JP3155257B1 - Data collection system, data collection method, and recording medium on which data collection program is recorded - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily collect output data of PLCs of different types and record and store them. A communication protocol between a PLC (3) and a programmable display (2) on a dedicated network (5) is used by a data processing unit (2a) using protocol conversion data in a conversion data storage unit (2f).
Is converted into a communication protocol on the common network 4. Thereby, the personal computer 1 can easily collect output data from a plurality of PLCs 3 of different models. Also, if the preset distribution condition is satisfied,
P is set by the data distribution unit 2g of the programmable display 2.
The output data of the LC 3 is delivered to the personal computer 1. In the personal computer 1, data distributed from different programmable displays 2... Under the same distribution conditions are collectively written by the data communication processing unit 1a into a table of database software installed as the application unit 1f for each distribution condition. .

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a system and method for collecting, recording and storing data of an industrial control device such as a programmable logic controller and a recording medium on which a program for the data is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An industrial control device called a programmable logic controller (hereinafter, referred to as a PLC) or the like is used to implement various controls such as a sequence control, in order to realize various controls such as a belt conveyor type automatic assembling machine. It is widely used as a control device for controlling a target system. Further, in recent years, with the complexity of the target system, the introduction of a network control system in which a plurality of PLCs are connected to each other via a network line has been spreading.

In such a network control system, the display of the operation status of each PLC and the control instruction to the PLC are performed by a display device having a control function such as a programmable display disposed near the PLC.
Further, in the above control system, even in a place away from the PLC or the display device, the operation status of the PLC can be monitored and the PLC can be monitored.
In order to control C, a host computer installed in such a place can also be made to participate.

In the above control system, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, PLCs 101... Are positioned at the center of control, and each PLC 101 has input / output devices such as sensors and actuators arranged at various points in the target system. A device 102 is connected to a display device 103 such as a programmable display device for performing display and control instructions.
Further, another PLC 101 or host computer 104 is directly connected to the PLC 101 via a predetermined interface circuit or indirectly via a dedicated adapter. Data transfer between the PLC 101 and the host computer 104 and between the PLCs 101 is performed using the communication function of the PLC 101.

In such a control system, it is important for the operation of the system to collect output data (temperature, flow rate, etc.) of the PLC 101. Such data collection can be performed using, for example, data collection software. If this software is installed in the host computer 104, output data is collected by communication with the PLC 101 at a specified time or period, and these data are collected using commercially available application software (such as spreadsheet software). Can be saved.

[0006] In such a control system, it is required to appropriately update data for controlling the PLC 101 in terms of system operation. In particular,
In order to respond to recent demands for multi-product variable-volume production, it is necessary to frequently change the condition settings in each process. For example,
When the condition setting is changed every time all the processes of the production line are completed, the host computer 104 constantly inquires the PLC 101 arranged at the last station of the production line whether or not all the processes are completed, and the process is completed. Sometimes, it is determined which condition setting should be changed, and the control data corresponding to the condition setting to be changed is transferred to the PLC 101. Thereby, the PLC 101 rewrites the control data in the memory with the transferred new control data, and controls the input / output devices 102 based on the control data.

[0007]

Generally, the PLC 101 often uses different communication protocols for data communication for each model (for each manufacturer or even for the same manufacturer even for each product). Therefore, in the above control system,
P is used both between each PLC 101 and the host computer 104 and between the PLC 101 and the display device 103.
It is necessary to communicate using a communication protocol specific to the LC 101. As a result, a problem arises in that it is not easy to use different types of PLCs 101.

More specifically, since it is necessary to prepare a communication protocol for communicating with the PLC 101 in both the host computer 104 and the display device 103, it is necessary to manufacture and maintain the host computer 104 and the display device 103. It takes time and effort.

When the degree of the difference between the communication protocols is small, the communication protocols necessary for establishing the communication, such as the start character, the stop character, and the method of specifying the transmission / reception address, are the same and are not so important. If only the command is different, the PLC 10
If a different command is not used by limiting the function actually used among the functions of the PLC 1, the PLC 1 of a different model is used.
It is not impossible to use 01 in combination. However, when an important command such as a command for communicating with a plurality of models is different, the host computer 104 and the PLC
Even if communication is established with the host 101, the host computer 104 cannot instruct the PLC 101 to perform a desired operation.

In addition, when the communication protocol itself required for establishing the communication is different, not only communication between the PLC 101 having different communication protocols and the host computer 104 is not established, but also the PLC 101 having the common communication protocol is not established. Communication with the host computer 104 is hindered. Therefore, the PLC 101
Is required, a converter must be inserted into the network, and the communication protocol must be mutually converted so that the PLC 101 can be seen by the host computer 104 and other PLCs 101 as the same model. However, in the control system as described above, in general, not only the place where the converter can be installed is often limited, but also the cost of the entire control system increases with the addition of the converter. Further, since there are a large number of communication protocols of the PLC 101, for example, 100 types or more, a desired converter corresponding to those communication protocols does not always exist.

Therefore, in a control system in which the PLC 101 is arranged at the center of communication, it is difficult to use different types of PLC 101 together, and the options for selecting the PLC 101 are limited. For this reason, conventionally, in a control system, the PLC 101 of the same model is often used.

Further, since the PLCs 101, which are positioned as the center of control, process most of the communication in the control system, the load on the PLCs 101 increases. More specifically, the PLC 101 has been developed from a sequencer using a relay, and has been used for I / O control such as on / off control of a switch and data acquisition from a sensor.
Since it is good at processing related to O-control, the ability to process communication of the control system as described above is often insufficient, and even if the ability is not insufficient, the burden is large. For example, if only the target system is to be controlled, the PLC 101 usually requires a storage capacity of about several tens of kilobytes and a processing capacity according to the storage capacity. It is difficult to process this communication at a sufficient speed.

As described above, in the conventional control system, the PLC 101 of a different model is
... cannot easily be collected. In the above control system, exclusive data collection software is required to collect output data of the PLCs 101. Moreover, when such software is used, it is necessary to request the PLC 101 to transmit data at a set time or cycle from the host computer 104 in which the software is installed, and the efficiency of data communication is not so good. further,
If the control data is adjusted according to the operating conditions of the target system, etc., even if the output data obtained as a result is collected, the control data is set using the setting editor. Cannot be reflected on the control data given to the PLCs 101.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is possible to efficiently and easily collect output data from PLCs of different models without requiring dedicated data collecting software. It is another object of the present invention to provide a data collection system, a data collection method, and a recording medium on which a program for collecting the data is recorded, in which the collected output data can be reflected in control data.

