JP2016156768A - Photoelectronic sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow setting data to be set in a photoelectronic sensor to be exchanged, with the load for the exchange operation being reduced.SOLUTION: An I/O control unit 105 and an I/O control unit 105a are connected together with a predetermined cable so that a photoelectronic sensor 100 and a photoelectronic sensor 100a become in a connection state. In that state, a setting data sending unit 106 is set into an active status by operating an operation input unit 110, as well as a setting data receiving unit 107a is set into an active status by operating an operation input unit 110a. With the operations, the setting data sending unit 106 outputs setting data stored in a setting data storage unit 104 to the connected photoelectronic sensor 100a, in the photoelectronic sensor 100.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a photoelectric sensor used in a control system or the like.

  For example, control systems are used in various places such as monitoring control of facilities attached to buildings and control of plants. In this control system, control is performed by exchanging signals with field devices such as process devices and various sensors installed at a site connected via a network such as a field bus. One of the sensors used in such a control system is a photoelectric sensor (photoelectric switch).

  The photoelectric sensor detects the presence or absence of an object using light, and outputs an electrical on / off signal. The photoelectric sensor is composed of a light projecting unit that outputs light and a light receiving unit that receives light, and the light receiving unit detects the state in which the light output from the light projecting unit is blocked or reflected by an object, performs signal processing, and outputs it. To do. Photoelectric sensors are used in conveyors, assembly machines, and processing machines in plants, manufacturing factories, and the like, and are used in multilevel parking lots in buildings and the like.

  Such a photoelectric sensor is required to be easily mounted and adjusted, but the optical axis and the amount of light need to be adjusted depending on the installation location and the detection target. For example, in the case where a translucent zone or the like is a detection target or in an environment where the background reflectance is high, the light amount adjustment is important. In a normal photoelectric sensor, for example, the amount of light emitted is controlled by adjusting the gain of the light projecting unit or the power supplied to the light projecting element. By setting to an appropriate value, a predetermined condition is satisfied.

  In a control system using photoelectric sensors, control is performed by exchanging signals with field devices such as process devices installed in the field connected via a network such as a field bus and various sensors including photoelectric sensors. Is going. In such a control, since a large number of field devices are controlled, in the control system, a controller that divides the data into blocks and controls each block is arranged, and distributed control is performed using a plurality of controllers. I have to.

  For example, a controller provided for each block is connected to the control device, an I / O module is connected to each of the plurality of controllers, and a plurality of field devices including photoelectric sensors are connected to each I / O module. Connected. These are connected via a network. For this reason, the photoelectric sensor also requires setting data such as its own address for connecting to the network and the address of the connection destination.

  These settings are implemented, for example, by operating an operation unit provided in the sensor body. Separately, setting data is configured using a photoelectric sensor setting device, and the configured setting data is transferred from the photoelectric sensor setting device to the photoelectric sensor and set.

  By the way, when replacing a photoelectric sensor for maintenance such as failure, periodic replacement, and periodic inspection, it is necessary to record setting data before replacement and set the photoelectric sensor after replacement. Recording methods are: first, writing on paper, second, saving to electronic data using document creation and spreadsheet software, third, using photoelectric sensor setting equipment and higher-level equipment of the control system Then, there is a method of reading the set value and storing it as electronic data (see Non-Patent Document 1).

http://www.io-link.com/share/Downloads/At-a-glance/IO-Link_System_Description_engl_2013.pdf

  However, the above-described data setting method requires an additional means for temporarily storing the setting data at the site where the photoelectric sensor to be replaced is installed, and it is troublesome to set the data again after temporarily storing it. There was a problem that the replacement work was burdened with a load.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and it is an object of the present invention to enable setting data to be set in a photoelectric sensor to be replaced while the load of replacement work is further reduced. And

  The photoelectric sensor according to the present invention includes a light projecting unit that projects light, a light receiving unit that receives light projected by the light projecting unit, and light reception by the light receiving unit based on setting data in which operating conditions are set. A control processing unit that controls output of an on / off signal according to a state, a setting data storage unit that stores setting data, an I / O control unit that transmits an on / off signal output by the control processing unit, and other connected sensors A setting data sending unit that outputs setting data stored in the setting data storage unit, and a setting data receiving unit that receives setting data from another connected sensor and stores the setting data in the setting data storage unit.

  In the photoelectric sensor, the setting data sending unit outputs setting data to other sensors connected via the I / O control unit, and the setting data receiving unit is connected via the I / O control unit. The setting data from other sensors may be received and stored in the setting data storage unit.

