JPH05100707A - Controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve operability by facilitating the selection of a function, and simultaneously, developing an optimum picture for this function on a display device installed on the front face of a controller. CONSTITUTION:This controller is constituted of a first functional module 3a to execute control operation by using one control element to input a process variable and execute the prescribed control operation, a second functional module 3b to execute the control operation by using two control elements, a function selecting means 42 to select one of the first and the second functional modules 3a, 3b, the display device 10 installed on the front face of the controller and capable of displaying a character and a pattern, etc., by mixing them, and a display control means 8 to recompose automatically the kind of the picture to be displayed on the display device 10 on the basis of the function selected by the function selecting means 42.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a controller used for process control and the like, and more particularly to a controller capable of easily selecting an optimum function in response to diversifying user needs. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, single loop controllers and programmable controllers using a microprocessor have been widely put into practical use. Such a controller has less engineering burden than a distributed control system (DCS),
It has the advantage of good operability. These controllers are provided with information necessary for control (process amount PV, set value SV, control output MV) on an operation panel on the front surface thereof as seen in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-57721.
An indicator that displays, an operation key that changes the set value, and an operation key that changes the adjustment mode (automatic adjustment mode, manual adjustment mode, etc.) are arranged, and various parameter settings for control calculation and various Setting means such as function specification and correction calculation specification were prepared on the side of the instrument. As for the type of controller, a single-loop controller that executes one-loop control for one control element that inputs a process amount and executes a predetermined control calculation, and a control function and a calculation function can be programmed. The programmable controllers etc. were prepared respectively.

[0003]

The conventional controller as described above has a feature that it can maintain the same operability as an analog controller, but it is possible to select various functions and set parameters from a rack. There is a problem that the setting means provided on the side face needs to be pulled out and operated.
Further, there is a problem that two types of hardware, that is, a single loop controller and a programmable controller capable of programming a control function and a calculation function, must be prepared as hardware. The present invention has been made in view of these points, and it is possible to easily select a function and to develop an optimum screen for the function on a display provided on the front surface of the controller. The purpose is to provide a controller with good performance.

[0004]

The present invention which achieves such an object has a control element for inputting a process amount and executing a predetermined control operation, and outputs a control operation result to a process as a control output. A first functional module that executes a control operation using one control element, a second functional module that executes a control operation using two control elements, and the first functional module , A function selecting means for selecting any of the second function modules, and a display provided on the front of the controller and capable of displaying a mixture of characters and figures
The controller is characterized by further comprising display control means for automatically changing the types of screens displayed on the display based on the function selected by the function selection means.

[0005]

The controller is equipped with the function modules for realizing various required controllers in advance, and these functions are selected by the function selecting means. The display control means automatically selects the type of screen to be displayed on the display device in accordance with the first and second functions selected by the function selection means, and operates the screen expansion key to select those screens in a predetermined manner. Display on the display in order. This makes it easy to select a controller having a required function and improve operability.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration perspective view showing an example of the appearance of a controller according to the present invention. In the figure, CL is a controller main body, and PL is a front panel of the controller. Here, for example, a full-dot liquid crystal display 10 with a backlight and a plurality of operation keys KY1 are arranged side by side on the display 10. ~ KY
Operation keys KY so that 7 are lined up at the bottom of the display 10 again.
8 to KY10 are provided. The display 10 is a small CRT
Similarly, it is configured so that characters and figures can be mixedly displayed, and each operation key is configured by, for example, a push button switch or the like. Unlike the conventional device, operation keys for setting parameters, an indicator, and various setting switches are not installed on the side of the controller.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the controller of the present invention. In this figure, 1a is a first measured value register that stores a first process amount (measured value) PV1, 1b is a second measured value register that stores a second process amount (measured value) PV2, and 2a is First set value SV1
Is stored in the first set value register 2b, the second set value register 2b is stored in the second set value register 3, and the measurement value PV1 is stored in the first and second measurement value registers 1a and 1b. , PV2 and the first and second set value registers 2a, 2
A control calculation unit that inputs the set values SV1, SV2, etc. stored in b and performs a predetermined calculation on these signals, or performs a control calculation such as PID on the deviation between the measured value and the set value. Is. In this control calculation unit 3, 3
a is a first functional module that functions as a single-loop controller that executes one-loop control for one control element, and 3b is a cascade controller that connects two control elements in series to perform cascade control. It is a functioning second functional module.

