JPH08179824A - Process loop controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide the process loop controller with which the display for easily confirming the generation of alarm even from a distant place is enabled. CONSTITUTION: This device is provided with plural main bodies 10 of controller which are equipped with front panels for displaying graphs or the like and mounted while being concentrated, virtual enlarged display panel for handling all the front panels of plural main bodies 10 of the controller mounted while being concentrated as one display panel as a whole, display driver 18 for performing the display drive of front panels, information converting table 17 for preserving the correspondent relation between the contents of information and display information parts on the respective front panels, data transmitting means 15 for transmitting the information contents to be displayed on the virtual enlarged display panel to all the plural main bodies 10 of the controller, and display data control means 16 provided at the respective main bodies 10 of the controller for reading the correspondent display information parts out of the information conversion table when the information contents are received, and displaying them on the front panels while using the display driver 18.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process loop controller used for industrial instrumentation and the like, and more particularly to a process loop controller with improved front panel display.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a process loop controller has been widely used for process control of industrial plants. In such a process loop controller, when some abnormality occurs, an alarm is displayed to notify the operator.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a conventional process loop controller, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an abnormal reading procedure when an alarm occurs in the controller.

First, when some abnormality occurs in control or process, the HALT lamp 1 and the ALM lamp 2 in FIG. 5 blink to notify the operator that the alarm state is set.

Next, when the blinking of the HALT lamp 1 and the ALM lamp 2 is confirmed, the operator presses the function key 3 to switch from the normal display mode to the function selection mode. By this mode switching, the display of the item display 4 is changed from the display showing the operation state until then to "AL".
The display switches to "M".

Further, the operator presses the ENT key 5 to switch from the function selection mode to the data display mode. In the data display mode, the item is displayed on the item display 4 and the corresponding data is displayed on the data display 6. The operator presses the loop key 7 to sequentially switch the group of the item display of the item display 4 and the data display of the data display 6.

At this time, detailed contents for the alarm state are displayed on the data display corresponding to the item of the cause of the abnormality. Therefore, when the operator discovers the cause of the abnormality by switching the display, the operator confirms the content and presses the clear key 8 to return the display states of the item display 4 and the data display 6 to the normal display mode.

[0008]

The size of the front panel of the process loop controller is about 10 square centimeters, and the HALT lamp 1 and the ALM lamp 2 displayed on this panel are very small objects.

Therefore, it is difficult for the operator to confirm the alarm state in the control room where a large number of operation panels and controllers are installed.

Further, there is a problem that the complicated procedure is required to display the detailed contents of the alarm as described above. The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a process loop controller capable of displaying an alarm occurrence can be easily confirmed even from a distant place. .

[0011]

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 outputs a manipulated variable with respect to an input control amount and displays a character string, a symbol or a graph. Corresponding to each front panel, a plurality of controller bodies that have a panel and are densely mounted, and a virtual enlarged display panel that handles all the front panels of the densely mounted controller bodies as one display panel as a whole. Information that stores the correspondence between the contents of information and the display information part on each front panel when displaying information on the virtual enlarged display panel and the display driver that is installed in each controller body to drive the front panel display The conversion table, the data transmission means for transmitting the information content to be displayed on the virtual enlarged display panel to all of the plurality of controller bodies, and this data When the information content to be displayed on the virtual enlarged display panel is received by the data transmission means, the corresponding display information portion is read from the information conversion table, and this display information portion is displayed on the front panel by the display driver. And a process loop controller including data control means.

The invention according to claim 2 is, in the invention according to claim 1, a process loop comprising data conversion means and data input means for inputting data for executing display data control means to each controller body. The controller.

[0013]

Therefore, first, in the process loop controller of the invention according to claim 1, the plurality of mounted controller main bodies respectively perform process control and the like, and the operation amount and control amount corresponding to each front panel,
The set values and their bar graphs are displayed.

The front panels of these densely mounted controller bodies constitute a virtual enlarged display panel that handles all the front panels as one display panel as a whole.

In each display panel, a display driver provided in each controller body displays each of the above-mentioned displays such as a bar graph during normal control.
Here, for example, when it is desired to display an alarm display on the virtual enlarged display panel, the correspondence relationship between the information of the display portion on each front panel for displaying the alarm and the alarm information is stored in the information conversion table. .

When an alarm occurs, the data transmission means transmits the alarm information to all controller bodies. After transmitting the alarm information, in each controller which has received the data, the display data control means reads out the corresponding display information portion from the information conversion table, and the display information portion is displayed on the front panel by the display driver.

