JP6391117B2 - Data collection device, data collection method, and data collection program - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a data collection device, a data collection method, and a data collection program.

  In a production line of a plant, a dedicated network that is updated at a fixed period of about several ms to 10 ms (milliseconds) may be used. Such a variation in delay time of transmission / reception data of a dedicated network may be required to be 1 ms or less. Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) is an input / output module that inputs measurement signals for environmental parameters such as temperature in each process, and outputs drive signals for driving various actuators. And a controller for controlling the actuator and the like via an input / output module by a ladder program or the like. External input / output signals, various quality data, and the like handled by these input / output modules are developed on this dedicated network, and are collected and stored at regular intervals by a data collection device. In recent years, internal signals used for testing PLC software are also output on a dedicated network, deployed, and collected at regular intervals in the same way as external input / output signals, etc., to improve testing efficiency. Yes.

  When this dedicated network is replaced with a general-purpose industrial Ethernet (registered trademark), the variation in the data update cycle may be 10 to 100 ms, and the constant periodicity is not ensured for transmission and reception of internal signals. Generally not suitable for testing PLC software.

  For this reason, the internal signal used for the PLC software test is directly extracted from the PLC using a dedicated tool without being deployed on the network. However, with this method, data such as external input / output signals and various quality data and internal signals used for the PLC software test cannot be handled in the same row, which hinders the efficiency of the test.

  Rather than collecting and accumulating data at regular intervals, an aperiodic data collecting device that collects and accumulates when the data value changes is large and simultaneously stores the time data at the time of collection on the data collecting device side has been proposed. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). However, this non-constant period data collection device does not collect data output on the network, and does not consider correcting the aperiodicity of the collected data to a constant period.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-51349

  Embodiments provide a data collection device, a data collection method, and a data collection program that can collect and restore data at regular intervals even when the communication network is replaced with a general-purpose network. Objective.

The data collection device according to the embodiment collects data for an operation test at a fixed cycle of the programmable logic controller via a communication network and restores the data as the fixed cycle data. The data collection device via the communication network, the previous data from the acquisition completed time to a first time elapses, the first data to which the programmable logic controller has generated, the programmable logic controller and the first data get together with the first counter value generated simultaneously, the first data, the Programmer Lama said storage unit in association with the first counter value with the third hour logic controllers is set equal to a constant cycle time to produce A second counter value generated by the programmable logic controller simultaneously with the second data, the second data generated by the programmable logic controller from the first time to a second time elapsed via the communication network; With the second day And and a data correction unit to be stored in the storage unit in association with the second counter value with the third hour. The data correction unit identifies the first data and the second data respectively associated with the first counter value and the second counter value by sequentially reading the first counter value and the second counter value. Then, by reading the first counter value, the first data is output from the completion of the output of the immediately preceding data until the third time has elapsed, and by reading the second counter value, the output of the first data The second data is output from completion until the third time has elapsed.

In the present embodiment, the data correction unit, the first data is associated with the first counter value, Runode second data is read sequentially associated with the second counter value, time axis first data and the second data Can be distinguished . The first data and the second data can be restored, respectively it as a constant period of acquired data.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a data collection device according to a first embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates a part of data collection device of a 1st embodiment. It is a timing diagram which illustrates typically the operation waveform of each part about the data collection device of a 1st embodiment. FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are flowcharts illustrating the operation of the data collection device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5A is a block diagram illustrating a data collection device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a part of the data collection apparatus according to the second embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The drawings are schematic or conceptual, and the relationship between the thickness and width of each part, the size ratio between the parts, and the like are not necessarily the same as actual ones. Further, even when the same part is represented, the dimensions and ratios may be represented differently depending on the drawings.
In the present specification and drawings, the same elements as those described above with reference to the previous drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

(First embodiment)
The configuration of the data collection device 1 of this embodiment will be described.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a data collection device 1 according to this embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a storage unit 12 that is a part of the data collection device 1 of the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the data collection device 1 of this embodiment includes a data correction unit 10 and a storage unit 12. The data collection device 1 is connected to a programmable logic controller (hereinafter referred to as “PLC”) 30 via a communication network 20. The communication network 20 is, for example, industrial Ethernet (registered trademark). Of course, the communication network 20 may be a dedicated communication network with little variation in delay time.

