JP5716908B2 - Engineering equipment in distributed control systems. - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an engineering apparatus in a distributed control system, and more specifically, in a configuration in which a subsystem based on another protocol communication is connected to a distributed control system (DCS: Distributed Control System) in the field of process control. The present invention relates to an engineering method of a process input / output function which is an interface for exchanging input / output data with a system.

  In the conventional process control field, for example, as shown in FIG. 6A, each field device 10a to 10n is physically connected to the DCS 100 (DCS controller 101, input / output communication module 102) one by one. The configuration was taken. Therefore, the DCS 100 can directly acquire and set input / output data between the field devices 10a to 10n. In FIG. 6A, reference numeral 103 denotes an operation monitoring PC (Personal Computer) connected via the host bus 104.

  On the other hand, in recent years, open and multi-vendor compatible communication systems have become widespread, and field devices having different standards are connected to a manufacturer-dependent fieldbus specification DCS. For example, FIG. The subsystem configuration shown in FIG. 1 has been adopted (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  According to the system configuration shown in FIG. 6B, the DCS (DCS controller 200) connects the input / output device # 1 (201) to which the field devices 20a to 20n for different protocols are connected to the subsystem communication module # 1. In (202), it is captured as a subsystem and can be handled in the same manner as a field device (not shown) that is physically connected. In FIG. 6B, reference numeral 205 denotes an operation monitoring PC connected via the host bus 207, and reference numeral 206 denotes an engineering device operated by a user during engineering.

  However, in the DCS having the above-described subsystem configuration, the DCS controller 200 and the field devices 20a to 20n of the subsystem # 1 (202) are not physically connected. Therefore, the exchange of input / output data is directly performed. Cannot be done automatically. Further, each of the subsystems # 1 (202), # 2 (204)... Has a plurality of field devices 20a to 20n via input / output devices # 1 (201), # 2 (203). A large capacity of input / output data is handled for each subsystem # 1 (202), # 2 (204).

  Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the input / output data of the subsystems # 1 (202), # 2 (204)... Are input to the memory area 200a of the DCS 200 in the input / output devices # 1 (201), # 2. (203)... Mapping (mapping operation) is performed logically to connect the DCS 200 and the field devices 20a to 20n, and input / output data is acquired and set. The function responsible for the interface between the DCS 200 and the subsystems # 1 (202), # 2 (204)... Is called a process input / output (PIO) function. Reference numeral 202a indicates input / output data of the subsystem communication module # 1 (202).

  Here, with reference to FIG. 8, a conventional engineering procedure for a process input / output function will be described by exemplifying a PROFIBUS (Process Field Bus) communication system which is a standard for fieldbus communication in FA (Factory Automation). In FIG. 8, blocks having the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG. 6 are blocks having the same names and functions as those shown in FIG.

  First, the user operates the engineering PC 206 to perform configuration using the configuration tool 206a dedicated to the PROFIBUS communication system designed for the subsystem communication module # 1 (master device) (step S91). Next, the user refers to information related to the IO module (corresponding to input / output data in the PROFIBUS communication system) of the configured input / output device # 1 (slave) (step S92), and the referred information is process input / output (PIO). The user converts the data into the function format (step S93). Finally, the user uses the two-process input / output engineering function 206b of the DCS 200 to manually map the data converted into the memory area 200a of the DCS 200 (step S94).

JP 2001-290714 A

  However, according to the above-described prior art, when the types of subsystems # 1 (202), # 2 (204)... Connected to the DCS 200 increase, the subsystems # 1 (202), # 2 (204) It is difficult for a DCS vendor to create all of the configuration tools in (1). In this case, the number of cases in which the configuration tools provided by each vendor is used increases. For this reason, the DCS engineering function for engineering the process input / output function and the subsystem configuration tool are sparse.

  For this reason, it takes time for mapping work, and the engineering man-hour for the process input / output function increases. That is, for each input / output data of the subsystem, the user himself / herself converts it into a format for the process input / output function and manually performs the mapping work. Therefore, the work time is long and the burden on the user is large. In addition, this method has a high possibility of inducing an input error, and a backtracking process is generated, resulting in wasted work time. In fact, in the PROFIBUS communication system, over 40% of the total work time for engineering is occupied by the engineering work of the process input / output function, and the larger the system, the more the process input / output function with respect to the total engineering work time. The percentage of engineering time tended to increase.

  The basic engineering work procedure is to input to the process input / output definition builder while referring to the input / output data information defined by the subsystem configuration tool. This means that there are items to be set with the subsystem configuration tool in the items to be set for input / output data mapping, whereas the same items are required to be defined multiple times. It is inefficient in terms of flow.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an engineering apparatus in a distributed control system that reduces the number of work man-hours involved in engineering a process input / output function.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention assigns input / output data to a storage area of a distributed control system for each subsystem to which field devices having different standards are connected, thereby allowing the distributed control system and the field device to be allocated. Is an engineering device in a distributed control system that acquires input / output data, and is assigned to each subsystem and a first display area in which the configuration information of the subsystem is displayed A display control unit that allocates and displays a second display area on which the input / output data is displayed on the same screen, and format information of the subsystem displayed in the first display area on the process input / output function The allocation is performed from the conversion output unit that converts the data according to the rule and outputs the converted data to the second display area, and the subsystem configuration information. A filtering operation unit that filters input / output data of a necessary subsystem, and the display control unit displays the input / output data filtered by the filtering operation unit in a gray-out manner on the second display area. Features.

  According to the present invention, the subsystem configuration information and the input / output data assigned to each subsystem are displayed on the same screen. Therefore, the user can easily grasp the allocation status to the process input / output function. Therefore, the operability is improved. In addition, the subsystem configuration information displayed in the first display area is automatically converted according to the format rules of the process input / output function and displayed in the second display area. The burden on the user for the configuration definition is reduced and erroneous operations can be avoided. In addition, the input / output data of the subsystem that does not need to be allocated is filtered from the subsystem configuration information, and the corresponding input / output data is grayed out in the second display area. Selection becomes easy and operability is further improved.

  In the present invention, a mismatch determination unit that compares process input / output definition information and configuration information of the subsystem is provided, and the display control unit satisfies a mismatch determination condition defined in advance by the mismatch determination unit. In this case, the corresponding input / output data displayed in the second area is displayed in a form different from other input / output data. According to the present invention, the inconsistency determination unit performs inconsistency determination based on a determination condition prepared in advance. If there is an inconsistency, for example, the background color is changed, and other input / output data is separated. Since it is displayed in the form, the user can detect a setting error in the configuration definition at an early stage, and the number of backtracking steps can be reduced.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the engineering apparatus in a distributed control system which reduced the work man-hour concerning engineering of a process input / output function can be provided.

It is a figure which shows the flow of the process input / output definition of the engineering apparatus of the distributed control system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the engineering apparatus of the distributed control system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen structure which the engineering apparatus of the distributed control system which concerns on embodiment of this invention produces | generates. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the engineering apparatus of the distributed control system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the flow of the process input / output definition of the engineering apparatus of the distributed control system which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows two examples of the structure which concerns on the conventional distributed control system. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of mapping of input / output data in the distributed control system shown in FIG. 6 expanded on a memory. It is a figure which shows the flow of the process input / output definition of the engineering apparatus of the distributed control system in a prior art example.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter simply referred to as the present embodiment) will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Configuration of the embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a process input / output definition flow of an engineering apparatus of a distributed control system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 illustrates a DCS 1 having a subsystem configuration. The DCS 1 (DCS controller 10) includes an input / output device 11 to which field devices 19a to 19n for different protocols are connected via a field bus 18. It is captured as a subsystem via the subsystem communication module 12, and can be handled in the same manner as a field device (not shown) that is physically connected.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 15 denotes an operation monitoring PC connected via the host bus 14, and reference numeral 16 denotes an engineering PC operated by the user during engineering.

  Here, the input / output data mapping tool 30 is used for engineering the process input / output function (PIO function). Hereinafter, a PROFIBUS communication system which is a representative subsystem will be exemplified, and an engineering procedure of a process input / output function using the input / output data mapping tool 30 will be described.

  First, the user operates the engineering PC 16 to configure the subsystem communication module 12 (step S11). Here, the configuration tool 20 relates to the configured input / output device 11 (slave device), PROFIBUS definition information describing the slave device name, IO module name, station address, slot number, index number, data size, and data element. The file 13A is exported (step S12).

  Next, the input / output data mapping tool 30 reads the data of the exported PROFIBUS definition information file 13A (step S13), and reads the read data into the subsystem configuration information display area (first area) assigned to the upper display screen. Display area). At this time, the input / output data mapping tool 30 checks the read data, and the already-mapped input / output modules and the input / output modules that do not require mapping are grayed out in the subsystem configuration information display area described above. (Step S14).

  Next, the user displays the input / output module of the slave device (corresponding to the input / output data in the PROFIBUS communication system) to be mapped from the subsystem configuration information display area displayed on the upper display screen generated by the input / output data mapping tool 30. ) Is selected and dragged and dropped to the input / output data mapping area assigned and displayed in the lower part of the screen (step S15). In response to this, the input / output data mapping tool 30 converts the information of the selected input / output module into a format for the process input / output function (step S16). The converted data is automatically input in the corresponding column of the input / output data mapping area (step S17), and the input / output module is mapped.

  Subsequently, the input / output data mapping tool 30 checks whether there is a definition error (step S18). The presence / absence of a definition error displays the corresponding input / output data displayed in the input / output data mapping area in a form different from other input / output data when the inconsistency determination condition defined in advance is satisfied.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the engineering device of the distributed control system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the engineering PC 16 that performs DCS1 engineering using an input / output data mapping tool includes a control unit 160, a storage unit 161, and a display unit 162. Here, the control unit 160 includes a main control unit 16a, a conversion output unit 16b, a filtering operation unit 16c, and an inconsistency determination unit, as shown in the expanded function of the program structure of the input / output data mapping tool. 16d and a display control unit 16e.

  The conversion output unit 16b is a process in which the configuration information of the subsystem displayed in the subsystem configuration information display area (first display area) allocated on the screen of the display unit 162 described later is stored in the storage unit 161. It has a function of converting in accordance with the format rule of the input / output function (conversion rule 16f) and outputting it to the input / output data mapping area (second display area). The filtering calculation unit 16c has a calculation function for filtering input / output data of a subsystem that does not need to be assigned from the configuration information of the subsystem.

  The display control unit 16e displays a subsystem configuration information display area in which the configuration information of the subsystem is displayed, and an input / output data mapping area in which input / output data assigned to each subsystem is displayed. In addition to allocating and displaying above, it has a function of displaying the input / output data filtered by the filtering operation unit 16c in a grayed out manner on the input / output data mapping area.

  The inconsistency determination unit 16 d has a function of comparing the configuration information of the subsystem and the assigned input / output data according to the determination condition 16 g stored in the storage unit 161. The display control unit 16e changes the background color for the corresponding input / output data displayed in the input / output data mapping area of the display unit 162 when the mismatch determination condition 16g defined in advance by the mismatch determination unit 16d is satisfied. They are displayed in a different form from other input / output data. Note that blinking, emphasis, determination display, or the like may be used.

  In the main controller 16a, the controller 160 displays a subsystem configuration information display area in which the subsystem configuration information is displayed, and an input / output data mapping area in which the input / output data assigned to each subsystem is displayed. The configuration information of the displayed subsystem is converted in accordance with the format rules of the process input / output function and output to the input / output data mapping area, and the subsystem configuration information is also displayed. In order to realize the function of filtering the input / output data of the subsystem that does not need to be assigned and displaying the filtered input / output data in gray on the input / output data mapping area of the display unit 162, The filtering operation unit 16c and the display control unit 16e Carry out the cans control.

  In addition, the main control unit 16a defines the corresponding input / output data displayed in the input / output data mapping area B as other input / output data when the inconsistency determination condition defined in advance by the inconsistency determination unit 16d is satisfied. In order to display in a different form, sequence control of the inconsistency determination unit 16d and the display control unit 16e is performed.

  In the storage unit 161, in addition to the subsystem definition information 16h and the input / output mapping information 16i, the conversion rule referred to by the conversion output unit 16b and the inconsistency determination unit 16d are referenced. The type and content of inconsistency indicated by> and the determination condition in the case of the PROFIBUS communication system are assigned and stored. The storage unit 161 includes a large-capacity semiconductor memory such as dRAM (dynamic Random Access Memory) and a large-capacity nonvolatile memory such as HD (Hard Disc), CD (Compact Disc), and DVD (Digital Versatile Disc).

Various data generated by the engineering PC 16 are displayed on the display unit 162. For example, as shown in FIG. 3 as an example of the screen configuration, it is divided into a subsystem configuration information display area A and an input / output data mapping area, and under the control of the control unit 160 (display control unit 16e), In each area, subsystem configuration information and input / output mapping data are displayed. The display unit 162 is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an organic EL (Organic Electro).
Luminescence) and other display devices.

(Operation of the embodiment)
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the engineering device in the distributed control system according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the operation of the engineering apparatus (engineering PC 16) shown in FIG. 2 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, the user operates the engineering PC 16 to configure a subsystem, here the PROFIBUS communication system (step S101). At this time, the control unit 160 (main control unit 16a) sets the slave device name, IO module name, station address, slot number, index number, data size, and data element for the configured slave device (input / output device 11). Export the described PROFIBUS definition information file. Then, the data of the exported PROFIBUS definition information file is read (step S102), and the read control unit 16e reads the read data in the subsystem configuration information display area A (first area) assigned to the upper screen of the display unit 162. (Display area) (step S103).

  Next, the main control unit 16a transfers control to the filtering operation unit 16c, and the filtering operation unit 16c receives the data and checks the read data (step S104). The output module is filtered and output to the display control unit 16e. At this time, the display control unit 16e displays the already mapped input / output modules filtered by the filtering calculation unit 16c and the input / output modules that do not require mapping (NO in step S104), and displays the subsystem configuration information display area A of the display unit 162. Are grayed out (step S105).

  Next, the user selects and displays the slave device input / output module (corresponding to input / output data in the PROFIBUS communication system) to be mapped from the subsystem configuration information display area A displayed on the upper screen of the display unit 162. When dragging and dropping to the input / output data mapping area B assigned and displayed in the lower part of the screen of the unit 162 (step S106 “YES”), the main control unit 16a detects this and transfers control to the conversion output unit 16b. In response to this, the conversion output unit 16b converts the information of the selected input / output module that has been dragged and dropped into the format for the process input / output function according to the conversion rule 16f stored in the storage unit 161 (step S107). . The converted data is automatically input to the corresponding column of the input / output data mapping area B of the display unit 162, so that the input / output module is mapped (step S108).

  Subsequently, the main control unit 16a transfers control to the inconsistency determination unit 16d, and the inconsistency determination unit 16d stores the subsystem configuration information and the input / output data displayed in the input / output mapping area B in the storage unit 161. By comparing according to the stored determination condition 16g, the presence or absence of inconsistency (the presence or absence of a definition error) is checked (step S109). The presence or absence of a definition error is determined based on a predetermined inconsistency determination condition, for example, in the process input / output definition, when the data type is input data and the data size is process input / output definition <PROFIBUS communication definition, or the data type Is output data, and process input / output definition <PROFIBUS communication definition, etc. If there is a mismatch between the process input / output definition information and the subsystem configuration information (step S109 “YES”), the display control unit 16e displays the corresponding input / output data displayed in the output data mapping area B of the display unit 16. Are displayed in a form different from other input / output data by blinking, emphasis, inversion, color display, and the like.

  Note that the main control unit 16a determines whether or not the contents of inconsistency affect the operation of the system (step S110), and if there is no influence on the operation of the system (step S110 “YES”). The warning is limited (step S111). If there is an influence (step S110 “NO”), an error is displayed on the display unit 162 (step S112).

(Effect of embodiment)
As described above, according to the engineering apparatus in the distributed control system according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the engineering man-hour of the process input / output function that occupies most of the engineering work, and the operability and selectivity are greatly improved. , Work speed and input errors can be reduced, definition errors can be detected early.

  Specifically, for example, in the PROFIBUS communication system, information on the PROFIBUS definition information file exported from the configuration tool is displayed in the subsystem configuration information display area A in the upper stage of the display unit 162. That is, information of the configured slave device (input / output device 11) is displayed. The input / output data mapping area B at the bottom of the screen is a space for data mapping work to the process input / output function. By providing this GUI (Graphical User Interface) screen, the mapping status to the process input / output function can be easily grasped, so that the operability is improved and smooth engineering work is possible.

  In addition, the filtering operation unit 16c filters the input / output modules (mapped input / output modules, etc.) that do not require or cannot be mapped from the subsystem configuration information, so that the display control unit 16e displays the corresponding input / output modules as display units. A gray-out display is performed on the subsystem configuration information display area B 162. Therefore, it becomes easy to select an input / output module that can be mapped, and this also prevents double definition.

  Conventionally, the engineering of the process input / output function is all performed manually. However, according to the engineering apparatus in the distributed control system according to the present embodiment, the conversion output unit 16b is connected to the input / output data of the subsystem. Is automatically converted into a format for the process input / output function by the conversion rule 16f, and the display control unit 16e acquires the converted input / output data and displays it in the input / output data mapping area B of the display unit 162. For this reason, the working speed is remarkably improved and input errors can be reduced.

  In addition, according to the engineering device in the distributed control system according to the present embodiment, the inconsistency determination unit 16d compares the configuration information of the PROFIBUS communication with the input / output data mapping information to check for inconsistencies. Here, if there is a discrepancy, it is displayed separately from others, such as changing the background color of the corresponding input / output data in the input / output data mapping area, in order to inform the user to that effect by warning or error display etc. It is possible to call attention. Therefore, it is possible to detect definition errors early and reduce the number of backtracking steps.

  That is, according to the engineering device in the distributed control system according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide an engineering device in the distributed control system in which the number of work steps for engineering the process input / output function is reduced.

  In the engineering apparatus in the distributed control system according to the present embodiment, only the PROFIBUS communication system has been described as an example of the subsystem communication module 12, but the input / output data mapping tool can be used in a subsystem other than the PROFIBUS communication system. is there. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the input / output data mapping area B is fixed, and the configuration information file 13B of another subsystem is displayed in the subsystem configuration information display area A, so that the process can be entered with the same operation. Output function engineering becomes possible. However, in this case, it is necessary to change the items displayed in the subsystem configuration information display area A, the data conversion process, and the definition error check process in accordance with the specifications of each subsystem.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail, it cannot be overemphasized that the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiments. Further, it is apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Distributed control system (DCS), 10 ... DCS controller, 11 ... Input / output device, 12 ... Subsystem communication module, 13A, 13B ... PROFIBUS definition information file, 14 ... -Upper bus, 15 ... Operation monitoring PC, 16 ... Engineering PC (engineering device), 160 ... Control unit, 16a ... Main control unit, 16b ... Conversion output unit, 16c ... Filtering calculation unit, 16d ... mismatch determination unit, 16e ... display control unit, 18 ... PROFI bus, 19a to 19n ... field device, 20 ... configuration tool, 30 ... ON Output data mapping tool

Claims (2)

By assigning input / output data to the storage area of the distributed control system for each subsystem to which field devices of different standards are connected, the distributed control system and the field devices are logically connected, and the input / output data An engineering device in a distributed control system that performs acquisition,
A display control unit that allocates and displays a first display area in which the configuration information of the subsystem is displayed and a second display area in which input / output data assigned to each subsystem is displayed on the same screen. A conversion output unit that converts the configuration information of the subsystem displayed in the first display area according to a format rule of a process input / output function and outputs the converted information to the second display area; and the configuration information of the subsystem A filtering operation unit that filters input / output data of subsystems that do not require allocation from
The display control unit
An engineering apparatus in a distributed control system, wherein the input / output data filtered by the filtering operation unit is grayed out on the second display area. An inconsistency determination unit that compares process input / output definition information and configuration information of the subsystem;
The display control unit
When the mismatch determination condition defined in advance by the mismatch determination unit is satisfied, the input / output data displayed in the second area is displayed in a form different from other input / output data. The engineering device in the distributed control system according to claim 1.

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