JPS63281597A - Function checking system for distributed control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To efficiently execute the ckecking of an internal meter or sequence control function by supplying a simulation signal for the ckeck from an operator's station to the internal meter or the sequence control function. CONSTITUTION:When the system is set in the check mode by operating from the operator's station 1, a feed control unit 301 is connected to a communication line 4. To the internal meter or the sequence control function called with the system being in said state a simulation input Ei generated on the station 1-side is supplied through operating a keyboard 102, and a response Eo is confirmed by the cathoderay tube 101 of the station 1. Of the check thus executed, the initial condition, the content of operation, and the output-result data of each item of check are stored in an automatic check means 31, and a display, a recording, or a check is re-executed when necessary. In such a way, the ckeck of an internal meter or a sequence control function can be efficiently executed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Field of Application in Industry> The present invention is an internal control system in a distributed type II @ system that uses a microcomputer to implement various professional control functions as internal instruments or sequence control functions in software. The present invention relates to a method for efficiently performing testing of instruments or sequence-based W functions.

<Prior Art> An overview of a distributed control system will be explained with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. FIG. 5 is an overall conceptual diagram, in which 1 is an operator's station with a man-machine interface function for exchanging information with operators; CR7 display means 1;
01. A keyboard 102 is provided.

3 is a field control station for exchanging information with the process; 4 is a communication line r connecting the operator's station and the field control station. The field control station is composed of a plurality of field control units 301, 302, . . . , and each unit is represented by 301.
It consists of S2 cards 301a, 301b, -301s.

One field: One control unit has a function of controlling, for example, 8 loops using a sampling method using one microprocessor.

The input/output cards 301a to 301f have input/output functions for inputting signals from the process and transmitting operation signals to the process, and the card 3019 is a card common to the unit, and is used for control calculations and communication with the three lines 4. Has interface function.

In the process field, 4 is a υItil valve, 5°6 is a sensor, 7 is a contact input, and 8 is an on/off on/off valve. 9 is the manual operation/setting device interface nest,
The operation output from the cards 301a and 301b is interfaced with the control valve 4 and merged into the ring board 1.
The output of the manual operation/setting device 11 is received through the terminal 0.

12 is a signal conditioner 3+ that receives measurement outputs from the sensors 5 and 6; 13 is a general-purpose terminal board that receives contact input; 14 is a relay output board that supplies operational output to the on/off valve 8; 15 is a card 301c~
This is a marshalling board that relays the elements 301f and 12 to 14.

One field control unit, for example 301, is responsible for controlling multiple loops, for example eight loops, by one microprocessor means, so signal processing means for various functions realized by software functions, so-called internal instruments, are standardized. Been prepared.

Figure 6 is a conceptual diagram of the n1l of 3011-301TL.
(e.g. 63) internal instruments can be defined. FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of a man-machine interface for one internal instrument 3011. is a CRT
Its input/output is on @ side 101.

Setting values, alarm setting values, etc. can be displayed both analogously and digitally, and the setting values and control parameters can be changed via the keyboard 102.

The types of internal instruments and sequence υ control functions are standardized, and there are feedback functions such as an indication unit, digital adjustment unit, manual operation unit, and calculation unit, or decision tables for sequence control, and each function is controlled by a microprocessor. Realized in software.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of a typical digital control unit, including input signal conversion function A, correction calculation/Mekfeng function B, and alarm function C1 instruction/key! b) It has function D and output signal processing function E.

As described above, one field control unit has a maximum of, for example, 63 internal instruments or multiple decision tables defined, and in a system with several such field control stations (for example, 18), internal instruments The number of tables and decision tables is extremely large, and each one has different specifications, so
A large number of man-hours are required for the functional inspection.

A conventional method of functional testing of internal instruments or sequence control functions will be explained with reference to FIG.