  The data correction unit 10 inputs the software test internal signal 33 and the counter signal 35 for the PLC 30 acquired from the communication network 20, associates the internal signal 33 for each switched counter signal 35, and generates the internal signal 33. Is stored in the storage unit 12 as data. The data correction unit 10 reads data from the storage unit 12 at a fixed cycle time and outputs the data to the output interface 14, for example. The output interface 14 converts the data of the internal signal 33 into image data, outputs it to a monitor (not shown), for example, and displays it as an operation waveform of the internal signal 33 of the software test.

  The storage unit 12 stores data Dn of the internal signal 33 before and after correction. The data Dn of the internal signal 33 is stored in the storage unit 12 together with the acquisition time data Tbn for each count value n of the counter signal 35. More specifically, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the storage unit 12 has a plurality of columns in which data can be stored. Each of the plurality of columns is assigned in advance to a predetermined address or area of the storage unit 12, for example. The plurality of columns include a counter value column 13a, a data column 13b, an acquisition time column 13c, and a correction time column 13d. The counter value n = 1, 2, 3,... Is stored in the counter value column 13a. The data column 13b stores data D1, D2, D3,... Corresponding to the respective counter values n = 1, 2, 3,. In the acquisition time column 13c, data acquisition times Tb1, Tb2, Tb3,... Corresponding to the respective counter values n = 1, 2, 3,. Since the acquisition time stored in the acquisition time column 13c is data output on the communication network 20, the periodicity is not maintained. That is, Tb1 ≠ Tb2 ≠ Tb3 and the like. In the correction time column 13d, the same time Ta is stored for each counter value n = 1, 2, 3,. Data D1, D2, D3,... Are stored in each column in association with counter values n = 1, 2, 3,. The acquisition times Tb1, Tb2, Tb3,... Are also associated with the counter values n = 1, 2, 3,. That is, the set of data D1 and acquisition time Tb1 is associated with counter value n = 1, and the set of data D2 and acquisition time Tb2 is associated with counter value n = 2, and data D3 and acquisition time Tb3. Are associated with a counter value n = 3. The same applies to other data and acquisition time.

  The data collection device 1 is a computer terminal, for example. In the case of the data collection device 1 that is a computer terminal, the data correction unit 10 may be included in a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or MPU (Micro Processing Unit). The storage unit 12 may be included in an auxiliary storage device including a semiconductor memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, and the like. The storage unit 12 only needs to be connected to the data correction unit 10 to write and read data, and may be a cache memory built in the CPU or MPU.

  For example, the data correction unit 10 may expand a program stored in the storage unit 12 and operate according to a program sequentially executed by the CPU.

  The PLC 30 is a programmable logic controller. The PLC 30 includes an internal signal output unit 32 and a counter unit 34. The PLC 30 includes, for example, a controller that controls the system by a sequence program stored in a memory, an input / output module that is driven by the controller, and the like. The controller, the memory, the input / output module, and the like may be connected on the communication network 20, or may be connected on another dedicated network and connected to the communication network 20 via the controller or the like. For example, the PLC 30 may include an internal signal output unit 32 and a counter unit 34 in the controller.

  The internal signal output unit 32 outputs an internal signal 33. The internal signal 33 is a signal transmitted / received to / from each input / output module, for example, and is a signal used for testing the software of the PLC 30. The internal signal 33 is output on the communication network 20 at a fixed cycle time of 10 ms, for example. The counter unit 34 generates a counter signal 35 that counts up, for example, at a fixed period of 10 ms, and outputs the counter signal 35 together with the internal signal 33 corresponding to the counter signal 35 to the communication network 20. Needless to say, the output of the counter unit 34 is not limited to the count-up operation, but may be a count-down operation.

The operation of the data collection device 1 of this embodiment will be described.
FIG. 3 is a timing diagram schematically illustrating operation waveforms of respective units related to the data collection device 1 of the present embodiment.
FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are flowcharts illustrating the operation of the data collection device 1 of this embodiment.
3, the operation waveforms of the internal signal 33a output from the internal signal output unit 32 of the PLC 30 and the counter signal 35a output from the counter unit 34 are conceptually shown along with the real time axis 40a. Has been. In the operation waveform Q at the second stage in FIG. 3, the operation waveforms of the internal signal 33b and the counter signal 35b output from the PLC 30 and conceptually shown along with the real time axis 40a are shown. In the lowermost operation waveform R in FIG. 3, the internal signal 33b and the counter signal 35b input to the data collection device 1 are corrected by the time axis 40b that has been fluctuated due to variations in delay time, and the data collection device 1. The internal signal 33c and the counter signal 35c are conceptually shown with a corrected time axis 40c.

  As shown in the uppermost operation waveform P in FIG. 3, the internal signal 33a of the PLC 30 is output from the internal signal output unit 32 to the communication network 20 according to a constant period Ta that is a period set by the counter signal 35a. The fixed period Ta is, for example, 10 ms. That is, one counter signal 35a is counted up every 10 ms, and an internal signal 33a corresponding to the count value is output to the communication network 20. The counter signal 35a reaches an arbitrarily set maximum count value, for example, n = 16, n = 256, etc., and then resets to stop the operation or is reset to the count value 1, and counts up and The output operation of the internal signal 33a is repeated.

  As shown in the operation waveform Q in the second stage in FIG. 3, the internal signal 33a acquired and output at a fixed period Ta is fixed when the communication network 20 is developed on a general-purpose industrial Ethernet (registered trademark). Periodicity is not maintained. In general-purpose industrial Ethernet (registered trademark), transmission and reception simultaneity is not guaranteed, and the propagation delay time of a signal developed on a network due to communication traffic or the like may vary widely, for example, from about 10 ms to about 100 ms. It is. For this reason, the timing of signal reception may be governed by this variation in propagation delay time. For example, like the operation waveform Q, the signal periods Tb1 and Tb2 at the first counter values 1 and 2 are shorter than the fixed period Ta, and the third signal period Tb3 is longer than the fixed period Ta.

  As shown in the operation waveform R in the lowermost stage in FIG. 3, the internal signal 33 b that is first captured from the communication network 20 to the data collection device 1 maintains a constant periodicity due to variations in the propagation delay time of the communication network 20. It has not been. For example, Tb1 ≠ Ta, Tb2 ≠ Ta, Tb3 ≠ Ta, and the like.

  In the data collection device 1 of the present embodiment, the time axis 40b whose fixed periodicity is broken is corrected to the time axis 40c having the fixed period Tc by the data correction unit 10, and the internal signal 33c is counted up at the fixed period Tc. The signal is corrected and output. Preferably, the fixed period Tc is set equal to the fixed period Ta of the internal signal 33a output from the PLC 30, and is stored in the storage unit 12 in advance (FIG. 2).

  The data collection device 1 reads the data D1, D2, D3,... Associated with the count values n = 1, 2, 3,... From the storage unit 12 according to the ascending order of the count values. Output to the output interface 14. At this time, a fixed period Ta is used as time data for each data D1, D2, D3,.

  The operation of the data collection device 1 of the present embodiment will be described more specifically with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). FIG. 4A shows a procedure in which the data collection device 1 acquires data output on the communication network 20 at a non-constant period. As shown in FIG. 4A, when the program is started, an initial value of the count value n is set. In this example, the count value n = 1 is set by the data correction unit 10 in step S1.

  In the data correction unit 10, the maximum value nmax of the count value n is set. The maximum value of the count value n is, for example, nmax = 16. In step S2, the data correction unit 10 compares the magnitude relationship between the count value n and the maximum value nmax. If the count value n is larger than the maximum value nmax, the program is terminated. You may make it return to step S1 and repeat the loop demonstrated below. When the count value n is less than or equal to the maximum value nmax, the process proceeds to the next step.

  In step S <b> 3, the data correction unit 10 acquires data Dn corresponding to the count value n of the internal signal 33 b from the communication network 20. 3, the internal signal 33b when the count value n = 1 is a signal having a data value D1 and a time Tb1.

  In step S4, the data value D1 and the time Tb1 acquired by the data correction unit 10 are stored in the data column 13b and the acquisition time column 13c (FIG. 2) of the storage unit 12, respectively.

  In step S5, the data correction unit 10 adds 1 to the count value n and repeats the above steps. That is, the data value D2 and the time T2 are stored in the data column 13b and the acquisition time column 13c in association with the count value n = 2. Subsequently, the data value D3 and the time T3 are stored in the data column 13b and the acquisition time column 13c in association with the count value n = 3.

  FIG. 4B shows a procedure in which the data collection device 1 acquires data corrected on the fixed time axis 40c. In this example, the time axis 40c is corrected to a time Ta that is a constant period of the PLC 30. As shown in FIG. 4B, in step S11, the data correction unit 10 sets the count value n = 1. In step S12, the data correction unit determines whether or not the count value n is the maximum value nmax. When the count value n exceeds the maximum value nmax, the program ends. When the count value n is less than or equal to the maximum value, the process proceeds to the next step.

  In step S13, the data correction unit 10 reads the data value D1 corresponding to the count value n = 1. At this time, time Ta, which is a fixed time, is read as time data.

  In step S <b> 14, the data correction unit 10 outputs the read data value D <b> 1 and time Ta to the output interface 14.

  In step S15, 1 is added to the count value n, and the above operation is repeated.

  In this way, the data Dn output to the communication network 20 at a non-constant period can be output as data at a constant period time. In step S15, the set of data Dn and time Ta may not be output to the output interface 14, but may be processed by other processing blocks.

The operation and effect of the data collection device 1 of this embodiment will be described.
In the data collection device 1 of the present embodiment, each data Dn is acquired from the communication network 20 for each count value n, and each data Dn is stored in the storage unit 12 in association with the count value n. Data can be identified regardless of the length of the acquisition time Tbn. Since the data identified for each acquisition time Tbn is stored in the storage unit 12, the time axis can be easily corrected by replacing the acquisition time Tbn with a fixed period correction time Ta. Therefore, the communication network 20 to which data is output from the PLC 30 does not require transmission and reception simultaneity, so that a general-purpose industrial Ethernet (registered trademark) can be used, and the system cost can be reduced. For example, in an steel plant or the like, an internal output signal for testing PLC software is required to have a variation of 1 ms or less with respect to 10 ms which is a fixed cycle time. Therefore, by using the data collection device 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to collect PLC internal signal data via a general-purpose industrial Ethernet (registered trademark), and to reduce the cost of a system for testing PLC software. Can contribute greatly.

(Second Embodiment)
In the data collection device 1 of the first embodiment, the counter signal 35 generated from the counter unit 34 is used for identifying data on the time axis, but other signals may be used. In the data collection device 1a of this embodiment, the clock signal 55 of the PLC 30 is used.

The configuration of the data collection device 1a of this embodiment will be described.
FIG. 5A is a block diagram illustrating a data collection device 1a according to this embodiment. FIG. 5B illustrates the storage unit 12a.
As shown in FIG. 5A, the data collection device 1a of the present embodiment includes a data correction unit 10a and a storage unit 12a. The data collection device 1a receives the clock signal 55 together with the internal signal 33 from the PLC 30a via the communication network 20. The PLC 30 a includes a clock generation unit 50 that generates a clock signal 55 and outputs it to the communication network 20.

  For example, each internal signal 33 is acquired by the data correction unit 10 in association with each clock signal 55. Alternatively, a plurality of clock signals 55 may be paired and associated with each internal signal 33. For example, as a plurality of clock signals, eight clock signals can be set as one set. For each set of clock signal groups, the data correction unit 10 acquires data and stores it in the storage unit 12a.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, internal signal data D1, D2, D3,... Are stored in the storage unit 12a for every eight clock signals 50. The set of eight clock signals 50 is associated with counter values n = 1, 2, 3,... That is, the internal signal data D1, D2, D3,... Are stored in the storage unit 12a in association with the counter values n = 1, 2, 3,. In the data correction unit 10a, a fixed period of time Ta 'corresponding to the eight clock signals generated by the clock generation unit 50 can be associated with each data D1, D2, D3,. The data correction unit 10 can read out the data D1, D2, D3,... In order for each Ta ′ having a fixed cycle, thereby outputting and displaying the data of the internal signal having a fixed cycle.

