JPS62278845A - Data transmission equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To correspond to the defect of plural units only with one unit composed of a piece of transmission equipment and an external control equipment by providing a transmission setting memory and an address setting device with respect to said memory and an address converting memory to execute the conversion between the address from an external control equipment and the address fed to a common memory and an address setting device to with respect to said memory. CONSTITUTION:To transmitting setting ROM45, the address information of plural transmitting areas in a common memory 40 is stored and the address is set by an address register 48. At the time of transmitting and receiving the data of external control equipment and a common memory 40, into an address conversion ROM 50, the information to convert the address designation given from the external control equipment to the common memory to the address designation to apply respectively when a self-transmitting device exclusive-use transmitting area is set to respective transmitting areas in a common area is stored and the address is set by an address register 51. For this reason, only by changing the setting of address registers 48 and 51, the setting change of the transmitting area of the selftransmitting device and the operation to convert the address designation from the external part to the address designation applicable to the setting change of the transmitting area are executed in a moment. It is not necessary to reset the address designation of the external control equipment in accordance with the setting change of the transmitting area.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] 3. Detailed Description of the Invention [Object of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a data transmission device used in a process control system, etc. When an external control device such as a control computer, programmable controller, or process input/output device breaks down, the procedure for backing up the failed device with a device that is on standby is simplified and the process is made on standby in advance. The present invention relates to a data transmission device that can significantly reduce the number of backup devices required.

<Conventional technology> Recent data transmission equipment has become large-scale data transmission equipment with high speed and large capacity in response to needs, and as equipment has changed, system construction has also shifted from a function-intensive method to a function-distributed method. It's coming.

On the other hand, the data transmitted by the data transmission device is
Some are shared between devices, and there is also a trend toward centralization in response to the need to easily monitor the entire system.

In a system that simultaneously distributes the functions of transmission equipment and centralizes data, the transmission equipment is connected to each external control device such as a control computer, programmable controller, process input/output device, etc., and data lines are connected to the transmission equipment. In addition, each transmission device has a built-in memory with the same contents called a common memory so that all the process data can be shared by each device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a process control system having such a configuration.

The data transmission devices 1 to 8 are interconnected by a transmission loop, and the transmission device 1.2 has a control calculation method 10.11.
The transmission device 3.4 is connected to the detector and drive bag @18°19 via the process input/output device 12.13, and also to the transmission device 5 to 19.
8 are connected to programmable controllers 14 to 17, respectively. The common memory in each of the transmission devices 1 to 8 is divided into a plurality of memory areas called transmission areas, which are exclusively allocated to each of all the transmission devices including the own transmission device. and process input/output device 12.
Process data from 13 and control needle 13m10,1
1. Control data from the programmable controllers 14 to 17 is first stored in the transmission area assigned to the transmission device in the common memory of the transmission device to which the external control device is connected, and then transferred from there to the transmission loop 9. The data is transmitted cyclically and at high speed to all transmission devices via the transmission device, and is stored in the transmission area assigned to the transmission device of the source in the common memory of each transmission device. In this way, the data output from each external control 11 device 10-17 is stored in the assigned transmission area of the common ik memory of all the transmission devices 1-8. As a result, each external control 1lIa
The devices 10 to 17 will share the same data via the common memory of the transmission Vt1W to which they are connected,
Therefore, each of the external control devices 10 to 17 is closely coupled to the other external control device at the data input/output end, as if directly connected.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of a conventional data transmission device used in such a system.

As mentioned above, the common memory 40 is divided into a plurality of transmission areas assigned to each of all transmission devices including the own transmission device (in addition, there are also areas for controlling the operation of the own transmission device). (There is also an area for storing information.) The address setting switch 31 is a switch that presets the start address of the transmission area assigned to the own transmission device, and the set start address is sent to the address counter 33 via the address bus 32.

