Patent Application
20130325152
The present invention relates to a parameter setting device and a parameter setting system for setting parameters for a unit that constitutes a programmable controller.
As for a CPU unit that performs an overall control of a programmable controller (PLC), highly-functional models have been developed and released to the market one after another, in order to meet demands from users. Furthermore, not only a new model is added, but also version upgrade of each model is frequently performed.
The CPU unit has parameters related to the operation of a PLC, such as an execution cycle of a user program, the backup timing of a device memory, and a usage range of the device memory. The user can perform setting of the parameters of the CPU unit by connecting a parameter setting device to the CPU unit.
In the CPU unit, setting items or a setting range of the parameter may be changed due to addition of a model or version upgrade of the model. Therefore, the version of the parameter setting device needs to be upgraded by connecting it to the Internet or the like according to the addition and change of the parameter; however, it is quite a heavy load for a user to keep the parameter setting device used in the actual field constantly to the latest state.
In contrast thereto, for example, it can be considered to prepare definition information for creating a setting screen for each model number and version of the CPU unit, so that a user can specify the model number and the version of a unit to be set, acquire the definition information corresponding to the model number and the version, and create the setting screen based on the acquired definition information (see, for example, Patent Literature 1).
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2007-95107
However, in terms of the memory usage amount, it is not effective to store definition information of all CPU units in a parameter setting device as the conventional technique mentioned above. Furthermore, when the definition information is to be stored in the CPU unit, the memory of the CPU unit is stressed, which may lead to a serious problem as a product.
The present invention has been achieved in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a parameter setting device and a parameter setting system with which parameters of units of as many models and versions as possible can be set with a storage capacity as small as possible.
In order to solve the aforementioned problems, a parameter setting device for setting parameters for a unit that constitutes a programmable controller according to one aspect of the present invention is configured in such a manner as to include: reference-format definition data for specifying setting items of a parameter regarding a first unit of a predetermined model and a predetermined version; differential-format definition data for specifying setting items of a parameter regarding a second unit of a model or a version different from the model or the version of the first unit with a difference from the reference-format definition data; a format-definition-data selection unit that determines whether a parameter-setting target unit is the first unit or the second unit, when it is determined that the parameter-setting target unit is the first unit, selects the reference-format definition data, and when it is determined that the parameter-setting target unit is the second unit, selects both the reference-format definition data and the differential-format definition data; and a parameter conversion unit that receives an input of parameter setting data, interprets the received parameter setting data based on format definition data selected by the format-definition-data selection unit, and sets the interpreted parameter for the parameter-setting target unit.
The parameter setting device and the parameter setting system according to the present invention are configured to include format definition data for each unit as a difference from reference-format definition data, and thus parameters of units of as many models and versions as possible can be set with a storage capacity as small as possible.
Exemplary embodiments of a parameter setting device and a parameter setting system according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments.
The PLC 200 includes a CPU unit 210 and a plurality (in this case, two) of auxiliary units 260 connected to each other with a bus 270. The auxiliary units 260 are units for implementing various functions, and what types of auxiliary units 260 are used is determined according to the usage of the PLC 200. For example, the auxiliary units 260 include a temperature adjusting unit, a positioning unit, an analog input unit, and the like. The CPU unit 210 controls the auxiliary units 260 by performing a data communication with the auxiliary units 260 via the bus 270.
The CPU unit 210 includes a computation device 220, a storage device 230, an external communication unit 240 and a bus communication unit 250. The computation device 220, the storage device 230, the external communication unit 240, and the bus communication unit 250 are mutually connected with an internal bus.
The storage device 230 is constituted with a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The storage device 230 stores therein firmware 231 as a system program of the CPU unit 210, a user program 232 created by a user to execute a control of the auxiliary units 260 as desired, and a parameter setting value 234. The storage device 230 further includes a device memory area 233 for storing therein input/output data (a device) exchanged with the auxiliary units 260.