[0015]

Means for Solving the Problems A data collection system according to a first aspect of the invention, in order to solve the above problems, a controller input device and the output device is connected, the control
Connected device, and a display-type control device control state Display and gives a control instruction to the control unit of the control device, double
Et provided on top of the number of the table示型controller is a communication proto
From the above control device with different col
Te, the host competent for collecting the output data of the upper Symbol controller
And the display-type control device and the
The control device has the above-mentioned communication protocol specific to each control device.
Connected individually via a dedicated network that communicates with
On the other hand, the host computer and the display control
The device is a common network that communicates using a common communication protocol.
Are connected to each other through a work, and the display-type control device is connected between the control device and the host computer.
When relaying the communications, and protocol conversion means for converting a communication protocol used in the both networks to each other physician, the host said output data from the control device when the distribution condition set in advance is satisfied Distribution means for distributing to the computer, wherein the host computer sets control data to be provided to the control device in a setting area of a predetermined format, and the output data distributed by the distribution means to the setting area And writing means for writing in a form that can be stored in the storage device.

In the above configuration, output data from the control device is sent to the display-type control device via a dedicated network. In the display control device, the communication protocol of the dedicated network is converted to the communication protocol of the common network by the protocol conversion means. Thereafter, the output data is transferred from the display-type control device to a host computer connected via a common network.

Thus, the display control device can always communicate with the host computer via the common network using the same communication protocol regardless of the communication protocol of the control device. As a result, even if control devices having different communication protocols coexist in the control system including the control device, the display control device, and the host computer, the host computer can easily collect data from these control devices. it can.

When the distribution means satisfies predetermined distribution conditions (designated time, designated cycle, rise and fall of an input terminal of the control device, etc.), output data from the control device is transferred to the host computer. Therefore, there is no need to request output data from the host computer side to the control device as needed, and data can be collected automatically. Then, the output data collected by the host computer from each control device via the display control device in this way is written by the writing device into a setting area where the setting device sets the control data. Thus, the written output data can be used as control data.

In the above data collection system, the contract
As set forth in claim 2, the protocol conversion means includes:
Communication between the control device and the other display-type control device.
Communication protocol used in both networks.
The cols may be mutually converted.

[0020] Further , as described in claim 3, the professional
The protocol required for protocol conversion processing by the protocol conversion means
The protocol information is transmitted to the above-mentioned display-type control device by a different communication protocol.
When the above-mentioned control device that uses
It may be.

[0021] In the above data acquisition system, the upper Kishokomi means, it is preferable to write the same delivery conditions a plurality of said output data delivered to the host computer in the same setting area. in this way,
By associating the output data with the distribution condition, for example, when the distribution condition is a designated time, the output data to be collected at that time is written in the same setting area. When a plurality of display control devices are connected to the common network, output data when the same distribution condition is satisfied from different display control devices is collected and written to the same setting area. Therefore, related output data can be collectively recorded.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data collection method comprising:
A control device to which input devices and output devices are connected ;
Is connected to the control device, to display the control state of the control device, and a display-type control device for providing a control instruction to the control unit,
Provided on top of the plurality of Table示型controller, communication Pro
From the above controllers with different protocols via the display type controller
Te, the host competent for collecting the output data of the upper Symbol controller
A data collection method in a control system comprising a Yuta, in order to solve the foregoing problems, the display type system
Control device and the control device, the above-described control device-specific
Via a dedicated network that communicates with the communication protocol
Connected individually, the above host computer and the above display
Type controller that communicates with a common communication protocol
The display-type control device is connected to each other via a network, and the control device and the host computer are connected to each other.
When relaying the communication between the Yuta, converts the communication protocol used above SL both networks to each other physician, the output data from the control device when the distribution condition set in advance is satisfied Distributing the output data to the host computer, and writing the output data in a form that can be stored in a setting area of a predetermined format for setting the control data to be provided to the control device in the host computer. Features.

Also in this data collection method, the communication protocol between the control device and the display control device is converted into the communication protocol between the display control device and the host computer by the protocol conversion function of the display control device. You.
Therefore, the display-type control device can always communicate with the host computer via the common network using the same communication protocol.
Data can be easily collected from control devices having different communication protocols.

In addition, since the output data from the control device is distributed to the host computer when a preset distribution condition is satisfied, data can be automatically collected. Then, the output data collected from each control device to the host computer via the display-type control device is written into the above-mentioned setting area, and can be used as control data.

[0025] In the data collection method described above,
As described in 5, the display-type control device performs the control
Relays communication between the device and the other display-type control device
Communication protocol used in both networks
They may be converted to each other.

[0026] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the display
The type control device requires the
The protocol information is transmitted to the above-mentioned display-type control device by a different communication protocol.
When the above-mentioned control device that uses
It may be.

In the above data collection method ,
It is preferable to write the plurality of the output data is delivered to the host computer by the same delivery conditions to the same setting area. Thereby, similarly to the above-described data collection system, related output data can be collectively recorded.

The recording medium on which a program is recorded for the invention data collection according to claim 7, a controller input device and the output device is connected, is connected to the control device
It is to display the control state of the control device, and a display-type control device for providing a control instruction to the control unit, provided we are on top of the plurality of upper SL-indicating controller, different communication protocols
The control device from the control device via the display control device
And a host computer to collect data from,
The display-type control device and the control device are provided for each control device.
Dedicated network that communicates with the above communication protocol specific to
Connected individually via the network, while the host
And the display-type control device, a common communication protocol
Connected to each other via a common network
In the control system, the host computer is a computer-readable recording medium in which a program for collecting output data of the control device is recorded. The display-type control device, wherein the control device and the host computer
When relaying communications between converts the communication protocol used above SL both networks to each other physician, the host computer the output data from the control device when the distribution condition set in advance is satisfied And a program for writing the output data in the host computer in a form which can be stored in a setting area of a predetermined format for setting the control data to be provided to the control device in the host computer. It is characterized by being.

According to the program recorded on the recording medium, the communication protocol between the control device and the display control device is converted into a communication protocol between the display control device and the host computer in the display control device. Is done. Therefore, communication between the display control device and the host computer can always be performed using the same communication protocol. As a result, the host computer can easily collect data from control devices having different communication protocols. Can be.

Further, since the output data from the control device is delivered to the host computer when a preset delivery condition is satisfied, the data can be collected automatically. Then, the output data collected from each control device to the host computer via the display-type control device is written into the above-mentioned setting area, and can be used as control data.

Moreover, since the above-mentioned program is provided in combination with a process for protocol conversion and distribution, there is no need for a dedicated software (program) for data collection which has been conventionally used. .

[0032] In the above recording medium, it is preferable that the recording medium be described.
As described above, in the display-type control device,
When relaying communication with other display-type controllers,
The communication protocols used in the two networks
A program for conversion may be recorded.

[0033] According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the display
The type control device requires the
Protocol information to the above-mentioned display control device.
It switches when the above-mentioned control device that uses a col is connected
May be recorded.

[0034] In the above recording medium, it is preferable that a program for writing a plurality of said output data delivered to the host computer by the same delivery conditions to the same setting area is recorded. Thereby, similarly to the above-described data collection system, related output data can be collectively recorded.

[0035]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

The control system according to the present embodiment is shown in FIG.
, A personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a personal computer) 1, a plurality of programmable displays (hereinafter, referred to as a display) 2, and a plurality of PLCs 3.

The personal computer 1 and the display units 2 are connected to each other via a common network 4 capable of performing communication using a common communication protocol. On the other hand, the display 2 and the PLC 3 are individually connected via a dedicated network 5 capable of performing communication using a unique communication protocol for each PLC 3.

