JPH03500587A - network interface board system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Network interface board system technology field The present invention combines a network of programmable logic controllers and a general-purpose processor. In particular, it concerns the interface between personal computers and programmers. interface with the network of logic controllers. Regarding the interface board.

Background technique Programmable logic controller or is a programmable control device (programmable codon roller) is a press processing machine, Used to control the operation of thread cutting machines and automatic welding machines. each professional Grammable logic controller (PLC) is a press machine or thread cutter. Receives sensor information regarding machine operation and applies punching through valves and switches. Controls machine tools and thread cutting machines. PLC places material in processing position and unprocessed material By processing the part and moving the finished part from the processing position, the press Controls the operation of processing machines or thread cutting machines.

Connect several PLCs with each other through communication lines to integrate the entire production process of one factory. be able to. For example, a central control unit allows raw material to be sent to several different machines. It passes through machines and processes to be processed into products. Control and status information for some machines The communication line that transmits the information uses a data serial transmission method, and its baud rate (baud rate) d rate) is 62-5 baud depending on the distance between the PLC and the central controller. Take a bow from 500.

In order to communicate on a communication line network, an originator address (orig. inator address), destination address (deste natjon address), register read/write display (registe r READ and WRITE 1ncNcaNons), register address address (register address), and register address for reading and writing. Register numbers require proper order. In network communication, each PL as long as it ensures that C has the ability to transmit the necessary information in a certain time , each PLC communicates through the communication line using a special method to avoid communication loss. The number of times a message can be received and sent is also limited. All these communication restrictions are generally is called a communication protocol.

Previously, PLCs connected communication networks through one interface circuit card. network.

The software program inside the PLC is responsible for the communication described later in information exchange. It was the driving force behind network protocols. This requires a lot of attention on the PLC. requests and reduced the effective number of times the central processor operates on received information.

The network interface module that connects to the PLC of the communication network is Yes, it handles protocol processing when exchanging information between the PLC and the network. conduct.

However, with these network interface modules, PLC and network The drawback is that it is not possible to simplify the exchange of information between work interface modules. there were.

To connect the PLC to the network interface module, the usual Central processor software to perform extra functions beyond control and processing capacity A is necessary. For example, if the network interface module If the message is sent directly to the PLC through the communication network, it is may be a single instruction written to or read from the desired register. take shape. The network interface module also supports requests from distant PLCs. Information requested at any time, including while the PLC is busy operating. send messages directly from the communications network to the PLC. Furthermore, network -The interface module is currently IBM PC compatible. A type of computer whose standards do not match that of a personal computer such as a desktop computer. It has a central processor transmission line.

Summary of the invention The present invention generates an expansion port signal. network interface and the commercially popular IBM PC controller. It has a connector for connecting to a compatible computer. Interfuture Face cards also simplify programming of personal computers. Become basic. A network interface port also connects Equipped with a mailbox for messages, and a combination Arara that allows Niichiyo to access any sequence (5 sequences) he desires. It has a queue for messages. Direct Direct memory access: DM A) In the case of an interface board that uses an array, a personal combination The address arrangement is limited to allow asynchronous access.

An alarm message is one of three types: caution, error, or warning. good. When it comes to automatic welding machines, the caution message is ``The welding rod is not in the correct position.'' The welding rod should be replaced, although it can still be operated as it has been consumed. ” can be expressed as such. An erroneous message is caused by the SCR failing and melting. Indicates that no current flows through the contact rod. The warning message will be sent to the automatic welder when the problem is detected. Displayed when a certain condition is likely to occur.

The network interface port has a message register (message register). register) to create one of three types of alarm messages. Attention queue (with enough dedicated RAM portion to stack up to 20 Alarm Kinney). The microprocessor is responsible for the operation of the entire system. You can access these reminder messages in any order.

Brief description of the drawing Figure 1 shows a network port between a personal computer and a communication network. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing connections.

Figure 2 shows a network for exchanging information between a microprocessor and a communication network. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of registers stored on a work interface card.

FIG. 3 shows an interface card as used commercially in implementing the invention interface card. 1 is a schematic block diagram of equipment and interconnections; FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the network interface card of the present invention.

Figure 5 shows the connection between the network interface card and network cable. FIG.

Figure 6 shows the output terminals and terminal connections of the network interface card. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the network interface module 31 (see FIG. 1). It is.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the registers of the network interface module of FIG. 7. It is.