When the address counter 33 enters the transmission mode, it first presets its count value to the start address, and when transmission starts, it receives a counter set signal output from the transmission control circuit 44 every time one word is transmitted. Then, count up the count value. Further, the number of words setting switch 34 is a switch for presetting the number of words to be transmitted from the own transmission device, that is, the number of addresses in the transmission area assigned to the own transmission device. and is sent to the word counter 36.

When the word counter 36 enters the transmission mode, it presets its count value to O'', receives a set signal from the transmission 1.II control circuit 44 for each word transmission, and increments the count value. When the value reaches the number of words, a transmission end signal is sent to the transmission control circuit 44 via the signal line 38. Upon receiving the transmission end signal, the transmission control circuit 44 stops the transmission operation.

Through the above operations, the address of the transmission area assigned to the own transmission device is sequentially designated from the address counter 33 to the common memory 4o via the address bus 39 starting from the first address. Then, data is transferred from the sequentially designated addresses to the data bus 41.
After being read out and converted into a serial signal by the parallel-to-serial converter 42, it is transmitted to another transmission device via the transmission loop 9.

In addition, the common memory 40 is connected to an external control@equipment interface circuit 4 via an address bus 39 and a data bus 41.
3 is connected to the interface circuit 43, and an external control device (not shown) is connected to this interface circuit 43. By specifying the address of the transmission area assigned to the transmission device in the common memory 40 and outputting data, the external control device sends the output data to the assigned transmission area, and also outputs the data to the assigned transmission area. It is set to input necessary data from a preset address inside.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) By the way, in the above-mentioned plant control system, if a failure occurs in either the transmission device or the external control equipment connected to it during plant operation, it will take a lot of effort to repair it. The plant cannot be shut down until the repairs are completed, as it would take a considerable amount of time. Therefore, an extra unit connected to an external control device and a transmission device is installed in the system in advance, and it is kept on standby during normal times, and when a failure occurs, the unit related to that failure is placed on standby. By backing up the system, plant operations can be resumed promptly. that time,
As mentioned above, in a common memory type transmission device, the address of the transmission area assigned to each transmission device in the common memory is determined in advance, so the transmission area of the standby transmission device is the backup device. must be set to the same address as the transmission area assigned to the Otherwise, it will be necessary to change the settings of the transmission area when backing up, and especially if the control system is large and complex, data exchange between each external control device will be complicated. This is because if the area is changed, the transmission areas of a large number of transmission devices must also be changed in connection with this, making the operation extremely complicated. For the same reason, the address specified for the common memory when the standby external control device exchanges data with the common memory must also be set to be the same as that of the external control device being backed up. Must be.

However, in the conventional data transmission equipment shown in Figure 3, the transmission area (starting address, number of words) is set each time using a switch. It is not possible to instantly set the same transmission area as the transmission bag d at the failure location on the device, and backup cannot be started immediately. In addition, regarding the address setting of external control 111 devices, if the device is capable of software control, perform operations such as moving the software of the failed device to a backup device and reset the specified address to the same address. For equipment that cannot be used, such as process input/output equipment,
Hardware setting operations are required, and in any case, it is difficult to set the same address as the device that will be backed up in a short period of time.

Therefore, in the past, in order to be able to start backup immediately when a failure occurs without having to perform the troublesome setting change operations described above, it is necessary to set a unit on standby and specify the target to be backed up by one unit. There is a problem that it is necessary to set the same state in advance to the same state as that, and therefore many units have to be kept on standby for backup.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a data transmission device having a common memory that can easily change the settings of the transmission area assigned to its own transmission device in the common memory in a very short time, and that There is no need to change the addressing settings of external control equipment, and as a result, failures in multiple units can be handled by simply leaving one unit consisting of one transmission device and the external control equipment connected to it on standby. The purpose is to provide a data transmission device that can perform

[Structure of the invention]

