WO2022097274A1 - Engineering tool and programmable logic controller - Google Patents

Abstract

This engineering tool (1) comprises a first storage device having a first storage region, and is connected to a programmable logic controller (20) having a plurality of functions, the programmable logic controller (20) being provided with a first unit (4), and a second unit (3) provided with a second storage device having a second storage region. The engineering tool (1) furthermore comprises: a first target data storage unit (12c) in which are stored groups of configuration data including, for all combinations of effective/ineffective information indicating whether a function is effective, information that identifies a device associated with the function, and an address in which all devices are assigned to regions that are continuous in the first storage region; and a first setting unit (11e) that acquires, from the first target data storage unit (12c), configuration data in which all devices associated with an effective function are assigned, and that generates setting information associating the information identifying a device and the address to which the device is assigned.

Description

Engineering tools and programmable logic controllers

This disclosure relates to engineering tools and programmable logic controllers.

A programmable logic controller (PLC) is used as a device for controlling FA (Factory Automation) equipment that automates a production process in a factory.
The PLC includes a CPU unit that executes a preset control program and a special unit that executes a special function. The CPU unit repeats an operation of supplying output data of the executed control program and an operation of acquiring input data with the special unit. Repeated supply of output data and acquisition of input data between the CPU unit and the special unit is called refresh.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-027539

The PLC described in Patent Document 1 is intended to shorten the time required for data supply and acquisition by refreshing to consecutive addresses as compared with the case of refreshing to non-consecutive addresses.

The PLC described in Patent Document 1 allocates addresses to storage areas that do not require refreshing. Therefore, the storage area that does not require refreshing may be accessed, or the storage area reserved for future specification changes may be accessed.

As described above, the PLC described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that data cannot be efficiently transmitted / received due to unnecessary access. Further, the engineering tool for generating the data set in the PLC described in Patent Document 1 also has a similar problem.

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide an engineering tool and a programmable logic controller that realize efficient refreshment.

In order to achieve the above objectives, the engineering tools pertaining to this disclosure are:
An engineering tool connected to a programmable logic controller comprising a first storage device and a plurality of functions, a first unit and a second unit including a second storage device.
The first storage device includes a first storage area to which a plurality of devices associated with the plurality of functions are assigned.
The second storage device comprises a second storage area to which the plurality of devices are allocated.
The second unit acquires setting information from the engineering tool including information for identifying the device and an address to which the device is assigned in the first storage area, and the second storage area. In association with the address to which the device is assigned, a correspondence table of the address to which the device is assigned in the first storage area and the address to which the device is assigned in the second storage area is generated. Based on the generated correspondence table, for each of the devices, the operation of supplying and storing the data stored in the second storage area to the first storage area and the operation of supplying and storing the data in the first storage area are stored in the first storage area. The operation of acquiring the collected data and storing it in the second storage area and the refreshing operation including the operation are repeated.
The engineering tool stores the information for identifying the device and all the devices associated with the function in the first storage for all combinations of valid / invalid information indicating whether or not the function is valid. A first target data storage unit in which a group of configuration data including the address allocated to a continuous area in the region is stored, and all associated with the effective function from the first target data storage unit. The device acquires the configuration data allocated in the first storage area, and associates the information that identifies the device with the address to which the device is assigned in the first storage area. It includes a first setting unit for generating setting information.

According to the present disclosure, since the device is allocated to the continuous storage area, unnecessary refresh can be avoided, so that an engineering tool and a programmable logic controller for efficient refresh are provided.

Schematic diagram of the system including the engineering tool according to the first embodiment Specific example of the information stored in the storage unit of the engineering tool shown in FIG. (A) to (F) are other specific examples of the information stored in the storage unit of the engineering tool shown in FIG. Explanatory diagram of calculation of search data by the search data calculation unit of the engineering tool shown in FIG. Another specific example of the information stored in the storage unit of the engineering tool shown in FIG. The hardware configuration diagram of the engineering tool shown in FIG. Schematic diagram of a programmable logic controller connected to the engineering tool shown in FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the operation timing of the programmable logic controller included in the system shown in FIG. Specific example of the information generated by the CPU unit included in the system shown in FIG. A flowchart illustrating a process of generating data related to information transmission / reception in the engineering tool shown in FIG. A flowchart illustrating a process of acquiring data related to information transmission / reception in a special unit included in the system shown in FIG. A flowchart illustrating a process of generating data related to information transmission / reception in a CPU unit included in the system shown in FIG. Schematic diagram of the system including the engineering tool according to the second embodiment The figure which shows the specific example of the information stored in the storage part of the engineering tool shown in FIG. Schematic diagram of the network unit and the remote unit shown in FIG. Schematic diagram of a system including a CPU unit according to the third embodiment Schematic diagram of the CPU unit shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, the engineering tool and the programmable logic controller (PLC, Programmable Logic Controller) according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same or equivalent parts are designated by the same reference numerals.

(Embodiment 1)
With reference to FIG. 1, an outline of the entire device information setting system including the engineering tool 1 and the PLC 2 according to the first embodiment will be described.

The engineering tool 1 is a device that generates, stores, and sets the refresh information in the PLC 2. In PLC2, refresh means that the CPU unit 3 supplies the input / output data of the control program executed by the CPU unit 3 corresponding to a valid function to the special unit 4, or the CPU unit 3 is special. It means to acquire from unit 4. As will be described later, the output data supplied by the CPU unit 3 to the special unit 4 or the input data acquired by the CPU unit 3 from the special unit 4 is stored in the storage area included in the CPU unit 3 or the special unit 4. Each section in which input / output data is stored is called a device.
The engineering tool 1 includes a calculation unit 11 that performs an operation to control each part described later, a storage unit 12 that stores information related to refreshment, an external interface 13 that is a communication interface between PLC2, and a display device that displays information related to refreshment. A 14 and an input device 15 for inputting information regarding refresh are provided.

The storage unit 12 includes a unit parameter information storage unit 12b that stores unit parameter information that is information about each function included in the special unit 4, a refresh target data storage unit 12c that stores data related to a device to be refreshed, and a refresh. A refresh setting data storage unit 12d for storing information related to the information is provided.
The refresh target data storage unit 12c is an example of the first target data storage unit in the claim.