The computation device 220 is constituted with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), for example. The computation device 220 periodically executes the user program 232 on the firmware 231, and reflects an execution result on the device value in the device memory area 233 for each cycle of the execution. The parameter setting value 234 is a specific value for specifying an operation exerted on the firmware 231, which is set to one or more than one setting items. The setting item of the parameter includes, for example, an execution cycle of the user program 232, a usage area of the device memory area 233, a backup timing of the device memory area 233, and the like.
The external communication unit 240 is a communication interface for performing a communication with the parameter setting device 100. Although a communication method for the communication with the parameter setting device 100 is not particularly limited, for example, Ethernet®, USB (Universal Serial Bus) or the like can be adopted.
The bus communication unit 250 is a communication interface for performing a communication with the auxiliary units 260 via the bus 270.
The parameter setting device 100 includes a computation device 10, a storage device 20, an external communication unit 30, an input unit 40, and a display unit 50, which is equivalent to the configuration of a normal computer. The computation device 10, the storage device 20, the external communication unit 30, the input unit 40, and the display unit 50 are mutually connected with an internal bus.
The storage device 20 is constituted by a ROM, RAM, and the like, and stores therein a parameter setting program 21 that is a computer program for setting a parameter in the CPU unit 210. The computation device 10 is constituted by a CPU or the like, and executes the parameter setting program 21 stored in the storage device 20. Furthermore, such a configuration can also be adopted, in which the parameter setting program 21 is stored in a recording medium such as a disk or an external storage device and the computation device 10 loads the parameter setting program 21 stored in these media to the storage device 20. The external communication unit 30 is a communication interface for connecting to the CPU unit 210. The input unit 40 is an input device constituted with a mouse and a keyboard, and information inputted from the input unit 40 is sent to the computation device 10. The display unit 50 is a display unit such as a liquid crystal display, and displays display output data created by the computation device 10.
The parameter setting device 100 includes a screen-data creation unit 11, a reference-data access unit 12, a differential-data access unit 13, a parameter conversion unit 14, reference-parameter definition data 22, reference-format definition data 23, differential-parameter definition data 24, and differential-format definition data 25. These functional constituent elements are created by the computation device 10 that executes the parameter setting program 21. Specifically, the screen-data creation unit 11, the reference-data access unit 12, the differential-data access unit 13, and the parameter conversion unit 14 are created in the computation device 10, and the reference-parameter definition data 22, the reference-format definition data 23, the differential-parameter definition data 24, and the differential-format definition data 25 are created in the storage device 20.
The parameter definition data is definition information for creating a setting screen including an input form of the parameter for each setting item. The input form is a component displayed on the display unit 50 to prompt a user to make an input, and is used to load information coupled in advance to the input form and a content inputted via the input form to the inside in an associated manner. The parameter definition data includes at least information for each setting item for identifying the setting item of the parameter, as information coupled to each input form. According to the first embodiment, because a required capacity of the storage device 20 is considerably increased if the parameter definition data is provided for each model number and version, a model number and a version that serve as a reference are determined, the parameter definition data related to the model number and the version of the reference (the reference-parameter definition data 22) is included, and the parameter definition data corresponding to another model number and version is provided as a difference from the reference-parameter definition data 22 (the differential-parameter definition data 24).
The format definition data is definition information for identifying the parameter setting value for each setting item from a list of data inputted as the parameter setting value from the input unit 40. In other words, the format definition data is information for specifying the setting item of the parameter related to the CPU unit 210. The format definition data includes a definition of a structure of data as information for identifying the parameter setting value. Also regarding the format definition data, the parameter setting device 100 is configured to include the format definition data related to the model number and the version serving as the reference (the reference-format definition data 23), and include format definition data related to another model number and version as a difference with respect to the reference-format definition data 23 (the differential-format definition data 25).