In a broadly defined communication protocol, codes indicating a start character and an end character, transmission / reception timing of each character, a method of specifying a transmission destination and a transmission source, and the like are unified in a network including a transmission source and a transmission destination. If the communication protocol cannot transmit data normally if it is not, the operation desired by one and the operation performed by the other, if the transmission source and the destination are not unified, such as a command system that each PLC 3 can understand, will match. There is a communication protocol that cannot be controlled normally without the communication protocol. Therefore, in the following description, a combination of the two is referred to as a communication protocol, and when the two need to be distinguished, the former is distinguished as a transmission protocol and the latter is distinguished as a command system.

Here, in the communication protocol specified by the manufacturer of each PLC 3, when instructing to read data,
Generally, as shown in FIG. 2, a control code (ESC) indicating that the code to be transmitted next is a command, and a PLC
Command code (R
D), a read start address (X0001), a read size (5), and a control code (R
Data train DT ₁ comprising ET) and is transmitted. However,
Between the PLCs 3, not only the command system including the command code but also the arrangement order of the address and the size, the control code itself, or the expression method for expressing the address and the size (the bit width and the character for indicating the numerical value are indicated. Code types) are often different from each other.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the display 2
When performing data communication via the common network 4, regardless of the communication protocol transmitted over the dedicated network 5, the communication protocol ( Common protocol). Specifically, in the present embodiment, as the common network 4,
A local area network (LAN) such as Ethernet (trademark: Xerox Corporation) is used, and TCP / IP is used as a communication protocol in the common network 4.
Has been adopted.

For this reason, each display 2 and personal computer 1 connected to the common network 4 are assigned a unique IP address, and when communicating via the common network 4, as shown in FIG. In addition, TCP / I
Receive defined format data sequence DT ₂ in P. This data string DT ₂ includes a header section 11 including the IP addresses of the transmission source and the transmission destination, and a data body 12 indicating the communication contents.
And Thus, for example, even when a computer or the like used by a control system developer is connected via a telephone line from a location different from the control system operating company, a communication device capable of communicating by TCP / IP is used. If it exists, it is possible to freely participate in the common network 4 without obstructing data transmission between other communication devices.

Further, in the common protocol, a common code 13 indicating the content of the command is included in the data body 12r when transmitting a command instructing data reading to the PLC 3.
And the related information 14 accompanying the common code 13 includes a read start address 14a and a read size 14b. Further, the data body 12 w when instructing the data write includes the write start address 14 c and the write data 14 d as the related information 14.

The common code 13 is a command code (each PL) in the dedicated network 5 between commands which can be understood by each PLC 3 and which have the same contents.
Irrespective of the command code in C3). In addition, for example, the order in which the data in the related information 14 is transmitted, such as the read start address 14a and the read size 14b, and the expression method at the time of transmission are unified regardless of the communication protocol in the dedicated network 5. Accordingly, in the common protocol, the command to be executed can be uniquely specified regardless of the type of the PLC 3 connected to the display 2.

The PLC 3 as a control device includes a CPU / power supply module, an input unit, and an output unit. The CPU / power supply module includes a CPU unit including a CPU and a memory, and a power supply unit that supplies power to each unit of the PLC 3. In accordance with the control program, the CPU unit receives input devices (in the figure, I
/ D) 6 based on a signal input from the input device, and performs a calculation process of recipe data (control data) given to an output device (O / D in the figure) 7. The input unit and output unit are
A portion having an interface function connected to the input device 6 and the output device 7, respectively, and exchanges a digital signal or an analog signal input / output with these devices with the CPU unit. .

As the input device 6, devices such as a sensor (temperature sensor, optical sensor, etc.) and a switch (push button switch, limit switch, pressure switch, etc.) are used. As the output device 7, an actuator, a relay, a solenoid valve, a display, or the like is used. These input devices 6 and output devices 7 are arranged in required parts of various target systems such as a production line.

The display 2 as a display-type control device has an RA
It has memories such as M, ROM, flash ROM, and VRAM, and an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU, and controls the operation of each unit of the display 2 by these. The display 2 includes a data processing unit 2a, interface units (I / Fs in the figure) 2b and 2c, an input unit 2d, a display unit 2e, a converted data storage unit 2f, and a data distribution unit 2g.

The data processing section 2a performs various data processings to perform display control of a control screen, protocol conversion, and data distribution. This data processing unit 2a
Software that can be provided in the form of program media as package software,
Is downloaded to the display unit 2 from. Further, this software may be installed in the display 2 in advance at the time of shipment of the display 2 as necessary.

As for the display control of the control screen, the data processing unit 2a draws the control screen on the display unit 2e using a VRAM or the like based on the screen data created by the personal computer 1. In the control screen, an image in which the input device 6 and the output device 7 are designed is synthesized as a component on a background screen imitating the target system. In the control screen configured as described above, the parts are input / output devices 6 and 7.
The operation status of the input device 6 and the output device 7 is visualized.

Here, the program medium is a recording medium which is configured to be separable from the personal computer 1 and the display 2, and is a tape system such as a magnetic tape or a cassette tape, a magnetic disk system such as a floppy disk or a hard disk, Optical disc system of optical disc such as CD-ROM, MO, MD, DVD, etc., card system such as IC card (including memory card), optical card, or mask RO
A medium that fixedly holds a program, including a semiconductor memory such as an M, EPROM, EEPROM, or flash ROM, may be used.

Further, since the control system of the present embodiment has a system configuration that can be connected to a communication network including the Internet, it is a medium that carries the program in a fluid manner so as to download the program from the communication network. Is also good. However, when the program is downloaded from the communication network as described above, the download program may be stored in the personal computer 1 in advance, or may be installed from another recording medium.

The protocol conversion process is performed on both networks 4
If the communication protocols in 5 are different from each other, this is a process of converting one communication protocol to the other communication protocol with reference to the data stored in the conversion data storage unit 2f. In the data distribution process, when a preset distribution condition is satisfied, output data taken from the input device 6 into the memory of the PCL 3 and output from the PLC 3 is distributed to the personal computer 1 or another display device 2, The recipe data set by the personal computer 1 is displayed on each PLC 3 via the display 2.
This is the process of delivering to

The interface unit 2b is connected to a common network 4 for performing communication between the personal computer 1 and another display device 2. As will be described later, the recipe data from the personal computer 1 is transferred from the display 2 to the PLC 3 by the communication via the common network 4,
3 is transferred from the display 2 to the personal computer 1. On the other hand, the interface unit 2c
3 is connected to a dedicated network 5 for communication with the network 3. In the communication via the dedicated network 5,
As described later, the above-described recipe data is transferred to the PLC 3 and the above-described output data is transferred to the display 2.

The input section 2d is constituted by an input device such as a touch panel for inputting on the display screen of the display section 2e. For this reason, the display unit 2e is configured by a flat display element such as a liquid crystal panel or an EL panel.

