JPH07298376A - Signal transmission device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the signal transmission device which provides the redundancy system of a low-order network when a high-order network system gets out of order (stops). CONSTITUTION:A process for transmission in a master station 3a is equipped with a means which sets plural station numbers, and a signal which is common to a slave station 5 or master station 3b of another system is sent through the low-order network 6 together with an individual signal for a slave station 5a on this system. Further, the common signal from the master station 3a and 3b to the slave station 5 includes data constitution for logical arithmetic and in the slave station 5, specified logical arithmetic is performed to output its result.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a signal transmission device which facilitates maintenance of operation only by a lower network system when a higher network system or the like fails (stops).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In process control equipment and the like, a plurality of devices are often operated in combination, and it is necessary to monitor the state of each device. However, since the devices are separated from each other, etc. A signal transmission device is used for. For example, in equipment where piled up sediment is picked up by a power shovel, and the sediment is loaded onto a belt conveyor one after another, the equipment monitoring the state of the power shovel and the state of the belt conveyor are monitored. If the device being operated is separated, signal transmission is performed between them, and if an abnormality occurs in either one, control is performed to stop the entire equipment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a lower network system including a conventional signal transmission device, in which a common master station is provided to handle a common signal transmitted from a plurality of master stations of different systems. In the figure, 1 is a host controller and 2 is a host network to which parent stations 3a and 3b and a common parent station 4 are connected. From the master stations 3a and 3b and the common master station 4, the lower network 6
The slave stations 5a, 5b, 5 are connected to each other via.

In such a conventional signal transmission device,
The input A of the slave station 5a and the input B of the slave station 5b are ANDed, for example.
It is assumed that (logical multiplication) is performed and the output C of the slave station 5 is set. In the above example of the process control equipment, the input A is the state of the power shovel (normally ON), the input B is the state of the belt conveyor (normally ON), and the output C is the state of the power shovel and the state of the belt conveyor. When both are normal, it is turned on and the lamp is turned on. The inputs A and B are the slave stations 5a and 5 respectively.
After being input from b, it is transferred to the common master station 4, which is a separate system, and used for logical operation, so it is positioned as a common signal in the entire system. In this case, the common signal between the master station 3a and the master station 3b is transferred to the common master station 4 via the host controller 1 or the host network system 2. The logical operation processing (AND) of the common signal is executed by the common master station 4, and the calculation result is transferred to the slave station 5 via the lower network 6. As described above, the slave station 5
To obtain the output C. Information from the slave station 5 is sent from the common master station 4 to the master stations 3a and 3 via the upper network 2.
b.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a lower network system including a conventional signal transmission device, in which a common slave station is provided to handle a common signal transmitted from a plurality of master stations of different systems. is there. In this case, the host controller 1 and the parent stations 3a and 3b are connected to the host network 2, and the parent networks 3a and 3b connect the lower networks 6a and 6b.
The slave stations 5a and 5b and the common slave stations 7a and 7b are connected via b. 8 is a common slave station 7a and 7b
It is an AND circuit that logically ANDs the signals from.

In such a signal transmission device, as in the previous example, the input A of the slave station 5a and the input B of the slave station 5b are ANDed.
(AND) and set the output C of the common slave stations 7a and 7b. Inputs A and B are positioned as common signals in the entire system. Master station 3 in this case
The common signals of a and 3b are transferred to the common slave stations 7a and 7b via the individual lower networks 6a and 6b.
An AND circuit performs arithmetic processing on each of the transferred common signals to obtain an output C. Information from the common slave stations 7a, 7b such as output signals to the AND circuit 8 to the master stations 3a, 3b is transferred via the respective lower networks 6a, 6b. As can be seen from the above, the common master station 4 or the common slave stations 7a and 7b are specially provided only for handling common signals.