As shown in FIG. 2, the unit parameter information stored in the unit parameter information storage unit 12b includes a parameter name, a parameter type which is a value indicating the type of the parameter, and a set value of the parameter.
The parameter type is a value indicating the role of the parameter. When the parameter switches whether or not to use the function corresponding to the function among the functions possessed by the special unit 4, the parameter type is set to "function use determination". When the parameter sets the operation of the function of the special unit 4 corresponding to the parameter, the parameter type is set to "unit operation". The parameter type is preset for each parameter.
The parameter setting value is a value input by the user when changing the operation of PLC2. The value input by the user is set by the unit parameter setting unit 11a and stored in the unit parameter information storage unit 12b, as will be described later.
The parameter type of the parameter whose parameter name is P1 and the parameter type whose parameter name is P3 is the function use determination, and the respective set values are the function used and the function not used. The setting value of the parameter whose parameter type is the function use determination is the function valid / invalid information indicating whether the function is valid or invalid.
Hereinafter, the parameters whose parameter names are P1, P2, ..., P6 are simply referred to as parameters P1, P2, ..., P6.

As described above, the storage area for input / output data is called a device area, and the partition allocated to each input / output data in the device area is called a device.
The refresh target data storage unit 12c stores device configuration data including the device address in the special unit 4 allocated according to the following allocation rules a1 to a3.
The device allocation rule a1 is a rule that "the device to be refreshed is allocated to the device area based on the unit parameter information".
The device allocation rule a2 is a rule that "the device to be refreshed is allocated from the beginning of the device area in a front-justified manner".
The device allocation rule a3 states that "doubleword devices are continuously allocated to the area in which singleword devices are allocated from the beginning of the device area in a front-justified manner. If the number of singleword devices is an odd number, the beginning of the device area. The rule is to assign a single word device and a double word device starting from the address with one word added to the address. " A device whose address is represented by one word is called a single word device, and a device whose address is represented by two words is called a double word device.

In the refresh target data storage unit 12c, for all combinations of parameters whose parameter type is "function use determination", information for identifying the device corresponding to the function and the address to which the device is assigned in the special unit 4 are stored. Device configuration data, including, is stored.
Further, since it is not necessary to refresh the device corresponding to the function not to be used, the parameter type of each device configuration data stored in the refresh target data storage unit 12c is "function use determination" in the unit parameter information. Moreover, only the device configuration data of the device associated with the function whose setting value is "use function" is included.
The device configuration data is an example of the configuration data in the claim.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, there are four parameters whose parameter type is "function use determination": parameters P1, P3, P4, and P6.
When using a certain function, the user sets the setting value of the parameter corresponding to the function to use the function.

The refresh target data storage unit 12c contains device configuration data including the refresh target device corresponding to the function and its address for all combinations of the set values of the parameters P1, P3, P4, and P6 whose parameter type is the function use determination. The group is remembered. The group of device configuration data is stored in the refresh target data storage unit 12c in advance, and as will be described later, the device configuration data required for refresh is acquired by the refresh target data acquisition unit 11d as the refresh target data.
Search data, which will be described later, is added to each device configuration data. It is assumed that the devices D1 to D4 are associated with each function.

Since there are four parameters whose parameter types are function usage determination, parameters P1, P3, P4, and P6, the refresh target data storage unit 12c is shown in FIGS. 3 (A) to 3 (F) as six representative examples. 16 types of device configuration data are stored in.
For example, FIG. 3A shows a case where none of the parameters P1, P3, P4, and P6 whose parameter type is the function use determination is “function use”. FIG. 3B shows a case where only the set value of the parameter P1 is “function use”. FIG. 3C shows a case where only the set value of the parameter P3 is “function use”. FIG. 3D shows a case where the set values of the parameters P1 and P3 are “function used” and the set values of the parameters P4 and P6 are “function not used”. FIG. 3E shows a case where the set values of the parameters P1 and P4 are “function used” and the set values of the parameters P3 and P6 are “function not used”. FIG. 3F shows a case where all the parameters P1, P3, P4, and P6 set values among the parameters P1, P3, P4, and P6 whose parameter type is the function use determination are “function use”.

The device configuration data corresponding to the unit parameter information shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to the parameters P1 and P4 whose set values are set to use the function. This device configuration data is the device configuration data shown in FIG. 3 (E), and devices D1 and D3 are assigned to addresses 0 and 1, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 3 (B) to 3 (F), when devices are assigned, all the devices are continuously assigned to the area starting from address 0. For example, in the case shown in FIG. 3 (F), the devices D1 to D4 are continuously assigned to the addresses 0 to 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, the search data stored in the refresh target data storage unit 12c is calculated according to the rule of arranging bits representing the set value of the parameter whose parameter type is the function use determination by 0 or 1. ..
The value of the search data is the same as the value calculated by the search data calculation unit 11c described later.

Specifically, the search data is calculated according to the following rules.
In the example shown in FIG. 2, there are four parameters whose parameter types are function use determination, P1, P3, P4, and P6, the set values of the parameters P1 and P4 are the function use, and the set values of the parameters P3 and P6 are. The function is set to unused. The bit value corresponding to the parameters P1 and P4 whose set value is the function is set to 1, the bit value corresponding to the parameters P3 and P6 whose set value is the unused function is set to 0, and these bit values are set from the lower bit to the upper bit. When the parameters P1 to P6 are arranged in this order, the binary bit string "0101" is obtained.
A value 5 obtained by interpreting the binary bit string "0101" as a set of decimal integer values is calculated as search data. According to the described rule, different search data in the range of 0 to 15 is calculated for the device configuration data of all combinations of the set values of the parameters P1, P3, P4, and P6.
The rule for calculating the search data is an example of the calculation rule in the claim.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the refresh setting data storage unit 12d, for example, the address of the device in the special unit 4, the information for identifying the device in the special unit 4, the information for identifying the device in the CPU unit 3, and the data transfer direction. Refresh configuration data containing information about is stored. Further, a number described later is added to the refresh setting data.
The refresh setting data includes refresh target data corresponding to a combination of parameters whose function use determination is function use among the device configuration data stored in the refresh target data storage unit 12c.
According to the example shown in FIG. 2, among the parameters P1, P3, P4, and P6 whose parameter type is the function use determination, the parameters whose set value is the function use are P1 and P4, so that the refresh setting data is Devices D1 and D3 shown in FIG. 3 (E) include device configuration data assigned to addresses 0 and 1.
The address of the device in the CPU unit 3 is a value set by the user, as will be described later. The transfer direction is stored in advance in the storage unit 12 of the engineering tool 1, but may be set by the user.
In the refresh setting data, one number is added to the device to be refreshed by one refresh.
The refresh setting data is an example of the setting information in the claim.