The conversion data storage section 2f stores data necessary for protocol conversion processing. This data may be in any format as long as the communication protocol can be converted between the dedicated network 5 and the common network 4. The converted data storage unit 2 f according to the present embodiment is transmitted through the dedicated network 5. A data transfer format FMT indicating the format of the data;
• Stores a command conversion table TBL indicating the correspondence between command codes transmitted in 5.

[0055] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the data transfer format FMT is in data string DT ₁ transmitted in the dedicated network 5, e.g., data content itself to read or write, the size of the data, read and write Is a skeleton-like data string in which a portion that changes according to the data content to be actually transmitted, such as an address, is undefined, and only the purpose is defined for the undefined portion. If the command area is undefined, the data transfer format FM extracted from the data string actually transmitted is used.
If T is common to a plurality of commands, the command area may be undefined, and a common data transfer format FMT may be used between these commands.

The command conversion table TBL includes
As shown in FIG. 4, the correspondence between the common code transmitted on the common network 4 and the command code transmitted on the dedicated network 5 is stored. Data processing unit 2a
Converts one code to the other code based on the command conversion table TBL (for example, TBLa and TBL).
Between BLb).

The data distribution section 2g distributes recipe data set in the personal computer 1 and output data from the PLC 3 to a designated distribution destination when a preset distribution condition is satisfied. For this reason, the data distribution unit 2g
Node information about the distribution destination node and setting information about the distribution are downloaded from the personal computer 1 and stored in advance. The setting of the distribution condition will be described later in detail.

Personal computer 1 as host computer
CPU, memory (R)
It has an external storage device (hard disk drive, MO drive, etc.), a display device, and an input device (keyboard, mouse, etc.). As shown in FIG. 1, the personal computer 1 includes a data communication processing unit 1a,
Interface unit (I / F in the figure) 1b, distribution setting unit 1c, network file 1d, data file 1
e, an application section 1f and a recipe information file 1g.

The interface unit 1b is connected to a common network 4 for performing communication with the display 2. In addition, the common network 4 includes an SQL (Structutu
redQuery Language) A database server 8 having a database 8a is connected. The database server 8 exchanges data with the personal computer 1 via the common network 4.

The data communication processing section 1a is a section for performing data communication processing with the display devices 2 and the like via the common network 4 and for exchanging data with the application section 1f. This data communication processing unit 1
In a, for example, screen data created in the personal computer 1 by drawing software (not shown) is transferred to the display 2. Further, the data communication processing unit 1a includes an application unit 1f
From the display 2 to the PLC 3
The recipe data is read from the application unit 1f for distribution to the
For writing the output data in the application section 1f (writing means).

The data communication processing section 1a includes client software for exchanging data with the SQL database 8a. The client software includes a database query language,
An instruction to search for data that matches a desired condition, an instruction to write (rewrite) data, and the like are sent as SQL statements to the database engine of the database server 8 via the common network 4. The data communication processing unit 1a
Is the application unit 1f and the SQL database 8a
Relays data communication between and.

The data communication processing section 1a is software that can be provided in the form of a program medium as package software, and is installed in the personal computer 1 in advance. This program medium is also a recording medium that is configured to be separable from the personal computer 1 and the display 2, similarly to the above-described program medium.

The data communication processing section 1a sets conditions for accessing the recipe information preset in the application section 1f and conditions for setting (writing) in the application section 1f. Here, an example in which commercially available application software is installed in the application unit 1f will be described, but a user application may be installed.

As the application unit 1f, for example, general-purpose database software is installed. As the database software, for example, Access (registered trademark: Microsoft Corporation) is preferable because of its high penetration into the public and ease of external control, but software that can write data to a plurality of tables is preferred. If so, other software may be used. Application section 1
f is not limited to database software, but may be other application software as long as it can provide a form in which recipe data can be written (set).

The database software provides a recipe information table 21 shown in FIG. 5 (a) and a recipe DB master table 22 shown in FIG. 5 (b), in which various settings such as data are made. ing. The recipe information table 21... And the recipe DB master table 22 are stored in the recipe information file 1g.

The recipe information table 21 is a table for setting recipe data, and a plurality of recipe information tables are prepared. In the recipe information table 21, setting items (fields) of station name, symbol name, data type, data and number are provided as default names.

The “station name” indicates the node name (station name) of the connection node (station) in the common network 4, and the name of the display 2 can be entered. "Symbol name"
Indicates the name of the device to which the recipe data is to be transferred. “Data type” indicates the data type of the device. This data type includes a data representation format (bit format (16 bits, 32 bits, etc.) or a character string format) and a numeric representation format (presence or absence of decimal code,
(Hexadecimal, BCD, etc.), and is set with numbers such as 1 to 10 corresponding to these combinations. "Data" indicates recipe data (including output data obtained from the PLC 3) to be given to the PLC 3. In the example shown in FIG. 5A, “data” is
Although a plurality of data are written in one field, a plurality of fields may be provided as "data" and the data may be written one by one in one field. “Number” indicates the number of recipe data.

The recipe DB master table 22 is a table for managing the recipe information table 21. In this table, each setting item (field) of a key code, an access file name and a recipe information table name is set as a default name. Is provided.

The “key code” is set corresponding to a distribution condition described later. The “access file name” is a setting screen (FIG. 6) provided by the data communication processing unit 1a described later.
Refer to).
"Recipe information table name" is the recipe information table 21
Represents the name. For example, table name "T1",
“T2” and “T3” represent the first to third recipe information tables 21 in FIG. 5A, respectively.

The above-mentioned item names (field names) in the recipe DB master table 22 and the recipe information table 21 can be changed by the data communication processing section 1a as described later.

When general-purpose database software is installed as the application unit 1f, the data communication processing unit 1a changes the setting screen as shown in FIG. 6 for setting parameters and the field name of the recipe information table 21. A setting screen as shown in FIG. 7 is provided.

In the setting screen shown in FIG. 6, “access file designation” is set as an access file setting item.
It includes “mdb file selection” and “table selection”, and “save destination file designation” and “save file name” as setting items of the save file. “Access file specification” is a field for specifying a file to be accessed, and the file can be specified hierarchically. “Select mdb file” is an entry column for selecting an mdb file to be saved as a database file, and “Table selection” is an entry column for selecting a table in which recipe data is to be set. For example, recipe DB
To select the master table 22, select "MAIN T
A table name such as "ABLE" is input. When the recipe information table 21 is selected, a table name such as “T1” is input. “Specify storage destination file” is a column for specifying a file in which output data taken in the recipe information table 21 as recipe data is to be stored.
Files can be specified hierarchically. “Save file name” is a file name for saving the recipe information table 21.

By setting “specify save destination file” to the same as “specify access file” and setting “save file name” to the same as “select mdb file”, the data set in the recipe information table 21 is Updated (overwritten) with the output data. Therefore, when saving the output data separately from the recipe data, it is necessary to make at least the “storage file name” different from the “mdb file selection”.

In the “recipe DB master table” on the setting screen shown in FIG. 7, the key code, the access file name, and the recipe information table are in the default state.
As described above, “key code”, “access file name”, and “recipe information table name” are used.
A desired name such as "E", "MDB", or "TBL" can be set. In the “recipe information table” of this setting screen, the station name, symbol name, data type, data and number are set to “station name”, “symbol name”, “data type , "Data" and "quantity", but "NODE", "S
Desired names such as "YMBOL", "DATA", and "NUMBER" can be set.

