JP2009026018A - Multi-client system for control device controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for enabling a plurality of users to operate a controller without damaging the function of actual time control by integrating the function of a multi-client system in the controller of a manufacturing device. <P>SOLUTION: This control system is configured of a controller to be driven by one real time OS which controls a manufacturing device and a plurality of control personal computers for controlling those controllers by network communication, wherein a program and data for controlling the controllers are downloaded from one of the control personal computers to the other control personal computers by using the network communication. Furthermore, the number of control personal computers is arbitrarily increased/decreased so that the controller can be simultaneously operated by a plurality of users. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a multi-client method for allowing a plurality of users to operate a control device at the same time.

When an operation is performed using an apparatus used for conventional manufacturing, the following operations are performed. First, the user operates the apparatus after setting the operation of the apparatus using the operation terminal.

The operating device executes the set operation, and when a failure occurs, an error is generated to stop the operation, and the user performs maintenance of the device using the operation terminal.

  In a general manufacturing apparatus, a series of work processes are automated, and one user only has to start and stop the operation of the apparatus, so that the relationship between the operating user and the controller of the manufacturing apparatus is 1: 1. It is common to be designed.

Japanese Patent No. 3102069

  As manufacturing devices become larger and more complex, the conventional device design targets one user, so multiple users cannot operate at the same time, and operations are performed at locations away from the operation terminal. Since the operation cannot be performed while actually confirming the operation of the control device, problems such as a significant reduction in work efficiency occur.

Further, in order to cope with an increase in the size of the apparatus, if a plurality of controller units for control are prepared and the controllers are distributed, the cost of the apparatus is increased. Therefore, a system that can be operated by a plurality of users with one controller is desired.

There are multi-client systems as a system for multiple users, but in conventional multi-client systems, the server computers mainly have information shared by the network and information processing by network communication. It is difficult to incorporate the client system into a control device such as a manufacture. On the other hand, since the controller used in the manufacturing apparatus is intended for real-time control mainly for sensor information and actuator control, a server function corresponding to a plurality of user operations is not considered.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a system in which a multi-client system function is incorporated in a controller of a manufacturing apparatus so that a plurality of users can operate the controller without impairing the real-time control function.

The above object is achieved by the following means. It consists of a server controller and one or more client PCs (operation terminals) connected to the network.

The controller is a personal computer on which a real-time OS is mounted due to restrictions on operation time, and the controller performs real-time control of sensors and actuators through a control program that operates on the real-time OS. Furthermore, a communication program that operates on the real-time OS is activated to perform network communication with the client personal computer.

On the other hand, a client personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a main PC) for operating the device is equipped with a general-purpose OS, connected to the controller via a network, and controls devices such as sensors and actuators through network communication from an operation program of the main PC.

Further, when a plurality of users operate the apparatus, one or a plurality of client personal computers (hereinafter referred to as sub PCs) equipped with a general-purpose OS are prepared and connected to the controller and the main PC via a network.

The operation program used here is managed in the shared area of the main PC in order to prevent inconsistency in the consistency of the system operation, and the program used in the sub PC is acquired from the shared area of the main PC through the network. To use.

Further, operation data storing device information to be used is managed in the shared area of the main PC so that there is no inconsistency in the consistency of the system operation, and the data used in the sub PC is stored in the main PC via the network. Use from the shared area.

According to the present invention, during system construction and maintenance of manufacturing equipment in various industrial fields, it is possible to set and adjust the system simultaneously from a plurality of operation terminals in the vicinity of the device to be investigated. The period can be greatly shortened.

With reference to FIG. 1, the multi-client system of the control apparatus controller which is embodiment of this invention is demonstrated.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a multi-client system of a control device controller, which includes a controller 1, a main PC 2, and sub PCs 3-1, sub PCs 3-2,...

