JP2008171053A - Motion module and programmable controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide increase of the data communication speed between a motion module and a personal computer, and to provide an inexpensive connection configuration between both. <P>SOLUTION: The motion module includes a USB port that serves as a communication part for communicating with a personal computer; a USB interface that corresponds to the USB port; and a CPU that is connected to the USB interface. The personal computer is a notebook computer for use as either the programming tool of a motion program or a display tool for the execution state of the motion program. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an interface connection method between a motion module for motion control in a programmable controller configured by modularizing and assembling functions in a CPU module and the like, and an external personal computer connected to the motion module. is there.

  The motion control is to control the motion of a mechanical device such as a rolling mill, a railway vehicle, an elevator, an electric vehicle, or a machine tool operated by a motor. Techniques for performing such motion control have also been provided for conventional programmable controllers. This programmable controller controls external I / O by a sequence program.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in addition to various modules such as the power supply module 4 and the CPU module 6, the programmable controller 2 is configured with a motion module 8 dedicated to the motion control, and a CPU is mounted on the motion module 8. There are some (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the motion module 8, a motion program, which is a program for controlling the motor, is created by a programming device including the personal computer 10, and the created motion program is installed in the memory of the motion module 8. The personal computer 10 also monitors the execution state of the motion program.

  In such a case, conventionally, the standard of the communication port 14 of the motion module 8 is generally equipped with a standard-compliant serial signal interface such as RS232C or RS422 when communicating with the personal computer 10. Met.

  This standard is a physical / logical agreement or standard for mutually connecting a personal computer and various peripheral devices as a data transmission method. In many cases, a D-sub 25-pin or D-sub 9-pin connector is used for a serial signal connector. This connector has a flat trapezoidal cross-section with pins arranged in two stages, and there are 9 pin, 15 pin, 25 pin, 50 pin, etc. depending on the number of pins. It is similar to D.

  On the other hand, the personal computer 10 is also equipped with this communication standard as a standard. However, in recent years, the personal computer 10 is equipped with a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port as a standard, especially on the notebook type, and the motion module 8 side is connected with the personal computer 10. Therefore, it is necessary to use the USB serial communication conversion tool 16 for the communication connection. RS-232C is one of EIA standards and refers to a standard interface for serial data transmission. The USB is a unified interface for serial data transmission that is faster than RS-232C.

  This serial communication conversion tool 16 is used for connection between the personal computer 10 provided with the USB port 12 and the motion module 8 provided with the RS232C interface 14, and each signal of the USB interface inputted from the personal computer 10 is used. Is converted into each signal of the RS232C interface and output to the motion module 8. Further, each signal of the RS232C interface inputted from the motion module 8 is converted into each signal of the USB interface and outputted to the personal computer 10. Thereby, the motion module 8 and the personal computer 10 can perform data communication with each other.

However, such a serial communication conversion tool 16 has a substantial data communication speed different from each other, resulting in a decrease in data communication speed, high cost, and further, USB has been generalized for users. In addition, since most models of notebook personal computers are compatible with the USB port standard, there are problems such as troublesome programming work.
JP 11-338516 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and is to improve the data communication speed between the motion module and the personal computer and to make the connection device between the two inexpensive.

  (1) A motion module according to the present invention includes a USB port as a communication unit with a personal computer, a USB interface corresponding to the USB port, and a CPU connected to the USB interface. It is.

  Preferably, the personal computer is a notebook personal computer used for a motion program programming tool or a motion program execution state display tool.

  Preferably, a communication port of a serial communication standard other than USB and an interface corresponding thereto are added, and an interface switching means for switching between the communication is provided.

  (2) A programmable controller according to the present invention includes a CPU module including a CPU for decoding and processing a sequence program, and a motion module including a CPU for decoding and processing a motion program. ) A motion module having a configuration is provided.