Reference numeral 41 includes a register for storing various parameters such as PID used in the control calculation unit 3, and PI
Parameter setting means for setting the D parameter and the like in the control calculation section 3, and 42 is a function selecting means for selecting one of the first and second functional modules. Reference numeral 5 is an output register for storing the control output (manipulation amount) MV calculated by the control calculation unit 3. Each of these functions is realized by software installed in the microprocessor. Reference numeral 6 denotes a manual adjusting means for manually adjusting the control output MV, which is effective in the manual mode and is configured so that the manual output can be adjusted based on an instruction from the operation keys KY8 to KY10. Reference numeral 10 denotes a display unit shown in FIG. 1 provided on the front panel of the controller, and KB denotes an operation keyboard installed around the display unit 10, which has a plurality of operation keys KY1 to KY10. Among these operation keys, the operation key KY7 is assigned a function as a screen development key for instructing the development of the screen displayed on the display device 10.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a screen creating means for creating various screens to be displayed on the display device 10, which inputs a measured value PV, a set value SV, and a control output MV, respectively, and an operating keyboard K.
The signal from B is input. In this screen creating means 8, 71 is a running screen creating means for displaying the measured value PV and the control output MV in bar graphs and the set value SV in association with the measured value PV on the display 10. It has various screen creation functions. Reference numeral 72 is a tuning screen creation means for adjusting and setting various control calculation parameters set in the control calculation part 3, and 73 is an engineering screen creation means for setting an environment including the functions performed by the control calculation part 3. .. Reference numeral 8 is a display control means for controlling the screen display (screen expansion) on the display device 10. This display control means automatically changes the types of various screens created by the screen creating means 7 based on the function selected by the function selecting means 42, and receives the signal from the screen expanding key KY7 on the display device 10. It is designed to be displayed. That is, when the first function module is selected by the function selecting means 42, the screen is rearranged into a screen required as a single loop controller, a signal from the screen expansion key KY7 is received, and the display 1 is displayed.
0, the operation screen created by the operation screen creating means 71, the tuning screen created by the tuning screen creating means 72,
The engineering screen created by the engineering screen creating means 73 is displayed. Further, when the second function module is selected, the screens required for the cascade controller are rearranged, they are received by the signal from the screen expansion key KY7, and the display 10 is made by the operation screen creating means 71. The operation screen, the tuning screen created by the tuning screen creating means 72, the engineering screen created by the engineering screen creating means 73, etc. are displayed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the first functional module 3a in the control arithmetic unit 3. In this figure,
Reference numeral 31 is a control element that inputs the first process amount PV1 and the first set value SV1 and performs alarm processing and control calculation processing for each signal, and 32 performs output lit processing on the calculation result of the control element 31. It is a limit processing element. This functional module is configured to function as a single loop controller that performs, for example, PID control calculation on the deviation between the first process amount PV1 and the first set value SV. Figure 4
It is a block diagram which comprises the 2nd functional module 3b in the control calculation part 3. In this functional module, 3
Reference numeral 1 is a control element that inputs the first process amount PV1 and the first set value SV1 and performs alarm processing and control calculation processing for each signal, and 32 performs output lit processing on the calculation result of the control element 31. A limit processing element 33 is a control element to which a signal from the second process amount PV2 and the control element 31 is given as a set value via the limit processing element 32.
The two control elements are connected in series and are configured to function as a cascade control controller. 34 is a control element 33
This is a limit processing element that performs output lit processing on the calculation result in.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the operation screen created by the operation screen creating means 71 and the respective functions assigned to the operation keys when this screen is displayed. Display 10
The operation screen displayed on the screen is a bar graph B in which the measured value PV expands and contracts in the vertical direction in the vicinity of the center of the screen.
A bar graph BG2 is displayed on the lower side of the screen so that the control output MV expands and contracts in the left-right direction according to the value.
Is displayed. In the bar graph showing the control output MV, the sign "C" on the left side means that the control output MV becomes smaller and the valve is closed, for example, and the sign "O" on the right side indicates that the valve is It means to open. The set value SV is associated with the bar graph BG1 indicating the measured value PV on the same scale and is displayed as a triangular instruction mark MK. The position of this instruction mark changes the set value (operation keys KY4, K
(Y5 operation) along with the scale SL. This type of display simulates the front panel surface (instrument diagram) of a conventional controller, so that even an operator familiar with the conventional controller can monitor and operate the control operation status without feeling discomfort. I am doing it. The PV value, SV value, and MV value are also displayed as digital numerical values in the operation screen. Further, the tag number (TIC-1000) attached to the control loop which this controller is in charge of is displayed at the top of the screen. According to such an operation screen, when monitoring away from the controller, the PV, SV, and MV values, which are the main data, can be recognized on an analog display. The numerical value can be recognized on the digital display.