The setting screen of FIG. 7 is called by operating (clicking) a button labeled “details of field name” on the setting screen of FIG.

The distribution setting section 1c sets node information and distribution information. The node information includes a node in the common network 4 and a type of the display 2 connected to the node. The distribution information includes a symbol name of a device (input device 6 and output device 7) connected to each PLC 3, a data distribution timing for each display 2, a store address of data to be distributed, a store address of received data, and the like. Contains. These node information and distribution information are stored in the network file 1d and downloaded to the data distribution unit 2g of each display 2 as needed. The distribution setting unit 1c is software that can be provided in the form of program media as package software, and is installed in the personal computer 1 in advance. This program medium is also a recording medium that is configured to be separable from the personal computer 1 and the display 2, similarly to the above-described program medium.

The distribution information is set on a setting screen as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. The setting screen is provided with “distribution conditions” and “distribution stations / reception stations”.

The “delivery conditions” shown in FIG. 8A include power-on, time designation, cycle designation, rewrite trigger, ON period, OFF period, rising trigger and falling trigger as conditions for determining the distribution timing. Is provided.

“Power on” is a condition for distribution when the power of the display 2 is turned on, and “Time designation” is a condition for distribution at a designated time. The “cycle specification” is a condition for performing distribution at each desired cycle, and the “rewrite trigger” is
This is a condition for performing distribution when output data is rewritten, that is, when output data changes. "ON period"
And the "OFF period" are conditions for continuously performing distribution in each of the ON period and the OFF period of the device, and the "rising trigger" and the "falling trigger" are output data (designated device output). This is a condition for performing distribution when each of the rising edge and the falling edge is detected.

In the lower area of the distribution condition setting screen, there is provided a column for inputting a symbol name of a device to be designated with respect to a condition based on a device output among the above-described conditions. Further below, there are provided a cycle (in units of ms) for checking distribution conditions, a setting column for a distribution period, and a setting column for a process of returning a device output to OFF or ON after distribution. . However,
The check cycle is valid only for the distribution conditions of “power on”, “time setting”, and “cycle specification”, and the period limitation is valid only for the distribution condition of “cycle specification”. Also,
For the setting to return the device output to OFF after distribution,
This is valid only for the “trigger trigger” distribution condition. If this box is not checked, the device output will remain
N remains. On the other hand, device output is turned on after distribution
Is valid only for the distribution condition of “falling trigger”. If this column is not checked, the device output remains OFF after distribution.

On the other hand, the “distribution station / reception station” shown in FIG. 8B is provided with an information entry section for the distribution station and the reception station. The information of the distribution station includes a device name (here, the above-described file name) as an output source of the recipe data distributed from the personal computer 1 or a symbol name of a device as an output source of the output data distributed from the display 2; And the number of data to be delivered in the specified period. Further, the information of the receiving station includes the symbol name of the device connected to the PLC 3 corresponding to the display unit 2 serving as the receiving station. However, when the personal computer 1 is the receiving station, the name given to the file created by the application unit 1f is used as the symbol name.

In the data file 1e, the above-mentioned protocol conversion data to be stored in the conversion data storage unit 2f is registered in advance. The converted data is downloaded to the required display 2 via the data communication processing unit 1a at the time of initial setting or at the time of maintenance such as when the PLC 3 connected to the control system is changed.

In the control system configured as described above, when the data sequence DT ₂ of the common protocol is received via the common network 4, the data processing unit 2 a
Extracts a common code 13 indicating a command to be transmitted to the PLC 3 and related information 14 from the data body 12.
Further, the data processing unit 2a outputs the command conversion table T
With reference to the BL, a command code that can be transmitted in the dedicated network 5 and corresponds to the common code 13 is selected. If necessary, the expression method of the related information 14 is converted to an expression method transmitted on the dedicated network 5. As a result, commands to be transmitted to the PLC 3
When the data content itself, the data size, the address, and the like are determined, the data processing unit 2a can generate a data sequence to be sent to the PLC 3 with reference to the data transfer format FMT.

On the other hand, when the data sequence DT ₁ is received from the PLC 3, the data processing unit 2 a applies the command indicated by the data sequence, the data content itself, the data size and the address, etc. to the data transfer format FMT. extracted, converted into the data string DT ₂ common protocol in the reverse order to the above.

The combination (protocol information) of the data transfer format FMT and the command conversion table TBL is set in accordance with the communication protocol of the PLC 3 before the display 2 and the PLC 3 communicate control-related data. PLC adopting
When 3 is connected, its protocol information is switched. For example, in FIG. 4, when the PLC 3 of the model A is changed to the PLC 3 of the model B, the command conversion table TBL
Switching from a to the command conversion table TBLb.

[0086] The communication protocol may be selected by, for example, the user operating the personal computer 1 or the display 2. Further, the display 2 sends a command capable of specifying the communication protocol of the PLC 3 to the PLC 3 while sequentially selecting communication protocols that the display 2 itself can send, and the PLC 3
The communication protocol may be automatically determined based on the response code from. The display 2 may store the above protocol information for all communication protocols adopted by the PLC 3 that can be connected to itself.
Only the communication protocol of the currently connected PLC 3 may be stored, and the communication protocol may be downloaded from the personal computer 1 or via a recording medium by various methods as necessary.

As described above, by generating the data sequence DT ₁ to be transferred to and from the PLC 3 in real time during the operation of the control system, the display 2 can display the input data without asking where it came from. , PLC3, and can respond immediately without stopping the control system even if the PLC3 is changed.

As described above, in the present control system, unlike the conventional control system, the indicators 2 are arranged at the center of communication, and the indicators 2 are connected to the common network 4 and the dedicated network 5. Connected to both sides. Further, when the communication protocols in the two networks 4 and 5 are different, the display 2 converts the respective communication protocols to each other, and connects between the PLC 3 connected to itself and the personal computer 1 or another display 2. Relay communications. Thereby, even if the communication protocols adopted by the PLCs 3 connected to the respective display units 2 are different from each other, communication can be performed between each display unit 2 and the personal computer 1 by using a common communication protocol.

More specifically, the target system includes an input device 6 such as a flow sensor or a temperature sensor or a sensor for detecting the state of each part of the target system, and an output device such as a valve or a motor for performing an operation according to an instruction. The input / output devices 6 and 7 are controlled by the PLC 3. In addition, PLC3 has a unique communication protocol for each model of PLC3, for example, for each manufacturer or each product type, due to the history of development from a sequencer. Therefore, the PLC 3 connected to the display 2 via the dedicated network 5 communicates with the display 2 using a communicable communication protocol.

As a result, the PLC 3 is connected to the display 2 or through the display 2 to another display 2 or the personal computer 1.
While transmitting the data acquired by the input device 6 as output data of the PLC 3, and receiving and outputting a control instruction (including recipe data) transmitted from the display 2 or from another station via the display 2. The device 7 can be controlled.

