WO2015170408A1

WO2015170408A1 - Monitoring control system, monitoring terminal, and monitoring program

Info

Publication number: WO2015170408A1
Application number: PCT/JP2014/062493
Authority: WO
Inventors: 芳樹増田
Original assignee: 三菱電機株式会社
Priority date: 2014-05-09
Filing date: 2014-05-09
Publication date: 2015-11-12
Also published as: JPWO2015170408A1

Abstract

A control device according to the present invention receives label information including labels from a setting terminal and stores the received label information, wherein each label defines and associates an address of a device memory, the name of the data that is written in the portion of the device memory indicated by the address, and a display attribute indicating a display method for the data that is written in the portion of the device memory indicated by the address. A monitoring terminal (3) obtains label information (13) from the control device, reads data from the portion of the device memory indicated by the address defined by one of the labels, and displays the data read from the device memory and the name of the data, according to the display attribute defined by the label.

Description

Monitoring control system, monitoring terminal and monitoring program

The present invention relates to a monitoring control system, a monitoring terminal, and a monitoring program for monitoring and controlling a programmable control device such as a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) using a monitoring terminal such as a general-purpose personal computer or a portable terminal.

Conventionally, as a monitoring terminal for displaying and operating control contents in a control system, a dedicated programmable display as an HMI (Human Machine Interface) and a control display device such as a general-purpose panel computer have been widely used. .

The display screen of the programmable display is created on a computer with dedicated screen creation software installed. The screen data created on the computer is transferred from the computer to the programmable display by communication and displayed on the screen of the programmable display.

In the panel computer, display and operation can be performed by using the software that realizes the function of the programmable display and reading the screen data.

In addition, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique that enables display on an HTML browser such as a computer or a portable information terminal using software that converts screen data of a programmable display into an HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) format.

There is also an integrated development environment for programming the PLC, which is the controller of the control system, to facilitate the creation of the HMI screen connected to the PLC and the control program of the drive device. Addressing in the PLC device memory is possible. Patent Document 2 discloses a programming technique using a “label” that makes it possible to use a function name or the like for the name. As a result, the device name of the PLC and the system signal name are linked as labels. For example, when designing an HMI screen, it is possible to make settings using intuitively easy-to-understand label names without being aware of the address in the device memory of the monitored PLC. It becomes.

JP 2002-073320 A Japanese Patent No. 4850556

For monitoring and operation of the control system, it is common to use a dedicated programmable display or panel computer as described above, but either method uses dedicated screen creation software to monitor the monitor screen. It is necessary to create screen data. Of course, when creating a new screen, even when diverting existing screen data, it is necessary to set the memory information in the PLC to be connected, so it takes a lot of man-hours to create the screen. .

In designing the monitoring control system, it takes a lot of man-hours to create the PLC control program, and more man-hours are spent when screen creation is added.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to obtain a monitoring control system, a monitoring terminal, and a monitoring program that can reduce the trouble of creating a screen in a monitoring terminal for monitoring and operating a control device. To do.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention provides a control device that executes a control program to control a device and collect data from the device, and writes the data collected from the device to a device memory. A monitoring control system having a monitoring terminal that acquires and displays data written in the device memory from the control device, and the control device is written in the address in the device memory and the device memory indicated by the address Stores label information having a label defined by associating a data name with a display attribute indicating a display method of data written in the device memory indicated by the address, and the monitoring terminal acquires the label information from the control device. When data is read from the device memory indicated by the address defined in the label In accordance with the display attributes defined in the label, and displaying the read data and names from the device memory.

The monitoring control system, the monitoring terminal, and the monitoring program according to the present invention do not need to create a dedicated monitor screen for system monitoring, and can reduce the number of steps required for screen creation.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a monitoring control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a computer that executes the setting tool software. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a computer functioning as a setting terminal. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of label information. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the control device. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the monitoring terminal. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a flow of processing in which the monitoring terminal according to the first embodiment displays a monitoring screen according to the label information of the control device. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of the monitoring control system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram of a configuration of a monitoring terminal of the monitoring control system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram of a configuration of a setting terminal of the monitoring control system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of label information.

Hereinafter, embodiments of a monitoring control system, a monitoring terminal, and a monitoring program according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a monitoring control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The monitoring control system 100 includes a control device 1, a setting terminal 2 and a monitoring terminal 3, which are connected to each other via a network 4. In addition, various peripheral devices 7 to be controlled are connected to the control device 1. In the following description, a device to be controlled by the control device 1 is referred to as a device.

