JP6117137B2 - Devices and device management systems - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a device and a device management system.

  In a factory that manages a production process, a large number of devices (for example, devices such as sensor devices and valve positioners) are arranged in the plant to manage the process. These devices will have the latest version of firmware with improvements such as added functionality and non-compliance. In Patent Document 1 below, if one of the firmware versions installed in the master unit and slave unit of the device is not the latest version, the firmware is updated based on the latest version of the firmware on its own or the other side. A device is disclosed.

JP 2011-158928 A

  The device of Patent Document 1 manages the latest version of firmware, but the environment (hereinafter referred to as “setting environment”) when the device is set up or tuned (hereinafter also referred to as “device setting”) with the firmware. Is also not managed.

  In general, devices are manufactured in large quantities and installed in various locations, so when a device has trouble and maintenance work is performed, when the device was delivered from where and when it was adjusted, etc. Can be used as useful information during maintenance work.

  However, since a large number of devices arranged in a plant are required to be manufactured as cheaply as possible, additional functions such as a clock and a GPS (Global Positioning System) that are unnecessary as functions of the device itself are mounted. That is practically difficult.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems caused by the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a device and a device management system capable of grasping a setting environment with a simple configuration.

  A device according to the present invention is a device arranged in a facility, and stores a device information storage unit that stores device information that is information unique to the device, and parameter information relating to parameters that determine the operation of the device. A parameter information storage unit, setting tool information for specifying a setting tool that sets part or all of the device information and the parameter information, time information indicating the time when the setting is performed, and a position when the setting is performed A setting environment information storage unit that stores position information as setting environment information, and each time the device information or the parameter information is received from the setting tool, the received device information is written to or received in the device information storage unit. When the parameter information is written to the parameter information storage unit In addition, the information writing for writing the setting tool information corresponding to the setting tool that is the transmission source of the device information or the parameter information, the current time of the setting tool, and the current position of the setting tool in the setting environment information storage unit A section.

  Based on the operating state information stored in the operating state information storage unit for storing the operating state information relating to the operating state of the device, it is determined whether or not the device is at the inspection time. And an inspection request output unit that outputs an inspection request to the outside when it is determined by the inspection determination unit that the device is at an inspection time.

  The setting environment information storage unit may store the setting environment information set at the time of shipment of the device in the setting environment information separately from the other setting environment information.

  The setting environment information storage unit may store a history of the setting environment information.

  The setting environment information storage unit may store only the latest setting environment information for the setting environment information corresponding to the same setting tool in the history of the setting environment information.

  The device management system according to the present invention collects the device, the setting tool for setting the device information and the parameter information in the device, the device information, the parameter information, and the setting environment information from the device. And a management device for managing each device.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the device and device management system which can grasp | ascertain a setting environment with a simple structure can be provided.

It is a figure which illustrates the composition of the device management system in an embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates the function structure of the device shown in FIG. It is a figure which illustrates the data structure of the device information storage part shown in FIG. It is a figure which illustrates the data structure of the parameter information storage part shown in FIG. It is a figure which illustrates the data structure of the setting environment information storage part shown in FIG. It is a figure which illustrates the data structure of the operation state information storage part shown in FIG. It is a figure which illustrates the data structure of the information storage part of a device management apparatus. It is a sequence chart for demonstrating the operation | movement at the time of registering a new device with a device management system. It is a sequence chart for demonstrating operation | movement when the device 10 is working. It is a sequence chart for demonstrating the operation | movement at the time of inspecting a device. It is a figure which illustrates the data structure of the information storage part of a device management apparatus.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment described below is merely an example, and does not exclude application of various modifications and techniques not explicitly described below. That is, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a device management system including devices according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the device management system 1 includes a device management apparatus 30, an input / output (IO) unit 20, a device 10, and a setting tool 40.

  The device management apparatus 30 communicates with the device 10 via the IO unit 20. The device management apparatus 30 exemplarily has a function of checking a setting state of the device 10 and a process execution state of the device 10 and a function of diagnosing a time necessary for an inspection including maintenance / repair of the device 10. Have

  The device 10 is a device arranged in a facility such as a plant, and corresponds to, for example, a device equipped with a HART (Highway Addressable Remote Transducer) communication function or a Foundation Fieldbus (FF) technology. Can be used. In addition, the device 10 may include a controller that mediates between a device equipped with a plurality of HART communication functions and the IO unit 20.

