JP4543323B2 - Programmable controller and user authentication device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a programmable controller having a user authentication mechanism and a user authentication method in the programmable controller.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration for controlling a control target device such as a machine tool using a programmable controller. The processor 1 in the programmable controller executes predetermined processing according to the application program stored in the application program storage unit 8. By exchanging data via the contact output unit 3, the contact input unit 4, the voltage output unit 5, and the voltage input unit 6, the control target device 10 is controlled.

  The programmer creates an application program using the personal computer 30 or the like and stores it in the application program storage unit 8 via the external interface 2. In addition, an instruction to execute or stop the application program is also given via the external interface 2.

  The system program is stored in the system program storage unit 7A and controls the programmable controller such as control of the external interface.

JP 2003-167606 A JP 2003-186819 A

  In such a programmable controller, when it is desired to allow only a specific user to create and modify an application program, and to execute and stop an application program, a method of inputting a user ID and a password from a personal computer is employed.

  However, the method of inputting the user ID and password requires connection of an input terminal such as a personal computer for simple work such as execution and stop of an application program, and complicated work is required for user authentication.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a programmable controller and a user authentication method capable of performing user authentication at low cost without requiring complicated work at the time of user authentication.

In a programmable controller having a user authentication mechanism, an input unit configured to be able to receive a signal from a control target, and an authentication unit that performs user authentication by processing a signal for user authentication received by the input unit The signal for user authentication is output from an authentication key connected to the input means, the authentication key is removable from the input means, and the authentication key is used for user authentication. A signal generating unit that generates a signal for the user authentication, and the signal for user authentication generated by the signal generating unit is a DC signal having a voltage value defined for each of the authentication keys that is not affected by the programmable controller. , and the said authentication means, preset the authentication signals for user authentication received from the authentication key by the input means And performing user authentication by matching the signals are defined for each chromatography.
According to this programmable controller, since the signal for user authentication is received by the input means configured to be able to receive a signal from the control target, it is not necessary to provide a special mechanism for user authentication in the programmable controller. .

The input means may be a terminal capable of receiving an analog voltage value from the control target, and the signal for user authentication may be an analog voltage value.
In this case, since the signal for user authentication is an analog voltage value, the signal for user authentication can be generated with an apparatus having a simple and compact configuration.

  The input means may be a terminal capable of receiving a digital value from the control target, and the signal for user authentication may be a digital value.

  The authentication unit may perform user authentication by processing for each application program.

The user authentication device of the present invention is a user authentication device used for user authentication in a programmable controller, wherein the connection unit is detachably connected to a terminal of a programmable controller configured to receive a signal from a control target, A signal generation unit that generates a signal for user authentication given to the programmable controller via a connection unit, and the signal for user authentication generated by the signal generation unit is from the programmable controller. It is a direct current signal of the voltage value prescribed | regulated for every said user authentication apparatus which does not receive involvement of this.
According to this user authentication device, a signal for user authentication is given to the programmable controller via a terminal of the programmable controller configured to be able to receive a signal from the controlled object. There is no need to provide a special mechanism.

The signal for user authentication may be an analog voltage value.
In this case, a signal for user authentication can be generated by a user authentication device having a simple and compact configuration.

  According to the programmable controller of the present invention, since a signal for user authentication is received by an input means configured to be able to receive a signal from a control target, it is necessary to provide a special mechanism for user authentication in the programmable controller. There is no.

  According to the user authentication method of the present invention, since a signal for user authentication is received through a terminal configured to be able to receive a signal from a control target, a special mechanism for user authentication is provided in the programmable controller. There is no need.

  According to the user authentication device of the present invention, a signal for user authentication is given to the programmable controller via the terminal of the programmable controller configured to be able to receive a signal from the control target. There is no need to provide a special mechanism.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram functionally showing a programmable controller according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, an input unit 101 is configured to be able to receive a signal from a control target. The authentication unit 102 performs user authentication by processing a signal for user authentication received by the input unit 101.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a programmable controller according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the programmable controller of this embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the programmable controller 100 includes a processor 1, an external interface 2 that executes interface processing with an external device such as a personal computer 30, and a contact output unit that outputs a digital signal toward the control target device 10. 3, a contact input unit 4 that receives a digital signal from the control target device 10, a voltage output unit 5 that outputs an analog voltage value toward the control target device 10, and a voltage input unit that receives an analog voltage value from the control target device 10 6, a system program storage unit 7 that stores system programs, and an application program storage unit 8 that stores application programs.

  The contact output unit 3 is connected to the programmable controller 100 via terminals 31, 31,..., The contact input unit 4 is connected to the programmable controller 100 via terminals 41, 41,. The voltage input unit 6 is connected to the control target device 10 via the terminals 61, 61,... Of the programmable controller 100 via the terminals 51, 51,.

  As shown in FIG. 2, user authentication is performed using an authentication key 20.

  The authentication key 20 operates using a battery 21 built in the authentication key 20 as a power source, generates a signal necessary for user authentication, a connection unit 23 connected to the output of the signal generation unit 22, Is provided. The connection part 23 is comprised so that attachment or detachment to the terminals 61, 61, ... of the programmable controller 100 is possible.