  In the programmable controller of the present invention, since the sequence program and the motion program are stored and separated separately in the CPU module and the motion module, it is necessary to set motion parameters (movement amount, acceleration / deceleration time, etc.) in the sequence program. This makes it easy to analyze the cause of debugging and the occurrence of complaints, and also reduces the time required for that. Furthermore, according to the programmable controller of the present invention, the sequence control and the motion calculation processing can be performed by different programs and by different CPUs, so the load on the CPU of the CPU module is reduced and the processing speed is reduced. Can be improved and device heat generation can be reduced. In the present invention, since the motion module having the configuration (1) is provided as a motion module, it is not necessary to use a serial communication conversion interface, and a motion program programming or motion program using an inexpensive USB-compatible personal computer compatible with USB. It becomes possible to monitor the execution state of the. In addition, since the CPU module can store the sequence program and the motion module independently in the memory, the motion control language of the motion controller and the sequence control language can be stored in the personal computer using the respective USB ports. You can connect, describe each independently and install individually.

  According to the present invention, the data communication speed can be improved between the motion module and the personal computer, and the connecting device between the two can be made inexpensive.

  Hereinafter, a motion module according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a programmable controller according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal block of a motion module.

  First, referring to FIG. 1, a programmable controller 2 shown in these drawings includes a motion module 8 as a module dedicated to motion control in addition to various modules such as a power supply module 4 and a CPU module 6.

  The motion module 8 includes a USB port 22 that is a connection port into which the USB cable 20 is inserted, and a servo driver connection connector 24. The personal computer 10 includes a USB port 12.

  The USB cable 20 includes USB connectors 20a and 20b at both ends. A USB connector 20 a on one end side of the USB cable 20 is connected to the USB port 12 of the personal computer 10. The USB connector 20 b on the other end side of the USB cable 20 is connected to the USB port 22 of the motion module 8.

  The personal computer 10 is a tool for programming (creating, editing, etc.) the motion program of the motion module 8 as a programming tool. At the same time, the execution status of the motion program is displayed on the screen in real time for monitoring (parameters in the motion program, etc. It can also function as a tool for notation such as arithmetic expressions).

  Referring to FIG. 2, 4 is a power supply module, 6 is a CPU module, 7 is another module, and 8 is a motion module. The motion module 8 includes a DPRAM 32, a CPU 28, a memory 30, a motion LSI 23, a servo driver connection connector 24, a USB driver 21, and a USB connector (USB port) 22. Reference numeral 36 denotes a PLC bus.

  The memory 30 includes a ROM, various RAMs, and the like, and stores a motion program in addition to the control program for the CPU 28 and various data. The motion program is a program for controlling the motor, performing linear interpolation, circular interpolation, etc., and performing a desired operation as a dedicated program for controlling a servo motor or the like.

  In the motion module 8, the CPU 28 performs data processing by data transmission with the CPU module 6, decoding of a motion program stored in the memory 30, various arithmetic processing in motion control such as linear interpolation and circular interpolation. Do.

  The DPRAM 32 is a 2-port RAM, and interfaces data transmission with the CPU module 6 through a partial area.

  In the motion module 8 having the above configuration, the motion program in the memory 30 is decoded and a position control command is issued to the servo amplifier. The servo amplifier receives a position control command from the motion module 8 and controls the motor.

  Since the motion module 8 having the above configuration includes the USB port 25, the personal computer 10 can communicate with the personal computer without using a serial communication conversion tool, and the data communication speed with the personal computer can be increased. Thus, an inexpensive connection configuration can be established between the two.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a programmable controller according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an internal block diagram of the motion module of FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional programmable controller.

Explanation of symbols

2 Programmable Controller 4 Power Supply Module 6 CPU Module 8 Motion Module 10 Personal Computer 12 USB Port 20 USB Compatible Cable 22 USB Port 26 USB Interface 28 CPU

Claims (3)

A USB port as a communication unit with a personal computer;
A USB interface corresponding to the USB port;
A CPU connected to the USB interface;
A motion module characterized by that.   3. The motion module according to claim 1, wherein the personal computer is a notebook personal computer used for a motion program programming tool or a motion program execution state display tool. A CPU module containing a CPU for decoding and processing a sequence program;
A motion module with a built-in CPU that decodes and processes the motion program,
A programmable controller comprising the motion module according to claim 1 as the motion module.

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