[0006]

In the conventional signal transmission device provided with the common master station as in the example shown in FIG. 4, one master station is required for the common signal, which is not economical. Moreover,
When the upper system failed (stops) or the common master station failed, the redundant system of the lower network system was difficult to obtain. That is, it becomes impossible to handle the common signal only by the lower network system. Further, in the device provided with the common slave station as in the example shown in FIG. 5, the same number of common slave stations as the master station that handles the common signal is required, so that the economical efficiency is further deteriorated and the logical operation of the common signal is performed. Since the processing needs to be configured by hardware such as a relay logic, there is a problem that the specification cannot be changed easily. Also, both of them transfer common signals and exchange information via the host controller or host network system, so when the host network system is in an offline state,
In order to confirm the operation of a series of processes, it is necessary to monitor the status of the master station (power shovel status and belt conveyor status in the above example of process control equipment), and make adjustments or inspections on site. There was a problem that it was difficult.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a first object of the present invention is to obtain a signal transmission device capable of taking a redundant system of a lower network system when a failure (stop) of the upper network system occurs. It is a thing. The second purpose is to obtain a highly reliable signal transmission device.

[0008]

In the signal transmission apparatus according to the present invention, means for setting a plurality of station numbers is provided in the transmission processor for the lower network system inside the master station.

Further, among the plurality of station numbers set in the master station, the station number for signal transmission to the master station of another system is the same as the station number of the master station in the host network system. .

Further, the same station number is set in a plurality of parent stations.

Further, a transmission data structure for logical operation is added to a common signal from the master station to a slave station of another system, and a logical operation function is provided in the slave station.

In addition, for one signal transmission from one specified slave station to a plurality of master stations, reception completion and return are sequentially performed in accordance with a priority order predetermined for the plurality of master stations. is there.

[0013]

In the signal transmission device configured as described above, a plurality of station numbers are set in one master station for a slave station of its own system, a slave station of another system, and a master station of another system, respectively. , It becomes possible to exchange common signals with each station.

Signal transmission in a lower network system from a certain master station to a master station in another system is performed by the station number in the higher network system.

Further, by setting the same station number in a plurality of master stations, a common signal is transmitted and received between the plurality of master stations and one specified slave station.

In the slave station, the plurality of common signals transmitted from the plurality of parent stations are processed according to the logical operation designated by the transmission data, and the operation result is output.

In addition, one slave station to a plurality of master stations
For each signal transmission, reception completion is returned from the multiple master stations in order of priority.

[0018]

【Example】

Example 1. FIG. 1 shows a signal transmission device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Although the same or corresponding parts as those of the conventional device are denoted by the same reference numerals, the master stations 3a and 3b have a lower network inside. Two transmission processors (dotted lines), which are dedicated circuits for communication with, are set up, and one transmission processor sets the station number used when communicating with the slave station of its own system, and the other A station number used when communicating a common signal with a slave station or a master station of another system is set in the transmission processor. That is, the other transmission processor can set the station number used when communicating with the slave station 5 and the station number used when communicating with another master station.

Next, regarding the operation, as in the conventional example, the slave station 5
AND (logical product) the input A of a and the input B of the slave station 5b
However, a case where the output C of the slave station 5 is set will be assumed and described. First, the signal transmission between the slave station and the master station of the own system will be described. The station number of the master station 3a for the slave station 5a (the station number of the master station 3a when a signal is transmitted from the master station 3a to the slave station 5a) is set to be the same as the station number of the master station 3a in the host network 2.
The station number of the master station 3b with respect to the slave station 5b is set in the same manner, and the input A and the input B are transmitted to the master stations 3a and 3b by the respective station numbers. Next, signal transmission between a master station and a slave station of different systems will be described. The slave station can recognize only one master station number, that is, since only one master station number can be set for the slave station, the master station 3a station number and the master station 3b station number for one specified slave station 5 can be set. Are set to the same, and the signal is transmitted at that station number. Since the station number of the master station 3a and the station number of the master station 3b are the same in the slave station 5, the signals from both of them are processed as signals from one master station. The data from the master station 3a and the master station 3b includes a logic operation code (for example, AND) and operation data (A and B), and the slave station 5 has a logic having a designated logic operation processing function. Slave station 5 by incorporating
Outputs C based on the received logical operation code and operation data.

Conversely, from the slave station 5 to the two master stations 3a and 3
The case of transmitting a signal to b will be described with reference to FIG. The transmission data from the slave station 5 is transferred to the master stations 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d via the lower network 6.
Since there is one master station number for the slave station and one master station is considered, the transmission data is transferred once. In order to confirm that each master station has received the transfer data, each master station executes reception completion return in the order of priority determined according to the station number for the individual signal. Since the slave station 5 determines whether or not the reception completion is returned from the master station and performs a retry process or the like, highly reliable communication can be executed.