  The photoelectric sensor includes an other sensor connection unit that connects the other sensor and the own sensor, and the setting data sending unit outputs setting data to the other sensor connected through the other sensor connection unit, The setting data receiving unit may receive setting data from another sensor connected via the other sensor connecting unit and store the setting data in the setting data storage unit.

  In the photoelectric sensor, the setting data sending unit outputs setting data to the other sensors by optical communication by the light projecting unit, and the setting data receiving unit receives setting data from the other sensors by optical communication by the light receiving unit. It may be received and stored in the setting data storage unit.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an excellent effect that setting data can be set in the photoelectric sensor to be replaced while the load of the replacement work is further reduced.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a partial configuration of a control system using a photoelectric sensor 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a partial configuration of a control system using a photoelectric sensor 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This system includes a control device 121, a controller 122, an I / O module 123, and a photoelectric sensor 100.

  A controller 122 is connected to the control device 121 for each block. In addition, an I / O module 123 is connected to the controller 122. The I / O module 123 is connected to the photoelectric sensor 100 and other field devices (not shown). Although a plurality of controllers are connected to the control device 121 via a network, FIG. 1 shows a state in which the controller 122 is connected to the control device 121, and other controllers are not shown.

  The photoelectric sensor 100 includes a light projecting unit 101, a light receiving unit 102, a control processing unit 103, a setting data storage unit 104, an I / O control unit 105, a setting data sending unit 106, a setting data receiving unit 107, a data transfer unit 108, a display. Unit 109 and operation input unit 110.

  The light projecting unit 101 projects (emits) light having a wavelength of 645 nm or 860 nm, for example. The light receiving unit 102 receives the light projected by the light projecting unit 101. The control processing unit 103 controls the output of the on / off signal according to the light receiving state in the light receiving unit 102 based on setting data in which operating conditions are set. The setting data storage unit 104 stores the setting data described above. The setting data includes network connection information in addition to operating conditions.

  The I / O control unit 105 transmits the on / off signal output from the control processing unit 103. The I / O control unit 105 is connected to the I / O module 123 via a signal line, and is connected to the controller 122 via the I / O module 123. The on / off signal output from the control processing unit 103 is sent to the controller 122 via the I / O module 123.

  The setting data sending unit 106 outputs the setting data stored in the setting data storage unit 104 to other connected sensors. The setting data receiving unit 107 receives setting data from other connected sensors and stores the setting data in the setting data storage unit 104. The data transfer unit 108 transfers the setting data output from the setting data sending unit 106 from the I / O control unit 105 by an input / output command based on an on / off output pattern output from the I / O control unit 105. Further, the data transfer unit 108 passes the setting data received from the other sensor by the I / O control unit 105 to the setting data receiving unit 107 by the input / output command.

  The display unit 109 displays the operation state of the photoelectric sensor 100. For example, whether or not the photoelectric sensor 100 is connected to the I / O module 123 is displayed. The operation input unit 110 receives a setting input of each setting data for the photoelectric sensor 100.

  Next, the operation of the photoelectric sensor 100 will be described. Hereinafter, the case where the photoelectric sensor 100 is replaced with the photoelectric sensor 100a which is another sensor will be described as an example. The photoelectric sensor 100a includes a light projecting unit 101a, a light receiving unit 102a, a control processing unit 103a, a setting data storage unit 104a, an I / O control unit 105a, a setting data sending unit 106a, a setting data receiving unit 107a, and a data transfer unit 108a. , A display unit 109a and an operation input unit 110a. These configurations are the same as those of the photoelectric sensor 100.

  First, the I / O control unit 105 and the I / O control unit 105a are connected using a predetermined cable, and the photoelectric sensor 100 and the photoelectric sensor 100a are connected. In this state, the operation input unit 110 is operated to set the setting data sending unit 106 to the operating state, and in addition, the operation input unit 110a is operated to set the setting data receiving unit 107a to the operating state.

  With the above-described operation, in the photoelectric sensor 100, the setting data sending unit 106 outputs the setting data stored in the setting data storage unit 104 to the connected photoelectric sensor 100a. In the photoelectric sensor 100, the data transfer unit 108 uses the on / off output pattern output by the I / O control unit 105 to input / output setting data output from the setting data transmission unit 106 from the I / O control unit 105. Transfer to sensor 100a.

  On the other hand, in the photoelectric sensor 100a, the setting data receiving unit 107a receives the setting data from the connected photoelectric sensor 100 and stores it in the setting data storage unit 104a. In the photoelectric sensor 100a, the data transfer unit 108a transfers the setting data received from the photoelectric sensor 100 by the I / O control unit 105a to the setting data receiving unit 107a by the input / output command described above.