The setting terminal 2 is a device that is used to temporarily connect to the control device 1 and perform settings. The setting terminal 2 is configured by installing setting tool software on a general-purpose computer. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a computer that executes the setting tool software. The computer 600 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 601, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 602, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 603, a storage unit 604, an input unit 605, a display unit 606, and a communication I / F (Interface) 609. .

The CPU 601 is an arithmetic device that executes setting tool program software. A RAM 602 is a work area used when the CPU 601 executes a program. The ROM 603 stores a program to be executed by the CPU 601 when the computer 600 is activated in a nonvolatile manner. A specific example of the program executed by the CPU 601 when the computer 600 is started up is an IPL (Initial Program Loader). The storage unit 604 is a device that stores information in a nonvolatile manner, and a hard disk drive (Hard Disk Drive, HDD), a solid state drive (Solid State Drive, SSD), or the like is applicable. The input unit 605 is a user interface for a user to input information, and a pointing device such as a mouse or a touch panel, a keyboard, or the like is applicable. The display unit 606 is a device that displays information, and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Display), or the like is applicable. The communication I / F 609 is an interface for communicating with the control device 1.

The setting tool software 607 installed in the computer 600 is stored in the storage unit 604. When the CPU 601 reads out and executes the setting tool software 607 stored in the storage unit 604, the computer 600 is in a state of functioning as the setting terminal 2. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a computer functioning as a setting terminal. In the setting terminal 2, the setting tool 21 is operating on the CPU 601. The setting tool 21 includes a control program creation unit 23, a device memory allocation setting unit 24, a communication setting unit 25, and a label information setting unit 26.

The control program creation unit 23 has a function of creating a control program 11 described later that is executed by the control device 1. The control program 11 is a sequence program written in a ladder language or the like. The device memory allocation setting unit 24 has a function of allocating devices used on the control program 11. The communication setting unit 25 has a function of making settings necessary when the control device 1 communicates. For example, when the network 4 is Ethernet (registered trademark), the settings required for communication are settings of an IP address and a communication port. The label information setting unit 26 has a function of creating the label information 13. By operating the setting tool 21 on the setting terminal 2, it is possible to set the device name and the address in the device memory for the label handled by the monitoring control system 100.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of label information. The label information 13 includes items of a global label 131 and a system label name 132 indicating a label name, a data type 133 indicating a device type, a device 134 indicating an address in a device memory, and a display attribute 135 indicating a display method in a monitoring terminal. A plurality of labels 139 are provided. That is, each label 139 of the label information 13 is associated with a function name or control signal name of the control system, an address in the device memory, and a display attribute. In the display attribute 135, numerical display, character string display, lamp display, switch, and the like can be set. As the system label name 132, an intuitively easy-to-understand name such as a function name on the system, a function of each device, and a signal name can be set.

When creating a control program for the control device 1 using the control program creation unit 23 of the setting terminal 2, an HMI operation can be performed intuitively by designating the label 139 instead of designating the device memory 12. It becomes possible.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the control device. The control device 1 includes a communication unit 10, a control unit 14, and a nonvolatile memory 15. The communication unit 10 is a functional unit that transmits and receives data to and from other devices. The nonvolatile memory 15 stores the control program 11 and the label information 13 in a nonvolatile manner. For example, a flash ROM can be applied to the nonvolatile memory 15. The control unit 14 performs processing for executing control of the peripheral device 7. The calculation unit 16 acquires measurement values from the peripheral device 7 through the input / output unit 17 and stores them in the device memory 12. The computing unit 16 generates a control value by executing the control program 11 stored in the nonvolatile memory 15 based on the value of the device memory 12. The calculation unit 16 outputs the control value to the peripheral device 7 through the input / output unit 17. The device memory 12 stores measurement values acquired from the peripheral device 7 by the calculation unit 16. The input / output unit 17 performs control for fetching data from the peripheral device 7 and outputting data in the control device 1 to the peripheral device 7.

Here, it is assumed that the peripheral device 7 includes a display 71 and a driving device 72. In addition, as a specific example of the indicator 71, a lamp, a meter, etc. are mentioned.

In the control apparatus 1, for example, in the case of Ethernet (registered trademark), an IP address, a communication port, and the like are set as identification information on the network 4, and in other communication modes, a baud rate, a station number, and the like are set. Yes.

The control device 1 collects information set in the label information 13 by executing the control program 11 in the arithmetic unit 16 and stores it in the device memory 12 which is the internal memory of the control device 1. In other words, the control device 1 calculates a control value based on the measurement value stored in the device memory 12 and outputs the control value to the drive device 72, or calculates the obtained measurement value and outputs it to the display device 71. As described above, the control device 1 collects analog and digital signals of the peripheral device 7 serving as a device, and stores the signals in the device memory 12 for each signal attribute according to preset signal definition data.