Next, the upper network 2 fails (stops)
Signal transmission such as information exchange between the master station 3a and the master station 3b of another system in a state where the host network 2 is not used will be described. In this case, since the signal line handling the common signal to the slave station 5 of the lower network 6 is used,
It is indistinguishable if the station number of the parent station 3b for the parent station 3a and the station number of the parent station 3b for the child station 5 are the same. Therefore, the station number of the master station 3b for the master station 3a is a station number different from the station number of the master station 3b for the slave station 5, that is, the station number for the slave station 5b when transmitting an individual signal, that is, the master station 3b in the upper network 2. Set to the station number of.
Similarly, regarding the station number of the master station 3a for the master station 3b, the station number for the slave station 5a when transmitting an individual signal, which is a station number different from the station number of the master station 3a for the slave station 5,
That is, it is set to the station number of the master station 3a in the host network 2. As described above, since a slave station that can handle a common signal with a plurality of master stations is provided, the cost is excellent, and since the lower network system operates regardless of the presence or absence of the upper network system, a redundant system can be taken.

Example 2. In the first embodiment, two transmission processors for the own system and another system are provided in the master station, and two station numbers can be set in the transmission processors for the different systems. In addition, if one transmission processor can set multiple station numbers for its own system, for another system's slave stations, and for exchanging information with another system's master station, a more economical system Can be configured.

[0023]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, it has the following effects.

Since a plurality of station numbers are set in the transmission processor inside the master station, even when the host network system is in failure (stopped) or is being started up, only the lower network system transmits common signals and the master signal is transmitted. Information can be exchanged between stations.

Further, since signal transmission between the master stations is performed by the station number of each master station in the higher network system, information exchange between the master stations can be performed only by the lower network system.

Further, since the same station number is set for a plurality of master stations, one identified slave station recognizes the plurality of master stations as if they were one master station, and the plurality of master stations and one slave station. A common signal can be exchanged with the station.

Further, since the transmission data structure for logical operation is added to the common signal from the master station to the slave station of another system and the logical operation function is provided in the slave station, the logical operation can be performed only by the lower network system.

Further, for one signal transmission from one specified slave station to a plurality of master stations, reception completion return is sequentially carried out in accordance with a priority order predetermined to the plurality of master stations. Therefore, it is possible to perform reliable communication between a plurality of parent stations and a specific child station only by using the lower network system.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a signal transmission device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating that reception completion return is performed for data transmission from a specific slave station to a plurality of master stations according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a signal transmission device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a case where a common master station that handles a common signal is provided in a conventional signal transmission device.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a case where a common slave station that handles a common signal is provided in a conventional signal transmission device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Upper controller, 2 Upper network, 3, 3
a, 3b, 3c, 3d master station, 5, 5a, 5b slave station,
6 Lower network.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A master station sets its own station number for a slave station, and the slave station recognizes the master station having the set station number as the master station of the slave station, thereby making one master. One system is composed of a station and a slave station as a subordinate station, and is equipped with a plurality of the above systems, and one system (hereinafter referred to as its own system)
In a signal transmission device that communicates signals handled as only individual signals, and signals commonly handled by its own system and other systems (hereinafter referred to as other systems) as a common signal, transmission to the lower network system inside the master station A signal characterized by providing a means for setting multiple station numbers in the processor for transmitting and receiving a common signal with a slave station of another system or a master station of another system as well as an individual signal with a slave station of its own system Transmission equipment. 2. A station number for transmitting a signal to a master station of a different system among a plurality of station numbers set in the master station is the same as the station number of the master station in the host network system. The signal transmission device according to claim 1. 3. A common signal can be exchanged between the plurality of master stations and one specified slave station by setting the same station number in the plurality of master stations. The signal transmission device according to item 1 or 2. 4. A plurality of signals transmitted from a plurality of the master stations by adding a logical operation transmission data structure to a common signal from the master station to a slave station of another system and providing a logical operation function in the slave station. 4. The signal transmission device according to claim 3, wherein said common signal is logically operated in said slave station and the operation result can be output. 5. For one signal transmission from one slave station to a plurality of master stations, reception completion return from the master station to the slave stations according to a priority order predetermined for the plurality of master stations. 5. The signal transmission device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the steps are sequentially performed.