Figure 9 shows two networks connected via two network interface modules. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Figure 1 shows a machine connected to a large number of industrial equipment such as press machines and welding machines and controlling them. includes a computer and monitor 12 for communicating with a communications network for controlling The system is shown in Figure 1. Network interface board (NIB) of the present invention ) 21 is an Etsujico card inserted into an empty board inside the computer 11 or into a card slot. It is loaded via the connector 29.

Networks are high-speed communication systems. A network is a network communication system. It has a bus configuration consisting of one twin-axis cable that operates as a (see figure). Programmable control device (PLC), computer, printer Other equipment such as D-LOG modules, D-LOG modules, and CRT programmers are mentioned below. NlB21 and network interface module (NIM) connected to the network through.

Computer 11 connected to NlB21 is a programmable computer on the network. Monitor and manage trollers. If it is recognized that it is necessary to take control action, , the computer 11 issues commands to the programmable controller. For example, The computer detects material shortage conditions and sends commands to a remote programmable controller. and start the conveyor that carries the material from the spare material storage.

Furthermore, according to this system, the computer 11 is a programmable controller. You can quickly obtain real-time production data from the factory. This data is This is information about the product's programmable controller. Once the production data is NlB2 1, the computer can generate operational reports and further transmit the data to another computer or programmable computer. Real-time control will also be possible using the controller.

The network interface board (NIB) 21 is an IBM compatible It is installed in the long expansion slot of the Sonal Computer N type. NlB21 is a compilation Since it is installed inside the computer, there is no need for a special stand or power supply to connect it to the network. Not necessary.

NlB21 has four light emitting diodes that display light giving information about the operation of the board. It has a LED (LED).

The LED has 4 modes: "Network", "In operation", rTXIJ, rRXIJ and is provided at the position shown in FIG.

The yellow "Network" LED will illuminate when the network is active. Ru. A green LED indicates the operating status of the board. The yellow rTX-IJ LED is , when the board is sending data to a device connected to the R5-422 terminal. It emits light to display it. The yellow rRX-IJ LED indicates that the board is R5- Display when data is being received from a device connected via 422 terminal. It emits light.

NlB21 is the R5-422 terminal opt ring (opt.

1ink) In addition to 19, connect communication between NlB21 and computer 11 Includes an edge connector 29. The computer 11 is connected to the R3-422 terminal in series. Rather, it communicates with NlB21 in parallel mode through the board's edge connector.

The R3-422 terminal allows devices other than the computer 11 to be connected, for example, through the board 21. You can access the network using This terminal has different operation modes placed for.

opto port 23 connects board 21 to network 1 Used to connect to 0. This connection has one end plugged into a terminal on the board. and the other end is inserted into the T-type connector 41 on the network cable. This is done via the network connector cable 24 (see FIG. 5).

NlB21 is equipped with a DIP switch with four separate switches 39. ing. These switches determine which address range in your computer's memory is N. It is set to determine whether it is assigned to the function of IB21.

In addition to network interface functions, NlB21 also provides software programming. support ming. By this software, your computer will be connected to the cable For programs and processors through direct connection or the network shown in Figure 3. or can be used to monitor the data logging module.

The application software 16 is the disk drive 1 of the combiator 11. It is recorded on a disc that can be inserted into 1A. This is a plugin to NlB21 It may also take the form of firmware (ROM or EFROM).

NlB21 mailbox register (mal Ibox register) 2.5 will be explained below.

Opt link (opto 1 ink) 19 is connected to the communication terminal 23 of the board 21. resulting from the operation of a press or welding machine located and connected to the communication network 10. Improves the reliability of communication functions that are disrupted by voltage surges. 1 opt link is a suitable opt junk box (opt.

connection box) 23.

Mailbox memory register (lI) of network interface card 21 railbox raemory regjster) 25 is shown in Figure 2. . The network interface port 21 is configured to receive requests from the communication network. It is equipped with a mailbox 25 for messages not received by the computer 11. in an alarm queue format that allows access to any sequence. Has an alarm message. The interface card 21 is a personal Limited address for asynchronous access by computers and interface cards. It is a direct memory access (DMA) arrangement with a space arrangement.

As shown in FIG. 2, the message control register of the mailbox 25 is , command route (commandroute), remote address (re olote address) and used in read/write operations. Byte count (message block) bytecount).