On the keyboard KB, the operation key KY1
The functions for switching the operation modes are assigned to KY3. That is, when the operation key KY1 is pressed,
When the set value SV is given from the host computer, the operation mode becomes the host computer operation mode, in which the control operation is performed. The manual adjustment mode is set in which the control output MV can be manually adjusted. Operation key KY
4, KY5 are assigned a function for setting the set value SV, and by pressing these operation keys, the value of the set value register 2 can be changed. The value of the set value register 2 can be recognized as the position of the set value mark MK on the display 10. The operation keys KY8 to KY10 are assigned a function for changing the control output MV when the mode is switched to the manual adjustment mode. That is, the signals from these operation keys are given to the manual adjusting means 6 in the state where the mode is switched to the manual adjusting mode. Here, the control output MV can be decreased by pressing the operation key KY8, and the control output MV can be increased by pressing the operation key KY10. In addition, the operation keys KY8 or KY10
By simultaneously pressing the operation key (acceleration key) KY9, the speed of decrease or increase of the control output MV can be increased to promptly change to the desired control output value.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a trend graph screen created by the operation screen creating means 71 and each function assigned to each operation key when this screen is displayed.
On this trend graph screen, the measured value PV of the control loop in charge of the controller is, for example, up to 48 from the current time.
The past data up to the time before is displayed as a trend graph TG. For the current data and the set value SV, the bar graph B is displayed at the latest time position on the trend graph.
G1 and the set value instruction mark MK are displayed.
Such a trend graph is useful for grasping the behavior of the process at startup, monitoring during stable operation, and checking the unmanned operation status at night or on the next morning, for example, within a certain recording cycle. By recording the maximum value and the minimum value of the generated process value PV in a rod shape, it is devised so that a sudden change in data generated in a short cycle can be recognized. At the bottom of the screen, the control output MV is displayed as a bar graph BG2 so as to expand and contract in the left-right direction according to the value.
This bar graph display is similar to the operation screen. The PV value, SV value, and MV value at the current time are also displayed as digital numerical values at the top of the screen. Keyboard K
Among the operation keys B, the operation keys KY1 to KY10 are assigned the same functions as when the operation screen is displayed. The operation keys K8 to KY10 may be assigned a function of instructing reduction / enlargement of the time axis of the trend graph, for example, the operation keys KY4 and KY5, respectively, of a range (amplitude direction) enlargement / reduction function. In addition to the trend graph screen, the operation screen creating means 71 creates an alarm screen for displaying alarm information, for example.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen created by the tuning screen creating means 72 and a view showing each function assigned to each operation key when this screen is displayed. The tuning element in the controller is P
Although there are tuning of the ID calculation parameter and tuning when the PID calculation parameter is self-tuned (STC), a setting screen for the PID calculation parameter and the like is shown here. This screen has
It will be selected from the tuning menu screen.
The tuning screen for this PID calculation parameter is PI
While displaying many parameters related to D calculation parameters at the same time, the setting items and their parameter setting values are
It is displayed in the magnified window in the upper part. Thereby, the target parameter can be set while grasping the mutual relation between the parameter to be set and other parameters. Further, at the position corresponding to each operation key on the right side of the screen, a symbol indicating the function assigned to the operation key is displayed. That is, KY1 and KY2 are keys for moving the cursor position (reverse display portion), KY3 is a save key, KY4 and KY5 are increase / decrease keys for parameter setting values, and K
Y6 shows the function as a change key.

