Method and device for communicating with an equipment

p0001The invention relates to a method and apparatus for communicating with a plant, in particular for operating and monitoring an automation system in industrial manufacturing.

p0002Industrial automation systems require them related input or output devices to be operated can; this is the so-called process interface. Output devices, or in other words, monitoring devices are, for example warning lights, alphanumeric or graphic displays that inform the plant operator about the current system status. Input devices, or in other words, operating units, are as switches, knobs or keyboards for alphanumeric input, allowing the user to interact with the system.

p0003From the <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US6026352A"><text>US 6,026,352 A</text></patcit> discloses a method and apparatus for performing device and process diagnostics for field devices in the industrial environment. In this method and apparatus, the field devices can login via a fieldbus to a superior control and are thus tested and initialized by a testing routine.

p0004In a conventional manner, for the purpose of communication between user and system called HMI devices, hereafter called communication device, fixed on the system itself or for example in the production hall, in which the system is installed. A typical communication device comprises a handy housing, are arranged on the input and output devices. The data exchange with the system or with the control takes place via a fixed connection cable.

p0005There are also communication devices known which are connected via a more or less long cable with the system and allow the operator a mobility to or along the system within the reach of the cable, it may result in the communication device itself.

p0006From Handhabbarkeitsgründen the cable length of such a communication device is limited to a few meters. For very large systems, for example, about 50 or more feet extend, therefore, are along the system more so-called connection points or connection boxes, hereafter called terminal, firmly attached to the plant. Placed at the communication device cable can be inserted with its distal end in one of these ports. Thus, it is possible for the operator to produce the desired location of the system via the communication device, a process coupling. The connection is usually substantially from a fieldbus interface in combination with a power supply for the passive, so no separate power supply containing communication equipment. About the Fieldbus all plant-wide data are available on the communication device.

p0007A recognition of infecting the communication device is so far by a yes / no signal for the assignment of the terminal is transmitted by it to the system controller via a separate line. After connecting the communication device to a desired connection point and booted its operating program will be presented at the communication device usually a home screen from which the operator advances by selecting appropriate sub-menus to the relevant process data of the plant, which are of particular interest to him. This is, for example, information on the part of the plant, before which the operator is just. Especially with very large plants, which provide a variety of information on the communication device, it is for the operator often very difficult to penetrate to the desired information. After each repositioning of the communication device to a different port, this process has to be repeated, since the communication device behaves the same after being connected to each port.

p0008Object of the present invention is to provide a method and means to enable easier operation of the communication device.

p0009The object is achieved by a method for communicating with a plant, in particular for operating and monitoring an automation system in industrial production with the following steps:<ul><li>a communication device is connected to exchange data with the system on a permanently attached to the system terminal,</li><li>the communication device passes through an initialization operation in which a connection clearly distinctive identifier is transmitted from the terminal to the communication device,</li><li>the communication device enters a normal mode for the process connection with the investment, the Normalbtriebsart, depending on the identification and thus depending on the connection location at which there is the communication device (4), is selected.</li></ul>

p0010The connection of the communication device may have a connection cable or fixed, eg through placement in a facility attached to the docking station. The communication device is released at any time again from the terminal to be connected, for example, again at a different location of the machine.

p0011The code identifies the terminal as bearing an for this name in the form of an alphanumeric string such as "machine center" or an example also printed on the terminal serial number as "03". In any case, the identifier specifies a particular port unambiguously.

p0012Characterized in that the identifier is transmitted to the communication device, in an initialization mode, following the joining of the communication device with the terminal, the identifier is in communication device from then available and may be used there on.

p0013The initialization operation is preceded by the normal mode. Thus, the identification is available, when the communication device goes into the normal mode for the process connection with the investment. This information can be used in the communication device, for example to display information on the connection. Also, as certain security features are enabled by the identifier in the communication device dependent, which are not available on the communication device when it is connected to other terminals. The security features free switching connection is here, for example, only the foreman accessible.

p0014In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of terminals are present at the installation and during Initialisierungsbetriebes is used by each terminal other identifier transmitted to the communication device.

p0015In the communication device is therefore available before the change in the normal operation, a unique information available, to which the various terminals, the communication device is currently connected. The plant operator can be displayed, for example, on the display of the communication device such information. The user can then, for example directly select a connecting corresponding submenu in the software of the communication device and reaches thereby quickly and safely to information that is relevant to them at the relevant connection location.

