JPH11168580A - Notifying unit, programmable controller and automatic notifying system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the setting of a program on an end user-side for automatic notification and the preparation of a software package on a maker-side by constituting a programmable controller by means of combining and connecting it with the other unit and providing a function for automatically notifying a terminal equipment of data on the state of an equipment unit through a telephone line. SOLUTION: A notifying unit 4f is connected to the equipment unit 2 among respective units constituting the programmable controller 4. The notifying unit 4f incorporates a modem and is directly connected to the telephone line 6. The notifying unit 4f takes in sensor signals from the various sensors of an equipment unit 2-side as input data and automatically dial-transmits data on the state of the equipment unit 2 to a terminal equipment 10-side based on input data. Thus, a notifying system can inexpensively be constructed without setting the special program only by incorporating the notifying unit 4f in the programmable controller 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic notification system in which a programmable controller comprising a combination of a plurality of units and a terminal device are connected via a telephone line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional automatic reporting system will be described with reference to FIG. 4. This automatic reporting system comprises an equipment 2, a programmable controller 4, and a telephone line 6.
, Modems 8a and 8b, and a terminal device 10.

The programmable controller 4 includes a power supply unit 4a, a CPU unit 4b, an input unit 4c,
Output unit 4d, analog input / output unit 4e, AS
It is composed of a CII (ASCII) unit 4g.
The programmable controller 4 includes the equipment 2
Is connected to the input unit 4c and the ASCII unit 4
g is connected to the modem 8a via the RS232C12. Each of these units is detachable via a connector of each other, and each is connected by a data bus, an address bus, and a power supply line.

[0004] In the automatic notification system having the above configuration, data relating to the state of the equipment is input to the CPU unit 4b via the input unit 4c. The data is processed in the CPU unit 4b, and if the data is abnormal, the abnormal data is A
The data is converted into a predetermined ASCII code by the SCII unit 4g and output. The data thus converted into the ASCII code is supplied to the modem 8a via the RS232C12 which is a transmission circuit having a serial transmission interface standard. In the modem 8a, digital data from the ASCII unit 4g is modulated, converted into a communication voice signal, and output. In this way, the communication voice signal from the modem 8a is converted into a digital signal again by the modem 8b via the telephone line 6 and transmitted to a terminal device such as the personal computer 10 to be notified.

[0005] Here, ASCII, RS232C, and modem are well known in the communication field, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

In such a conventional automatic reporting system, a programmable controller 4 as a reporting source is disposed at the site, while a terminal such as a personal computer 10 serves as a reporting destination as a management center for centrally managing the equipment 2. As a result of being connected via the telephone line 6 for transmission or reception of the data, the automatic notification device transmits the data to the terminal device by automatic dial transmission. While transmitting data via a telephone line, the terminal device can automatically receive the data.

[0007] Examples of such equipment 2 include those installed on the site such as refrigeration equipment, boiler equipment, unmanned robot factory equipment, water supply equipment, building disaster prevention equipment, unmanned contract machines, power receiving and substation equipment, and the like. , Each of these equipment
Various sensors for monitoring the state of the equipment are provided. On the programmable controller 4 side,
It is configured to monitor the occurrence of an event such as an abnormality of the equipment 2 based on the signal state from the sensor and automatically notify the personal computer 10 that is the notification destination.

[0008]

In the automatic notification system described above, when the programmable controller is used in an automatic notification system, it is necessary to set a program for automatic notification on the programmable controller side. However, this is a huge burden for end users. Also, the manufacturer does not prepare a software package for automatic notification in the programmable controller itself, so it will take considerable cost to have a specialized software manufacturer produce the software package. ing.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic notification system using a programmable controller, which eliminates the need for the above-mentioned program setting on the end user side and preparation of a software package on the maker side. I have.

[0010]

The reporting unit of the present invention can be combined with other units to form a programmable controller, and automatically sends data on the status of equipment to a terminal via a telephone line. The above-described problem is solved by providing a notification unit that performs a notification operation to an apparatus.

