JPH07141402A - Process monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily change and extend respective smart sensors by storing and holding the communication information and display control information of the respective smart seniors in a data base and changing the registered contents of the data base when specification change or the like is generated in the respective smart sensors. CONSTITUTION:The communication information for exchanging information between the smart sensors 11 and a process monitoring device 13 and the detailed display control information for realizing a display form in the case of displaying data detected by the smart sensors 11 on the CRT display device 15b of an operator console device 15 are stored in the data base 17b for the respective smart sensors 11. The communication information and the display control-information for the respective smart sensors 11 are not incorporated in the control programs of the process monitoring device 13 and the console device 15 at all. Thus, in the case of performing the specification change and extension, etc., of the respective smart sensors 11, just the set contents of the data base 17b are changed and the need of changing the respective control programs is eliminated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process monitoring system for monitoring the operating state (process state) of each device constituting a plant, and more particularly to a sensor for detecting data of the operating state of each device, which has a data detection function. In addition, the present invention relates to a process monitoring system that employs a smart sensor having an information communication function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A small microcomputer is incorporated in a smart sensor, and based on various control commands related to data detection from an external data collection device, the detection sensitivity at the time of data detection, the type of detected data, and the data The transmission timing and data collection interval are automatically set. Then, the detected analog data signal is transmitted to the data collection device through the signal line. In order to save the number of laid signal lines, the various digital control command data signals described above are superimposed on the analog data signals and transmitted / received between the smart sensor and the data collection device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a process monitoring system employing a plurality of smart sensors having the above-mentioned communication function. One or a plurality of smart sensors 1 are attached to each device constituting the plant. Each smart sensor 1 is connected to the process monitoring device 3 via a signal line 2. The process monitoring device 3 is connected to the operator console device 5 via a transmission line 4.

When a data collection command specifying a model and a data type is input from the operator console device 5, the process monitoring device 3 sends a communication text corresponding to the smart sensor 1 to the smart sensor 1 corresponding to the data collection command. And send a data collection request using the communication format. In this case, if necessary, various control information regarding the above-described various data detections is also transmitted to the smart sensor 1. Smart sensor 1 that received this data collection request
Detects the data designated by the device and transmits it to the process monitoring device 3 via the signal line 2 as an analog data signal.

Upon receiving the analog data signal from the smart sensor 1, the process monitoring device 3 transfers the analog data signal as it is to the operator console device 5.

Upon receiving the analog data signal from the process monitoring device 3, the operator console device 5 has a display form preset for this data type,
The corresponding data is displayed on a CRT display, for example.

As described above, by using the smart sensor 1 which can be remotely operated from the process monitoring device 3, various kinds of data relating to the operating state of each device can be constantly collected and displayed in the best state.

[0008]

However, the process monitoring system shown in FIG. 4 still has the following problems to be improved. That is, since the devices constituting the plant have different specifications and purposes of use, the types of data detected by the smart sensors 1 attached to the devices are also diverse. For example, the data type is rotation speed,
There are various speed, flow rate, power, voltage, current. Therefore, the manufacturers of the smart sensors 1 often differ from each other. Therefore, even in the communication information exchanged between the smart sensor 1 and the process monitoring device 3, even if the control information is the same, the communication text is often different if the smart sensor 1 is different.

In addition, the communication protocol with the process monitoring device 3 is often different in the upper layer, therefore,
When the process monitoring device 3 exchanges information with each smart sensor 1, the information class 1 common to all the smart sensors 1, the information class 2 that most of the smart sensors 1 have, and the information unique to each smart sensor 1 Classify as information class 3. Then, a communication text is defined for each class.

In this case, classes 1 and 2 can be common texts, but class 3 needs to create communication texts for each smart sensor 1. Classes 1 and 2 can be standardly processed by the operator console device 5 and the process monitoring device 3. However, it is very difficult to perform standard data processing and display all class 3 communication texts unique to each smart sensor.

For this purpose, the operator console device 5
Alternatively, there is a problem that the control information for the smart sensor 1 from the process monitoring device 3 is limited to the general instruction information belonging to the general classes 1 and 2 described above. That is, there is a problem that the high-grade function of each smart sensor 1 cannot be sufficiently exhibited.

In order to eliminate such inconvenience, an operator brings a mobile terminal for each smart sensor 1 to the actual mounting position of the smart sensor 1 and moves the mobile terminal to the corresponding smart terminal. The sensor 1 is attached to the sensor 1, and the operation information belonging to the class 3 other than the general classes 1 and 2 is directly input. In this way, by using a dedicated mobile terminal for each smart sensor 1, it is possible to maximize the functions of each smart sensor 1.

However, it is practically impossible for the operator to bring the portable terminal to the installation position of the device to which the relevant smart sensor 1 is attached every time it is necessary to obtain data under the optimum conditions. is there.

Further, in order to avoid such a situation in advance, in addition to the communication texts of classes 1 and 2 and the display control information of the display form described above in the control programs of the process monitoring device 3 and the operator console device 5, The communication information and the display type control information unique to each smart sensor are incorporated into the program, the type of the smart sensor 1 is determined when a data collection request is generated, and the type 3 corresponding to the type is supported. Program processing may be carried out.

However, when the type of the smart sensor 1 attached to each device of the plant is changed to improve the function, the smart sensor 1 of another company is changed, or a new smart sensor 1 is attached. In
Each time, it is necessary to change the control programs of the process monitoring device 3 and the operator console device 5. The change work of this control program requires a lot of labor, time and cost, and is not realistic.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and by storing and holding communication information and display control information of each smart sensor in a database, a control program for a process monitoring device and an operator console device can be obtained. It is an object of the present invention to provide a process monitoring system that can easily change or add each smart sensor as needed while keeping the state in which the functions of each smart sensor can be used to the maximum without changing. To do.

[0017]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention comprises an operator console device, a process monitoring device and a plurality of smart sensors, and the operator console device receives necessary data via the process monitoring device. In the process monitoring system that collects the specified data from the specified smart sensor and displays the collected data in the display format corresponding to the corresponding data on its own display unit, for each smart sensor, between the corresponding smart sensor and the process monitoring device. A data collection display setting device having a database storing communication information for exchanging information and display control information for realizing a display form when displaying data detected by the corresponding smart sensor on a display is provided. There is. Further, the process monitoring device is provided with a function of collecting data from the smart sensor using the communication information received from the data collection display setting device and sending the collected data to the operator console device. Further, the operator console device is provided with a function of displaying the received data on a display device in a display form according to the received display control information.

[0018]

In the process monitoring system configured as described above, communication information for exchanging information between the smart sensor and the process monitoring device for each smart sensor and data detected by the smart sensor are displayed. Display control information for realizing a display form when displaying on a container is stored in the database.

Then, the communication information for each smart sensor in this database is automatically transmitted to the process monitoring device when a data collection request designating a data item or a smart sensor in the operator console device occurs, for example. Therefore, the process monitoring device exchanges information with the designated smart sensor using this communication information and collects data from this smart sensor. The collected data is sent to the operator console device.

In the operator console device, the received data is directly received from the data collection display setting device.
Alternatively, it is displayed on the display device in a display form indicated by the received display control information via the process monitoring device.

With such a configuration, the control program of the process monitoring device or the operator console device does not incorporate the communication information or display control information for each smart sensor described above. Moreover, the detailed communication information and display control information of the smart sensor that is collecting data are set in the process monitoring device and the operator console device at that time, so data that maximizes the functions of the relevant smart sensor is used. It is possible to collect and display data.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a process monitoring system of the embodiment. This process monitoring system
As shown in the figure, it is roughly divided into a plurality of smart sensors 11 attached to each device of the plant, a process monitoring device 13 connected to each smart sensor 11 by a signal line 12, and a process monitoring device 13. An operator console device 15 connected to the transmission line 14
And a data collection display setting unit 17 connected to the operator console device 15 and the process monitoring device 13 via transmission lines 16a and 16b, respectively.

Each smart sensor 11, like the smart sensor 1 used in the conventional process monitoring system shown in FIG. 4, has a built-in microcomputer and a function of detecting data indicating the operating state of each device. In addition, it has a function of transmitting / receiving various information to / from the process monitoring device 13 via the signal line 12. Then, based on the control command from the process monitoring device 13, the detection sensitivity at the time of data detection, the detected data type, the data transmission timing,
Automatically set the data collection interval.

The process monitoring device 13 transmits / receives various digital information to / from each smart sensor 11 and receives / transmits an analog data signal from each smart sensor 11, a transmission / reception unit 13a, an operator console device 15 and a data collection display. The transmission / reception unit 13b transmits / receives various information and data to / from the setting device 17, a control unit 13c including a microcomputer, and a memory 13d.

The operator console device 15 is used by the operator to input various operation commands and monitor the operating states of the equipment of the plant. As shown in the figure, the process monitoring device 13 and the data collection display setting device are provided. It is composed of a transmitter / receiver 15a for transmitting / receiving various kinds of information and receiving data signals, a CRT display 15b, an operation panel 15c, a controller 15d including a microcomputer, and a memory 15e. .

The data collection display setting device 17 includes a process monitoring device 13 and an operator console device 15.
And a database 17b that stores at least communication information and display control information for each smart sensor 11, a controller 17c including a microcomputer, and a memory 17d. ing.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the stored contents of the database 17b. In the database 17b, n areas 18 each having area numbers 1 to n are formed. Each area 18 has a sensor name 18 that identifies one smart sensor 11 assigned to the area.
a and a data area 18b for storing information of m pieces of data that can be detected by the smart sensor 11 are formed.

Further, in each data area 18b, the data item name 19a assigned to the corresponding data area and the integer type, real number type, character code type, etc., required for the operator console device 15 to judge the corresponding data. Data type 19b, display format 19c, display data name 19d, and other display control information, communication information 19e for the smart sensor 11 to exchange various information with the process monitoring device 13, and other auxiliary information. 19f is stored.

The auxiliary information 19f is detailed items such as setting propriety, range and conditions other than the above-mentioned items necessary for displaying the data on the CRT display 15b. As the communication information 19e, the communication text such as the transmission text 20a and the response text 20b, the response text data address 20c indicating at which position of the received response text the data such as the control information is set, and the auxiliary information 20.
d is stored.

The registered contents shown in FIG. 2 of the database 17b can be arbitrarily set, changed, and deleted by the monitor or the administrator using the CRT display 15b and the operation panel 15c of the operator console device 15. Therefore,
Depending on the specification change, addition or removal of the smart sensor 11,
You can easily update the registered contents.

The operation of the process monitoring system thus configured will be described with reference to the information and data flow chart shown in FIG. When the monitor inputs the data item of the device to be monitored and the sensor name designating the smart sensor 11 to which this data item belongs using the operation panel 15c of the operator console device 15, the controller 15d of the operator console device 15 Transmitter / receiver 15a and transmission line 1
The smart sensor designation information designating one smart sensor 11 is transmitted to the data collection display setting device 17 via 6a. Further, the control unit 15d sends a data collection command specifying data items to the process monitoring device 13 via the transmission / reception unit 15a and the transmission path 14.

The control unit 17c of the data collection display setting device 17 which has received the smart sensor designation information from the operator console device 15 via the transmission / reception unit 17a, the received smart sensor in each area 18 of the database 17b shown in FIG. The setting (registration) information including the communication information and the display control information related to the smart sensor 11 stored in the area 18 designated by the designation information is read. Then, the read registration information is transmitted to the process monitoring device 13 via the transmission / reception unit 17a and the transmission line 16b.

The control unit 13c of the process monitoring device 13 that has received the setting (registration) information including the communication information and the display control information regarding one smart sensor 11 from the data collection display setting device 17 via the transmitting / receiving unit 13b. The setting (registration) information is stored and held in the memory 13d. The memory 13d has a storage capacity capable of storing and holding setting (registration) information for the plurality of smart sensors 11. Therefore, the setting (registration) information for a plurality of types of smart sensors 11 is always stored and held.

The control unit 13c of the process monitoring device 13 is
When a data collection command designating a data item is received from the operator console device 15, the transmission text 20a of the communication information 19e in the setting (registration) information of the smart sensor 11 corresponding to the corresponding data item written in the memory 13d is displayed. Based on this, a text of the data collection command is created and transmitted to the relevant smart sensor 11 via the signal line 12. In this case, the data item information designating the data items required to be collected by the corresponding smarter sensor 11 is also transmitted at the same time. Further, if necessary, detailed measurement conditions such as detection sensitivity and detection range are also transmitted.

A process monitoring device 13 is provided via a signal line 12.
The smart sensor 11 that received the data collection command from
The specified data of the device to which it is attached is detected and returned as an analog data signal to the process monitoring device 13 via the signal line 12. If necessary,
Various digital information to be responded to by the process monitoring device 13 is superimposed on this analog data signal and transmitted to the process monitoring device 13.

The control unit 13c of the process monitoring device 13, which has received the analog data signal from the smart sensor 11 via the signal line 12 and the transmission / reception unit 13a, transmits the received analog data signal to the transmission / reception unit 13b and the transmission line 14. It is transmitted as it is to the operator console device 15. Further, the control unit 13c transmits the display control information including the data type 19b, the display format 19c, the data name win 19d, and the auxiliary information 19f of the corresponding data item stored and held in the memory 13d via the transmitting / receiving unit 13b to the analog data. Operator console device 15 superposed on the signal
Send to.

From the process monitor 13 to the transmitter / receiver 15a
The control unit 15d of the operator console device 15, which has received the analog data signal and the digital display control information via the, temporarily stores and holds the received display control information in the memory 15c. Further, the control unit 15d converts the received analog data signal into digital data, and displays it in the display form C based on the display control information written in the memory 15c.
Display output to the RT display 15b.

In the process monitoring system configured as described above, communication information for exchanging information between the corresponding smart sensor 11 and the process monitoring device 13 for each smart sensor 11 and the corresponding smart sensor 11 are detected. CRT of operator console device 15
Detailed display control information for realizing the display form when displaying on the display 15b is stored in the database 17b.

The communication information and the display control information stored in the database 17b include, of course, the information of Classes 1 and 2 in the above-mentioned conventional monitoring system, and each belonging to Class 3 unique to each smart sensor 11. Also includes detailed information. Therefore, when the operator console device 15 causes the CRT display 15b to monitor the data of the operating state of each device, the supervisor can instruct the detailed measurement conditions and the detailed display form for the corresponding data item to be measured and displayed. It will be possible.

That is, it becomes possible to maximize the functions possessed by each smart sensor 11 only by a command from the operator console device 15. As a result, it is possible to significantly improve the monitoring accuracy of each device that constitutes the plant.

Further, the control program of the process monitoring device 13 and the operator console device 15 does not include the communication information or display control information of each smart sensor 11 described above. Therefore, each smart sensor 11
When changing the specifications, adding or removing the specifications, it is only necessary to change the setting (registration) contents of the database 17b, and it is not necessary to change each control program described above.

Therefore, it is possible to easily change the specifications of the smart sensor 11, add or remove the smart sensor 11 while maintaining the state in which each function possessed by each smart sensor 11 can be maximized.

Further, even when the specifications of the smart sensor 11 are not changed, for example, the data detection item and the display form can be easily and arbitrarily changed by the supervisor changing the setting (registration) contents of the database 17b. .

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the process monitoring system of the embodiment, the data collection display setting device 17 that receives the smart sensor instruction command from the operator console device 15
Corresponding smart sensor 1 read from the database 17c
Although all the setting (registration) information of No. 1 is transmitted to the process monitoring device 13, only the communication information of the setting (registration) information is transmitted to the process monitoring device 13, and the display control information of the setting (registration) information is transmitted. It may be transmitted to the operator console device 15.

In this case, when the process monitoring device 13 receives an analog data signal from the smart sensor 11, it may transmit only this data signal to the operator console device 15. Then, the operator console device 15
Displays the data received from the process monitoring device 13 on the CRT display 15b based on the display control information directly received from the data collection display setting device 17.

[0046]

As described above, in the process monitoring system of the present invention, the communication information and display control information of each smart sensor is stored in the database and the specification change, extension, removal, etc. of each smart sensor occurs. In that case, the registered contents of the database are changed. Therefore, without changing the control programs of the process monitoring device and the operator console device, while maintaining the state in which the functions of each smart sensor can be used to the maximum extent, each smart sensor can be changed or added as needed. Can be done easily.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a process monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing stored contents of a database of the system of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of control information and data in the system of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional process monitoring system.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Smart sensor, 12 ... Signal line, 13 ... Process monitoring device, 14 ... Transmission line, 15 ... Operator console device, 16a. 16b ... Transmission path, 17 ... Data collection display setting device, 17b ... Database, 19e ... Communication information.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An operator console device, a process monitoring device, and a plurality of smart sensors, wherein the operator console device collects necessary data from a designated smart sensor via the process monitoring device and collects the collected data. In a process monitoring system for displaying on its own display in a display form corresponding to the corresponding data, communication information for performing information exchange between the corresponding smart sensor and the process monitoring device and the corresponding information for each smart sensor. A data collection display setting device having a database storing display control information for realizing a display form when displaying data detected by a smart sensor on the display device is provided, and the process monitoring device includes the data collection display device. Data is sent from the smart sensor using the communication information received from the setting device. Then, the collected data is sent to the operator console device, and the operator console device follows the display control information received from the data collection / display setting device or via the process monitoring device. A process monitoring system, wherein the process is displayed on the display device in a different display form.