p0016In a preferred embodiment of the invention, several normal modes of operation are provided in the communication device. Pending of the transmitted during Initialisierungsbetriebs identifier a normal mode is selected, after initializing the communication device switches to the selected normal mode. The normal modes can, for example, differ in that different information is provided in the normal operating modes are available. This information may be selected so that they only provide information on the status of the plant in the immediate vicinity of a specific attachment site of the communication device, for example. Since the normal mode is dependent on the identification and thus depending on the connection location at which the device is currently selected, an automatic selection of process data is possible that appear on a particular connection location of the communication device. A connection point-dependent operator guidance is possible. This informs the operator to select the information facilitated or decreased, the amount of information displayed can be severely limited and reduced to the essential. The user has at all times to each Connection location just a few, clearly the communication device to presenting information. This improves the clarity in the operation of the communication device. Also, the operator can perform only the allowed at the connection point actions. This is for operating safety, since it there can not execute certain operating errors, so it can do at a certain place "nothing wrong".

p0017In a further preferred embodiment of the invention in the normal mode, the data between system and communication device are exchanged via a data protocol. In initialization, the transmission of the identification with the same data protocol. A particularly simple transmission of the identification is possible, existing communications equipment can eventually be upgraded for the novel process by mere amendment of the operating program and without prejudice to their hardware. This brings a significant cost advantage for the operator, because it must acquire no new communication devices. In addition, so that the communication device carrying wire is not through additional lines too thick and unwieldy, and the number of assignable codes is not limited.

p0018The object of the invention underlying is further achieved by a device for communication with a system, in particular for operating or observing an automation system in industrial production, the installation having a connection for a communication device to exchange data with the system. The communication device is operable in an initialization mode or in a normal operation. The port is assigned to a memory device in which an identifier is stored that identifies the connection uniquely. The identifier can be transmitted during the Initialisierungsbetriebs to the communication device. The memory device may be a separately forehand forming in the system memory module as connected via the system internal fieldbus particular to the system controller and the terminal. However, it may also be a program module of the control program of the system, in which the identifier is stored as a fixed value or string. The memory device is connected to the terminal of the communication device with this, so that the identifier can be transmitted during the Initialisierungsbetriebes to the communication device. With the device can perform the operations referred to in claim 1 process, which leads to the advantages mentioned there.

p0019In a preferred embodiment the memory device is integrated in the terminal. The connection as entire assembly here includes, for example, a storage device in the form of a DIP switch. If the memory device integrated in the terminal, so it is arranged spatially directly on the terminal. The association between the storage device stored identifier and connection is checked or adjusted, for example, during maintenance work at any time directly on the terminal. When replacing an example mechanically defective terminal with integrated memory means it can be occupied by the connecting indentifizierenden identifier directly when changing again.

p0020Access to the system at a remote location here is not needed.

p0021A further preferred embodiment provides that the system comprises a plurality of terminals and each terminal is assigned a different identifier which is transferable during the Initialisierungsbetriebs from this to the communication device. If any connection other identifier assigned, so each port is uniquely identified.

p0022Are the communication device more normal modes provided and stored in the system more identifiers and each identifier is a normal mode assigned so you can select and change the communication device in the selected normal mode after passing through the Initialisierungsbetriebes the the transmitted identifier associated normal mode.

p0023A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the communication device at the terminal can be connected via a data line, and over the data line both the communication data from and to the system as well as the identifier are transferable. This allows for communication devices that have to process connection, ie the exchange of communication data to and from the plant anyway via a data line, that on the same data line, the identifier can be transmitted. Existing communication devices thus need not be extended to include additional lines for the identification and transfer can continue to operate with the methods of the invention only by modification of their operating program.

p0024For a further explanation of the invention reference is made to the embodiment of the drawing. It shows in a schematic diagram:<ul><li><figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> an automation system having a plurality of terminals and a communication device in two possible terminal positions.</li></ul>

p0025<figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> shows an automation system 2 to industrial production to a communication device connected to your 4. The automation system 2 includes an engine 6, a machine 6 supervisory control 8 and three ports 10a-c, to which the communication device 4 is connected. All mentioned components of the automation system 2 are connected via a fieldbus 12 together for mutual data exchange. In each of the terminals 10a-c, a storage device 14 is included. In each memory device 14, a numerical value is stored, which is assigned to the corresponding port 10a-c unique. This number serves as an identifier for the corresponding port 10a-c. The terminal 10a thus carries the identifier "01," the terminal 10b "02", etc.