The inspection targets are internal instruments 43 in the field control unit 301 or decision tables 3011 to 303.
01n, these have various feedback control functions defined respectively, sequence 1I111iDvs function 18゜16 is an analog signal input card, 17G is a voltage/current generator connected to the card next to it, 18 is a pulse signal input 19 is a pulse train generator, 20 is a contact signal input card, 21 is a contact signal generator connected to the card, 22
2 is a digital voltmeter for measuring the voltage drop across the shunt resistor, 26 is a contact output card, and 27 is a lamp means that is lit by the contact output.

Communication episode from the operator's station! ! ! 4, the internal instrument or decision table is called up, and according to its type and specifications, a simulated signal for testing is supplied from the signal source connected to the input card, and the processing results are sent to the voltage engineer 1 or the lamp via the output card. Check it out.

In this case, the inspection is performed under the initial Jf1 conditions for each inspection item.

Operation details 9 It is checked whether correct results can be obtained by checking the inspection sheet in which the correct output contents to be generated are written.

<Problems to be solved by the invention> Initiated inspection is performed at each station, but when there are many inspection stations, the connection of inspection equipment to the input/output card may require connection of a shunt resistor or inspection. The removal work after completion is extremely complicated and requires a large amount of man-hours.

The applicant filed a patent application in 1986-85 as a means to solve this problem.
973 provided a system that connects the input and output of a field control unit to an operator's station via a communication line, making it possible to inspect internal instruments and sequence functions from the operator's station.

The present invention aims to provide an inspection method based on this method with further enhanced functions.

Means for Solving the Problems> The system of the present invention is characterized by an operator's station having a man-machine interface function and inputting measurement signals from the process through an input/output means to execute predetermined signal processing. A field control stage system that has multiple internal instruments or sequence control functions realized by software functions that transmit operation signals to the process, and distributed control that is a communication line that connects the operator's station and the field control station. In the system, the connection between the input/output means and the internal instrument or sequence control function is disconnected, and the input and output thereof are directly connected to the communication line,
- A function in which a simulated input signal is given from the operator's station to each of the internal instruments or the sequence control function via the communication line, and a response to the simulated input signal is inspected by the operator's station via the communication line. and a function that saves the data of initial conditions, operations, and test results for each item of the above inspection via the communication line, displays and records the saved data, and re-executes any inspection item via the communication line. The point is that it is equipped with the following.

Function> When the operator's station is set to inspection mode, the input and output of the field control unit are disconnected from the card and connected to the communication line.

A simulated input generated on the operator's station side is given to the internal instrument or sequence control function called in this state via the communication device latitude by keyboard operation,
The response is displayed on the operator's station (C
Check with RT or the keyboard's indicator light).

Inspections performed in this way are based on the initial conditions and
The contents of the operation and the data of the output results are stored in the automatic inspection means, and the inspection is displayed, recorded, or re-executed as necessary (Example) Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the switching state of the inspection mode according to the method of the present invention. In the figure, reference numerals 28 and 29 denote switching means that disconnect the input and output of the field control unit from the input card and the output card, and connect them directly to the communication line 4.

Et is connected to Operator's Station 1 via communication line.
The test simulation input signal Eo given to the field control unit is a response signal and is displayed on the operator's station 1 side to check whether it is normal or abnormal.

If the simulated signal Ei is an analog signal, it is transmitted as a percentage of the span, or if it is based on contact, it is transmitted by operating a function key assigned on the screen display. In addition, the response is displayed by numerical data on the CR7 screen, and in the case of contact output, it is displayed by lighting the lamp display means provided on the CR7 screen or the assigned function key.

In testing using this procedure, initial conditions are set for each inspection item, and when the operation item is executed, it is checked whether the correct result is obtained or not.If there is an abnormality, the internal instrument of the field control unit, Modifications are made so that correct results can be obtained by debugging the program of the sequence function.