Write register buffer (write register buffer) is used to store register data that is sent to distant equipment. Repura The reply register is for messages other than alarm messages. Accumulates incoming data that the network interface port 21 receives. Ara The alarm message buffer is Used to store incoming alarm messages. alarm control (alar+e cor+trol) displays 1 alarm message and acknowledges and is used for resetting. Setup and interoperation control The role (setup and 1interrupt control) is - rate, network size, and R5-422 terminal parameters. Used for set-up parameters It will be done.

Importantly, NlB21 has three separate alarm queues. be. Three important "Caution", "Error" and "Warning" are programmable control devices (PLC) and translated by personal computer 11 . The personal computer 11 displays the warning, approves it, stores the warning information, and management based on the attention received.

The operation of the mailbox register shown in FIG. 2 will be explained below. welding rod Alarm message meaning it has been consumed beyond its proper position and should be replaced. Suppose that ji is accepted.

This message is sent to the network interface card 21 and the alarm message mailbox 25 in the page buffer.

Of course, the setup and interlab control register shown in Figure 2 The device is first configured with the proper communication parameters.

When an unsolicited message is received, the alarm control register controls displaying alarm messages and resetting acknowledgments. computer The controller authenticates the alarm message and sends it to the mailbox's alarm control Applicable acknowledge register during action e register).

Once the alarm message is acknowledged, the alarm control register is Sends a special message that is reset or cleared.

If the message needs to be sent to various devices, e.g. the device that triggered the alarm , the message is stored in the write register buffer. message control The message buffer then contains the route, remote address, and message to send. Set the diblock byte count. Reply register buffer is NlB2 Accumulate all messages that flow into 1. Attention messages are based on changing data. The register stores a constant value (alarm code: ajar code) rather than the data. write message except that it is sent from )It's similar to.

The receiving device is programmed to respond to various alarm codes in an appropriate manner. Rammed.

As shown in FIG. 10, the memory area is divided into three alarm queues. that Each alarm queue accumulates 20 alarm messages in the order they are received. .

Each accumulated alarm message has an alarm code, the device that sent the alarm route, and additional alarm data if necessary.

The three alarm cues are the “Warning” cue, the “Caution” cue, and the “Error” cue. Called. Three separate queues allow alarm messages to be sent to different levels being classified. Generally, a "warning" is the mildest alarm, and a "caution" is the most severe. "Error" is the most serious. However, each type of response The answer depends on how you program it.

Each of the three alarm queues allows the processor to send alarm messages to the appropriate It has register addresses for dividing into queues.

The message can be sent via alarm command (alarm com+nand) or In the alarm queue by write command (write cosa+and) will be placed in If a write command is used, the metric in the alarm queue is Up to five data registers can be written to the message location.

The first register serves as the alarm code.

Meanwhile, the other four registers contain additional data from the device that triggered the alarm. Ru. A write rung is an alarm rung. In addition to sending more information to the queue than υng), it also dynamically limits the data. do.

That is, the alarm code information is combined with real-time I10 status and other real-time Based on time conditions, the r processor register is loaded. Ladder Progera L (ladderprograa+) is expanded, the alarm code The code is fixed by the alarm rung.

The user program displays the alarm and sends an alarm (for the device that sent the alarm). an opcode (0pCod) to acknowledge the alarm and clear the alarm from the queue. e) can be used.

When an alarm is received in three queues, the new calculation for that queue and Then a change flat (change hat) was set.

Each alarm change occurs at the selected flag location (Nag 1 oea tjon). For example, the location Error queue 2H Attention cue 3H Warning queue 4H It is given as follows.

The user program calls the port for flag change. (+) Oll) L, or be interrupted by a flag change. Can be set. The programmer then displays an error code (error code) and take other appropriate actions.

To display alarms, the user program must determine which alarms in the queue it wants to see. , copy the alarm data, and send it to the buffer for display. less than The process for displaying an alarm message is shown. See Figure 10.

1. The user program sets the alarm change flag (alarm change) 02, the user program detects the alarm message when the appropriate cue is detected. Alarm count location (alar@count) that determines the number of messages. 1ocaNon).

3. The user program should select which of the messages 1 to 20 in the queue should be displayed. Choose whether to move. Then, enter this number in the alarm select location (Alarm Select 1 location).

4. The user program must display commands in the alarm command location. Place Opcode F (vievcoland opcode).

5. The user program sets the GO flag (240H) to a non-zero value. .

6. Once the GO flag is cleared, the selected message can be displayed. child Information about the routes for messages in the message route buffer (o+ route buffer).

