exceeds the threshold can be employed. It is preferable that this threshold value is not fixed and can be arbitrarily set by an operator.

  The automatic return program can be executed by a program different from the automatic update program. The automatic return program stops execution of the new application program 3, and does not delete (uninstall) the new program.

  The object of the present invention is to allow the computer to read the program code (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) of the above-described application switching program 4 (and automatic update program, automatic return program, if necessary). The recording medium recorded in (1) is supplied to the control computer system 40, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) reads out and executes the program code recorded in the recording medium.

  Examples of the recording medium include a tape system such as a magnetic tape and a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk / hard disk, and an optical disk such as a CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD / CD-R. Card system such as IC card, IC card (including memory card) / optical card, or semiconductor memory system such as mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM / flash ROM.

  The control computer system 40 may be configured to be connectable to a communication network, and the program code may be supplied via the communication network. The communication network is not particularly limited. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, virtual private network, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication. A net or the like is available. Also, the transmission medium constituting the communication network is not particularly limited. For example, even in the case of wired such as IEEE 1394, USB, power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL line, etc., infrared rays such as IrDA and remote control, Bluetooth ( (Registered trademark), 802.11 wireless, HDR, mobile phone network, satellite line, terrestrial digital network, and the like can also be used. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

  As described above, in the manufacturing system 50 according to the present embodiment, the two control application programs 1 and 3 and the control application for switching between the control application programs in the control computer system 40 that controls the manufacturing apparatus 51. It has a switching program 4 and a parameter table 2 which is a plurality of data files shared by these two control application programs 1 and 3, and the control application program 1 and 3 can be switched bidirectionally by the control application switching program 4. A possible device control system is adopted.

  Thereby, even if a defect or the like occurs in the new application program 3 after the completion of the update installation work, the old application program 1 can be recovered quickly and easily. Therefore, since the inoperable state of the manufacturing apparatus 51 can be significantly shortened, adverse effects on manufacturing (for example, occurrence of a period during which manufacturing cannot be performed) are minimized, and losses associated with the adverse effects (for example, products) (Decrease in the number of manufactured products) can be reduced.

  In the manufacturing system 50 according to the present embodiment, the parameter table group 2 is shared by the old application program 1 and the new application program 3, and parameters are changed between the old application program 1 and the new application program 3 at the time of switching between them. The information of table group 2 was taken over. However, the information used by the old application program 1 and the information used by the new application program 3 may be stored separately in the parameter table group 2 shared by the old application program 1 and the new application program 3. Furthermore, the parameter table group 2 used by the old application program 1 and the parameter table group 2 used by the new application program 3 may be separated. The parameter table group 2 may be combined into one table or file.

  In the manufacturing system 50 according to the present embodiment, the control application program of the old version and the control application program of the new version are switched. However, the plurality of control application programs to be switched are not limited to these. Absent. The present invention can also be used, for example, when switching between a simple version control application program with limited functions and a full function version control application program that can use more functions.

  The present invention can also be expressed as follows.

  [1] A control system (40, 52, 53) having a control computer (40), the first and second control application programs (1 and 3) and the control application in the control computer (40) And a control application switching program (4) for switching between the programs (1 and 3), and the control application program (1 and 3) can be arbitrarily switched by the control application switching program (4).

  [2] The control system according to [1], wherein the control computer (40) includes a plurality of reference files (2) shared by the first and second control application programs (1 and 3).

  [3] In the control system according to [1] or [2], the first control application program (1) of the two control application programs (1 and 3) is a conventional control application program; A control system in which the control application program (3) is a new control application program (3) obtained by improving the functions of the conventional control application program (1).

  [4] In the control system according to any one of [1] to [3], when the control application program (1/3) is switched using the control application switching program (4), the reference file (2 The control system in which the data in the parenthesis is transferred between the first and second control application programs (3).

  [5] In the control system of [3], the control application program is updated from the conventional control application program (1) to the new control application program (3) by using the control application switching program (4). How to update the control application program.