The initial conditions for each inspection item, the execution details of all operation items, and the inspection results are transmitted to the automatic inspection means 31 via the communication line 4 and stored in the file 311. 31
2 is an operator's station in this automatic inspection means, which has the function of displaying data in a file 311 or instructing recording by a printer 313, as well as selecting arbitrary inspection items and transmitting them to the field control station via a communication line. It has a function to re-execute the execution in the same order as the one executed by the operator.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of the hardware configuration in the inspection mode, in which the operator's station 1 and the field control station 3 are connected via the communication line 4. A state in which the automatic inspection means 31 is connected is shown.

FIG. 3 shows the software functional configuration for realizing the inspection system of the present invention. The inspection system has a function of separating processes and input/output cards.

It consists of three functions: an inspection equipment replacement function and an automatic inspection function, and the replacement function further consists of a replacement function and an extension function of the existing inspection v1 function. Each function will be explained below.

(1) Disconnect the process input/output card! 1ffi This is the function explained in Figure 1. When the system enters inspection mode, the internal instrumentation or sequence control function reads data from the input card and outputs data to the output card, as shown in the flowchart of Figure 4. Jump and communicate data directly with the communication line.

(2) Replacement function for existing equipment This is the function explained in Figure 1, which uses the operator's station's CRT, keyboard, and keyboard lamp means to input a simulated input signal to the field control unit and read out and display the response output. Execute.

(3) Extended functions A function to prepare a simulated process model inside the operator's station, connect it to a field control unit, check the simulation results, connect it to the next step in the sequence, etc. with conventional external connections. This makes it possible to carry out inspection functions that would be extremely complicated to perform with instrument-based inspections.

(4) Automatic inspection function This is a function that activates the automatic inspection means explained in Fig. 1, and files and edits the initial condition settings, operation details, and inspection results made by the operator for each inspection item.
Organize, display and record the contents of any inspection item, or re-run past inspections based on instructions and save the results.
It has the Ia function for RT display or printer recording.

<Effects of the Invention> As explained above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be expected.

(1) All simulated signals for inspection are given from the CRT and keyboard at the operator's station via the communication line, and the responses are also displayed. There is no need for external equipment such as switches, lamps, digital voltmeters, shunt resistors, wires, etc.

(2) The automatic inspection function allows you to completely save the M history of inspections performed by the operator, so by using this function for witnessed inspections performed before delivery to the customer, you can check each inspection item. The number of man-hours for re-execution inspections can be significantly reduced, the time between inspections can be shortened, and the efficiency of inspections after the customer is present can be greatly improved.

(3) As a side effect, the error of the signal generator is no longer a factor, so constant inspection accuracy is improved, and in order to disconnect the input/output card, software functions can be run on a machine other than the target machine. It becomes possible to check.

[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the software configuration of the inspection method of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the hardware configuration,
Figure 3 is a configuration diagram of the inspection software, Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the signal processing procedure for disconnecting input/output cards, Figure 5 is a configuration diagram of the distributed control system, and Figure 6 is a diagram of the configuration of the distributed control system.
Figure 7 is a conceptual diagram of the internal instrument, Figure 8 is a configuration diagram showing an example of the functional blocks of the internal instrument, and Figure 9 is a configuration diagram that does not show the connection of 834 external devices in the conventional inspection method. be.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Multiple functions are realized by an operator's station with a man-machine interface function and a software function that inputs measurement signals from the process via input/output means, executes predetermined signal processing, and sends operation signals to the process. In a distributed control system comprising a field control station having an internal instrument or sequence control function, and a communication line connecting the operator's station and the field control station, the connection between the input/output means and the internal instrument or sequence control function is provided. The input and output thereof are disconnected and directly connected to the communication line, and a simulated input signal is applied from the operator's station to each of the internal instruments or sequence control functions via the communication line, and a response to the simulated input signal is generated. The operator's station performs the inspection via the communication line, and the data on the initial conditions, operations, and test results for each item of the inspection are saved via the communication line, and the saved data is displayed and recorded. A functional testing method for a distributed control system, comprising a function of re-executing test items via the communication line.