The value of the device memory 12 is associated with the label information 13 stored in the nonvolatile memory 15, and the communication unit 10 responds to a request based on a communication protocol from another device along with the value of the device memory 12. The associated label information 13 is read from the nonvolatile memory 15 and output to the requesting device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the monitoring terminal. The monitoring terminal 3 is a device that acquires the label information 13 and the value of the device memory from the control device 1 and displays the result. The monitoring terminal 3 includes a display unit 31, a communication unit 32, a storage unit 33, and a calculation unit 34. The display unit 31 is a display device that displays the label information 13 acquired from the control device 1 and the value of the device memory. An LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Display), or the like is applicable. The communication unit 32 is a functional unit that communicates with other devices via the network 4. The storage unit 33 stores the label information 13 acquired from the control device 1. The calculation unit 34 executes an HMI program 35 as a monitoring program for representing the value of the device memory acquired from the control device 1. The HMI program 35 has a function of receiving data from the control device 1 through the communication unit 32 using a protocol. The value of the device memory acquired from the control device 1 is displayed as a graphical user interface (GUI). Used to display on the display unit 31. The HMI program 35 includes a screen composition unit 36 and screen definition data 37. The screen composition unit 36 creates an object by reflecting the value of the device memory acquired from the control device 1 in the screen definition data 37 based on the label information 13 stored in the storage unit 33. The screen definition data 37 is data including part data 39 that defines a layout of a display screen and UI (User Interface) parts to be used, and font data 38 that defines a font for displaying a character string. The HMI program 35 displays an object generated by embedding the value of the device memory in the screen definition data 37 on the display unit 31.

As described above, the HMI program 35 incorporates the screen definition data 37 corresponding to the display attribute of the label, extracts the device used for the label, reads the latest value and display attribute of the device, and reads the screen. It is combined with the definition data 37 and displayed on the display unit 31.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flow of processing in which the monitoring terminal according to the first embodiment displays a monitoring screen according to the label information of the control device. The monitoring terminal 3 designates the control device 1 as a connection destination based on the identification information on the network 4 set in the control device 1 (step S1). The monitoring terminal 3 connects to the control device 1 through the network 4 (step S2), reads the label information 13 using a protocol, and stores the read label information 13 in the storage unit 33 (step S3). Further, the HMI program 35 acquires the value of the device memory corresponding to the label in the label information 13 from the control device 1 based on the label information 13 (step S4). Specifically, the HMI program 35 acquires the value of the device memory corresponding to the label from the control device 1 by designating the address in the device memory by the device 134 in the label information 13. The HMI program 35 selects a UI component corresponding to the display attribute 135 on the basis of the label information 13 acquired from the control device 1, and the data type 133 in the label information 13, in other words, a bit device or a word device Depending on whether or not, the value of the device memory and the UI component are synthesized to generate an object (step S5). The HMI program 35 recognizes the global label 131 and the system label name 132 of the label information 13 as text, and converts them into an image as an object nameplate. Then, the HMI program 35 displays a monitoring screen including the generated object on the display unit 31 (step S6).

When there are a plurality of labels 139 for which the display attribute 135 is set, a list of labels 139 is displayed on the screen, and the user is prompted to select a label 139 to be monitored, whereby the displayed label 139 can be selected. When displaying a plurality of label information on the display unit 31 of the monitoring terminal 3, if the label information does not fit on one screen, the plurality of label information can be displayed by scrolling the screen, or one screen can be regarded as one page. Divided into multiple pages, the pages can be switched and displayed.

On the monitoring screen displayed on the display unit 31 of the monitoring terminal 3, the label is displayed after being converted into setting information such as a label name and device memory and an object associated with a UI component. It is possible to change the display position of the object on the monitoring screen. For example, among the objects on the monitoring screen, objects with high confirmation frequency can be placed at a position with good visibility, or similar items can be displayed. It is possible to select objects and aggregate related objects.

The monitoring terminal 3 uses a font or UI component corresponding to the label display attribute from among fonts and UI components stored in advance as font data 38 and component data 39 in the HMI program 35 for object display. For example, the HMI program 35 selects a display frame when the label display attribute is set to a numerical display or a character string display, and selects a UI part that simulates the real thing when it is a lamp or a switch. The synthesized image is displayed on the display unit 31. In addition, when numerical display is set in the display attribute, the HMI program 35 uses a numeric font corresponding to the value of the device memory acquired from the control device 1, specifically, a 7-segment LED (Light Emitting Display). A font for displaying numbers is selected, and an image is displayed by synthesizing the numerical values so as to be arranged in a frame figure for displaying numerical values. When the display attribute is set to lamp display, the HMI program 35 displays, for example, a UI component indicating a bright lamp that is lit when turned on, or a dark lamp that is turned off when turned off, according to the value of the device memory. The UI parts indicating are switched and displayed.

In the above description, the configuration in which the setting terminal 2 is connected to the network 4 is taken as an example, but the setting terminal 2 may be connected to the control device 1 using a general-purpose communication cable. In this case, as the communication cable, a cable compliant with a known standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark), USB (Universal Serial Bus), or RS232C can be applied.

The monitoring terminal 3 only needs to be able to operate the HMI program 35 that acquires the label information 13 from the control device 1 and reflects the value of the device memory in the screen definition data 37 in accordance with the display attribute 135 defined in the label information 13. Since it is not necessary to create the monitoring screen of the control device 1 in advance, the trouble of creating the monitoring screen can be reduced. An apparatus that can execute the HMI program 35 is not limited to a programmable display or a panel computer, and an apparatus in which an application of the HMI program is installed in a portable terminal such as a tablet terminal or a smartphone can also be applied.

According to the monitoring control system according to the first embodiment, the monitoring terminal 3 generates an object by combining the device memory value with the UI component according to the setting of the display attribute 135 and displays the object on the display unit 31. The setting contents can be easily confirmed.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of the monitoring control system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The monitoring control system 100 further includes a file server 51 and a control device 8 in addition to the control device 1, the setting terminal 2, and the monitoring terminal 3. The file server 51 and the control device 8 are connected to the network 4. The control device 8 has a function equivalent to that of the control device 1.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a monitoring terminal of the monitoring control system according to the second embodiment. The monitoring terminal 3 according to the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that data can be read from and written to the removable storage medium 50. The monitoring terminal 3 has a function of saving the monitoring screen as a monitoring screen project file in the removable storage medium 50 or the file server 51.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a setting terminal of the monitoring control system according to the second embodiment. The setting terminal 2 according to the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the setting tool 21 has a project editing unit 27.

In the project file, the layout settings of objects on the screen and the communication settings with the control device 1 are saved. Therefore, the same screen can be displayed by reading the project file saved in the removable storage medium 50 or the file server 51 by another terminal on which the HMI program 35 operates.

In addition, the project file corresponding to each of the control devices 1 and 8 in the monitoring control system is stored in the removable storage medium 50 or the file server 51, so that the HMI program 35 corresponds to the control device to be monitored. It is possible to read a project file to be monitored from the removable storage medium 50 or the file server 51 and set it as a monitoring target.

The display layout of the project file can be changed by the project editing unit 27 provided in the setting terminal 2. For example, when the same control apparatus is monitored using a plurality of monitoring terminals having different resolutions, the number of labels to be displayed and the layout of objects can be set in accordance with the resolution of each monitoring terminal.

In the present embodiment, if the project file is stored in the removable storage medium 50, when the project file is edited on the setting terminal 2, the removable storage medium 50 is removed from the monitoring terminal 3 and the setting terminal 2 is removable. The project file can be transferred to the setting terminal 2 by reading the storage medium 50. Therefore, even when the setting terminal 2 is connected to the control device 1 using a general-purpose communication cable instead of the network 4, the project file can be edited.

According to the second embodiment, by connecting a monitoring terminal to a network to which a plurality of control devices are connected, it becomes possible to monitor a plurality of control devices with a single monitoring terminal. The number of terminals can be reduced.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
The configuration of the monitoring control system according to the third embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the first embodiment. In the third embodiment, the label information setting unit 26 has a function of setting a security level for each label of the label information. The security level is information for distinguishing the contents to be displayed on the monitoring terminal 3 according to the authority the viewer has. The monitoring terminal 3 has a user authentication function using a password or the like.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of label information. In the label 139, either “low” or “high” is set as the security level 138. For example, a label with security level 138 set to “low” does not require authority to view, but a label with security level 138 set to “high” can only be viewed by an administrator with authority. can do.

In this example, the security level 138 can be set to two levels of “low” and “high”, but the security level 138 may be set to three or more levels.

According to the third embodiment, a screen that restricts browsing of label information can be displayed for a person who does not have authority necessary for browsing.