p0026Each terminal 10a-c has a connector 16th The connection sockets 16 and memory devices 14 are also connected to the fieldbus 12th In each terminal 16 is a power supply, not shown, is also integrated.

p0027The communication device 4, which is shown in plan view, has at its upper side keys 18, which serve for the operation of the communication device 4 and the controller 6 of the automation system the second Further, the communication device 4, a display 20 is present, are displayed on the process data of the automation system 2 and operating information of the communication device. 4 At the communication device 4 is a connection cable 22 having a connector 24 is attached, which can be inserted into the sockets sixteenth

p0028In <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> is the communications device connected to the automation system 2 via the port 10a (solid line). With the help of the communication device 4 can control and monitor the automation system 2 as an unrepresented server so is with this in so-called process interface. An alternative connection option of the connecting line 22 at the terminal 10b is shown by the dotted line, so it is in both cases to the same connection cable 22nd

p0029During normal production operation of the automation system 2, a communication device 4 is connected to none of the terminals 10a-c. The connection is made only when the automation system operated for maintenance purposes or for example 2 to be observed.

p0030As in <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> represented by means of the solid line, in this case the connector plug 24 is plugged into the socket 16 of the connector 10a. By not shown power supply in the connector 16, the power supply of the communication device 4 via the connecting line 22. After the operating voltage at the communication device 4 is this in an initialization over, that the electronics in the communication device 4 runs and starts its operating software.

p0031Is the operating software on the communication device 4 prepared as a connection from the communications device 4 to the fieldbus 12 is established via the connection cable 22nd Since the communication device 4 is still in the initialization operation, the information stored in the storage device 14 identification will now be transmitted via the fieldbus 12 and the connecting line 22 to the communication device. 4 In<figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> this is the identifier "01". The communication throughout the Initialisierungsbetriebes takes place along the communication path 26, which in<figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> is represented by a double arrow that extends between the storage device 14 and the communication device. 4

p0032The transmitted code "01" is then evaluated by the program at the communication device 4, after which the communication device 4 detects that it is connected to the terminal 10a. This information can now be displayed either on the display 20 or it may be one of several possible normal modes, namely the identification of "01" corresponding selected.

p0033Upon completion of the communication device Initialisierungsbetriebes switches 4 in the selected normal mode. Since the normal mode has been selected in this case in accordance with the identifier "01", for example, are presented only data from the machine part 30 of the automation system 2 in this mode, which of the communication device 4 supporting operator can see from one location at the terminal 10a.

p0034In the normal mode, communication between the communication device 4 and the automation system 2 via the communication path 28 shown by a double arrow via the connection line 22, the port 10a, the field bus 12, the controller 8, the communication device 4 has in this case access to the machine 6 to whose plant parameters to operate and monitor.

p0035If the machine is 6 very large, then the terminal 10a of example only of the machine part 30 of the engine 6 visible. To view the machine part 32 of the machine, the plant operator must go, for example, to port 10b from which this machine part 32 is visible. The communication device 4 supporting, the operator removes the connector 24 of the connector 16 of the terminal 10a moves to the terminal 10b, where it leads the connector 24 into the connector 16 of the terminal 10b. In<figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> This case is shown dashed.

p0036With the connection of the communication device 4 at the terminal 10b repeats the process described regarding the connection 10a. During Initialisierungsbetriebes is now however over the communication path 34, the identifier "02" is transmitted to the communication device. 4 This is on the display 20. and accordingly the communication device 4 another normal mode, namely the identifier "02" assigned selected, in which the communication device 4, then returns. In the normal mode, "02" to the operator, only the appropriate machine parameters of the machine part 32 displayed on the display 20, and he can about the key 18 only influence parameters of the machine part 32nd Communication between the communication device 4 and Appendix 2 takes place in this case via the communication path 36th

p0037For control and monitoring of the turn more distant machine part 38 of the engine 6, the operator can connect the communication device 4 in the manner described above at the terminal 10c, whereupon the identifier "03" would be transferred from the storage device 14 during the Initialisierungsbetriebes to the communication device. 4