Here, the display 2 is an indispensable device for the control system. However, in recent years, the display 2 has a storage capacity of, for example, about several megabytes and is sufficient for displaying high-resolution images. Performs arithmetic processing at speed. Therefore, the display 2 can perform the above-described protocol conversion with a sufficient margin. In addition, P is placed between the display 2 and the personal computer 1.
Since the LC 3 is not interposed, the PLC 3 can concentrate on the control of the target system 2. Therefore, the storage capacity and the processing capacity can be reduced as compared with the above-described conventional control system in which the PLC processes most of the communication.

As an example of the processing with a large communication amount, when converting a product manufactured by the target system,
A process of downloading screen data from the personal computer 1 to the display 2 is exemplified. However, in the control system according to the present embodiment, since the screen data does not pass through the PLC 3, even when downloading the screen data, the PLC 3 can continue to operate normally with a small load.

Further, irrespective of the type of the PLC 3, communication is performed between the display units 2 and the personal computer 1 using a common protocol. Therefore, a plurality of types of PLCs 3 can be mixed in the same control system, and the range of model selection can be widened. Further, unlike the above-mentioned conventional control system, the common network 4 of the present control system has a common communication protocol. Therefore, devices connected to the common network 4 such as hubs, bridges, and routers can be freely diverted, and the degree of freedom regarding the arrangement of these devices and the PLC 3 can be improved. In addition, since a converter for mutually converting communication protocols is not required, the manufacturing cost of the entire control system can be reduced.

In the control system in which the communication protocol is shared by the common network 4 as described above,
The recipe data of the PLC 3 can be easily distributed between each display 2 and the personal computer 1. Next, the distribution will be described in detail.

Here, each node A of the common network 4
To C, each display 2 is connected, and the PLCs 3 individually connected to the display 2 each have 100 input / output terminals. In such a configuration, the recipe data from the personal computer 1 is stored in the corresponding storage area of the memory in the PLC 3 for the output terminal of each PLC 3, and the output device 7 is controlled in response to the stored contents. . Further, for the input terminal of each PLC 3, the input device 6 is stored in the corresponding store area of the above-mentioned memory.
The input data from is written.

In the example shown in Table 1, 100 to 199, 200 to 299, and 200 to 299 are stored in the store areas corresponding to the 100 input / output terminals of each PLC 3 corresponding to the nodes A to C, respectively.
Store addresses of 300 to 399 are assigned.

The data distribution unit 2g of the display unit 2 of the node A receives the address 10 at the preset time OO: OO.
The data in the storage area of 0 to 199, that is, all the input / output data is distributed, and the data is stored in the personal computer 1 and the display 2 of the node B. Similarly, from the display 2 of the node A, the addresses 100 to 14 are set every 10 seconds.
9, the data in the store areas 150 to 199 are distributed every 20 seconds, and the addresses 140 to 15 are stored when the display 2 is powered on.
Nine store areas are distributed.

[0098]

[Table 1]

When the output of the device connected to a certain terminal of the PLC 3 arranged in the last station rises at the end of all the processes, the data distribution unit 2g of the display 2 of the node C sends the recipe to the personal computer 1. Request data delivery. On the other hand, recipe data from the personal computer 1 is distributed to each PLC 3 via each display 2 of the nodes A to C, and stored in the storage areas of addresses 100 to 199, addresses 200 to 299, and addresses 300 to 299, respectively. You.

The personal computer 1 stores all data (output data of the PLC 3) distributed from each display 2. On the other hand, the indicator 2 corresponding to the PLC 3 provided at the most upstream side of the production line for the node A is
It does not take in the distribution data from the display 2 corresponding to each PLC 3 for the downstream nodes B and C. However, the display 2 (B / C) takes in all the distribution data from the display 2 (A / B) on the upstream side of the manufacturing line, and the display 2 (C) takes the display 2 (C). Part of the data from (A) is also captured. Each display 2 has a storage area required for storing distribution data in the data distribution unit 2g.

The data may be fetched by the personal computer 1 and each display 2 by storing the address of the destination in the distribution data from the distribution source, for example, in the IP address. Also, when there are many receiving destinations, the above data capturing is performed by using the above IP address as a broadcast, and determining whether or not to capture the data in response to the distribution source IP address of the distribution data on the receiving side. May be determined.

Further, like the personal computer 1, all the display units 2 have store areas corresponding to all the distribution data, and may naturally hold all the distribution data. Further, in the example shown in Table 1, for simplicity of description, the store address of the transmission data and the store address of the reception data match each other, but they do not always need to match, and are different from each other. You may.

As described above, when control data can be distributed between each display 2 and the personal computer 1, the recipe data set in the personal computer 1 can be easily transferred to each PLC 3.
And output data can be easily collected in the personal computer 1. First, the collection will be described.

When the display 2 confirms that the data distribution section 2g has satisfied the preset distribution conditions, the display 2 displays the P
The output data taken from the LC 3 is delivered to the personal computer 1. At this time, if the same distribution condition is satisfied in a plurality of displays 2 of the nodes A to C, those displays 2
And at the same time, the output data is distributed to the personal computer 1 together with the distribution conditions. The output data transferred in this way is
The data is read into the data communication processing unit 1a from the interface unit 1b. The data communication processing unit 1a writes the output data in the recipe information table 21 of the database software activated in the application unit 1f.

At this time, the output data is written in the recipe information table 21 corresponding to the key code specified in relation to the distribution condition. For example, when the output data to be collected corresponds to the key code “1”, the above output data from each display 2 is written to the recipe information table 21 having the recipe information table name “T1”.

When the writing of the output data is completed, the recipe information table is stored as the recipe data in the file of the storage destination specified on the screen of FIG. 6 by the operation of the user. Therefore, the output data can be used as recipe data.

Next, data transfer will be described.

For example, when the output of the device connected to a certain terminal of the PLC 3 rises at the end of the entire process, the PLC 3 of the node C arranged at the last station of the production line displays the data on the display 2 of the node C. The delivery unit 2g confirms that the delivery condition of the “rising trigger” is satisfied, and transmits the satisfaction of the delivery condition and the type of the delivery condition to the personal computer 1 together. In the personal computer 1, upon receiving such information, the data communication processing unit 1a reads out the recipe data from the application unit 1f. At this time, one recipe information table 21 is selected as a table corresponding to the key code associated with the device in the recipe DB master table 22, and the recipe data is read from the recipe information table 21.

For example, when it is indicated that the entire process of manufacturing one line has been completed at the timing of the rise of the output of the device having the symbol name of LS1000, P
The bits of the area of the LS 1000 in the memory of the LC 3 are associated with the key code “2”. When the bit changes (starts up), the recipe DB
The recipe information table 21 having the table name “T2” corresponding to the key code “2” is selected by the master table 22. The recipe data of this recipe information table 21 is
When read by the data communication processing unit 1a, the data is transferred to the display 2 of each of the nodes A to C via the common network 4. Then, the recipe data for each node is transferred from each display 2 to each PLC 3 connected thereto, and written in the store area of each memory.