[0011] The notification unit is preferably configured to be able to transmit and receive data by being interposed between another unit and the terminal device.

[0012] The programmable controller of the present invention comprises:
The above-mentioned object is attained by providing a programmable controller comprising a combination of one or more other units and the notification unit.

An automatic notification system according to the present invention includes the programmable controller and a terminal device, wherein the notification unit in the programmable controller is connected to the terminal device via a telephone line. The above-mentioned problem has been solved by using an automatic notification system.

[0014] Preferably, the terminal device in the automatic notification system is a programmable display.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

An automatic notification system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
Is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the entire automatic notification system,
FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the reporting unit in the programmable controller of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation.

First, with reference to FIG.
Is a programmable controller, 6 is a telephone line, 8 is a modem (modulator / demodulator for data transmission), and 10 is a terminal device.

The equipment 2 is, for example, a refrigeration facility, a boiler facility, an unmanned robot factory facility, a water supply facility, a building disaster prevention facility, an unmanned contract machine, a substation facility, and the like.
Various sensors such as a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and a pressure sensor are provided corresponding to each of the sensors.

The programmable controller 4 includes a power supply unit 4a, a CPU unit 4b, an input unit 4c,
It comprises an output unit 4d, an analog input / output unit 4e, and a reporting unit 4f. The power supply unit 4a supplies power to each circuit in the programmable controller. The CPU unit 4b controls the operation of the entire programmable controller according to a predetermined program. The input unit 4c is connected to an input digital device (not shown) and takes in digital data from the input digital device. The output unit 4c is connected to an output digital device (not shown) and outputs digital data to the device. The analog input / output unit 4e is connected to an analog device (not shown) and inputs and outputs analog data to and from the analog device. The reporting unit 4f is a feature of the present embodiment, and will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

[0020] Among the units constituting the programmable controller 4, a reporting unit 4 f is connected to the equipment 2, and the reporting unit 4 f has a built-in modem and is directly connected to the telephone line 6. Also,
Each unit is detachable via a mutual connector, and each unit is connected by a data bus, an address bus, and a power supply line.

The notification unit 4f receives sensor signals (contact signals of contact ON or contact OFF) from various sensors on the equipment 2 side as input data, and based on the input data, data on the state of the equipment 2. Is automatically transmitted to the terminal device 10 in a procedure described later. The terminal device 10 includes a personal computer 10a,
For example, the programmable display 10b. Each terminal device 1
0 automatically receive the data. The programmable display 10b can display data, graphics, and the like with a simple program, and has the same display effect as the personal computer 10a. A modem may be built in the programmable display 10b.

Referring to FIG. 2, a notifying unit 4f includes a connector 12 for connecting to other units 4a to 4e (connection to an address bus and a data bus) and connecting to various sensors of the equipment 2 respectively. , As control means for controlling central functions such as transmission and reception of data with other units via the bus, processing of sensor signals from equipment, and control of notification with the terminal device 10. A microcomputer 14, a ROM 16 storing a control program, a RAM 18 for temporarily storing data, a modem 20, a line interface 22 and a line transformer 2 as line connection devices.
And 4. Each connector of the address bus, data bus, power supply and equipment is connected to the connector 12,
The sensors of the address bus, the data bus and the equipment are connected to the CPU 14. The configuration of other internal circuits of the notification unit 4f is not shown. Such a reporting unit 4f can refer to the data from the address bus and the data bus connected to the connector 12 to know the content of the data input from the input digital device connected to the input unit 4c. The data can also be reported to the terminal device 10, and the output digital device or the like connected to the output unit 4d can cause the output device to perform a required corresponding operation according to an instruction from the terminal device 10 if necessary. . Further, the contents of the analog device connected to the analog input / output unit 4e can be reported to the terminal device 10 from the input / output data, and the device can perform a required corresponding operation.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a contact which is inserted and connected to the telephone line 6 and turned off-hook (line connection) in an on state and turned on-hook (line disconnection) in an off state. The on / off of the contact 26 is controlled by the microcomputer 14. And is normally in an on-hook state, that is, turned off.
When the microcomputer 14 determines that the equipment 2 is abnormal based on the sensor signal input via the connector 12, the microcomputer 14 takes in the telephone number of the terminal device 10 of the notification destination assuming that an abnormal input has been given, The contact 26 is turned on to connect to the telephone line 6 and report to the terminal device 10 corresponding to the telephone number.