Returning to FIG. 1, the calculation unit 11 includes a unit parameter setting unit 11a for setting parameters related to the operation of the function of the special unit 4, and a search data calculation unit 11c for calculating search data corresponding to the set of parameters. A refresh target data acquisition unit 11d for acquiring refresh target data based on search data, and a refresh setting unit 11e for setting refresh-related information in the CPU unit 3 are provided.
The search data calculation unit 11c is an example of the first search data calculation unit in the claim.
The refresh target data acquisition unit 11d is an example of the first target data acquisition unit in the claim.
The refresh setting unit 11e is an example of the first setting unit in the claim.

The engineering tool 1 having the functional configuration described above is realized by, for example, executing a program installed in a computer such as a personal computer, a smartphone, or a tablet.

An example of the hardware configuration that realizes the engineering tool 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

The engineering tool 1 includes an information calculation device 10 for calculating information.
The information calculation device 10 includes a processor 101 that performs various calculation processes described later, a communication unit 102 that communicates with other devices such as an input unit 105 and an output unit 106, and a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access) that temporarily stores information. Main storage unit 103 such as Memory) and SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), auxiliary storage unit 104 such as hard disk drive (HDD) and solid state drive (SSD) that permanently store information, processor 101, and communication unit. It includes a bus 108, which is a path of information exchanged between the 102, the main storage unit 103, or the auxiliary storage unit 104.

The processor 101 is an example of the hardware that realizes the arithmetic unit 11 shown in FIG. 1, the communication unit 102 is an example of the hardware that realizes the external interface 13, and the main storage unit 103 and the auxiliary storage unit 104 are storage units. This is an example of hardware that realizes 12.

The input unit 105 is an example of hardware that realizes the input device 15 shown in FIG.
The input unit 105 is a device that receives data input from the outside. The input unit 105 includes a human interface device such as a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, and a microphone.
The input unit 105 may be a receiving interface such as a parallel bus or a serial bus, which is a device for detecting a signal transmitted by another device.

The output unit 106 is an example of the hardware that realizes the display device 14 shown in FIG.
The output unit 106 is a device that outputs information for displaying various information to the user, and includes, for example, a liquid crystal display, a CRT display, an organic EL display, and the like. The output unit 106 also includes a printer, a plotter, and the like that print information in the form of characters, images, and the like.

Next, the configuration of the PLC 2 to which the engineering tool 1 is connected will be described with reference to FIG. 7 showing the configuration of the PLC 2.
The PLC 2 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) unit 3 which is a device for executing a user program which is a control program created by a user, a special unit 4 which is a device which provides a special function described later, and these units. Includes a base unit 5 which is a unit to be connected.

Subsequently, the details of the CPU unit 3 and the special unit 4 will be described.
The CPU unit 3 includes an arithmetic unit 31 that executes arithmetic processing including execution of a user program, a storage unit 32 that stores various information, and an external interface 33 that is a communication interface with other devices.
The storage unit 32 includes a device area 32a, which is a storage area to which a plurality of devices are allocated.
The storage unit 32 is an example of the second storage device in the claim, and the device area 32a is an example of the second storage area in the claim.

The special unit 4 is a device that executes special functions such as A / D conversion processing and D / A conversion processing. An external device 6 in charge of executing a special function is connected to the special unit 4.
The special unit 4 includes a calculation unit 41 that executes arithmetic processing including control of the external device 6, a storage unit 42 that stores various information, and an external interface 43 that is a communication interface with other devices.
The calculation unit 41 includes a search data calculation unit 41c that calculates search data according to the same rule as the rule shown in FIG. 4, and a refresh target data acquisition unit 41d that acquires refresh target data.
The storage unit 42 includes a device area 42a to which a plurality of devices are allocated and is a storage area.
Further, the storage unit 42 includes a refresh target data storage unit 42c for storing refresh target data. The refresh target data storage unit 42c stores the same data as the device configuration data stored in the refresh target data storage unit 12c.
The search data calculation unit 41c is an example of the second search data calculation unit in the claim. The refresh target data acquisition unit 41d is an example of the second target data acquisition unit in the claim.
The storage unit 42 is an example of the first storage device in the claim, and the device area 42a is an example of the first storage area in the claim. The refresh target data storage unit 42c is an example of the second target data storage unit in the claim.

One or more external devices 6 are connected to the special unit 4 via the external interface 43.

The CPU unit 3 and the special unit 4 are mounted on one base unit 5. The CPU unit 3 is connected to the base unit 5 by an external interface 33. Further, the special unit 4 is connected to the base unit 5 by an external interface 43.
The base unit 5 includes a bus 50 inside. The CPU unit 3 and the special unit 4 are connected by a bus 50.
The units included in the PLC 2, for example, the CPU unit 3, the special unit 4, and the base unit 5 are also realized by the information arithmetic unit 10 shown in FIG. 6, similarly to the engineering tool 1.

The CPU unit 3 is an example of the second unit in the claim, and the special unit 4 is an example of the first unit in the claim.

Next, the details of the refresh executed between the CPU unit 3 and the special unit 4 will be described.
The refresh is an example of the refresh operation in the claim.