In the above example, the operation of distributing recipe data from the personal computer 1 with the output change (rise) of the connected device of the PLC 3 in the last station as a trigger (delivery condition) has been described. The recipe data may be distributed using the output change of the connected device as a trigger.
Alternatively, the recipe data may be distributed using another distribution condition set on the distribution condition setting screen in FIG. 8A, for example, a specified time or cycle as a trigger.

As described above, in the control system of the present embodiment, the display 2 absorbs the difference in the communication protocol for each PLC 3 model, and facilitates data communication between each display 2 and the personal computer 1. ing. Therefore, the output data from the different types of PLC 3 can be easily collected in the personal computer 1, while the recipe data set in the personal computer 1 can be easily transferred to the different type PLC 3.

Specifically, by using the data distribution function of the data distribution section 2g, the data is distributed from the display 2 to the personal computer 1 every time the set distribution conditions are satisfied. As described above, it is possible to efficiently collect data from a plurality of nodes without issuing a data transmission request from the personal computer while communicating with the PLC. Further, by using the above data distribution function, the recipe data distributed from the personal computer 1 to the display 2 every time the set distribution conditions are satisfied is transmitted to the PLC 3.
Since there is no need to constantly inquire that the data transfer condition is satisfied unlike the conventional software for accessing the PLC from the host computer,
Data can be efficiently transferred to a plurality of nodes. In addition, since the data communication processing unit 1a has a function of reading data from the application unit 1f, there is no need for dedicated software for accessing the PLC as in the related art.

In the control system according to the present embodiment,
Since the output data is written in the recipe information table 21, if the recipe data transferred to the PLC 3 is changed by being fine-tuned at the site in accordance with the status of the target system, the data is changed based on the recipe data. Operation data (output data) of the operated device can be captured and stored as recipe data. Therefore, it is possible to set recipe data according to the status of the target system.

Further, in the control system according to the present embodiment, output data when the distribution condition is satisfied can be collectively collected from a plurality of nodes by setting the distribution condition as an alarm. For example, if a delivery condition of “rising trigger” is set and a bit indicating device error information is provided in a store area corresponding to each device in the memory of the PLC 3, when this bit rises, P to which the device is connected, along with delivery conditions
The node information (station name) of the LC 3 is transmitted from the display 2 of the node. In the personal computer 1, the information is transferred to the same recipe information table 2 by the data communication processing unit 1a.
By writing "1", error information can be collectively recorded. At this time, real-time data (current value state of output data, operation data of the touch panel, etc.) temporarily held in the display 2 for the purpose of display or the like is also taken into the personal computer 1 at the same time. , It is possible to investigate the correlation between the operation of the display 2 and the error.

The error information collected from each node at the same time can be used for abnormality analysis. For example, the frequency of occurrence and timing of occurrence of an error can be determined based on error information collected for a certain period of time, so that the cause of the error can be clarified by conditions that satisfy the conditions.

Incidentally, the data communication processing section 1a of the personal computer 1 in the present control system includes client software for exchanging data with the SQL database 8a. As a result, a client-server type database system is constructed by the personal computer 1 (client computer) and the database server 8 (server computer). If such a database system is used, data of the present control system can be centrally managed together with data of other systems connected to the common network 4. For example, transfer of data to the production line (target system) of a factory located at the lowest level of the control system,
As a result of collecting data therefrom, it is possible to easily realize optimization of the production process by analyzing data accumulated in the database for a certain long period of time.

In the present embodiment, TCP / IP over Ethernet is adopted as the common network 4, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, IEEE1
Other networks such as 394 may be used. Similar effects can be obtained if the network has a sufficient communication capacity for the personal computer 1 to communicate with each PLC 3 via the display 2.

In this embodiment, the data sequence DT ₂ transmitted to the common network 4 is composed of a data body 12 including the contents of instructions to the PLC 3, as shown in FIG.
It includes a header section 11 to which the PLC 3 is connected, but is not limited to this. For example, one PC
A configuration in which one display 2 is connected, and even when there are a plurality of displays 2, the personal computer 1 does not include the header unit 11 in a case where the personal computer 1 is individually provided with a port for communicating with each display 2. If the communication partner can also be specified, the data string D
Even T ₂ is not include the header portion 11, the same effect can be obtained.

In this case, a common network 4 such as RS-232C which does not need to include a header part in a transmission protocol is adopted. However, in this case, the number of the display units 2 that can be connected to the personal computer 1 is limited by the number of ports of the personal computer 1 and the like. Therefore, if necessary the degree of freedom in the network configuration common network 4, as in the present embodiment, the header portion 11 included in the data string DT _2, who identifies the communication partner is desired.

[0120]

As described above, the data collection system according to the first aspect of the present invention provides a display-type control device and a control device.
Is dedicated to communication using a communication protocol unique to each control device.
Connected individually via a network for
The above display type control device and the above
Output of the above control device from the control device via the display type control device
Common with the host computer that collects force data
Communication via a common network that communicates with
It is connected to have, the display type control device, the control
Relays communication between the device and the host computer
When the communication protocol used by the two networks
And protocol conversion means for converting each other physician, and a delivery means for delivering said control data from said host computer to said host computer when the distribution condition set in advance is satisfied, the host computer,
Setting means for setting control data to be provided to the control device in a setting area of a predetermined format; and writing means for writing the output data distributed by the distribution means in a form capable of being stored in the setting area. Configuration.

Thus, the communication protocol used in the common network between the display control device and the host computer and the communication protocol used in the dedicated network between the display control device and the control device are mutually reciprocal. Is converted. Therefore, the display control device always uses the same communication protocol regardless of the communication protocol of the control device.
It can communicate with a host computer via a common network. As a result, the host computer can easily collect output data from control devices having different communication protocols.

Since output data from the control device is distributed to the host computer when a preset distribution condition is satisfied, it is necessary for the host computer to request the control device for output data as needed. And data can be collected automatically. In addition, since the output data collected in this way is written to the setting area, the written output data can be used as control data.

Therefore, it is possible to easily record and store output data from a control device having a different communication protocol for each model, and to achieve an effect of increasing the efficiency of data collection and effectively using the output data.

[0124] In addition, in the above Symbol data collection system,
It said writing means, optionally the same delivery conditions of the configuration of writing a plurality of said output data to be delivered to the host computer in the same setting area can be recorded together associated output data. Therefore, there is an effect that data management can be performed efficiently.

[0125] The data collection method according to the invention of claim 4 is as follows.
Display-type control devices and control devices are unique to each control device.
Via a dedicated network that communicates with the communication protocol
Individually connected, multiple display-type controllers and communication
From the above controllers with different protocols via the display type controller
Host computer that collects the output data of the control unit.
With a common computer that communicates with a common communication protocol.
Connected to each other through a network, and in the display-type control device, the control device and the host computer
When relaying the communication between the over data, converts the communication protocol used above SL both networks to each other physician,
Distributing the output data from the control device to the host computer when a preset distribution condition is satisfied, and in the host computer, distributing the output data to control data to be provided to the control device. This is a writing method in a form that can be stored in a setting area of a predetermined format for setting in the host computer.