The change key KY6 is used when the PID calculation parameter tuning screen is displayed.
By operating (pressing) Y6, you can monitor the operation screen or the trend graph screen (the screen that was displayed before expanding to the tuning screen) only while operating (while pressing). .. By providing such a change key, it becomes possible to display the operation result or the trend graph screen on the screen of the same display 10 for the tuning result and change / adjust the parameter value while monitoring. By expanding to the tuning screen, the function of each operation key is changed to each function as displayed on the screen by the operation key function changing means 11. On this tuning screen, the item to be set is selected by moving the cursor (reverse display) using the operation keys KY1 and KY2 (cursor moving key). The item selected at this time is enlarged and displayed in the enlarged window at the top for easy understanding.
In this example, the proportional band PB is selected. Next, by operating the operation keys KY4 or KY5 (increase / decrease key), the value of the parameter (here, 45
The value of 0.0) is increased or decreased from that value to the desired value. The parameter values set in this way are valid as they are, but the operation key KY3
By operating the (save key), a non-volatile memory (register) provided in the parameter setting means 4
And so on.

FIG. 8 shows an engineering screen creating means 7.
3 is a diagram showing an example of a screen created in 3 and a diagram showing each function assigned to each operation key when this screen is displayed. FIG. This screen shows an engineering screen (environment setting screen) for setting the function of the control calculation unit 3. On this screen, operation keys KY1, KY
2 (these keys function as item selection keys on this screen), specify the CTL item (item for selecting the function of the controller), and operate the operation keys KY4, KY5 (data I
The function can be selected by selecting the first function module (“SINGLE”) or the second function module “CASCADE” by using the NC / DIC key. Environments other than the functional settings of the controller, such as communication format, start mode, and screen display method can be set using this screen. In this engineering screen, the items (parameters) specified by the operation keys KY1 and KY2
Is highlighted, and the item is highlighted in the enlarged window below the title of the screen, so that the settings can be made without error.

FIG. 9 shows the first functional module ("SIN
GLE ”) is selected, the display control means 8 rearranges the plurality of screens created by the screen creating means 7, and the display 1
It is a figure which shows an example of the order which screen-deploys to 0. The operation screen as shown in FIG. 5 is the standard screen, and every time the screen development key KY7 is pressed, the trend graph screen (screen handling the first process amount PV1) shown in FIG. 6 → (alarm screen) → Expand the operation screen in the order shown in Fig. 5. Also, with these operation screens displayed,
If you press the screen development key KY7 and the speed up key KY9 at the same time,
A tuning menu screen for expanding the tuning screen as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed.
If the tuning screen of the D calculation parameter is designated, the screen is developed as shown in FIG. When the change key KY6 is pressed while the tuning screen is displayed, the operation screen is displayed while the key is pressed. When the screen expansion key KY7 and speed up key KY9 are pressed simultaneously while the tuning screen is displayed, the engineering menu screen for expanding to the engineering screen as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. If the environment setting screen is designated, the screen is expanded to the screen as shown in FIG. On this screen, the function selection means 42 sets each function to be executed by the control calculation section 3. If the screen development key KY7 and the speed increase key KY9 are pressed simultaneously while the engineering screen is displayed, the original operation screen is restored.

FIG. 10 shows a second functional module ("CA
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an order in which the display control unit 8 rearranges a plurality of screens created by the screen creating unit 7 and expands the screen on the display 10 when “SCADE”) is selected. The operation screen as shown in FIG. 5 is the standard screen, and every time the screen expansion key KY7 is pressed, the operation screen (for PV1) →
Trend graph screen shown in FIG. 6 (first process amount PV
1 screen) → operation screen (for PV2) → trend graph screen (screen handling the second process amount PV2) → (alarm screen). Also,
When these screens are displayed, if you press the screen development key KY7 and speed up key KY9 at the same time, the tuning menu screen (here, for PV1 and PV2) for developing to the tuning screen as shown in FIG. Is displayed), and if, for example, the tuning screen of the PID calculation parameter is designated here, the screen is expanded as shown in FIG. When the change key KY6 is pressed while the tuning screen is displayed, the operation screen is displayed while the key is pressed. With the tuning screen displayed, the screen expansion key K
When Y7 and speed up key KY9 are pressed at the same time, the engineering menu screen (here, PV1 and PV2 can be selected) for developing the engineering screen as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed for setting the function. If the environment setting screen is designated, the screen is expanded to the screen as shown in FIG.
If the screen development key KY7 and the speed increase key KY9 are pressed simultaneously while the engineering screen is displayed, the original operation screen is restored. In this way, when the function selection unit 42 selects either the first function module (single loop) or the second function module (cascade), the display control unit 8 changes the screen displayed on the display unit 10. The types are automatically rearranged and displayed according to each function module.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of another functional module provided in the control calculation unit 3 in FIG. 2 as indicated by the broken block 3b1. This functional module is configured such that two control elements 31 and 32 are connected in parallel to function as a selector controller that executes auto selector control. FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of another functional module provided in the control / calculation unit 3 in FIG. 2 as indicated by another broken-line block 3c.
This functional module is configured so that the control function and the arithmetic function can be programmed, and functions as a programmable controller. Even when each of these functional modules is provided in the control calculation unit 3, when the function selecting means 42 selects one of these functional modules, the display control means 8 rearranges various screens according to the function selection. The screen is expanded and displayed according to the signal from the screen expansion key.