In this example, the format definition data includes a definition of a decimal point position of the parameter setting value, as well as the definition of the structure. In the first embodiment, the parameter is set as an integer, rather than a real number, in order to make the storage capacity of the parameter setting value as small as possible. Therefore, a value inputted from the input unit 40 is sent to the computation device 10 as an integer. However, when the execution cycle of the user program 232 is reduced by an order of magnitude due to the improvement in its performance, for example, an increment of the setting gradation, which has been “1”, needs to be changed to “0.1”. Therefore, in order to make the step size of the setting changeable as desired, the definition of the decimal point position is included in the reference-format definition data 23 (and the differential-format definition data 25). That is, by defining the decimal point position on the format definition data, the computation device 10 can interpret the parameter setting value, which is sent as an integer, as a value intended by a user by changing the decimal point position.
In this manner, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the reference-parameter definition data 22 and the reference-format definition data 23 are stored for a specific model and a specific version, and the differential-parameter definition data 24 and the differential-format definition data 25 are stored for another model and version. Although there can be a plurality of specific models and versions for which the reference-parameter definition data 22 and the reference-format definition data 23 are stored, in the following explanations, for the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that there are one specific model and one version serving as the reference.
The reference-data access unit 12 and the differential-data access unit 13 cooperate with each other to function as a format-definition-data selection unit that selects format definition data for setting the parameter for the CPU unit 210 and a parameter-definition-data selection unit that selects parameter definition data for creating the setting screen.
Specifically, the reference-data access unit 12 reads out the corresponding reference-parameter definition data 22 and the corresponding reference-format definition data 23 by using a model number and a version as search keys. The differential-data access unit 13 reads out the corresponding differential-parameter definition data 24 and the corresponding differential-format definition data 25 by using the model number and the version as search keys. When the corresponding differential-parameter definition data 24 and the corresponding differential-format definition data 25 cannot be found, the differential-data access unit 13 reads the corresponding data (differential-parameter definition data 235 or differential-format definition data 236) from the CPU unit 210 via the external communication unit 30.
The screen-data creation unit 11 creates the setting screen to be displayed on the display unit 50 from the read parameter definition data (the reference-parameter definition data 22, the differential-parameter definition data 24, and the differential-parameter definition data 235).
The parameter conversion unit 14 interprets the data structure and the decimal point position of the input parameter setting value based on the read format definition data (the reference-format definition data 23, the differential-format definition data 25, and the differential-format definition data 236), and sends the interpreted parameter setting value to the CPU unit 210 via the external communication unit 30. The parameter setting value sent to the CPU unit 210 is stored in the storage device 230.
As described above, the CPU unit 210 includes the differential-parameter definition data 235 and the differential-format definition data 236, so that the parameter setting device 100 can perform the setting of the parameter in the CPU unit 210 even when there is no differential-parameter definition data 24 or differential-format definition data 25 corresponding to its own CPU unit 210 in the parameter setting device 100. The differential-parameter definition data 235 and the differential-format definition data 236 are stored in advance in the storage device 230.
An operation of the first embodiment of the present invention is explained next.
First, as shown in
The reference-data access unit 12 determines whether the reference-parameter definition data 22 for the CPU unit 210 of the acquired model number and version is included (Step S2). When it is determined that the reference-parameter definition data 22 for the CPU unit 210 of the acquired model number and version is included (YES at Step S2), the screen-data creation unit 11 creates the screen data of the setting screen by using the reference-parameter definition data 22 (Step S3), and displays the created screen data on the display unit 50 (Step S4), and the operation is ended.
When it is determined that the reference-parameter definition data 22 for the CPU unit 210 of the acquired model number and version is not included (NO at Step S2), the differential-data access unit 13 determines whether the differential-parameter definition data 24 of the acquired model number and version is included in the parameter setting device 100 (Step S5). When it is determined that the differential-parameter definition data 24 of the acquired model number and version is included (YES at Step S5), the screen-data creation unit 11 creates the screen data of the setting screen by using the differential-parameter definition data 24 and the reference-parameter definition data 22 (Step S6). After Step S6, the process shifts to Step S4.