The operation and effect of the data collection device 1a of this embodiment will be described.
In the data collection device 1a of the present embodiment, it is possible to identify the acquisition time of non-periodic data output on the communication network 20 based on the clock signal 50 of the PLC 30a. For this reason, for example, the number of clock signals can be changed for each processing phase in a fixed period of time. For example, 8 clocks can be associated with one counter value in the first processing phase, 16 clocks can be associated with one counter value in the next processing phase, and so on. That is, it is possible to collect data for changing the time of a fixed cycle for each processing phase, and to design a test program for PLC software with a higher degree of freedom.

  According to the embodiment described above, it is possible to realize a data collection device, a data collection method, and a data collection program that can store collected data in a storage unit at a constant cycle and output the data.

  As mentioned above, although some embodiment of this invention was described, these embodiment is shown as an example and is not intending limiting the range of invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof. Further, the above-described embodiments can be implemented in combination with each other.

  1, 1a data collection device, 10, 10a data correction unit, 12, 12a storage unit, 13a counter value column, 13b data column, 13c acquisition time column, 13d correction time column, 14 output interface, 20 communication network, 30 PLC, 32 internal signal output unit, 33 internal signal, 34 counter unit, 35 counter signal, 40a to 40c time axis, 50 clock signal generation unit, 55 clock signal

Claims (3)

A data collection device that collects data for an operation test at a fixed cycle of a programmable logic controller via a communication network and restores the data as the fixed cycle data,
A storage unit;
Via the communication network, the previous data from the acquisition completed time to first hour, the first counter, wherein the programmable logic controller the first data generated, the programmable logic controller has generated simultaneously with said first data And the first data is stored in the storage unit in association with the first counter value together with a third time set equal to the fixed cycle time generated by the programmable logic controller, via the communication network The second data generated by the programmable logic controller is acquired together with the second counter value generated simultaneously with the second data by the programmable logic controller from the first time to the second time, and the second data And the third time and A data correction unit to be stored in the storage unit in association with the second counter value to,
With
The data correction unit is
By sequentially reading the first counter value and the second counter value, the first data and the second data respectively associated with the first counter value and the second counter value are identified,
By reading the first counter value, the first data is output from the completion of the output of the immediately preceding data until the third time has elapsed,
A data collection device that outputs the second data from the completion of the output of the first data to the lapse of the third time by reading the second counter value . A data collection method for a data collection device that collects data for an operation test at a fixed cycle of a programmable logic controller via a communication network and restores the data as the data at the fixed cycle,
Connected to the programmable logic controller via said communication network,
The programmable logic controller generates the first data generated by the programmable logic controller simultaneously with the first data from the programmable logic controller until the first time elapses from the time when the previous data has been acquired. The first data is associated with the first counter value together with a third time set equal to a fixed period time generated by the programmable logic controller ,
Second data generated by the programmable logic controller simultaneously with the second data from the programmable logic controller by the data correction unit from the first time to the second time. Obtaining with the counter value, associating the second data with the third time with the second counter value,
The data correction unit sequentially reads the first counter value and the second counter value, and identifies the first data and the second data respectively associated with the first counter value and the second counter value. The first counter value is read and the first data is output from the completion of the output of the immediately preceding data until the third time elapses, and the second counter value is read and the output of the first data is completed A data collection method for outputting the second data until the third time elapses . A data collection program of a data collection device that collects data for an operation test at a fixed cycle of a programmable logic controller via a communication network and restores the data as the fixed cycle data,
And connecting to the programmable logic controller via said communication network,
The programmable logic controller generated first data generated by the programmable logic controller simultaneously with the first data from the time when the previous data was acquired from the programmable logic controller until the first time has elapsed by the data correction unit . Acquiring with a first counter value and associating the first data with the first counter value with a third time set equal to a periodic time generated by the programmable logic controller ;
Second data generated by the programmable logic controller simultaneously with the second data from the programmable logic controller by the data correction unit from the first time to the second time. a step of acquiring with the counter value, associating the second data to the second counter value with the third hour,
The data correction unit sequentially reads the first counter value and the second counter value, and identifies the first data and the second data respectively associated with the first counter value and the second counter value. The first counter value is read and the first data is output from the completion of the output of the immediately preceding data until the third time elapses, and the second counter value is read and the output of the first data is completed Outputting the second data until a third time has elapsed ;
A data collection program.

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