<Means for Solving the Problems> In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a transmission setting memory in which address information of a plurality of transmission areas in a common memory is stored, and an address of this transmission setting memory is set. When exchanging data between the first address setter, an external control device, and the common memory, the address designation given to the common memory from the external control device is transmitted to each transmission area in the common memory. An address conversion memory storing information for converting into an appropriate address designation in each case where a device-specific transmission area is set, and a second address setting device for setting the address of this address conversion memory are provided. Then, by setting the first and second address setters, the address information of any one of the plurality of transmission areas is selected from within the transmission setting memory, and the address information of the common memory specified by the information is selected. A transmission area dedicated to the own transmission device is set in the transmission area, and address conversion information corresponding to this transmission area setting is selected from the address conversion memory, and based on that information, the address specification from the external control m+ device is transmitted. The address designation is converted into an address specification that matches the area setting and then given to the common memory.

(Function) By simply changing the settings of the first and second address setters, you can change the settings of the transmission area assigned to the own transmission device and adapt the address specification from the external control device to the changes in the settings of the transmission area. The operation of converting to the designated address can be performed instantaneously, and external control can be performed in response to changes in the transmission area settings.
+ There is no need to reconfigure the address designation of the device.

(Example) The present invention will be explained below with reference to Examples.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

This figure differs from FIG. 3 in that it includes a transmission setting ROM 45 that replaces the address setting switch 31 and word number setting switch 34 in FIG. Transmission setting ROM
address register 48, an address conversion ROM 50 that converts between an address from an external control device and an address given to the common memory 40, and this address conversion R
The OM 50 is provided with an address conversion ROM address register 51 for setting an address via a signal line 52.

The transmission setting ROM 45 stores address information of each transmission area in the common memory 40, that is, the start address and the number of words. Transmission setting ROM address register 4
When one address is set in the transmission setting ROM 45 by 8, the transmission setting ROM 45 reads out the address information stored in that one address, and the first address is stored in the address counter 33 and the number of words is stored in the word counter. Give to 36. Address counter 33 and word counter 36 operate in the same manner as in FIG.

Therefore, in the transmission mode, both counters 33.3
Data is read from one transmission area in the common memory 40 specified by the address information given to 6, is converted into serial data by the parallel-to-serial conversion circuit 42, and is transmitted to the decoupling data transmission device. In other words, the dedicated transmission area of this data transmission device is the transmission setting ROM.
Common memory 40 selected by address setting of 45
It will be set in one of the transmission areas.

The address conversion ROM 50 contains an address specified by an external control device to the common memory 40 when inputting/outputting data (previously stored in a specific transmission area in the common memory 40 for transmission exclusively for own data transmission equipment). Assuming that the area is allocated, the common memory 4
Address conversion information for converting to an appropriate address in each case where a transmission area dedicated to the own data transmission device is set in each transmission area in 0 is stored. When one address is set for the address translation ROM 50 by the address translation ROM address register 51,
The address conversion ROM 50 selects the address conversion information stored in one address, converts the address designated by the external control device according to the address conversion information, and outputs the converted address to the address bus 39 of the common memory.

For example, if an address has been set in the external control device assuming that the dedicated transmission area of the own data transmission device is the first transmission area of the common memory 40, then If the address setting is made to select the case where the th transmission area is a transmission area dedicated to the own transmission device, this address conversion ROM 5
0 converts the address designation for the first transmission area from the external control device into the address designation for the Nth transmission area and applies it to the common memory 40.

Input signals to the transmission setting ROM address register 48 and the address conversion ROM address register 51 are both provided from the common memory 40 via the data bus 41. That is, in the common memory 40, in addition to each transmission area assigned to each data transmission device, there is an area storing information for controlling the operation of the own data transmission device, and this control information area includes both addresses. register 4
Address setting signals for setting each address are stored in 8.51. When starting to use this data transmission device, the control information area is addressed from the external controller depending on which transmission area in the common memory 40 the transmission area of the own transmission device is to be assigned. By reading out a specific address setting signal from the area and inputting it to both address registers 48.51, the set addresses of both address registers 48.51 are determined. Then, if the address information of, for example, the Nth transmission area is read out from the transmission setting ROM 45 by this address setting, the address conversion ROM 50 also reads Nff! The storage addresses of information in both ROMs 45 and 50 are associated in advance so that address conversion information is selected when the second transmission area is selected as the transmission area of the own transmission device.