The controller 1, the main PC 2, the sub PC 3-1, the sub PC 3-2,..., The sub PC 3-n are connected by a network. On the real-time OS operating on the controller 1, the communication program 20, the communication program 22, ..., the communication program 2n for network communication are operated by the number of users who use the sub PC, and the main PC and each sub PC Enables communication with the controller 1.

Here, since the main PC 2 and the sub PC 3-1, the sub PC 3-2,..., The sub PC 3-n are also connected by a network, communication between the main PC 2 and the sub PC is enabled.

The operation program 12 and the communication program 13 operated by the main PC 2 and the sub PC 3-1, the sub PC 3-2,..., The sub PC 3 -n are common and are managed by the disk or storage area of the main PC 2.

When a single user operates, the main PC 2 operates and communicates with the controller 1.

When a plurality of users operate the controller 1, the sub PC 3-1, sub PC 3-2,..., Sub PC 3 -n are used, and an operation program 12 and a communication program 13 necessary for the operation are obtained from the main PC 2. get.

That is, the operation software 12 and the communication program 13 required by the sub PC from the main PC 2 are downloaded using a download program (not shown) prepared on each sub PC.

  Here, the network address of the controller 1 is set in advance in a part of the communication program 13.

  In the controller 1, the communication program 20, the communication program 21,..., The communication program 2 n are always activated and are waiting in a communication waiting state. When the communication program 13 is activated on the sub PC, communication between the sub PC and the controller 1 is established by referring to the address of the controller 1.

When the sub PC is disconnected from the network, the communication program 13 between the sub PC and the controller 1 is ended to end the communication between the sub PC and the controller 1.

In this way, a plurality of (n + 1) communication programs operating on the controller 1 are always operating, and the operation software 12 and the operation data 13 are managed by the main PC 2, so that the sub PC 3-1, The sub PC 3-2,..., And the sub PC 3-n can be added and removed very easily.

Next, an embodiment of the multi-client system of the controller controller of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a chip bonder device using the present invention. The process is divided into seven processes: loader, ACF sticking, chip supply, chip mounting, chip crimping, unloader, and transport hand. The operation part of the process is physically separated.

In the conventional method, unless one controller is distributed and plural, when one process is maintained, setting and maintenance of other processes cannot be performed in parallel.

In the present invention, the setting and maintenance of each process can be performed in parallel with a single controller without having a plurality of controllers.

That is, the controller 1, the main PC 2, and the sub PCs 3-1, 3-2 are connected to the network via the hub 40 to enable communication. As a result, the number of sub PCs connected to the hub 40 can be freely increased and decreased, and the sub PCs can be physically moved. The sub PCs can be operated in the vicinity of each process, and the setting and maintenance of the chip bonder device can be performed in parallel. Can be performed.

When the method of the present invention is used, the machine standard adjustment time in the chip bonder apparatus as shown in FIG. 2 is shortened from about 135 hours to about 20 hours and the software development debug time is about 720 hours to about 100 hours. It was.

The control method of the present invention can be applied to general purposes regardless of the type of manufacturing apparatus such as an exposure apparatus, a printing apparatus, and a coating apparatus, and the same effect can be obtained.

It is a functional block diagram in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the Example in a mounting apparatus, and the functional block diagram of the controller of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1. Controller 2. Main PC
3. Sub PC

Claims (2)

A program for controlling the controller from one of the control personal computers, comprising: a controller driven by one real-time OS for controlling the manufacturing apparatus; and a plurality of control personal computers for controlling the controller by network communication; A network control method in which data is downloaded to another control personal computer using network communication, and the number of the control personal computers that control the controller can be arbitrarily increased or decreased. A program for controlling the controller from one of the control personal computers, comprising: a controller driven by one real-time OS for controlling the manufacturing apparatus; and a plurality of control personal computers for controlling the controller by network communication; A network control device that allows data to be downloaded to another control personal computer using network communication so that the number of the control personal computers that control the controller can be arbitrarily increased or decreased.

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