As described above, the monitoring control system, the monitoring terminal, and the monitoring program according to the present invention are useful in that it is not necessary to create a dedicated monitor screen for monitoring the system, and the number of steps required for screen creation can be reduced. .

1,8 control device, 2 setting terminal, 3 monitoring terminal, 4 network, 7 peripheral device, 10, 32 communication unit, 11 control program, 12 device memory, 13 label information, 14 control unit, 15 non-volatile memory, 16 operation unit , 17 I / O unit, 21 setting tool, 23 control program creation unit, 24 device memory allocation setting unit, 25 communication setting unit, 26 label information setting unit, 27 project editing unit, 31,606 display unit, 33,604 storage unit , 34 arithmetic unit, 35 HMI program, 36 screen composition unit, 37 screen definition data, 38 font data, 39 part data, 50 removable storage medium, 51 file server, 131 global label, 132 system label name, 133 data type, 134 Deba Scan, 135 display attribute, 139 labels, 600 computer, 601 CPU, 602 RAM, 603 ROM, 605 input unit, 609 communication I / F.

Claims

A control program is executed to control a device and collect data from the device, and a control device that writes data collected from the device to a device memory, and data that is written to the device memory is acquired from the control device A monitoring control system having a monitoring terminal for displaying
The control device associates an address in the device memory, a name of data written in the device memory indicated by the address, and a display attribute indicating a display method of the data written in the device memory indicated by the address. Store the label information with the defined label,
The monitoring terminal acquires the label information from the control device, reads data from the device memory indicated by an address defined in the label, and, according to the display attribute defined in the label, the device memory A monitoring control system, characterized in that the data read from and the name are displayed.
A control program is executed to control the device and collect data from the device, and is connected to a control device that writes the data collected from the device to a device memory, and the data written in the device memory is transferred to the control device A monitoring terminal that acquires and displays from
A label defined by associating an address in the device memory, a name of data written in the device memory indicated by the address, and a display attribute indicating a display method of data written in the device memory indicated by the address The label information is acquired from the control device, the data is read from the device memory indicated by the address defined in the label, and the data read from the device memory according to the display attribute defined in the label, and A monitoring terminal that displays the name.
Means for registering a plurality of user interface components;
The user interface component corresponding to the display attribute is selected from the plurality of user interface components, and an object is created by combining the selected user interface component and data read from the device memory, and the generated The monitoring terminal according to claim 2, wherein a monitoring screen including an object is displayed.
Multiple font data are registered in advance,
The monitoring terminal according to claim 3, wherein the object is created using the font data corresponding to the type of the device.
The monitoring terminal according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising an editing function for changing an arrangement position of the object on the monitoring screen.
3. The monitoring terminal according to claim 2, wherein data read from the device memory indicated by an address defined in a label for which a security level is set is displayed according to a user authority of the user.
The monitoring terminal according to claim 2, wherein only a label selected by a user operation among labels included in the label information is displayed.
3. The monitoring terminal according to claim 2, wherein screen data for displaying the object can be saved as project data in an editable format.
A computer connected to a control device that executes a control program to control a device and collect data from the device, and writes the data collected from the device to a device memory. A monitoring program that functions as a monitoring terminal that acquires and displays from the control device,
In the computer,
A label defined by associating an address in the device memory, a name of data written in the device memory indicated by the address, and a display attribute indicating a display method of data written in the device memory indicated by the address Processing to acquire label information from the control device;
A process of reading data from the device memory indicated by the address defined in the label;
A monitoring program for executing data read from the device memory and a process of displaying the name according to the display attribute defined in the label.
In the computer,
Processing to register multiple user interface components;
A process of selecting a user interface component corresponding to the display attribute from the plurality of user interface components;
A process of creating an object by combining the selected user interface component and data read from the device memory;
The monitoring program according to claim 9, wherein a process for displaying a monitoring screen including the generated object is performed.
In the computer,
Processing to register multiple font data;
The monitoring program according to claim 10, wherein a process for creating the object is performed using the font data corresponding to the type of the device.
In the computer,
The monitoring program according to claim 10 or 11, wherein an editing process for changing an arrangement position of the object on the monitoring screen is performed.
In the computer,
10. The processing according to claim 9, wherein when a security level is set for the label, a process of displaying data written in the device memory is performed according to a user authority of the user. Monitoring program.
In the computer,
The monitoring program according to claim 9, wherein a process of displaying only a label selected by a user operation among labels included in the label information is performed.
In the computer,
The monitoring program according to claim 9, wherein processing for saving data of a screen displaying the object as project data in an editable format is performed.