As a result, a series of information indicating, for example, an alarm is displayed on the virtual enlarged display panel. In addition, in the process loop controller of the invention according to claim 2, the same operation as in the invention according to claim 1 is achieved, and in addition, the data for executing the information conversion table and the display data control means is supplied to each controller. It is input to the main body. Therefore, the required information display can be freely set.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is an external configuration diagram and an implementation explanatory diagram of an embodiment of a process loop controller according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a process loop controller of the embodiment. Further, the same parts as those of the conventional device shown in FIG.

This process loop controller is composed of five controller bodies 10 densely mounted on the instrument panel 9 in the control room. Each controller main body 10 is a process loop controller that controls a process such as various plants, and controls such as outputting the manipulated variable MV with respect to the controlled variable PV by means not shown.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1A, each controller body 10 is equipped with a mode display section 11 as a front panel on which various information can be displayed by dot display. In the normal display mode, the display of the mode display unit 11 constitutes various display units such as the HALT lamp 1, the ALM lamp 2, the item display unit 4, the data display unit 6, and the bar graph display unit 12.

The mode display unit 11 includes a HALT lamp 1, an ALM lamp 2, an item display 4, a data display 6, and a data display 6.
Instead of displaying the bar graph display unit 12 or the like, it is possible to display a preset symbol or the like by using the entire mode display unit 11 as shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, the controller body 10
Is in an alarm state, the process loop controller displays a symbol as shown in FIG. 1 (b), for example. The detailed configuration for realizing this display is shown below in FIG.
This will be described using the block diagram of

In FIG. 2, each controller body 10
Are connected to the transmission bus 15 via the alarm transmission unit 13 and the alarm reception unit 14, and are configured to be capable of mutual data transmission.

The controller main body includes an alarm transmission section 13 and an alarm reception section 14, a CPU 16 as display data control means, in addition to a process control section (not shown).
A display / character table 17 as an information conversion table,
The display driver 18 and the display unit 19 are included.

The CPU 16 has a part of the process control function, and also has an alarm determination section 20 and a display data determination section 21. When an abnormality occurs due to a failure of the controller body 10 itself, a process abnormality, a data transmission error, or the like, the alarm determination unit 20 determines the type of this abnormality and determines the type of alarm. Then, the alarm determination unit 20 inputs the determined alarm type into the display data determination unit 21 in the CPU 16, and further the display data determination units 2 in the other four controller main bodies 9.
1 through the alarm transmitter 13 and the transmission bus 15.

Further, the alarm determination section 20 sends a corresponding signal to each display data determination section 21 when a key input from the operation panel is received through the display section 19 in the alarm display mode described later. ing.

When the display data determination unit 21 receives a signal from the key in the alarm type or the alarm display mode from itself or another controller main body 10,
Characters to be displayed according to alarm type, signal type, etc.
Display symbol data from display / character table 17,
It is sent to the display driver 18.

The display unit 19 includes an alarm mode selection unit 22.
And the mode display unit 11. The alarm mode selection unit 22 is configured to display on the mode display unit 10 according to an input from the display driver 18, and to accept the input of the fine key 3, the ENT key 5, the loop key 7, the clear key 8 and the like. The same operation as the operation for displaying the detailed content of the alarm described in the related art is possible.

That is, when the alarm determination unit 20 determines that an alarm has occurred, the symbol corresponding to the alarm type is displayed on the mode display unit 10, and the display on the display unit 19 shifts to the alarm display mode. In the alarm display mode, a total of five mode display sections 10 of the five controllers 10 constitute one display section as a whole.

Therefore, first, the alarm contents corresponding to the alarm type as shown in FIG. 1B, for example, are first displayed, and the detailed contents of the alarm are displayed by operating each key as in the conventional example. Then, the item display 4 is displayed on the display portion as a whole of the five mode display portions 10.
And the data value display 6 are displayed together.

After returning to the normal state after confirming the detailed alarm contents or in the middle of confirming the detailed contents, when the clear key 8 is pressed, the alarm display mode is canceled and the normal display in the normal state is released. Mode, that is, HALT lamp 1, A for each controller 10
The display returns to the state where the LM lamp 2, the item display 4, the data display 6, the bar graph display 12 and the like are displayed.

In addition to the normal display mode in the normal state by inputting the clear key 8, it is also possible to return to the normal display mode in the normal state when the abnormal state is canceled.

The display / character table 17 stores a table of various characters / symbols for realizing such an alarm display mode. First, a table of various characters / symbols to be displayed according to the alarm type is saved, and in addition, a table of display symbols corresponding to the character strings displayed when each key is operated is saved to confirm the alarm details. Has been done.