  Examples of the device 10 include various sensor devices that detect flow rate, pressure, temperature, and the like, valve positioners that control various valves such as flow rate control valves and pressure control valves, and various actuators that operate pumps and fans. Applicable.

  The setting tool 40 is a terminal that performs various setups and tunings for the device 10, and sets device information and parameter information described later in the device 10.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the device 10 functionally includes, for example, an information writing unit 11, an information transmission unit 12, an inspection determination unit 13, and an inspection request output unit 14. The information storage unit 15 is a database that stores device information, parameter information, setting environment information, and operating state information handled by the above-described units. This database can be stored in a non-volatile memory of the device 10, for example.

  The data configuration of the device information storage unit 151 will be described with reference to FIG. The device information storage unit 151 is a database that stores information unique to the device itself. Examples of data items include model number items, S / W Ver items, H / W Ver items, serial No items, company name items, and communication. It has a standard Ver item. The model number item stores identification information that identifies the format of the device 10. The S / W Ver item stores the version of software installed in the device 10. The H / W Ver item stores the version of hardware constituting the device 10. The serial number item stores a serial number that identifies the device 10. The company name item stores the name of the manufacturer of the device 10. The communication standard Ver item stores a version of a communication standard applied to the device 10.

  The data configuration of the parameter information storage unit 152 will be described with reference to FIG. The parameter information storage unit 152 is a database that stores information related to parameters that determine the operation of the device itself, and includes, for example, parameter name items, setting content items, setting value items, and remarks items as data items. The parameter name item stores the name of the parameter. The setting content item stores information for specifying the parameter setting content. The setting value item stores a parameter setting value, but stores an initial value until the parameter value is first set. The remark item stores a memo related to the parameter.

  Here, as parameters, for example, a parameter for selecting a range of an input signal, a PID parameter in a device having a control function, a parameter for defining an operation at the time of abnormality, a parameter for switching a communication speed, a device There are parameters for selecting contents to be displayed on the display unit.

  With reference to FIG. 5, the data structure of the setting environment information storage unit 153 will be described. The setting environment information storage unit 153 is a database that stores information related to the setting environment when part or all of the device information and parameter information is updated. As data items, for example, model number items, S / W Ver items, It has a serial number item, a set time item, a set position item, a position information format item, a company name item, and a compatible OS item. The model number item stores identification information that identifies the format of the setting tool 40. The S / W Ver item stores the version of software installed in the setting tool 40. The serial number item stores a serial number that identifies the setting tool 40.

  The set time item stores time information when part or all of the device information and parameter information is updated. The set position item stores position (location) information when part or all of the device information and parameter information is updated. The location information format item stores a format format of a file storing location information. The company name item stores the production company name of the setting tool 40. The compatible OS item stores the type of OS compatible with the setting tool 40.

  Note that the setting environment information storage unit 153 may store setting environment information set at the time of shipment of the device 10 among the setting environment information separately from other setting environment information. For example, when troubleshooting a problem, the setting tool used on the line at the time of shipment from the factory may be identified to investigate the cause. In this case, the serial number alone can be used to grasp the setting tool used at the time of shipment. Considering what cannot be done. By storing the setting environment information set at the time of shipment in a discriminable manner, it becomes effective when dealing with troubles.

  The setting environment information storage unit 153 may manage the history of the setting environment information by adding the setting environment information each time part or all of the device information and the parameter information is updated. In this case, the setting environment information storage unit 153 may store only the latest setting environment information for the setting environment information corresponding to the same setting tool 40 in the history of the setting environment information.

  With reference to FIG. 6, the data structure of the operation state information storage unit 154 will be described. The operating state information storage unit 154 is a database that stores information related to the operating state of the device 10, and includes, for example, post-inspection operation accumulated time item, total operation accumulated time item, start count item, maximum ambient temperature item, It has a minimum ambient temperature item, a relay change frequency item, and an alarm notification frequency item. The accumulated operation time after inspection item stores the accumulated operation time since the previous inspection. The accumulated operation time after inspection is reset every time inspection is performed. The total operation accumulated time item stores the total operation accumulated time of the device 10.

