JPH04306707A - Decentralized controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To display a measuring instrument figure which is arranged to be convenient for an operator to recognize a control system so as to turn man- machine interface for the operator kinder, to add virtual tag name to a control block arranged into one and to permit the operator to deal with data through the use of the virtual tag name. CONSTITUTION:A special measuring instrument figure display means which sets up another one function block to which several mutually related function blocks are made to correspond in the execution units (function block) of control which a control station executes, which considers one function block to be one analog measuring instrument, which simulates the instructed operation surface part and which displays it on a graphic display screen is provided for an operation station.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention transmits and receives data between distributed control stations that execute process control calculations, sequence control, etc., and performs control monitoring, control operations, etc. Regarding a distributed control device consisting of an operator station equipped with a graphic display screen for giving instructions, more specifically, a distributed control device that can easily monitor, operate, and give instructions for increasingly complex process control. Regarding equipment.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of a distributed control device. In the figure, 1 is a control station in charge of process control, which is distributed in correspondence with the processes within the factory. ~5V
input analog data is applied, and a control output is sent to an operating end such as a valve. 2 is an operator station as a man-machine interface section, which has a keyboard and a graphic display such as a CRT, and is installed in a control room or the like. This operator station 2 displays process data sent from each control station 1 via a communication line,
The control station 1 is configured to be able to instruct the control station 1 to change settings, control parameters, etc., and perform process control operations. In such a distributed control device,
Various graphics are displayed on the graphic screen to facilitate man-machine communication. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an instrument diagram of a control group that simulates and displays an indicator of an analog controller, which is one such display. Here, when the control station 1 constitutes a complex control loop as shown in the figure, the screen displays two analog controllers configured in the control station, for example, with tag names TIC201 and FIC201. Instrument diagram and tag name FCL20
The instrument diagrams of the computing instruments (indicating instruments) for one input correction marked with 1 are displayed side by side, and the indicators and computing instruments of each analog controller are connected to the signals given to that instrument. The pointer moves in conjunction with the movement, making it possible to intuitively grasp the operating status of each instrument. The operator then checks the various data (process input amount, set value, control output value, mode and status of automatic adjustment state, manual adjustment state, etc.) displayed on each of these analog controllers and indicating instruments, or the related data. Data (control parameters, etc.)
can be referenced and configured based on the tag name attached to each instrument.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the case of a complex control loop as shown in Fig. 8, the operator does not necessarily recognize the control system for each instrument, but rather (parts shown) are associated and grouped together for recognition. For this reason, when configuring a complex loop with a large number of instruments,
A large number of instrument diagrams will be displayed side by side on the screen,
This causes a problem in that it becomes difficult to understand the control status. The present invention has been made in view of these points, and provides a distributed control device that has a rational graphic display function that allows an operator to intuitively understand the control status of even complex loops. The purpose is to provide

0004

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention achieves the above object by exchanging data between a control station that executes control of a plurality of loops and this control station, and performing control monitoring and operation. , and an operator station equipped with a graphic display screen for giving instructions, the operator station has a plurality of control execution units (functional blocks) executed by the control station that are related to each other. Create another function block (special function block) that corresponds to several function blocks in the existing function block, treat this special function block as one analog instrument, and simulate the instruction and operation surface part of the special function block as described above. This is a distributed control device characterized by being provided with special instrument diagram display means for displaying on a graphic display screen.

[0005]

[Operation] The special instrument diagram display means collects multiple functional blocks into a convenient unit for the operator to recognize as a unit on the graphic display screen, and displays the instrument diagram as a single analog instrument. do. Moreover, one virtual tag name is attached to this instrument diagram. This makes it possible to describe control algorithms and refer to and set various data using virtual tag names.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Examples of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a distributed control station, and although only one control station is shown here, a plurality of control stations may be connected to the communication line LN depending on the scale and situation of the process. Reference numeral 2 denotes an operator station which exchanges data with the control station 1 via the communication line LN, monitors the control, gives instructions and operates the control, and is equipped with a keyboard and a CRT. Although only one operator station is shown here, a plurality of operator stations may be provided depending on the scale and situation of the process. At control station 1, 11, 12,
Reference numeral 13 indicates a functional block indicating a control execution unit configured in this control station, 11 and 12 indicate a block functioning as a PID controller, and 13 indicates a block functioning as an arithmetic instrument. Although three functional blocks are shown here to simplify the explanation, more functional blocks can be configured depending on the applied process. In addition, other functional blocks are prepared, such as a functional block as a switch instrument that drives a switch or the like, a functional block as a motor instrument that drives an electric motor, etc.

Reference numeral 14 indicates a database (memory), the contents of which are constructed from data handled by each functional block. 15 is a communication means for communicating with the operator test station 2 side; 16 is a conceptual tag list in which tag names and logical addresses are associated;
When data handled by each functional block is accessed from the operator station 2 side, this tag name can be used. Reference numeral 17 denotes a special function block in which a control system represented by a plurality of function blocks (three function blocks in this example) is associated as one control system, and this is expressed as another function block. In the operator station 2, 21 is a communication means for communicating with the control station 1 side, and 22 is a communication means for communicating with the control station 1, and 22 is a communication means for communicating with the control station 1. The control execution units (function blocks) are associated with each other to form one separate function block, and the function block is treated as one analog instrument, and its instruction operation surface is simulated to create a graphic display screen 23.
A special instrument diagram display means for displaying control station 1
An instrument diagram is displayed corresponding to the special function block 17 on the side.