[0126] The recording medium having a program recorded thereon for data collection according to the invention of claim 7 includes a control unit which input device and the output device is connected, against the control device
It is continued to display the control state of the control device, and a display-type control device for providing a control instruction to the control unit, a plurality of the
Provided above the display control device and has different communication protocols.
Control from the control device through a display-type control device
Bei and a host computer to collect the data from the device
The display-type control device and the control device include a control device.
Dedicated network that communicates with the above-mentioned communication protocol specific to each device.
Connected individually via a network, while the host
The computer and the display-type control device share a common communication
Over a common network that communicates over
In the connected control system, the host computer
Is a program for collecting the output data of the above controller.
A recording medium on which the control device and the host computer are connected.
When relaying communications between converts the communication protocol used above SL both networks to each other physician, the host computer the output data from the control device when the distribution condition set in advance is satisfied And a program for writing the output data in the host computer in a form which can be stored in a setting area of a predetermined format for setting the control data to be provided to the control device in the host computer. Have been.

Thus, the communication protocol of data exchanged between the host computer and the control device is
The display type control device converts the data into the communication protocol of the transmission destination network. Therefore, the display-type control device
With the same communication protocol, communication with the host computer is enabled via a common network.
The host computer can easily collect output data from control devices having different communication protocols.

Further, since the output data is distributed to the host computer when the distribution condition is satisfied, the data can be automatically collected. Moreover, since the output data collected in this way is written to the setting area,
The written output data can be used as control data.

Therefore, as with the data collection system of the first aspect, output data from a control device having a different communication protocol for each model can be easily recorded and stored, and the efficiency of data collection and the effective use of the output data can be improved. Is achieved.

[0130] Further, in the data collection method of claim 4, when written by the same delivery conditions a plurality of said output data to be delivered to the host computer in the same setting area, or, in the recording medium according to claim 7,
If multiple programs for writing the output data in the same setting area that will be delivered to the host computer by the same delivery conditions are recorded, it can be recorded together associated output data, above
As in the case of the data collection system described above, there is an effect that data management can be performed efficiently.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a communication protocol of a dedicated network and a data transfer format referred to when a programmable display in the control system converts the communication protocol.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a communication protocol of a common network.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a command conversion table referred to when the programmable display device converts a communication protocol.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams respectively showing a recipe DB master table and a recipe information table set in an application unit of a personal computer in the control system.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a setting screen provided by a data communication processing unit of the personal computer for setting parameters for accessing a file created by the application unit and parameters for storing the created file.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a setting screen provided by the data communication processing unit for changing fields of a recipe DB master table and a recipe information table.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are explanatory diagrams respectively showing a distribution condition setting screen and a distribution station / reception station setting screen set by a distribution setting section of the personal computer.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a conventional control system.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Personal computer (host computer) 1a Data communication processing part (writing means) 1c Data distribution setting part (distribution means) 1f Application part (setting means) 1g Recipe information file 2 Programmable display (display control device) 2a Data processing Unit 2f conversion data storage unit 2g data distribution unit 3 PLC (control device) 4 common network 5 dedicated network 6 input device 7 output device 21 recipe information table (setting area) 22 recipe DB table

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G05B 19/04-19/05

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] And 1. A input device and the output device is connected the controller, connected to the control device, a display-type control apparatus to display the control state of the control device, and providing a control instruction to the control unit, et provided on top of the plurality of table示型controller is a communication pro
From the above controllers with different protocols via the display type controller
Te, the host competent for collecting the output data of the upper Symbol controller
And the display-type control device and the control device are provided for each control device.
Dedicated network that communicates with the above communication protocol specific to
Connected individually via the network, while the host
And the display-type control device, a common communication protocol
Connected to each other via a common network
And the display-type control device is connected to the control device and the host computer.
When relaying communication between the computer, the output of the communication protocol used in the two networks and protocol conversion means for converting each other physician, from the control device when the distribution condition set in advance is satisfied Distribution means for distributing data to the host computer, wherein the host computer sets control data to be provided to the control device in a setting area of a predetermined format, and the output data distributed by the distribution means And a writing means for writing the data in a form that can be stored in the setting area. 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein said protocol conversion means includes:
When relaying the communication between and the other display type control device,
The communication protocols used in both networks are
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
Data collection system. 3. A protocol by said protocol conversion means.
The protocol information required for the conversion process
The above control device, which uses a different communication protocol for the
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
Or the data collection system according to 2. 4. A control in which an input device and an output device are connected.
A device and a control state of the control device connected to the control device
Display type for displaying a control instruction to the control device
A control device and a plurality of display-type control devices
Display type control from the above controller with different communication protocol.
Collect output data of the above control device via the control device
Data in a control system with a host computer
A data collection method, wherein the display-type control device and the control device are
Dedicated network that communicates with the above communication protocol specific to
Connected individually via a network, the host computer and the display control device,
A common network that communicates with a common communication protocol
And the display-type control device includes the control device and the host.
When relaying communication with a remote computer,
Convert communication protocols used in the network to each other
And that the preset delivery conditions have been met.
The output data from the control device to the host
Computer, and the above-mentioned output delivered by the host computer.
The control data for providing data to the control device is stored in the host.
Of a predetermined format for setting on a remote computer
Data written in a form that can be stored in an area
Data collection method. 5. The display-type control device according to claim 1 , wherein
When relaying communication with other display-type controllers,
The communication protocols used in the two networks
5. The data collection method according to claim 4, wherein the data is converted.
Law. 6. The display type control device according to claim 6 , wherein
Protocol information necessary for the conversion process, the display type control instrumentation
The above control device, which uses a different communication protocol for the
5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:
Or the data collection method according to 5. 7. A control to which an input device and an output device are connected.
A device and a control state of the control device connected to the control device
Display type for displaying a control instruction to the control device
A control device and a plurality of display-type control devices
Display type control from the above controller with different communication protocol.
A device that collects data from the control device via a control device.
A display computer, and the display-type control device and
The control device is a communication protocol specific to each control device.
Connected individually via a dedicated network that communicates
On the other hand, the host computer and the display type
The control device communicates using a common communication protocol.
Control systems connected to each other via
The host computer outputs the output data of the control device.
The recording medium on which the program for collecting
In the display-type control device, the control device and the host
When relaying communication with a remote computer,
Convert communication protocols used in the network to each other
And that the preset delivery conditions have been met.
The output data from the control device to the host
Computer, and the above-mentioned output delivered by the host computer.
The control data for providing data to the control device is stored in the host.
Of a predetermined format for setting on a remote computer
A program for writing in a form that can be stored in the area is recorded.
A recorded computer-readable recording medium. 8. The display-type control device, wherein the control device is
When relaying communication with other display-type controllers,
The communication protocols used in the two networks
The program according to claim 7, wherein a program for conversion is recorded.
recoding media. 9. The display type control device according to claim 9 , wherein
The protocol information required for the conversion process is
The above control device, which uses a different communication protocol for the
When the connection is continued, the contract
9. The recording medium according to claim 7 or 8.