When a process control system as shown in Fig. 2 is configured using a data transmission device with such a configuration, multiple units of the same type of external control equipment (for example, programmable controllers 14 to 17) , just keep one unit on standby for backup.
It is possible to immediately respond to any malfunction of any unit. That is, even if any unit fails, the transmission setting ROM address register 48 and the address conversion ROM address register 5 of the data transmission device kept on standby are
1 and 1 respectively, the dedicated transmission area of the standby transmission device will be set to the same area as that of the failed unit's transmission device, and the address set in the external control device of the standby unit at that time will be set to the same area as that of the failed unit's transmission device. is automatically converted to an address compatible with the above transmission area setting, and the unit placed on standby is automatically set to the same state as the failed unit. Furthermore, since all of these settings are made by electrical signal manipulation, they are completed almost instantaneously. Therefore, backup can be started immediately and control can be continued with almost no system stoppage.

In the above embodiment, the transmission setting ROM, address change eRO
Although M is used, it goes without saying that a RAM may be used instead.

Furthermore, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the system configuration not only in a loop configuration as shown in FIG. 2 but also in other party line or star configurations.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, by providing a transmission setting memory storing address information of each transmission area in a common memory, and not arbitrarily reading information of one transmission area from this memory, In addition to making it possible to set a transmission area exclusively for the own transmission device in the first transmission area, it also stores address conversion information for converting the address specification from the external control WJ device into the address specification that is compatible with each transmission area setting. An address conversion memory is installed to convert the address specification from the external control device 11 into an address specification that matches the above transmission area setting and then gives it to the common memory. You can instantly set a transmission area dedicated to your own transmission device in any transmission area without changing the address set on the device, and therefore, this single data transmission device can back up multiple data transmission V devices. It is possible to continue control with almost no system stoppage.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of a process control system to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a conventional device. 1-8...Data transmission device, 9...Transmission loop, i
o, il... Control computer, 12.13... Process input/output device, 14-17... Programmable controller, 18.19... Detector and drive device, 33.
...Address counter, 36...Word counter, 4
0... Common memory, 42... Parallel-serial conversion circuit, 43... External controller mti device interface circuit, 44... Transmission control circuit, 45... Transmission setting ROM
, 48... Address register for transmission setting ROM, 50
...Address conversion ROM, 51...Address conversion R
Address register for OM. Applicant's agent Mr. Sato Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] Consisting of a plurality of data transmission devices connected via transmission paths and a plurality of external control devices respectively connected to each transmission device, each transmission device is shared among all the transmission devices. Each transmission device has a built-in common memory that stores the data to be transmitted, and the common memory of each transmission device is divided into multiple transmission areas dedicated to each transmission device. Data is transmitted from the transmission area dedicated to its own transmission device in the common memory to the transmission area dedicated to its own transmission device in the common memory of each other transmission device, and each external control device transmits data to the common memory of the transmission device to which it is connected. In the data transmission device used in a system configured to send and receive data, a transmission setting memory in which address information of a plurality of transmission areas in a common memory is stored, and an address of this transmission setting memory are set. A first address setter transmits address designation given to the common memory from the external control device when exchanging data between the external control device and the common memory to each transmission area in the common memory dedicated to the own transmission device. and a second address setter for setting the address of this address translation memory. , select address information of any one of the plurality of transmission areas from within the transmission setting memory according to the settings of the first and second address setters, and specify the address information by this address information. A transmission area dedicated to the own transmission device is set in one transmission area in the common memory, and the address conversion information corresponding to this transmission area setting is selected from the address conversion memory, and the selected address conversion information is 1. A data transmission device characterized in that an address designation from an external control device is converted into an address designation compatible with the transmission area setting based on the transmission area setting, and the address designation is applied to a common memory.