Since the display symbol corresponding to the operation of each key differs depending on each controller body 10, the table contents are determined corresponding to the symbol to be displayed on each controller body 10.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the contents of the display / character table 17 are the same as RS232 of the controller body 10.
The data is input to each controller main body 10 by the configuration tool 25 as a data input means connected from the C connector via the cable 24.

The virtual enlarged display panel is composed of, for example, the mode display sections 11 of the five controller bodies 10. Next, the operation of the process loop controller of this embodiment configured as described above will be described.

First, when some abnormality occurs, the alarm determination section 20 notifies the display data determination section 21 of each controller body 10 of the alarm type via the transmission bus 15.

Next, according to each display data judging section 21,
The symbol is displayed on the entire mode display unit 10, and the display unit 19 shifts to the alarm display mode. When the operator confirms the blinking alarms on the entire five mode display portions 10, the operator performs a detailed alarm content confirmation operation using the fine key 3, the ENT key 5, the loop key 7, and the like. During this time, the display state is 5 mode display units 10
It is done as a whole.

After confirming the detailed alarm contents, the operator presses the clear key 8 to cancel the alarm display mode and restore the normal display mode in the normal state.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the alarm determination unit 20 determines the alarm type, transmits this information to all the controller main bodies 10, and each display determination unit 21 reads the corresponding data from the display / character table 17. The alarm display can be displayed on the mode display unit, and the entire five mode display units 10 can be used as one display unit to display the alarm content, and thus the detailed alarm content can be confirmed. Very large display allows the operator to notice the alarm from a distance.

Therefore, it is possible to promptly deal with various alarm causes, particularly system control abnormalities. Further, since the detailed alarm contents can be confirmed and the alarm display mode can be canceled by key operation, flexible operation becomes possible.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment of the process loop controller according to the present invention. The same parts as those in FIGS. Now, only different parts will be described.

This process loop controller displays various parameters such as the control amount PV, the operation amount MV, and the set value SV in the same state as the display state in the alarm display mode based on the information of the process control portion of the controller body 10. I am able to do it.

That is, by inputting a parameter display key (not shown), the mode is switched to a parameter display mode similar to the alarm display mode, and by inputting each key, the operator wants to confirm the parameter to be displayed on the five mode display units 1.
0 is displayed as a whole.

Further, the display / character table 17 stores those having a correspondence relationship necessary for displaying these. As described above, according to the present embodiment, in addition to the configuration similar to the previous embodiment, various parameters such as the controlled variable PV, the manipulated variable MV, and the set value SV can be displayed based on the information of the process control portion. Thus, displaying parameters that are frequently checked by the operator can assist the operator in making an appropriate decision for process control. Further, the present invention can be variously modified as necessary without departing from the gist thereof.

[0045]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a plurality of front panels corresponding to individual controller bodies are used as one virtual enlarged display panel, and one piece of information is displayed on this virtual enlarged display panel. By doing so, it is possible to provide a process loop controller that enables a display for easily confirming the occurrence of an alarm even from a remote place.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view configuration diagram and an implementation explanatory diagram of an embodiment of a process loop controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a process loop controller of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the controller body and the configuration tool of the embodiment are connected.

FIG. 4 is an illustrative view showing another embodiment of the process loop controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional process loop controller.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an abnormal reading procedure when an alarm occurs in a conventional process loop controller.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... HALT lamp, 2 ... ALM lamp, 3 ... function key, 4 ... item display, 5 ... ENT key, 6 ... data display, 7 ... loop key, 8 ... clear key, 10 ...
Controller main body, 11 ... Mode display section, 15 ... Transmission bus, 16 ... CPU, 17 ... Character / display table, 18 ...
Display driver, 20 ... Alarm determination unit, 21 ... Display data determination unit, 22 ... Alarm mode selection unit.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of controller bodies that are densely mounted and have a front panel that outputs a manipulated variable with respect to an input controlled variable and displays a character string, a symbol, or a graph, and the densely packed controller body. A virtual enlarged display panel that handles all front panels of a plurality of controller bodies as one display panel as a whole, and a display driver that is provided in each controller body corresponding to each front panel and that drives the display of the front panel. When displaying information on the virtual enlarged display panel, a plurality of information conversion tables for storing the correspondence relationship between the content of the information and the display information portion on each front panel and a plurality of information contents displayed on the virtual enlarged display panel are stored. Data transmission means for transmitting to all of the controller main body, and the virtual enlarged display panel by this data transmission means When receiving the information content to be displayed, the corresponding display information part is read from the information conversion table, and the display driver controls the display information part to be displayed on the front panel by the display driver. Process loop controller characterized by 2. The process loop controller according to claim 1, further comprising data input means for inputting data for executing the information conversion table and the display data control means to each controller body.