  [6] In the control system of [3], when a problem occurs in the new control application program (3) after the control application program is updated to the new control application program (3), the control application switching program ( 4) A method for recovering from a trouble of a control application program, wherein a new control application program (3) is returned to a conventional control application program (1) by using 4).

  [7] A manufacturing apparatus controlled by the control system according to any one of [1] to [4].

  [8] The manufacturing apparatus according to [7], wherein the manufacturing apparatus is an apparatus that is in production operation and is continuously operating continuously.

  It should be noted that the embodiments and examples disclosed herein are illustrative and non-restrictive in every respect, and the scope of the present invention is indicated not by the above description but by the scope of the claims. It is intended that all meanings within the scope and all changes within the scope are included.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control computer system as one Embodiment of the control apparatus which concerns on this invention, and a manufacturing system using the same. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the switching process of the control application by an application switching program. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of operation | movement of an old application program. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of operation | movement of a new application program. It is an example of the figure which showed the program state in the control computer system before and behind new application program update installation in the apparatus control system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. Schematic diagram comparing the period during which the manufacturing apparatus is inoperable when a defect occurs in the new application program after the update installation, using the conventional apparatus control system and the apparatus control system according to the embodiment of the present invention. is there. It is an example of the figure which showed the program state in the control computer system before and behind new application program update installation in the conventional apparatus control system.

Explanation of symbols

1 Old application program (first control application program)
2 Parameter table group (reference file)
3 New application program (second control application program)
4 Application switching program (control application switching program)
11, 21 Program state before update installation 12, 22 Program state after update installation 31 Old application program operation period 32 New application program operation period 33 Update installation work time 34 New application program failure occurrence point 40 Control computer system (control device) )
41 Calculation unit (computer)
47 Hard disk drive (program storage unit, reference file storage unit)
50 Manufacturing System 51 Manufacturing Equipment

Claims (13)

In a control device for controlling a manufacturing device,
A program storage unit storing a first control application program and a second control application program for controlling the manufacturing apparatus;
A computer capable of executing the first control application program and the second control application program,
The program storage unit further stores a control application switching program for switching the first control application program and the second control application program and causing the computer to selectively execute one of them.
The computer is capable of bidirectionally switching between the first control application program and the second control application program by executing the control application switching program. Control device.   The control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reference file storage unit that stores at least one reference file shared by the first control application program and the second control application program.   The control device according to claim 1, wherein the second control application program is created after the first control application program, and the first control application program has been improved in function. .   When the control application switching program switches between the first control application program and the second control application program, information in the reference file is transferred between the first control application program and the second control application program. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control device is inherited.   The control application switching program updates the first control application program to the second control application program, and then causes the second control application program to control the first control application when a problem occurs in the second control application program. 4. The control device according to claim 3, wherein the control device is used for returning to an application program.   An automatic update unit that executes a process of switching the first control application program to the second control application program by executing the control application switching program when the second control application program becomes executable. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising:   Automatic return for executing processing for switching the second control application program to the first control application program by executing the control application switching program when it is detected that a failure has occurred in the second control application program The control device according to claim 1, further comprising a unit. A control device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
A manufacturing system comprising: a manufacturing device controlled by the control device.   The manufacturing system according to claim 8, wherein the manufacturing apparatus is a continuously operating manufacturing apparatus. A program storage unit for storing a first control application program and a second control application program for controlling the manufacturing apparatus, and a computer capable of executing the first control application program and the second control application program A program used for a control device comprising:
A control application switching program for switching the first control application program and the second control application program bidirectionally and causing a computer to selectively execute one of these. An automatic update program used for the control device according to claim 1,
Automatic execution for causing the computer to execute a process of switching the first control application program to the second control application program by executing the control application switching program when the second control application program becomes executable. Update program. An automatic return program used for the control device according to claim 1,
When it is detected that a failure has occurred in the second control application program, the control application switching program is executed to cause the computer to execute a process of switching the second control application program to the first control application program. Automatic return program for.   The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the program of any one of Claims 10 thru | or 12.

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