When it is determined that the differential-parameter definition data 24 of the acquired model number and version is not included in the parameter setting device 100 (NO at Step S5), the differential-data access unit 13 accesses the CPU unit 210, and acquires the differential-parameter definition data 235 from the CPU unit 210 (Step S7). The differential-data access unit 13 then determines whether the acquired differential-parameter definition data 235 corresponds to the reference-parameter definition data 22 stored in its own parameter setting device 100 (Step S8). The fact that the differential-parameter definition data 235 and the reference-parameter definition data 22 correspond to each other means that the differential-parameter definition data 235 has been created as the difference from the reference-parameter definition data 22. In order to make it possible to determine whether these two data correspond to each other, for example, the model and the version of the reference-parameter definition data serving as a basis can be recorded in advance in the differential-parameter definition data 235. That is, it suffices that the differential-data access unit 13 compares the model and the version recorded in the differential-parameter definition data 235 with the model and the version targeted by the reference-parameter definition data 22.
When it is determined that the acquired differential-parameter definition data 235 and the reference-parameter definition data 22 correspond to each other (YES at Step S8), the process shifts to Step S6, and the screen-data creation unit 11 creates the screen data of the setting screen by using the differential-parameter definition data 235 and the reference-parameter definition data 22. When it is determined that the acquired differential-parameter definition data 235 and the reference-parameter definition data 22 do not correspond to each other (NO at Step S8), the screen-data creation unit 11 displays an error on the display unit 50 (Step S9), and the operation is ended.
First, as shown in
When it is determined that the reference-format definition data 23 of the model number and the version of the CPU unit 210 for which the parameter is to be set is not included (NO at Step S12), the differential-data access unit 13 determines whether the differential-format definition data 25 of the model number and the version is included in the parameter setting device 100 (Step S15). When it is determined that the differential-format definition data 25 of the model number and the version is included (YES at Step S15), the parameter conversion unit 14 identifies the input parameter setting value for each setting item by using the differential-format definition data 25 and the reference-format definition data 23, and converts the decimal point position of the parameter setting value for each setting item (Step S16). The process then shifts to Step S14.
When it is determined that the differential-format definition data 25 of the model number and the version of the CPU unit 210 for which the parameter is to be set is not included in the parameter setting device 100 (NO at Step S15), the differential-data access unit 13 accesses the CPU unit 210, and acquires the differential-format definition data 236 from the CPU unit 210 (Step S17). The differential-data access unit 13 then determines whether the acquired differential-format definition data 236 corresponds to the reference-format definition data 23 stored in its own parameter setting device 100 (Step S18). The fact that the differential-format definition data 236 and the reference-format definition data 23 correspond to each other means that the differential-format definition data 236 has been created as the difference from the reference-format definition data 23. In order to make it possible to determine whether these two data correspond to each other, for example, the model and the version of the reference-format definition data serving as a basis can be recorded in advance in the differential-format definition data 236.
When it is determined that the acquired differential-format definition data 236 and the reference-format definition data 23 correspond to each other (YES at Step S18), the process shifts to Step S16, and the parameter conversion unit 14 identifies the input parameter setting value for each setting item by using the differential-format definition data 236 and the reference-format definition data 23, and converts the decimal point position of the parameter setting value for each setting item. When it is determined that the acquired differential-format definition data 236 and the reference-format definition data 23 do not correspond to each other (NO at Step S8), the screen-data creation unit 11 displays an error on the display unit 50 (Step S19), and the operation is ended.
In this manner, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the parameter setting device 100 is configured to include the format definition data for each unit as the difference from the reference-format definition data 23, and thus parameters of units of as many models and versions as possible can be set with a storage capacity of the storage device 20 as small as possible.