In the above embodiment, when the tuning screen is expanded to the engineering screen, the operation key KY7 and the speed increasing key KY9 are simultaneously pressed. However, the engineering screen is expanded to the same level where the tuning screen is expanded. May be expanded.

[0021]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, a plurality of functional modules are provided in the arithmetic control unit so that these functional modules can be selected, and the functional modules can be selected according to the selected function. The various screens displayed on the display unit are rearranged so that the screens are optimally developed. Therefore, various functions such as a single loop controller, a cascade controller, a selector controller, and a programmable controller can be easily provided by a controller having common hardware. Further, it is possible to provide a controller having good operability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration perspective view showing an example of an external appearance of a controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of the controller of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a first functional module 3 in the control calculation unit.
It is a structural block diagram of a.

FIG. 4 shows a second functional module 3 in the control calculation unit.
It is a structural block diagram of b.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation screen created by an operation screen creating means and each function assigned to each operation key when this screen is displayed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a trend graph screen and each function assigned to each operation key.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a tuning screen and each function assigned to each operation key.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an engineering screen and each function assigned to each operation key.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a screen development order when a first functional module is selected.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen development order when a second functional module is selected.

FIG. 11 is a configuration block diagram of another functional module.

FIG. 12 is a configuration block diagram of another functional module.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Control Calculation Sections 3a, 3b, 3c 1st, 2nd, 3rd Function Modules 41 Parameter Setting Means 42 Function Selecting Means 7 Screen Creating Means 8 Display Control Means 10 Indicators KB Keyboards

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masao Yokomori 2-3-9 Nakamachi, Musashino-shi, Tokyo Yokogawa Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A controller having a control element for inputting a process amount and executing a predetermined control calculation, wherein the control calculation result is output to a process as a control output, wherein one control element is used. A first functional module that executes a control operation, a second functional module that executes a control operation using two control elements, and a function selection unit that selects one of the first and second functional modules. And a display provided on the front of the controller and capable of displaying a mixture of characters and figures, and the type of screen displayed on the display is automatically set based on the function selected by the function selecting means. A controller provided with display control means for switching. 2. The display control means, when the first functional module is selected, displays the process amount and the control output amount as bar graphs as an operating screen in accordance with an instruction of a key for instructing screen development. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the operation screen and the trend graph screen for displaying the process amount as a trend graph showing its past transition are switched and displayed. 3. The display control means, when the second functional module is selected, displays one process amount and one control output amount as bar graphs as an operating screen in accordance with an instruction of a key for instructing screen development. The first operation screen,
A first trend graph screen showing a past transition of one process amount, a second operation screen displaying another process amount and a control output amount as a bar graph, and a first trend graph screen showing a past transition of another process amount. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the trend graph screen (2) is switched and displayed. 4. The screen automatically recombined by the display control means based on the function selected by the function selecting means is an operation screen for performing the controlled operation of the process, and tuning of various parameters set in the control calculation section. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the controller is an engineering screen for setting each function executed by the screen and the control calculation unit. 5. The controller according to claim 4, further comprising a menu screen that allows selection of corresponding selection items prior to the expansion to the tuning screen and the engineering screen. 6. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the second functional module functions as a cascade controller that connects two control elements in series to perform cascade control. 7. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the second functional module functions as a selector controller that connects two control elements in parallel and executes auto-selector control. 8. A third functional module functioning as a programmable controller capable of programming a control function and a calculation function is provided, and the function selecting means is one of the first, second and third functional modules. The controller according to claim 1, wherein is selected.