PLC2 includes, for example, an operation mode for executing a user program and a setting mode for setting information as an operation mode.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the operation mode, the CPU unit 3 repeats the execution of the user program. Further, the CPU unit 3 executes the END process after the execution of the user program is completed and before the next execution of the user program.
The execution of one user program and the subsequent END processing are collectively called one scan.
In the END process, the CPU unit 3 communicates with the special unit 4 based on the refresh target data, reads the device data stored in the device area 32a, supplies the device data to the special unit 4, and stores it in the device area 42a. do. Further, the CPU unit 3 reads the device data stored in the device area 42a, receives it from the special unit 4, and stores it in the device area 32a. The device data stored in the device area 32a and the device area 42a is the device data of the device to be refreshed, and relates to the device corresponding to the function set to use the function in the unit parameter information shown in FIG. It is a thing.

The arithmetic unit 41 of the special unit 4 executes a function based on the device data stored in the device area 42a and outputs the function to the external device 6. Further, the arithmetic unit 41 of the special unit 4 acquires information from the external device 6 and stores the acquired device data in the device area 42a.

In refresh, the device areas 32a and 42a are accessed in word units. The device data stored in the device areas 32a and 42a is transferred from the device area 32a to 42a or from the device area 42a to 32a without straddling different scans.

As shown in FIG. 9, in the data transfer between the device areas 32a and 42a, the start address of the device area 32a in the CPU unit 3, the start address of the device area 42a in the special unit 4, and the number of refreshes which is the number of words to be transferred. It is based on a refresh table that includes and. For addresses with the same number included in the refresh table, data of multiple words is collectively transferred without straddling different scans.
In the example shown in FIG. 9, for example, data transfer is performed between the area of the device area 32a from the address 1000 to 2 words and the area of the device area 42a from the address 0 to 2 words.
The refresh table is stored in the storage unit 32.
The refresh table is an example of the corresponding table in the claims.

Next, the process of generating refresh setting data in the engineering tool 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This process is executed when the user changes the unit parameter information.

The unit parameter setting unit 11a of the engineering tool 1 acquires the information input by the user, extracts the unit parameter information from the acquired information, and stores it in the unit parameter information storage unit 12b (step S1).

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the user operates the input device 15 while looking at the display device 14 of the engineering tool 1 in which the parameter name and the parameter type are displayed, and sets a blank or a parameter for which a default value is set. Fill in the value.
Next, the unit parameter setting unit 11a acquires the setting value of the parameter input to the input device 15, generates the unit parameter information in association with the parameter name and the parameter type, and uses the generated unit parameter information as the unit parameter. It is stored in the information storage unit 12b.
The parameter name is an example of information that identifies the parameter.

The search data calculation unit 11c acquires parameter setting values from the unit parameter information storage unit 12b, and calculates search data based on the acquired setting values (step S2).
In the example shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, since the set values of the parameters P1 and P4 are set to use the function and the set values of the parameters P3 and P6 are set to not use the function, the search data calculation unit 11c is set. , 5 is calculated as search data.

The refresh target data acquisition unit 11d includes device configuration data including an integer value 5 of the search data calculated by the search data calculation unit 11c in step S2 among the device configuration data stored in the refresh target data storage unit 12c. To search for.
Subsequently, the refresh target data acquisition unit 11d acquires the device configuration data found by searching as the refresh target data (step S3).
In the example shown in FIGS. 3E and 4, the refresh target data storage unit 12c acquires device configuration data in which the devices D1 and D3 are assigned to addresses 0 and 1, respectively.

The refresh setting unit 11e generates refresh setting data and stores it in the refresh setting data storage unit 12d as follows (step S4).

As shown in FIG. 3E, the devices D1 and D3 are assigned to the addresses 0 and 1 of the device area 42a in the special unit 4. The display device 14 of the engineering tool 1 displays the allocation of the devices D1 and D3 in the device area 42a.
Therefore, the user operates the input device 15 while looking at the display device 14 of the engineering tool 1, and inputs information for identifying each device in the CPU unit 3 in which a blank or a default value is set.
The refresh setting unit 11e acquires device configuration data via the refresh target data acquisition unit 11d, and includes the device address in the special unit 4 included in the acquired device configuration data, information for identifying the device in the special unit 4, and information. The refresh setting data is generated in association with the information for identifying the device in the CPU unit 3 input by the user.
Next, the refresh setting unit 11e assigns one number to each group of devices having consecutive addresses in the device area 42a of the special unit 4. The refresh setting unit 11e repeats assigning numbers in ascending order from 1 to all groups of devices having consecutive addresses.

In the example described above, since the addresses in the special unit 4 to which all the devices D1 and D2 are assigned are continuous, the number is only 1.
If the addresses include non-contiguous areas or exceed the upper limit that can be transferred at one time, two or more different numbers are assigned to each group of devices assigned to the consecutive addresses.

The refresh setting unit 11e associates a number with the generated refresh setting data and stores it in the refresh setting data storage unit 12d.
This completes the process of generating refresh setting data in the engineering tool 1.

The search data calculation unit 41c and the refresh target data acquisition unit 41d have the same functions as the search data calculation unit 11c and the refresh target data acquisition unit 11d in the engineering tool 1.
Therefore, the special unit 4 acquires the refresh target data as shown in FIG. 11 in order to execute the operation of the unit. Hereinafter, the operations of the search data calculation unit 41c and the refresh target data acquisition unit 41d will be described differently from those of the search data calculation unit 11c and the refresh target data acquisition unit 11d.

The search data calculation unit 41c acquires unit parameter information from the CPU unit 3 and calculates search data (step S5).
Specifically, the search data calculation unit 41c acquires the unit parameter information stored in the unit parameter information storage unit 12b from the CPU unit 3 and calculates the search data according to the rule shown in FIG. do.

The refresh target data acquisition unit 41d acquires device configuration data including the search data calculated by the search data calculation unit 41c from the refresh target data storage unit 42c as refresh target data (step S6).

The special unit 4 executes the operation of the unit based on the refresh target data acquired in step S6. For example, the special unit 4 executes a function to supply the device data stored in the device area 42a to the external device 6, or stores the device data acquired from the external device 6 in the device area 42a.

Next, a process in which the CPU unit 3 generates a refresh table will be described.
As shown in FIG. 12, the CPU unit 3 stores unit parameter information and refresh setting data (step S7).
Specifically, first, the CPU unit 3 receives the unit parameter information of the special unit 4 from the unit parameter information storage unit 12b of the engineering tool 1 and the unit parameter information of the special unit 4 from the refresh setting data storage unit 12d to the special unit 4 via the external interface 33. Get refresh setting data respectively. Next, the CPU unit 3 stores the acquired unit parameter information and refresh setting data in the storage unit 32.

The CPU unit 3 supplies the unit parameter information of the special unit 4 stored in the storage unit 32 to the special unit 4 via the external interface 33 before the operation mode of the PLC 2 becomes the operation mode, for example, when the system of the PLC 2 is started. ..

Next, the CPU unit 3 has the start address of the area to which the device is assigned in the CPU unit 3 and the start of the area to which the device is assigned in the special unit 4 based on the refresh setting data stored in the storage unit 32. A refresh table including the address and the number of refreshes, which is the number of words to be transferred, is generated (step S8).

Specifically, the CPU unit 3 has a start address of an area to which a device is assigned in the special unit 4, information for identifying a device in the CPU unit 3, and a continuous address from the refresh setting data shown in FIG. The number assigned to the group of devices assigned to is extracted.
According to the example shown in FIG. 5, the devices D1 and D3 are continuously assigned to the address 0 which is the head of the device area 42a and the address 1 which is the next address. Further, the devices D1 and D3 are assigned a common number 1.

It is assumed that the device CD1 is assigned to the address 1000 of the device area 32a of the CPU unit 3 and the device CD2 is assigned to the address 1001 in advance by the user.

As shown in FIG. 9, the CPU unit 3 has a refresh number 2 which is the size of an area to which the head address 1000 in the CPU unit 3, the head address 0 in the special unit 4, and the device to which the number 1 is assigned are assigned. And, are associated with each other to generate a refresh table.

In the above explanation, it is assumed that only the single word device is assigned, but even when the double word device is assigned, the CPU unit 3 similarly generates a refresh table. That is, if the difference between the addresses to which the two doubleword devices are assigned is 2, the two devices are assigned to continuous areas.

When the operation mode is the operation mode, the CPU unit 3 executes refresh based on the generated refresh table.
For each scan, the CPU unit 3 acquires the device data stored in the area for two words, which is the area for the number of refreshes from the start address 0 in the special unit 4, in the area of the device area 42a, and acquires the device area. Of the area of 32a, it is stored in the area for 2 words, which is the area for 1000 refreshes from the start address in the CPU unit 3.
According to the example shown in FIG. 5, as shown in FIG. 9, in the END process, data for a total of two words is supplied from the device D1 to the CD1 and from the device D3 to the CD2.

The engineering tool 1 described above has the following effects.
The refresh target data stored in the refresh target data storage units 12c and 42c does not include data related to devices that are not refresh target. Therefore, the refresh setting data and the refresh table do not include the addresses of devices that are not refresh targets.
Therefore, since the device that is not the refresh target is not refreshed, the refresh is efficiently performed.

The refresh setting data stored in the refresh setting data storage unit 12d does not include the address of the refresh target device related to the function not to be used. Therefore, the refresh table also does not include the address of the device to be refreshed for the unused function.
Therefore, the refresh target device for the unused function is not refreshed, so that the refresh is performed efficiently.

Since refreshing is performed in a continuous area from the start address of the device area 42a of the special unit 4, refreshing is performed more efficiently than in the case where refreshing is performed in a non-consecutive area.

Even when single word devices and double word devices coexist, these devices are assigned to consecutive addresses. Therefore, there is no inconsistency in the doubleword device data.

(Embodiment 2)
In the device information setting system including the engineering tool 1 according to the first embodiment, the PLC 2 executes a refresh between the CPU unit 3 and the special unit 4 connected by the bus 50.
On the other hand, in the device information setting system including the engineering tool 100 according to the second embodiment, the PLC 200 includes a CPU unit 3, a base unit 5, a network unit 7, and a remote unit 8 having a plurality of functions. The network unit 7 and the remote unit 8 are connected to each other via a network, and periodically transmit and receive data, that is, cyclic communication is performed. Further, the CPU unit 3 executes a refresh with the network unit 7.
Hereinafter, the parts different from those of the first embodiment will be mainly described.

As shown in FIG. 13, the engineering tool 100 according to the second embodiment is connected to the PLC 200.
More specifically, the refresh between the remote unit 8 and the CPU unit 3 is a cyclic communication performed between the network unit 7 and the remote unit 8, and a refresh performed between the CPU unit 3 and the network unit 7. It is done by.
The remote unit 8 is an example of the third unit in the claim.

The engineering tool 100 includes the components of the engineering tool 1.
In addition to this, the storage unit 12 includes a network range allocation information storage unit 12e that stores network range allocation information described later.
Further, in the refresh setting data storage unit 12d, the information for identifying the device and the address to which the device is assigned in the remote unit 8 are stored in association with each other.

As shown in FIG. 14, the network range allocation information storage unit 12e has a head device of a link device which is a device in the network unit 7, a station code which is a code for identifying the remote unit 8, and a head of the device in the remote unit 8. Network range allocation information including the device and start address, the number of cyclic communications required for cyclic communications, and the transfer direction between the network unit 7 and the remote unit 8 is stored. ..
The network range allocation information is an example of network information in the claims.

In the example shown in FIG. 14, the device data related to the link device having the link device LD1 as the head device is transferred from the network unit 7 to the remote unit 8. Further, the device data related to the link device having the link device LD2 as the head device is transferred from the remote unit 8 to the network unit 7.
When the transfer direction is different, the device area of the link device is divided for each transfer direction, and the link device with the link device LD1 at the head and the link device with the link device LD2 at the head are pre-aligned for each divided device area. It may be assigned by.

The calculation unit 11 includes a network range allocation setting unit 11g for setting network range allocation information.
The network range allocation setting unit 11g generates network range allocation information based on the refresh target data of the remote unit 8. For example, the network range allocation setting unit 11g extracts a continuous device and a continuous number of refresh target devices in the remote unit 8 for each transfer direction. Next, the network range allocation setting unit 11g calculates the head of the link device and the number of cyclic communications when the refresh target device in the remote unit 8 is allocated to the link device in the network unit 7, and generates the network range allocation information. .. Finally, the network range allocation setting unit 11g stores the generated network range allocation information in the network range allocation information storage unit 12e.
The network range allocation setting unit 11g is an example of the second setting unit in the claim.