  The number of activation items stores the number of times the device 10 has been activated. The maximum ambient temperature item stores an upper limit value of the ambient temperature allowed by the device 10. The minimum ambient temperature item stores a lower limit value of the ambient temperature allowed by the device 10. The relay change frequency item stores the number of times the relay of the device 10 has changed. The alarm notification frequency item stores the number of times the device 10 has notified the alarm.

  The information writing unit 11 illustrated in FIG. 2 writes the setting information in the information storage unit 15 each time a set of setting information set by the setting tool 40 is received. This will be specifically described below.

  When the setting information includes device information, the information writing unit 11 writes the device information in the device information storage unit 151. When the parameter information is included in the setting information, the information writing unit 11 writes the parameter information in the parameter information storage unit 152. The information writing unit 11 writes the setting tool information corresponding to the setting tool 40 that is the transmission source of the setting information, the current time of the setting tool 40, and the current position of the setting tool 40 in the setting environment information storage unit 153.

  As the current time of the setting tool 40, for example, time data of a clock mounted on the setting tool 40 can be used. As the current position of the setting tool 40, for example, when the setting tool 40 is compatible with GPS (Global Positioning System), the position is displayed in a GPX (GPS Exchange Format) format or a KML (Keyhole Markup Language) format. A text file in XML (Extensible Markup Language) format can be used. If the setting tool 40 does not support GPS, an address or the like may be input, or the current position may be transferred from another device that supports GPS.

  The information transmission unit 12 stores the transmission request for requesting transmission of device information, parameter information and / or setting environment information from the setting tool 40 or the device management apparatus 30 in the device information storage unit 151. Device information, parameter information stored in the parameter information storage unit 152 and / or setting environment information stored in the setting environment information storage unit 153 is transmitted to the setting tool 40 or the device management apparatus 30.

  The information transmission unit 12 periodically transmits the operation state information stored in the operation state information storage unit 154 to the device management apparatus 30.

  The inspection determination unit 13 determines whether or not the device 10 is at the inspection time based on the operation state information stored in the operation state information storage unit 154. Illustratively, the inspection determination unit 13 determines that the device 10 is in the inspection time when the post-inspection operation accumulated time included in the operation state information is equal to or longer than the time requiring inspection. On the other hand, the inspection determination unit 13 determines that the device 10 is not at the inspection time when the operation cumulative time after inspection is less than the time required for inspection.

  The inspection request output unit 14 transmits an inspection request to the device management apparatus 30 when the inspection determination unit 13 determines that the device 10 is at the inspection time. In place of (or in addition to) transmitting the inspection request to the device management apparatus 30, the inspection request output unit 14 outputs a message indicating that inspection is necessary on the display of the device 10 and displays the message. Also good.

  The device management apparatus 30 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes an information storage unit that stores device information, parameter information, setting environment information, and movement state information for each device No., and manages the setting state and operating state of the device. The data configuration of the information storage unit will be described with reference to FIG. The information storage unit is a database that stores device information, setting environment information, movement state information, and parameter information in association with a device number included in the parameter information.

  In FIG. 7, the display of parameter information is omitted for easy viewing of the drawing, and only part of the device information, setting environment information, and movement state information is displayed. An administrator who operates the device management apparatus 30 can arbitrarily select (search) desired information from various information stored in the information storage unit and display it on the monitor.

  Next, the operation of the device management system 1 in the embodiment will be described.

  First, with reference to FIG. 8, an operation when registering a new device 10 in the device management system 1 will be described. In this operation, for example, an operation when registering a device whose device number is “# 01” illustrated in FIG. 7 will be described. That is, for the device 10 whose device model number is “DEV100” and the software version is “2.0”, the setting tool model number is “TOOL001” and the software version is “1.2”. An operation when a setting tool 40 is connected, parameter information is set in the device 10 from the setting tool 40 and registered in the device management system 1 will be described.

  First, the setting tool 40 connects to the device 10 (step S101), and transmits a transmission request for requesting the device 10 to transmit device information (step S102).

  Subsequently, the information transmission unit 12 of the device 10 transmits the device information stored in the device information storage unit 151 to the setting tool 40 (step S103).

  Subsequently, the setting tool 40 executes a parameter setting process corresponding to the version “1.2” while following the user's operation instruction (step S104). In this parameter setting process, the device number of the device 10 is set to “# 01”.