When a write rung sends an alarm message to a group of registers, the first register Only approvals are written and returned to the initial processor.

The alarm message approval process is shown below.

1. The user program may send an incorrect alarm message number, a caution or a warning. Set the cue.

2. The user program must issue an acknowledgment command of code. Alarm command location with command opcode) put it on.

3. The user program should determine which register of the device that generated the alarm is alarmed. The specified acknowledgment register (acknowledge) is used to determine whether to return the system code. dgeregister).

4. The user program sets the Go flag to a non-zero value.

5. NlB21 clears the Go flag when the message is acknowledged.

Alarm messages remain in the alarm queue until cleared by the user program. remains inside. When the alarm queue is full, NlB21 do not accept any more alarm messages on the queue.

Alarm messages are issued (usually after they are displayed) by a clear command. r　co+u+and　). Clear 3 queues at the same time There are also commands to do so.

The following is the process of clearing alarms individually.

1. The user program selects the alarm number in the alarm select location. set.

2. The user program has a clear command option in the alarm command location. Set the clear command opcode.

3. The user program sets the GO flag to a non-zero value.

4. NlB21 erases the GO flag when the message is erased.

To clear all alarms, follow the steps below.

1. The user program displays all alarms at the alarm command location. Place the clear All Alarm opcode.

2. The user program sets the GO flag to a non-zero value.

3. NlB21 sets the GO flag when all alarm queues are cleared. Erase.

Devices on the network register (mailbox) stored in NlB21. data can be written to the processor corresponding to This allows NlB2 1 can receive unsolicited data.

Register change flag location (RegisterChange Fl ag1location) stores the address of the last register to be written. ing. When one register block is written, the register change flag is The application stores the lowest block number.

By monitoring the register change flag, the user program can detect changes. It is not necessary to ball all 512 registers for sensing. NIB Bo Code 21 writes the personal code whenever the mailbox register is written. placed in such a way as to disrupt the computer.

The register address of the register change flag is determined by power activation by NlB21. only erased on power-up and restart It is. Repeatedly writing to the same mailbox register after the first write Therefore, the register change flag address does not change. However, mailbo Each write to the register will be executed by the computer if interrupt conditions allow. The computer 11 is interrupted.

81M31 controls network communications and Help the program. N Ih, 131 is the response, a user profile when an alarm condition or unsolicited message is received. Label the grams. The added R3-422 terminal 22 is as shown in Figure 3. Each 81M31 is equipped with the following. This allows secondary equipment to pass through NIM. You can access the network using That is, each 81M31 is Two devices can be supported. Only 81M31 is connected to the network. It should be noted that this can be continued. The PLC is 81M31 as shown in Figure 1. It is connected to the network line 24 by.

Reference is made to Figure 1.7.9. 81M31 allows two devices (programmer controller, CRT programmer, computer, printer, etc.) Connected to the network. Up to 100 network interface modules Since each NIM31 can be connected to one network, each NIM31 can be connected to one network. IM 31 can connect two devices to the network, so the network is It can have a maximum of 200 devices in total. However, as shown in Figure 9, By connecting multiple networks, even more devices can communicate. can.

The network interface module NIM31 is a programmable controller controller into the register slot of the I10 rack assembly. 81M31 is 2 digit Samhoi for setting network address number from 00 to 99 (two-+Hgjt thuobvheel). this address Check the devices connected to the NIM module and N1M module, and then check the network Set the communication order in which the N1M module communicates with other NIMs on the network.

NIM has two types for connecting to programmable controllers or other equipment. It has an R5R5-422CO terminal. These terminal numbers are It is combined with a NIM address number that identifies the device for communication.

Figure 1 international search report

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. Programmable connected to control machine operation in cyclic mode logic controller and for accumulating messages from the communication network. Mailbox register and desired sequence can be accessed by computer including a functional alarm register and a personal computer and communications network. A computer interface board that facilitates communication between 2. Terminal means for connection to computers and direct access to communication networks 2. An interface board according to claim 1, further comprising terminal means for accessing the interface board. 3. The alarm register is an alarm queue (note) containing consecutive alarm messages. 2. The interface board of claim 1, further comprising: an interface board having a queue of commands. 4. The interface according to claim 1, comprising an opto port for connecting to a network. face board. 5. Inputs that connect to programmable logic controllers through direct cable connections. 2. The interface board of claim 1, further comprising an output terminal. 6. At least three independent alarm queues (attention queues): attention, error, warning The interface board according to claim 1, comprising: