AUTOMATION CONTROLLER WITH INTEGRATED HMI AND MODULAR I/O

Abstract

Automation Controller with integrated HMI and Modular I/O is described. The controller offers advantage of being a single physical unit over traditional controllers, while offering the flexibility of modular I/O.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a traditional modular automation control system.

FIG. 2 shows block diagram of currently available integrated controllers.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of automation controller of this invention.

FIG. 4A and 4B shows an example of this invention, i.e. an automation controller with integrated HMI and Modular I/O. The HMI in this example is a graphical touch panel.

FIG. 5 shows another example of this invention. The HMI in this example consist of a text based display and key pad.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of communication between PC, PLC or controller and HMI.

FIG. 7A and 7B shows logic of switching communication lines between PC, PLC and HMI.

Claims

1. An integrated automation controller comprising of programmable operator interface means, logic control means, and input and output means, wherein these said means are all housed in a single control unit and said input and output means comprise of flexible and plug-in input and output modules for controlling field devices.

2. An integrated automation controller of claim 1 wherein said operator interface means and logic control means both have separate microprocessors.

3. An integrated automation controller of claim 1 wherein said operator interface means and logic control means both have separate power supplies.

4. An integrated automation controller of claim 1 wherein operator interface means include a graphical touch panel.

5. An integrated automation controller of claim 1 wherein operator interface means include a multi line text display and a key pad.

6. An integrated automation controller of claim 1 wherein operator interface means includes means to perform on-line edit of user program.

7. An integrated automation controller of claim 1 wherein user program for said operator interface means can be stored in a compact flash module.

8. An integrated automation controller of claim 1 wherein operator interface means include means to control the visibility of operator interface objects on its touchscreen.

9. An integrated automation controller of claim 1 wherein operator interface means includes means to fine-tune a program recipe for said controller.

10. An integrated automation controller of claim 1 wherein operator interface means includes means to communicate to an external barcode reader.

11. An integrated automation controller of claim 1 wherein operator interface means includes means to communicate to an external marquee.

12. An integrated automation controller of claim 1 wherein operator interface means includes a common printed circuit board assembly common to a variety of different size displays in said operator interface.

13. An integrated automation controller of claim 1 wherein logic control means include means to control analog output modules.

14. An integrated automation controller of claim 1 wherein logic control means include means to control a variety of mixed input and outputs on the same module

15. An integrated automation controller of claim 1 wherein logic control means include means to show operating modes of said controller with light emitting diodes.

16. An integrated automation controller of claim 15 wherein said light emitting diodes are surface mounted to the printed circuit board in the logic control means.

17. An integrated automation controller of claim 1 wherein logic control means include a motherboard parallel to the printed circuit boards in the input and output modules.

18. An integrated automation controller of claim 1 wherein said input and output modules have indicator means to show the status of inputs and outputs connected to said controller.

19. An integrated automation controller of claim 18 wherein said indicator means comprise of surface mount light emitting diodes.

20. An integrated automation controller of claim 18 wherein said input and output modules include means to quickly disconnect field wiring from said modules.

21. An integrated automation controller of claim 20 wherein quick disconnect means consist of a removable terminal block.

22. An integrated automation controller of claim 1 having means to communicate to common industrial networks.

23. An integrated automation controller of claim 22 wherein said communications means include means to communicate over Ethernet.

24. An integrated automation controller of claim 22 wherein said communication means includes means to communicate to Devicenet or Profibus.

25. An integrated automation controller of claim 1 wherein logic control means includes means to control an auto-tuned PID loop.

26. Antegrated automation controller of claim 1 wherein input and output modules have means to count pulses from an external encoder at a high frequency and turn on and off outputs conditional upon pulse count.