Also regarding the parameter definition data for creating the setting screen including the input form for each setting item, it is configured to hold the parameter definition data for each unit as the difference from the reference-parameter definition data 22, and thus parameters of units of as many models and versions as possible can be set with a storage capacity of the storage device 20 as small as possible.
The CPU unit 210 holds the differential-format definition data 236 that is the difference from the reference-format definition data 23, and the parameter setting device 100 is configured to use the differential-format definition data 236 included in the CPU unit 210, and thus the parameter setting can be performed even when the parameter setting device 100 does not contain the format definition data for the CPU unit 210.
The CPU unit 210 holds the differential-parameter definition data 235 that is the difference from the reference-parameter definition data 22, and the parameter setting device 100 is configured to use the differential-parameter definition data 235 held in the CPU unit 210, and thus the parameter setting can be performed even when the parameter setting device 100 does not contain the parameter definition data for the CPU unit 210.
In a CPU unit, there are cases where the version of firmware is upgraded. According to the second embodiment, when the version of firmware is upgraded, differential data stored in the CPU unit is also upgraded simultaneously.
As shown in
The external communication unit 310 is a communication interface for performing communications with the CPU unit 210, and is connected to the external communication unit 240 of the CPU unit 210.
For example, the firmware version-upgrade data 312 is a difference file between versions of the firmware 231.
The data search unit 311 performs version upgrade of the firmware 231 of the CPU unit 210 for which the version is to be upgraded, by using the firmware version-upgrade data 312, reads out the differential-parameter definition data 313 and the differential-format definition data 314, and respectively overwrites the differential-parameter definition data 235 and the differential-format definition data 236 in the CPU unit 210 by using the thus read-out data.
In this manner, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, when the version of the firmware of the CPU unit 210 is upgraded, the firmware version-upgrade device 300 is configured to update the differential-format definition data 236 of the CPU unit 210, and thus when the version of the firmware of the CPU unit 210 is upgraded, it is possible to prevent a discrepancy from being generated between the version of the firmware and the version of the differential-format definition data 236.
Furthermore, when the version of the firmware is upgraded, the firmware version-upgrade device 300 is configured to update the differential-parameter definition data 235, and thus it is possible to prevent the discrepancy from being generated between the version of the firmware and the version of the differential-parameter definition data 235.
In the explanations of the first and second embodiments, there has been explained a method in which parameters are set in the CPU unit 210. When the parameters to be set are provided in the auxiliary unit 260, parameter setting for the auxiliary unit 260 can be performed by applying the explanations of the CPU unit 210 to the auxiliary unit 260 as they are. When the parameter setting is performed in the auxiliary unit 260 from the parameter setting device 100, transfer of the parameter setting value and transfer of the model number and the version of the auxiliary unit 260 can be performed via the external communication unit 240 and the bus 270.
As described above, the parameter setting device and the parameter setting system according to the present invention are preferable to be applied as a parameter setting device and a parameter setting system for setting parameters for a unit that constitutes a programmable controller.
10 computation device
11 screen-data creation unit
12 reference-data access unit
13 differential-data access unit
14 parameter conversion unit
20 storage device
21 parameter setting program
22 reference-parameter definition data
23 reference-format definition data
24 differential-parameter definition data
25 differential-format definition data
30 external communication unit
40 input unit
50 display unit
100 parameter setting device
200 PLC
210 CPU unit
220 computation device
230 storage device
231 firmware
232 user program
233 device memory area
234 parameter setting value
235 differential-parameter definition data
236 differential-format definition data
240 external communication unit
250 bus communication unit
260 auxiliary unit
270 bus
300 firmware version-upgrade device
310 external communication unit
311 data search unit
312 firmware version-upgrade data
313 differential-parameter definition data
314 differential-format definition data
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2011/061343 | 5/17/2011 | WO | 00 | 8/21/2013 |