Hereinafter, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The operation of the automatic notification system according to the present embodiment will be described focusing on the control of the microcomputer 14. At step n1, the microcomputer 14
, Data on the state of the equipment 2 is fetched, and it is determined from the input data fetched in step n2 whether the state of the equipment is abnormal. If it is determined that the abnormality is abnormal, the microcomputer 14 fetches the telephone number of the report destination in step n3, edits the abnormal data in step n4, turns on the contact 26, and performs automatic dial transmission. When this is completed, step n
At 5 the line is disconnected.

[0025]

As described above, according to the notification unit of the present invention, a programmable controller can be configured by being combined and connected with other units, and data relating to the state of equipment is automatically transmitted via a telephone line. Since it is a reporting unit that can report to the terminal device,
When the programmable controller is used as an automatic notification device in the automatic notification system, if this notification unit is incorporated as a unit in the programmable controller, it can operate as an automatic notification device for the terminal device alone without special program setting. Therefore, it is not necessary to set a program for automatically notifying each unit constituting the programmable controller as in the related art, and as a result, the above-described program setting on the end user side or software package on the manufacturer side is not required. As a result, there is no need for preparation and the like, resulting in a low-cost reporting system. In this case, the report unit is convenient because data can be transmitted and received between other units.

According to the programmable controller of the present invention, since the programmable controller comprises a combination of one or more of the other units and the reporting unit, the reporting unit is simply installed together with the other units without setting a special program. A reporting system can be constructed at low cost.

According to the automatic notification system of the present invention, the automatic notification system includes the programmable controller and a terminal device, and the notification unit in the programmable controller is connected to the terminal device via a telephone line. For this reason, it is not necessary to set the above-described program on the end user side or prepare a software package on the maker side. As a result, a low-cost reporting system can be constructed.

In this case, when the terminal device is a programmable display device, the terminal device can be inexpensive as compared with a terminal device such as a personal computer, and the end user cares about the operation program of the personal computer. It is possible to easily create a dedicated operation screen as much as a personal computer without having to perform the operation and reduce erroneous operations. Further, it is easy to use on the actual site and requires a small installation area. In this case, the system software is small, so that the system stability can be enhanced, the environment resistance is excellent, and the handling is easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic notification system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an internal circuit block diagram of the notification unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation;

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional automatic notification system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Equipment 4 Programmable controller 6 Telephone line 8 Modem 10 Terminal 4a Power supply unit 4b CPU unit 4c Input unit 4d Output unit 4e Analog input / output unit 4f Notification unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kiyoaki Shimizu 4429 Minamiyucho, Ichinomiya-cho, Ichinomiya-cho, Aso-gun, Kumamoto Prefecture OMRON Aso Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A programmable controller which can be combined with other units to form a programmable controller, and
A reporting unit for automatically reporting data relating to the state of equipment to a terminal device via a telephone line. 2. The notification unit according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit is configured to be able to transmit and receive data by being interposed between another unit and the terminal device. 3. A programmable controller comprising a combination of one or more of the other units and the notification unit according to claim 1. 4. An automatic system comprising: the programmable controller according to claim 3; and a terminal device, wherein the notification unit in the programmable controller is connected to the terminal device via a telephone line. Notification system. 5. The automatic notification system according to claim 4, wherein said terminal device is a programmable display.