  As described above, when the setting data stored in the setting data storage unit 104 is stored in the setting data storage unit 104a, the photoelectric sensor 100 is stopped, the photoelectric sensor 100a is connected to the I / O module 123, and the control is performed. Incorporate into the system. Thus, in the photoelectric sensor 100a that has started operation, the control processing unit 103a controls the output of the on / off signal according to the light receiving state in the light receiving unit 102a based on the setting data stored in the setting data storage unit 104a. Also, the I / O control unit 105 a sends the on / off signal output from the control processing unit 103 a to the controller 122 via the I / O module 123. The setting data stored in the setting data storage unit 104a is data stored in the setting data storage unit 104, and the operation by the photoelectric sensor 100a is the same as the operation performed by the photoelectric sensor 100.

  When the connection with the other sensor is detected while the connection with the I / O module 123 is detected by the I / O control unit 105, the setting data transmission unit 106 operates and the I / O module by the I / O control unit 105 is operated. If the connection with the other sensor is detected in a state where the connection with 123 is not detected, the setting data receiving unit 107 may operate.

  Moreover, you may implement the connection of the photoelectric sensor 100 and the photoelectric sensor 100a by IO-Link (refer nonpatent literature 1), for example. In this case, an other sensor connection unit that connects the other sensor and the own sensor may be provided, and the IO-Link may be constructed by the other sensor connection unit.

  In addition, when the photoelectric sensor 100 (photoelectric sensor 100a) includes a storage unit that stores the type, and the type of the other sensor to be connected is confirmed based on the type information stored in the storage unit. The operations of the setting data sending unit 106 and the setting data receiving unit 107 may be limited. By doing so, setting data is not written when the model of the apparatus is different, and it becomes possible to prevent a replacement work error.

  Further, both the photoelectric sensor 100 and the photoelectric sensor 100a are connected to the I / O module 123, and the photoelectric sensor 100 automatically stops its operation when the output of the setting data by the setting data sending unit 106 is completed, and the photoelectric sensor 100a. The operation may be started when the setting data receiving unit 107a completes storing the setting data in the setting data storage unit 104. There is no need to turn on the power again.

  The setting data sending unit 106 outputs setting data to other sensors by optical communication by the light projecting unit 101, and the setting data receiving unit 107 receives setting data from other sensors by optical communication by the light receiving unit 102. Then, it may be stored in the setting data storage unit.

  As described above, since the setting data can be transmitted and received between the photoelectric sensors, the setting data can be set to the replaced photoelectric sensor in a state where the load of the replacement work is further reduced.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and many modifications and combinations can be implemented by those having ordinary knowledge in the art within the technical idea of the present invention. It is obvious.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100,100a ... Photoelectric sensor, 101, 101a ... Light projection part, 102, 102a ... Light receiving part, 103, 103a ... Control processing part, 104, 104a ... Setting data storage part, 105, 105a ... I / O control part, 106 106a ... Setting data sending unit 107, 107a ... Setting data receiving unit 108, 108a ... Data transfer unit 109, 109a ... Display unit 110, 110a ... Operation input unit 121 ... Control device 122 ... Controller 123 ... I / O module.

Claims (4)

A light projecting unit that projects light;
A light receiving unit for receiving the light projected by the light projecting unit;
A control processing unit that controls output of an on / off signal according to a light receiving state in the light receiving unit based on setting data in which operating conditions are set;
A setting data storage unit storing the setting data;
An I / O control unit for sending an on / off signal output by the control processing unit;
A setting data sending unit that outputs setting data stored in the setting data storage unit to other connected sensors;
A photoelectric sensor comprising: a setting data receiving unit that receives setting data from another connected sensor and stores the setting data in the setting data storage unit. The photoelectric sensor according to claim 1,
The setting data sending unit outputs the setting data to the other sensors connected via the I / O control unit,
The photoelectric sensor, wherein the setting data receiving unit receives setting data from the other sensor connected via the I / O control unit and stores the setting data in the setting data storage unit. The photoelectric sensor according to claim 1,
Other sensor connection part that connects other sensor and own sensor
The setting data sending unit outputs the setting data to the other sensor connected via the other sensor connecting unit,
The photoelectric sensor, wherein the setting data receiving unit receives setting data from the other sensor connected via the other sensor connecting unit and stores the setting data in the setting data storage unit. The photoelectric sensor according to claim 1,
The setting data sending unit outputs the setting data to the other sensor by optical communication by the light projecting unit,
The setting data receiving unit receives setting data from the other sensor through optical communication by the light receiving unit and stores the setting data in the setting data storage unit.

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