As shown in FIG. 15, the network unit 7 has the same configuration as the CPU unit 3.
That is, the network unit 7 has an arithmetic unit 71 that controls communication with the remote unit 8, a storage unit 72 that stores information related to refresh and cyclic communication, and an external interface 73 that is a communication interface with other devices. And. The storage unit 72 includes a device area 72a in which device data is stored.

The remote unit 8 includes a calculation unit 81 and a storage unit 82 having the same functions as the calculation unit 41 and the storage unit 42. Specifically, the calculation unit 81 includes a search data calculation unit 81c and a refresh target data acquisition unit 81d. Further, the storage unit 82 includes a device area 82a and a refresh target data storage unit 82c, and the device area 82a stores device data related to the device corresponding to the device allocated to the device area 72a.
The storage unit 82 is an example of the third storage device in the claim, and the device area 82a is an example of the third storage area in the claim.
An external device 6 is connected to the remote unit 8 via the external interface 83.

Next, refreshing between the network unit 7 and the remote unit 8 using the engineering tool 100 will be described.

The CPU unit 3 receives unit parameter information from the unit parameter information storage unit 12b, refresh setting data from the refresh setting data storage unit 12d, and network range allocation information from the network range allocation information storage unit 12e via the external interface 13. Each is acquired and stored in the storage unit 32.

The CPU unit 3 transfers the unit parameter information of the remote unit 8 stored in the storage unit 32 to the remote unit 8 via the external interfaces 73 and 83 before the operation mode of the PLC 200 is changed to the operation mode, for example, when the system of the PLC 200 is started. Supply.

Further, the CPU unit 3 supplies the network range allocation information to the network unit 7.

The CPU unit 3 generates a refresh table including a start address in the CPU unit 3, a start address in the network unit 7, and a refresh number which is the number of words to be transferred, based on the refresh setting data stored in the storage unit 32. do.
Specifically, the CPU unit 3 extracts the start address of the device in the network unit 7 and the start address in the CPU unit 3 from the refresh setting data. Next, the CPU unit 3 counts the number of consecutive addresses among the addresses in the network unit 7 in word units, and the counted value is used as the refresh number. This procedure is repeated for all the numbers assigned to the refresh setting data.

When the operation mode is the operation mode, the CPU unit 3 stores the device in the area of the device area 32a for the number of refreshes from the start address in the CPU unit 3 for each scan based on the refresh table. Data is supplied to the network unit 7 and stored in the area of the device area 72a for the number of refreshes from the start address in the network unit 7.
Further, the CPU unit 3 acquires the device data stored in the area corresponding to the number of refreshes from the start address in the network unit 7 in the area of the device area 72a for each scan based on the refresh table, and obtains the device area. Of the area of 32a, it is stored in the area corresponding to the number of refreshes from the start address in the CPU unit 3.

The network unit 7 and the remote unit 8 are based on the network range allocation information acquired from the CPU unit 3, that is, based on the head device of the link device, the head address of the refresh target device, and the number of cyclic communications. Perform cyclic communication. As a specific example, the network unit 7 supplies the device data stored for the number of cyclic communications from the start address of the device area 72a to the remote unit 8 via the communication path 9, and stores the device data in the device area 82a. Further, the network unit 7 acquires device data stored for the number of cyclic communications from the start address of the device area 82a via the communication path 9, and stores the device data in the device area 72a.
Cyclic communication is an example of the cyclic communication operation in the claims.

According to the engineering tools 100 and PLC200 described above, even when the network unit 7 and the remote unit 8 are connected by the communication path 9, the CPU unit 3 and the remote unit 8 are efficiently refreshed. Can be done.

(Embodiment 3)
The engineering tool 1 according to the first embodiment includes a unit parameter information storage unit 12b, a refresh target data generation unit 11b, and a refresh setting unit 11e.
On the other hand, in the device information setting system including the CPU unit 300 according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 16, the CPU unit 300 has the function of the engineering tool 1 in the first embodiment.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 17, the CPU unit 300 includes a unit parameter setting unit 311a, a search data calculation unit 311c, a refresh target data acquisition unit 311d, a refresh setting unit 311e, a unit parameter information storage unit 312b, and a refresh. The target data storage unit 312c is provided.
The refresh setting unit 311e is an example of the first setting unit in the claim.

The PLC 302 includes a CPU unit 300, a special unit 4, and a base unit 5, and the configurations of the special unit 4 and the base unit 5 are the same as those described in the first embodiment.
Further, the structure of the data stored in the storage units 312 and 42 is the same as that described in the first embodiment.
The refresh target data storage unit 312c is an example of the first target data storage unit in the claim.

Hereinafter, the parts different from those of the first embodiment will be mainly described.
The user operates the input device 315 while looking at the display device 314 of the CPU unit 300, and inputs the set value of the parameter.
Next, the unit parameter setting unit 311a acquires the information input to the input device 315 and extracts the unit parameter information including the information for identifying the parameter, the parameter setting value, and the parameter type. , The extracted unit parameter information is stored in the unit parameter information storage unit 312b.

The search data calculation unit 311c acquires parameter setting values from the unit parameter information storage unit 312b, and calculates search data based on the acquired setting values.

The refresh target data acquisition unit 311d searches for device configuration data including the same search data as the value calculated by the search data calculation unit 311c among the device configuration data stored in the refresh target data storage unit 312c. ..
Subsequently, the refresh target data acquisition unit 311d acquires the device configuration data found by searching from the refresh target data storage unit 312c.

The refresh setting unit 311e generates refresh setting data and stores it in the refresh setting data storage unit 312d as follows.

The user operates the input device 315 while looking at the display device 314 of the CPU unit 300, and associates each device in the CPU unit 300, which is the refresh destination of each device in the special unit 4. The user may input data in which each device in the special unit 4 is associated with each device in the CPU unit 300 via the external interface 313.
The refresh setting unit 311e extracts the address of the device in the special unit 4 from the refresh target data acquired by the refresh target data acquisition unit 311d, associates it with the device in the CPU unit 300, and generates refresh setting data.
The refresh setting unit 311e stores the generated refresh setting data in the refresh setting data storage unit 312d.
This completes the process of generating refresh setting data in the CPU unit 300.

Next, a process in which the CPU unit 300 generates a refresh table will be described.
First, the CPU unit 300 acquires the unit parameter information of the special unit 4 from the unit parameter information storage unit 312b and the refresh setting data of the special unit 4 from the refresh setting data storage unit 312d. Next, the CPU unit 300 stores the acquired unit parameter information and refresh setting data in the storage unit 312.

The CPU unit 300 supplies the unit parameter information of the special unit 4 stored in the storage unit 312 to the special unit 4 via the external interface 313 before the operation mode of the PLC 302 is changed to the operation mode, for example, when the system of the PLC 302 is started. ..

The CPU unit 300 generates a refresh table including a start address in the CPU unit 300, a start address in the special unit 4, and a refresh number which is the number of words to be transferred, based on the refresh setting data stored in the storage unit 312. ..
Specifically, the CPU unit 300 extracts the start address of the device in the special unit 4 and the start address in the CPU unit 300 from the refresh setting data to generate a refresh table. Next, the CPU unit 300 counts the number of consecutive addresses among the addresses in the CPU unit 300 in word units, and obtains the counted value as the refresh number. The CPU unit 300 adds the obtained number of refreshes to the refresh table. Repeat this procedure for all devices.

According to the refresh table generated by the above procedure, the CPU unit 300 refreshes with the special unit 4 in the operation mode.

According to the special unit 400, since the engineering tool 1 is not required, the configuration of the entire device can be simplified.

The present disclosure allows for various embodiments and variations without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, the above-described embodiment is for explaining this disclosure, and does not limit the scope of the present disclosure. That is, the scope of the present disclosure is shown not by the embodiment but by the scope of claims. And, various modifications made within the scope of the claims and within the scope of the equivalent disclosure are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

The engineering tool according to the present disclosure is suitable for transmitting and receiving information by a programmable logic controller.

1,100 engineering tools, 2,200,302 PLCs, 3,300 CPU units, 4 special units, 5 base units, 6 external devices, 7 network units, 8 remote units, 11, 31, 41, 71, 81, 311 Calculation unit, 12, 32, 42, 72, 82, 312 Storage unit, 13, 33, 43, 73, 83, 313 External interface, 32a, 42a, 72a, 82a, 332a Device area, 11a, 311a Unit parameter setting unit , 11c, 41c, 81c, 311c Search data calculation unit, 11d, 41d, 81d, 311d Refresh target data acquisition unit, 11e, 311e Refresh setting unit, 11g Network range allocation setting unit, 12b, 312b Unit parameter information storage unit, 12c, 42c, 82c, 312c Refresh target data storage unit, 12d, 312d Refresh setting data storage unit, 12e Network range allocation information storage unit, 13,313 External interface, 14,314 Display device, 15,315 Input device.

Claims (10)