[0008] The operation of the apparatus configured as described above will be explained next. At control station 1, function block 1
1 (tag name TIC201) functions as a temperature controller that inputs the temperature signal PV from the temperature sensor S1 and receives the temperature set value SV from the database 14,
The functional block 13 (tag name FCL201) functions as an arithmetic instrument that inputs the flow rate signals Q1 and Q2 from the flow rate sensors S2 and S3 and performs calculations such as adding the flow rate, and the functional block 12 (tag name FIC201) uses the calculation result from the function block 13 as an input signal, the output from the temperature controller 11 is given as its set value signal (cascade connection), and the flow rate that sends the control output MV to the valve V1. It is designed to function as a controller. Also, in the special function block 17, the tag name
An IC 201 is attached thereto, in which three functional blocks 11, 12, 13 are associated with each other, and a temperature signal PV is applied to the temperature controller 11 in one control system surrounded by a broken line. Input the set value SV and the control output MV from the flow rate controller 12, and each of these data is assigned the tag name XIC2.
It can be handled with 01.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of the structure of this special function block 17. The data table DT stores data handled by this functional block (from among the data handled by each functional block, data particularly convenient for understanding the operating state of the control is selected). The pointer table PT stores pointers of data handled by special function blocks, and each data is retrieved by specifying the pointer (tag name XIC 201) stored here. The mode algorithm storage area MA stores algorithms (programs) for determining the mode of the special function block 17 itself, such as algorithms (programs) for periodic processing and data setting processing. Whether to use it or not is selected depending on the mode value of the data table DT. Special function block 17 is located in the alarm algorithm storage area AA.
Algorithms (programs) for determining its own alarm status, such as periodic processing and data setting processing, are stored, and which mode (algorithm) to use is determined by the alarm value in the data table DT. The selection will be made accordingly. mode algorithm,
All alarm algorithms can be freely defined by the user, and their periodic processing refers to the data and status stored in the data table DT to determine each mode and status. do. Furthermore, in the data setting process of the mode algorithm, when a mode change command is issued, the current mode is determined by referring to the status stored in the data table DT.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of periodic processing performed by the special function block 17. First, the mode algorithm specified by the mode value among the algorithms stored in the mode algorithm storage area MA is executed, and the execution result is stored in the data table DT. Next, among the algorithms stored in the alarm algorithm storage area AA,
The alarm algorithm specified by the alarm value is executed and the execution result is stored in the data table DT. Next, it is determined whether there is a change in the alarm, and if there is a change, an alarm message is sent. The above operations are repeated at regular intervals. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of data reference processing. This process is started, for example, when there is a command to refer to data, and depending on the type of data to be referenced, the data table D
The corresponding data is extracted from T and transmitted, and the reference address is extracted from the pointer table PT, and other block data is read based on that address and transmitted. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of data setting processing. This process is activated when there is a mode change command, and data settings are executed according to the data type, for example, according to the data setting algorithm stored in the mode algorithm storage area MA.
Send the settings results. Alternatively, the setting destination address is extracted from the pointer table PT, other block data is set based on the address, and the setting result is transmitted. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an instrument diagram of the special function block 17 displayed on the graphic display screen 23 by the special instrument diagram display means 22 on the operator station 2 side. The special instrument diagram display means 22 views the special function block 17 as one analog instrument, simulates its instruction operation surface, and displays the instrument diagram on the graphic display screen 23. That is, using the data handled by the tag name (XIC201) attached to the special function block 17, here, three compound loops (function blocks) are associated, and these are combined into one tag name XIC201. displayed on the graphic screen 23 as a single instrument diagram. The instrument diagram here has almost the same form as a conventional instrument diagram that simulates the indicator of a controller, and has several functional blocks associated with each other as special function blocks, and is represented by a double frame. It is expressed as The form in which the special function blocks are displayed on the graphic screen can be freely determined by the user, for example, by changing the program of the special instrument diagram display means 22.

In this embodiment, the tag list 16 in which tag names and logical addresses are associated is provided on the control station 1 side, but such a tag list may also be provided on the operator station side 2. You can do it like this. In this case, it is necessary to perform an operation such as copying the contents of one tag list each time the tag name is changed so that the contents of the tag lists on the control station side and the operator station side always match. In addition, the scope of the special function block is one in which three complex loops are associated and combined into one in the example, but it depends on the nature of each applicable loop and how the operator recognizes the control system. It may be determined freely by considering the most convenient or convenient range.

0012

[Effects] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the instrument diagrams displayed on the graphic screen are displayed in a manner that is convenient for the operator to recognize the control system. A distributed control device with a friendly man-machine interface can be realized. In addition, a virtual tag name is assigned to each special function block, and the operator can use this virtual tag name to handle data, making it easier to write control algorithms and making it more user-friendly. Equipment can be provided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a control block.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of periodic processing performed by a control block.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of data reference processing.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of data setting processing.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an instrument diagram of a special function block displayed on a graphic display screen by a special instrument diagram display means on the operator station side.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of the configuration of a distributed control device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an instrument diagram displayed on a graphic display screen in a conventional device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Control station 11 Temperature controller 12 Flow rate controller 13 Arithmetic unit 14 Database (memory) 15 Communication means 16 Tag list 17 Special function block LN Communication line 2 Operator station 21 Communication means 22 Special instrument diagram display means 23 Graphic display screen

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1: Consisting of a control station that executes control of multiple loops, and an operator station equipped with a graphic display screen that exchanges data with this control station and monitors, operates, and gives instructions for control. In the distributed control device, the operator station has a plurality of control execution units (function blocks) executed by the control station. A special instrument diagram display means is provided for raising a functional block (special functional block), treating the one special functional block as one analog instrument, simulating the instruction operation surface part thereof, and displaying it on the graphic display screen. A distributed control device characterized by: Claim 2: Adding one virtual tag name representing the special function block to another function block (special function block) formed by associating a plurality of control execution units (function blocks), 2. The distributed control device according to claim 1, wherein an operator can use the virtual tag name to handle data regarding the special function block.