  Subsequently, the setting tool 40 sets the parameter information corresponding to the parameter set in step S104, the setting tool information corresponding to the setting tool 40, the time information corresponding to the current time of the setting tool 40, and the current position of the setting tool 40. The setting information including the corresponding position information is transmitted to the device 10 (step S105).

  Subsequently, the information writing unit 11 of the device 10 stores the parameter information included in the setting information received from the setting tool 40 in the parameter information storage unit 152 (step S106), and the setting tool information included in the setting information, The time information and the position information are stored in the setting environment information storage unit 153 (step S107).

  Subsequently, the setting tool 40 disconnects the connection with the device 10 (step S108).

  Thereafter, the device 10 is incorporated into the device management system 1 and connected to the IO unit 20 (step S109).

  Subsequently, the information transmission unit 12 of the device 10 is stored in the device information stored in the device information storage unit 151, the parameter information storage unit 152 stored in the parameter information storage unit 152, and the setting environment information storage unit 153. Is sent to the device management apparatus 30 (step S110).

  Subsequently, the device management apparatus 30 stores the device information, parameter information, and setting environment information received from the device 10 in the information storage unit (step S111). As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the device information, the setting environment information, and the like of the device 10 are stored in the information storage unit of the device management apparatus 30 in association with the device number “# 01”.

  Next, an operation when the device 10 is operating will be described with reference to FIG.

  The device 10 updates the operating state information stored in the operating state information storage unit 154 according to the operating state (step S201). The timing at which the operating state information is updated may be when the operating state changes, or for every predetermined interval that can be arbitrarily set, such as “every 4 hours”.

  Subsequently, the inspection determination unit 13 of the device 10 determines whether or not the device 10 is in the inspection period based on the accumulated operation time after inspection stored in the operation state information storage unit 154 (step S202). . If this determination is NO (step S202; NO), the process proceeds to step S201 described above.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S202 that the device 10 is in the inspection period (step S202; YES), the inspection request output unit 14 of the device 10 transmits an inspection request to the device management apparatus 30 ( Step S203).

  Subsequently, the device management apparatus 30 displays a message urging inspection of the device 10 on the monitor (step S204).

  Next, with reference to FIG. 10, an operation when the device 10 is inspected (adjusted) will be described. In this operation, for example, an operation when checking a device whose device number is “# 01” illustrated in FIG. 7 will be described. Further, it is assumed that the setting tool 40 used at the time of inspection has a model number “TOOL500” and a software version “5.0”.

  First, the setting tool 40 connects to the device 10 to be inspected (step S301), and executes a parameter setting process corresponding to the version “5.0” in accordance with a user operation instruction (step S302).

  Subsequently, the setting tool 40 receives parameter information corresponding to the parameters set in step S302, setting tool information corresponding to the setting tool 40, setting information including the current time of the setting tool 40 and the current position of the setting tool 40. It transmits to the device 10 (step S303).

  Subsequently, the information writing unit 11 of the device 10 stores the parameter information received from the setting tool 40 in the parameter information storage unit 152 (step S304), and sets the received setting tool information, current time, and current position in the setting environment. The information is stored in the information storage unit 153 (step S305).

  Subsequently, the information writing unit 11 of the device 10 resets, for example, the accumulated operation time after inspection of the operation state information stored in the operation state information storage unit 154 (step S306).

  Subsequently, the setting tool 40 disconnects the connection with the device 10 (step S307).

  Thereafter, the device 10 is incorporated into the device management system 1 and connected to the IO unit 20 (step S308).

  Subsequently, the information transmission unit 12 of the device 10 stores the parameter information storage unit 152 stored in the parameter information storage unit 152 and the setting environment information and operation state information storage unit 154 stored in the setting environment information storage unit 153. The stored operating state information is transmitted to the device management apparatus 30 (step S309).

  Subsequently, the device management apparatus 30 stores the parameter information, setting environment information, and operating state information received from the device 10 in the information storage unit (step S310).

  As a result, the setting environment information and the operation state information corresponding to the device No. “# 01” illustrated in FIG. 7 become the setting environment information and the operation state information corresponding to the device No. “# 01” illustrated in FIG. Updated.