  Next, a user authentication method will be described.

  When the user accesses a predetermined application program, the connection unit 23 is connected to the terminal 61 a by inserting the connection unit 23 of the authentication key 20 into the empty terminal 61 a of the terminals 61.

  The signal generation unit 22 of the authentication key 20 outputs a DC signal having a voltage value defined for each authentication key 20 and applies the signal to a predetermined channel of the voltage input unit 6 via the connection unit 23 and the terminal 61a. It is done.

  In programmable controller 100, processor 1 performs processing according to a system program. In this process, it is determined whether or not the voltage value of the signal applied to the predetermined channel of the voltage input unit 6 matches a voltage value set in advance as a condition for permitting access to the predetermined application program. If the determination is affirmed, access to the application program is permitted, and if the determination is denied, access to the application program is denied.

  That is, in the programmable controller 100, a voltage value is set for each application program as a condition for accepting access. The access to the application program is permitted only when the voltage value of the signal obtained from the authentication key 20 matches the voltage value.

For example, when the voltage range handled by the voltage input unit 6 is 0 to 5 V (volts) and the measurement accuracy is 0.5 percent, the voltage values can be distinguished with a resolution of 0.025 V increments. Therefore, in this case, 201 voltage values can be set for one channel. Further, when n channels are used, the voltage values can be compared for each channel, so 201 ⁿ combinations can be set.

  Even when accessing the same application program, different voltage values or conditions may be set according to the contents of the access, for example, creation or modification of the application program or execution or stop of the application program. .

  In order to eliminate the possibility that the user authentication is broken by a malicious person, the authentication may not be executed unless a predetermined voltage is continuously applied for a certain period of time. For example, when a time of 10 seconds or more is required, even if only one channel is used, a method of giving a voltage value to the squeeze requires a maximum of 30 minutes or more. Therefore, unauthorized access can be effectively prevented. Further, when an incorrect voltage value is input many times, access may be denied.

  As described above, in this embodiment, a complicated operation is not required for user authentication. For example, when executing or stopping an application program, the authentication process is executed simply by inserting the predetermined authentication key 20, that is, the authentication key 20 set with a voltage value corresponding to the program, into the programmable controller 100. And can be operated.

  In this embodiment, since the authentication key 20 is connected using the terminal 61 provided to connect to the control target device 10, user authentication can be performed without making a mechanical change to the programmable controller. It can be. Further, since the authentication key 20 only needs to have a function of outputting a predetermined voltage, it can be configured simply and compactly.

  As terminals for inserting the authentication key, terminals 41, 41,... Connected to the contact input unit 4 can also be used. The contact input unit 4 handles only binary digital signals, but the authentication signal may be a serial signal or a plurality of channels may be used. FIG. 3 shows an example in which four channels are used and a 4-bit signal sequence is given to each channel.

  For example, a signal string “0001” is set for channel A. When a correct signal sequence is given to all channels, access to the corresponding application program may be permitted.

  The scope of application of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The present invention can be widely applied when user authentication is performed in a programmable controller.

The block diagram which shows the programmable controller by this invention functionally. The block diagram which shows the structure of the programmable controller of this embodiment. The figure which shows the example which gives a 4-bit signal sequence about each channel. The block diagram which shows the structure which controls a control object apparatus using a programmable controller.

Explanation of symbols

1 processor (authentication means)
20 Authentication key (authentication device)
22 signal generator 23 connection 61 terminal (input means)
101 Input means 102 Authentication means

Claims (6)

In a programmable controller equipped with a user authentication mechanism,
Input means configured to receive a signal from a control target;
Authentication means for performing user authentication by processing a signal for user authentication received by the input means;
With
The signal for user authentication is output from an authentication key connected to the input means,
The authentication key is detachable from the input means;
The authentication key includes a signal generation unit that generates a signal for the user authentication,
The signal for user authentication generated by the signal generation unit is a DC signal having a voltage value defined for each authentication key that is not affected by the programmable controller,
The authentication means performs user authentication by comparing a signal for user authentication received from the authentication key by the input means with a signal set in advance for each authentication key. controller. The input means is a terminal capable of receiving an analog voltage value from the control object,
The programmable controller according to claim 1, wherein the signal for user authentication is an analog voltage value. The input means is a terminal capable of receiving a digital value from the control object,
The programmable controller according to claim 1, wherein the signal for user authentication is a digital value.   The programmable controller according to claim 1, wherein the authentication unit performs user authentication by processing for each application program. In a user authentication device used for user authentication in a programmable controller,
A connection unit detachably connected to a terminal of a programmable controller configured to be able to receive a signal from a control target;
A signal generation unit for generating a signal for user authentication, which is given to the programmable controller via the connection unit;
With
The user authentication signal generated by the signal generation unit is a DC signal having a voltage value defined for each of the user authentication devices that is not affected by the programmable controller. apparatus.   The user authentication apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the signal for user authentication is an analog voltage value.

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