1. An engineering tool connected to a programmable logic controller comprising a first storage device and a plurality of functions, a first unit and a second unit including a second storage device.
   The first storage device includes a first storage area to which a plurality of devices associated with the plurality of functions are assigned.
   The second storage device comprises a second storage area to which the plurality of devices are allocated.
   The second unit acquires setting information from the engineering tool including information for identifying the device and an address to which the device is assigned in the first storage area, and the second storage area. In association with the address to which the device is assigned, a correspondence table of the address to which the device is assigned in the first storage area and the address to which the device is assigned in the second storage area is generated. Based on the generated correspondence table, for each of the devices, the operation of supplying and storing the data stored in the second storage area to the first storage area and the operation of supplying and storing the data in the first storage area are stored in the first storage area. The operation of acquiring the collected data and storing it in the second storage area and the refreshing operation including the operation are repeated.
   The engineering tool stores the information for identifying the device and all the devices associated with the function in the first storage for all combinations of valid / invalid information indicating whether or not the function is valid. A first target data storage unit in which a group of configuration data including the address allocated to a continuous area in the region is stored, and all associated with the effective function from the first target data storage unit. The device acquires the configuration data allocated in the first storage area, and associates the information that identifies the device with the address to which the device is assigned in the first storage area. A first setting unit for generating setting information is provided.
   Engineering tools.
2. The device is a single-word device which is a device whose address is represented by one word when allocated to the first storage area, and a single-word device whose address is represented by two words when allocated to the first storage area. Is one of the doubleword devices that is the device to be
   When the double word device is allocated to an area continuous with the area to which the single word device is allocated and the number of the single word devices is an even number, the single word device is the first storage. When the number of the single word devices is an odd number, the single word device is assigned to the area next to the address indicating the head area of the first storage area. Assigned from the indicated address,
   The engineering tool according to claim 1.
3. In the first target data storage unit, search data calculated based on a calculation rule that uniquely identifies each combination of all combinations of valid / invalid information is stored for each configuration data.
   The engineering tool includes a first search data calculation unit that calculates the search data based on the calculation rule, and a first search data calculation unit.
   Among the group of the configuration data stored in the first target data storage unit, the first target data for acquiring the configuration data including the search data calculated by the first search data calculation unit. With the acquisition department,
   The first setting unit acquires the configuration data acquired by the first target data acquisition unit from the first target data storage unit.
   The engineering tool according to claim 1 or 2.
4. The first unit includes a second target data storage unit in which search data calculated based on the calculation rule is stored for each configuration data.
   A second search data calculation unit that calculates the search data based on the calculation rule, and
   The second target data for acquiring the configuration data including the search data calculated by the second search data calculation unit among the group of the configuration data stored in the second target data storage unit. With the acquisition department,
   The first unit executes the function associated with the device based on the information for identifying the device included in the configuration data acquired by the second target data acquisition unit.
   The engineering tool according to claim 3.
5. A first unit including a first storage device, a second unit including a second storage device, a third storage device, having a plurality of functions, and using a communication path with the first unit. An engineering tool connected to a programmable logic controller with a connected third unit.
   The third storage device includes a third storage area to which a plurality of devices associated with the plurality of functions are assigned.
   The first storage device comprises a first storage area to which the plurality of devices are allocated.
   The second storage device comprises a second storage area to which the plurality of devices are allocated.
   The first unit includes information for identifying the device, an address to which the device is assigned in the first storage area, an address to which the device is assigned in the third storage area, and a transfer direction. The network information including the An operation of supplying and storing the data in the storage area of the above, and an operation of acquiring the data stored in the third storage area via the communication path and storing the data in the first storage area. Repeat the click communication operation,
   The second unit acquires setting information including the information for identifying the device and the address to which the device is assigned in the third storage area from the engineering tool, and the information for identifying the device. Based on the above, the address to which the device is assigned in the first storage area is associated with the address to which the device is assigned in the second storage area, and the device is assigned in the first storage area. A correspondence table was generated between the assigned address and the address to which the device was assigned in the second storage area, and each of the devices was stored in the second storage area based on the generated correspondence table. A refreshing operation including an operation of supplying data to the first storage area and storing it and an operation of acquiring the data stored in the first storage area and storing the data in the second storage area is repeated. ,
   The engineering tool stores the information that identifies the device and all the devices associated with the function in the third storage for all combinations of valid / invalid information indicating whether or not the function is valid. A first target data storage unit that stores a group of configuration data including the address allocated to a continuous area in the area, and a first target data storage unit.
   Information that identifies the device by acquiring the configuration data allocated in the third storage area by all the devices associated with the effective function from the first target data storage unit. A first setting unit that generates the setting information in association with the address to which the device is assigned in the third storage area.
   The network information is generated by associating the information that identifies the device with the address to which the device is assigned in the first storage area and the address to which the device is assigned in the third storage area. The second setting part and
   To prepare
   Engineering tools.
6. The device is a single-word device which is a device whose address is represented by one word when allocated to the third storage area, and a single-word device whose address is represented by two words when allocated to the third storage area. Is one of the doubleword devices that is the device to be
   When the double word device is allocated to an area continuous with the area to which the single word device is allocated and the number of the single word devices is an even number, the single word device is stored in the third storage. Allocated from the address indicating the head area of the region, if the number of the single word devices is an odd number, the single word device uses the area next to the address indicating the head area of the third storage area. Assigned from the indicated address,
   The engineering tool according to claim 5.
7. In the first target data storage unit, search data calculated based on a calculation rule that uniquely identifies each combination of all combinations of valid / invalid information is stored for each configuration data.
   The engineering tool includes a first search data calculation unit that calculates the search data based on the calculation rule, and a first search data calculation unit.
   Among the group of the configuration data stored in the first target data storage unit, the first target data for acquiring the configuration data including the search data calculated by the first search data calculation unit. With the acquisition department,
   The first setting unit acquires the configuration data acquired by the first target data acquisition unit from the first target data storage unit.
   The engineering tool according to claim 5 or 6.
8. The third unit includes a second target data storage unit in which search data calculated based on the calculation rule is stored for each configuration data.
   A second search data calculation unit that calculates the search data based on the calculation rule, and
   The second target data for acquiring the configuration data including the search data calculated by the second search data calculation unit among the group of the configuration data stored in the second target data storage unit. With the acquisition department,
   The third unit executes the function associated with the device based on the information for identifying the device included in the configuration data acquired by the second target data acquisition unit.
   The engineering tool according to claim 7.
9. A programmable logic controller comprising a first unit having a first storage device and having a plurality of functions, a second unit having a second storage device, and an engineering tool connected to the first unit.
   The first storage device includes a first storage area to which a plurality of devices associated with the plurality of functions are assigned.
   The second storage device comprises a second storage area to which the plurality of devices are allocated.
   The second unit acquires setting information from the engineering tool including information for identifying the device and an address to which the device is assigned in the first storage area, and the second storage area. In association with the address to which the device is assigned, a correspondence table of the address to which the device is assigned in the first storage area and the address to which the device is assigned in the second storage area is generated. Based on the generated correspondence table, for each of the devices, the operation of supplying and storing the data stored in the second storage area to the first storage area and the operation of supplying and storing the data in the first storage area are stored in the first storage area. The operation of acquiring the collected data and storing it in the second storage area and the refreshing operation including the operation are repeated.
   The engineering tool stores the information for identifying the device and all the devices associated with the function in the first storage for all combinations of valid / invalid information indicating whether or not the function is valid. A first target data storage unit in which a group of configuration data including the address allocated to a continuous area in the region is stored, and all associated with the effective function from the first target data storage unit. The device acquires the configuration data allocated in the first storage area, and associates the information that identifies the device with the address to which the device is assigned in the first storage area. A first setting unit for generating setting information is provided.
   Programmable logic controller.
10. A programmable logic controller comprising a first unit comprising a first storage device and having a plurality of functions and a second unit including a second storage device.
    The first storage device includes a first storage area to which a plurality of devices associated with the plurality of functions are assigned.
    The second storage device comprises a second storage area to which the plurality of devices are allocated.
    The second unit acquires setting information from the second storage device including information for identifying the device and an address to which the device is assigned in the first storage area, and the second unit obtains the setting information. Corresponding to the address to which the device is assigned in the storage area of No. 1 and the correspondence table of the address to which the device is assigned in the first storage area and the address to which the device is assigned in the second storage area. Based on the generated and generated correspondence table, for each of the devices, the operation of supplying the data stored in the second storage area to the first storage area and storing the data, and the first storage area. The refreshing operation including the operation of acquiring the data stored in the second storage area and storing the data in the second storage area is repeated.
    The second unit uses the information for identifying the device and all the devices associated with the function for all combinations of valid / invalid information indicating whether or not the function is valid. The first target data storage unit in which a group of configuration data including the address allocated to the continuous area in the storage area of the above is stored, and the first target data storage unit is associated with the effective function. All the devices have acquired the configuration data allocated in the first storage area, and the information for identifying the device is associated with the address to which the device is assigned in the first storage area. The first setting unit for generating the setting information is provided.
    Programmable logic controller.

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