  As described above, according to the device 10 in the embodiment, by having the information writing unit 11, every time device information or parameter information is received from the setting tool 40, the device information is written in the device information storage unit 151. The parameter information is written in the parameter information storage unit 152, and the setting tool information corresponding to the setting tool 40 that is the transmission source of the device information or parameter information, the current time of the setting tool, and the current position of the setting tool are set in the setting environment information storage unit Can be written on.

  Accordingly, every time device information or parameter information is set by the setting tool 40, it is possible to write setting environment information including when and where with which tool the setting environment information is set in the device 10. Therefore, it is possible to grasp the setting environment when the device is set without mounting additional functions such as a clock and GPS on the device 10.

  Therefore, according to the device 10 and the device management system 1 in the embodiment, it is possible to grasp the setting environment with a simple configuration.

[Modification]
In the above-described embodiment, when a new device 10 is registered in the device management system 1, the setting tool information, time information, and position information of the setting tool connected to the device 10 are stored in the setting environment information storage unit of the device 10. The setting environment information stored in the setting environment information storage unit 153 is not limited to the setting environment information of the setting tool 40 connected to the device 10.

  For example, before the new device 10 is installed on the site, the device setting may be performed at a location different from the site, and the setting environment at that time may be stored in the setting environment information storage unit 153. More specifically, for example, the first setting tool 40a is connected to the device 10 at a location different from the site, and the second setting tool 40b at the site where the installation is scheduled is performed. Setting environment information (setting tool information, time information and position information) and the like in the setting tool 40b are transmitted to the first setting tool 40a by e-mail or the like, for example, and stored in the setting environment information storage unit 153 or the like of the device 10. It is good as well.

  In this case, the setting environment information storage unit 153 stores the setting environment information of the first setting tool 40a and the setting environment information of the second setting tool 40b so as to be discriminated. Thus, before setting the device 10 on the site, the setting environment information on the site can be set in the device 10 using the setting tool 40 on the site.

  In the embodiment described above, when the device 10 is inspected (adjusted), it is not confirmed whether the device 10 is a device to be inspected, but may be confirmed. In this case, for example, the setting tool 40 connected to the device 10 for inspection has the setting position of the setting environment information stored in the device 10 and the current position recognized by the setting tool 40 at that time. If both the positions are different, it can be determined that the device is not a device to be inspected. On the other hand, when it can be considered that both positions are the same, it can determine with it being a device for inspection.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Device management system 10 ... Device 11 ... Information writing part 12 ... Information transmission part 13 ... Inspection determination part 14 ... Inspection request output part 15 ... Information storage part 20 ... IO unit 30 ... Device management apparatus 40 ... Setting tool 151 ... Device information storage unit 152 ... parameter information storage unit 153 ... setting environment information storage unit 154 ... operating state information storage unit

Claims (7)

A device arranged in the facility,
A device information storage unit for storing device information which is information specific to the device;
A parameter information storage unit that stores parameter information related to parameters that determine the operation of the device;
Setting tool information for specifying a setting tool in which part or all of the device information and the parameter information are set, time information indicating the time when the setting is performed, and position information indicating the position when the setting is performed, a setting environment A setting environment information storage unit for storing information;
Each time the device information or the parameter information is received from the setting tool, the received device information is written in the device information storage unit, or the received parameter information is written in the parameter information storage unit, and the device information Or an information writing unit that writes the setting tool information corresponding to the setting tool that is a transmission source of the parameter information, a current time of the setting tool, and a current position of the setting tool in a setting environment information storage unit;
A device comprising: An operating state information storage unit for storing operating state information related to the operating state of the device;
An inspection determination unit for determining whether or not the device is in an inspection period based on the operation state information stored in the operation state information storage unit;
An inspection request output unit that outputs an inspection request to the outside when it is determined by the inspection determination unit that the device is in an inspection period;
The device of claim 1, further comprising:   The setting environment information storage unit stores the setting environment information set at the time of shipment of the device in the setting environment information separately from the other setting environment information. 2. The device according to 2.   The device according to claim 1, wherein the setting environment information storage unit stores a history of the setting environment information.   5. The setting environment information storage unit stores only the latest setting environment information for the setting environment information corresponding to the same setting tool in the history of the setting environment information. The device described.   The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is equipped with a HART (Highway Addressable Remote Transducer) communication function. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The setting tool for setting the device information and the parameter information in the device;
A management apparatus that collects the device information, the parameter information, and the setting environment information from the device and manages the device information;
A device management system comprising: