Slave unit, node unit, controllers and network system

ES 2 328 076 T3

DESCRIPTION

Dependent unit, node unit, controllers and network system.

Background of the invention

Invention field

The present invention relates to a dependent unit and a node, and to a processing unit and to a system for monitoring the power supply to a network, and to a monitoring system for the power supply for input / output devices.

Related art

As is well known, in factory automation (hereinafter referred to as "FA"), an I / O (input / output) device is connected to a programmable controller (hereinafter referred to as "PLC ”), Directly or through a network. A PLC is designed to control a global AM system by obtaining as input data information from input devices such as a switch or a sensor, which constitute a type of the associated I / O devices, executing, according to a pre-installed user program, an arithmetic operation with the associated input data obtained, to determine a control content for an output device that is a type of I / O device, and outputting control data corresponding to the control content, to output devices such as a valve or an actuator, a motor, etc.

More specifically, the control in a CPU unit of a PLC incorporates, in an I / O memory of the CPU unit, a signal input from an input device connected with an input unit (refresh INPUT), performs a logical operation (execution of an operation) based on a user program organized in ladder or ladder language, previously registered, records in the I / O memory the result of the execution of this operation and sends it to an output unit (renew OUTPUT), therefore, the output unit carries out a control of the output device drive or stopping its operation and, subsequently, it executes the so-called peripheral operations, such as the processing of communications through a communications network. Thus, the PLC handles the INPUT renewal, the execution of an operation, the OUTPUT renewal and performs the peripheral treatment cyclically and repeatedly.

A PLC of this class is composed of a plurality of units, In other words, it is constituted by several units such as a current supply unit of a power supply, a CPU unit that supervises the control of the entire PLC, a unit input that inputs a signal from a switch or sensor attached to a suitable point of the production apparatus or equipment for AM, an output unit that outputs a control output for an actuator, etc. an input / output device that combines input with output, a communications unit to connect to a communications network, etc.

Furthermore, a so-called remote I / O network system is known. In this system, a main unit is connected with the PLC unit to which a dependent unit is connected via DeviceNet (Trademark), etc.

Although this dependent unit is an INPUT dependent unit that incorporates an input signal, an OUTPUT dependent unit that outputs an output signal, a mixed dependent unit that accepts inputs and outputs, etc., it will be referred to in the following as dependent unit. And various devices of a sensor or relay are connected to terminals of the dependent unit. Also, as mentioned above, a main unit is one of those that make up the PLC and is built into the PLC. With this, the perception information detected by an input device (for example, a switch or sensor, etc.) connected to the dependent unit, will be serially communicated to the main unit through a field network and, thus, built into the PLC. And, by the PLC, a user program is executed based on the perception information obtained, and the result of its execution is transmitted to a dependent unit through a network, which has to send a control instruction to control devices. output (for example, a relay or valve, actuator, etc.) that must be operated.

Furthermore, the reception and transmission of I / O information, such as an input or output signal from a device connected to the dependent unit, is performed with a communications timing that has been previously established between the dependent unit and the unit. main unit, they are asynchronous with the cyclical operations of the PLC and thus work with a different timing. And the CPU unit and the main unit of the PLC are connected through a general transmission line, so the data is sent to a main unit and received from it in INPUT renewal or OUTPUT renewal (I / O renewal ) or by a peripheral service treatment, between the cyclical treatment in the CPU unit. This allows the PLC CPU unit to connect a remotely located input or output device with a dependent unit and send and receive data over a network.

Incidentally, in a recent network system, the demands have increased to monitor or monitor, as appropriate, non-limiting information such as so-called service information or system status information, maintenance information, etc., in addition to managing and monitor current control content. In a

ES 2 328 076 T3 traditional network system, as the input data and the output data including remote I / O exist in a memory of the PLC, all the service information used has to be obtained by organizing a program on the side of the PLC. For example, it can be determined by measuring the uptime of devices connected to the dependent unit or the time taken for the I / O information to change to a different state. In order to perform the associated operation, a user will create a user program to carry out the measurement and will execute and process the program in the CPU unit of the PLC.

However, when trying to get service information on the PLC side, as mentioned above, you run into two problems. First, it will increase the burden of executing and handling a PLC program. This is because a load will be generated due to the execution of a program to obtain information from the service system. Second, it will increase the communication load between a main unit and a dependent unit. Since this requires that the most recent information is always obtained from the dependent unit, the need will arise to communicate basic data related to service information, in addition to control information such as I / O data, when dealing with communications between the main unit and PLC dependent unit. Thus, the volume of information to be communicated will increase, causing an increase in the time required to process communications, and the communications cycle between the main and dependent units will be lengthened.

Therefore, the aim of the present invention is to reduce the effects on the control system on the PLC side if information is obtained from the service system. More specifically, it is not only intended to reduce the control load on the PLC side compared to the prior art but also to improve the convenience of a monitor, guaranteeing non-limiting data, such as service information, by the unit. dependent, measuring physical magnitudes (time, voltage, number of times, etc.) in the dependent unit, and making it possible to monitor this result through a network.

Next, while a more specific network system is illustrated by the figures. Supplemental descriptions of additional objectives will be provided. As shown in Fig. 1, not only the PLC unit 1 and the main unit 2 equipped with communication capabilities are integrated, but also the main unit 2 is connected with a field network 3 to send and receive. control system data. Also, a plurality of dependent units 4a, 4b and 4c are connected to this field network 3.

And, to each dependent unit 4a, 4b and 4c there are connected an input device 5a, such as a sensor, etc., and an output device 5b such as a valve, a motor, etc. Furthermore, in the illustrated example, the dependent unit 4a is also called an INPUT dependent unit, since only one input device 5a is connected to it, the dependent unit 4b is also called OUTPUT dependent unit because only one input device is connected to it. output 5b, and the dependent unit 4c is also called a mixed dependent unit because an input device 5a and an output device 5b are connected to it. It is to be noted that in the following description, if it is not necessary to make distinctions, in particular they are simply called dependent units and are also assigned the character "4". Furthermore, if there is no need to distinguish the input device 5a from the output device 5b, then they are simply called "device" and are also assigned the character "5".

In the network system with the associated configuration, a network power supply apparatus 6 is provided, from which power supply a plurality of dependent units 4 are fed through a field network 3. And, from the power supply, it can also be fed, through the dependent unit 4, to devices 5 connected to each dependent unit 4, using the power supply provided by the aforementioned apparatus 6 for supplying mains current to the dependent unit 4.

Furthermore, the power supply for various devices 5 is not limited to the above-mentioned mains power supply apparatus 6 and, for example, a separately provided power supply apparatus 7 for input / output devices may be used. In other words, the power supply output of the power supply apparatus 7 for the input / output devices is connected to each dependent unit 4 through which the power supply supplies the devices 5. Note, in this case, that the input / output current supply apparatus 7 is a power supply for only the devices 5 and thus the power supply supplies the dependent unit 4 from the supply apparatus 6 of current to the network.

Incidentally, when it is considered that the power supply feeds from the above-mentioned mains power supply apparatus 6 to each dependent unit 4, the voltage will drop in the field network 3 due to the value of the resistance they offer the cables that make up the associated network is not zero even though the power supply supplies each dependent unit 4 through the field network 3. For this reason, the voltage actually applied to the dependent unit 4 falls from the value of the output voltage of the mains power supply 6. Therefore, the voltage drop will increase up to the dependent unit 4 which is remote from the mains power supply apparatus 6 and thus may be in a transmit / receive circuit chip of the dependent unit 4 or the MPU of the dependent unit, etc., the correct supply voltage is not obtained that can satisfy the expectations.

Now, in order to make this system work normally, although, for example, a limit may be imposed on the length of the cables to be used in the field network 3, it is impossible to decide the length of the cable that assumes

ES 2 328 076 T3 a voltage drop that results from putting the devices 5 connected to the dependent unit 4, etc., in CONNECTION. Furthermore, if the length of the cable is determined, including a sufficient margin, the cabling may not be possible because in the place where the FA system is to be built, the length of the cables is not sufficient.

Now, in order to run this AF system normally, it is not only necessary to actually build a system on site but also to ensure that the source voltage to be fed to each dependent unit 4 is the proper voltage that can meet the standard. However, the only way to guarantee that this supply voltage has an appropriate value was for an operator to go to a site and directly measure the supply voltage of each dependent unit using a voltmeter, etc. Therefore, the work involved is not only time-consuming but also complicated because, sometimes, the dependent unit is installed behind the apparatus, where it is not easy to carry out the measurement, etc.

Furthermore, there was no means to monitor the value of the supply voltage in each dependent unit. This sometimes had the drawback that abnormal conditions could only be detected when communications with the dependent unit were out of service due to an operating voltage drop.

Also, if a power supply source of the device 5 is the power supply apparatus 7 for input / output devices, a problem similar to those mentioned above will be encountered. In other words, there was a problem that the PLC 1 or the main unit 2, which is a host computer, as well as a monitoring unit or configurator, which will be described later, could not know the status of the power supply. current of the power supply apparatus 7 for input / output devices. The following problems were also encountered in main unit 2 and therefore in PLC unit 1, which form a host team.

If the bit data corresponding to an input signal from the input device 5a connected to said dependent unit 4, which was received from the dependent unit 4 through the field network 3 had a value of 0, a determination of yes the input signal was 0 because said input device 5a was actually in DISCONNECTION or if the input signal was 0 as neutral operation as there is no supply voltage for the input device 5a, thus disabling the device itself.

If the bit data corresponding to an output signal for the output device 5b that was sent to the dependent unit 4 over the field network 4 had a value of 0, a determination could not be made whether the output device 5b had stopped. because the output signal for the associated output device 5b was actually OFF and thus a data with value 0 was output, or if the output device 5b itself was disabled because there was no supply voltage for the output device 5b. For this reason, the problem was encountered that the reliability of the system was degraded.

Furthermore, to solve the problems described above by judging whether or not a response from the dependent unit 4 occurred, for example by regularly sending a message to the dependent unit 4 from the main unit 2 and the PLC unit 1 , it can be decided whether or not the device receives normal voltage supply. However, to carry out the associated operation, the PLC must judge the transmission of a message and the reception of a response, which will cause the problem that the inherent control of the device 5 will be affected. Thus, the present invention has in order to reduce the effects on the control system on the PLC side when the supply voltage on the remote I / O dependent unit side is obtained as service information.

On the other hand, Fig. 2 shows another specific configuration of the system. In other words, not only the PLC unit 1 and the main unit 2 with communication possibilities are integrated, but also the main unit 2 is connected to the field network 3. The dependent unit 4b OUTPUT or the dependent unit 4a INPUT it is also connected to this field network 3. The configuration of the associated basic network is similar to that shown in Fig. 1.

And, in this example, the actuator 8 is connected to the dependent unit 4b OUTPUT as the output device 5b. In this actuator 8, upon receiving a control instruction (ON signal) from the PLC unit 1, the dependent unit 4b OUTPUT sets the I / O terminal (OUT terminal) to which the actuator 8 is connected, with which the mobile unit 8a will be advanced.

On the other hand, the sensor 9 is connected to the dependent unit 4a INPUT as input device 5a, and this sensor 9 monitors the operation of the actuator 8. In other words, when the mobile unit 8a of the actuator 8 moves to a position By default (the position indicated with a broken line in the figure), the sensor detects the mobile unit 8a, outputting a detection signal.

When that detection signal is provided to the 4th IN dependent unit, it outputs to the PLC unit 1 a notice that the detection signal was received (i.e., default I / O terminal (IN terminal) set to CONNECTION: notice of complete operation). Since the PLC unit knows from this that the actuator 8 has moved by a predetermined amount, it will send a stop instruction (instruction to return to the origin) to the dependent unit 4 OUTPUT.

ES 2 328 076 T3

Now, to actually execute the operation described above, each dependent unit 4a and 4b carries out communications between main unit and dependent unit with main unit 2, and transmits and receives each signal (data) described above. Therefore, the PLC unit 1 will communicate with each dependent unit 4a and 4b through the associated main unit 2.

Furthermore, the PLC unit 1 cyclically executes operations according to a user program, in which IN / OUT refresh operations are executed in each cycle. Then, it sends a signal to the dependent unit 4b OUTPUT or receives a signal from the dependent unit 4a INPUT. On the other hand, in the communications between the main unit and the dependent unit, asynchronous with the cyclical operations carried out on the side of the previously described PLC unit 1, communications are carried out with predetermined dependent units with a certain timing (communication cycle).

Incidentally, there is a demand to monitor the operating time of the actuator 8, that is, the period during which the mobile unit 8a moves. The reason is that a comparison between, for example, the operating time and a standard time can be used to determine whether the actuator 8 is operating normally or not, or to estimate the service life based on a degradation of the action of the actuator. However, traditionally, the PLC unit 1 side must measure time based on the ON / OFF information obtained from the dependent units 4a and 4b and thus generate a watchdog program, incorporate it into the monitoring program. user and run it. In other words, the timer is started when the PLC unit 1 outputs the instruction to run (CONNECT signal) for the dependent unit 4b OUTPUT and is stopped when the INPUT terminal CONNECT signal is received from the dependent unit 4th INPUT. With this, a timer value is obtained and thus the operating time will be known.

However, in the associated method, in order to obtain uptime information as service information, a need will arise to execute the operation to measure the uptime, in addition to the inherent operation to control the devices on the side of the PLC. This also applies equally to monitoring the operating time of input devices. In other words, if there are two input devices (sensors) that monitor a state of a device, it can be judged whether the device is operating normally or not by monitoring the time (operating time) that elapses between when a sensor detects that the device enters. in one condition, until another sensor can detect that said apparatus is in another condition, etc.

However, executing additional operations to determine the operating time described above while operations are being cyclically performed on the side of the PLC unit 1 to control the entire FA system will hamper high speed control. In addition, another problem will arise since, as the number of devices to be treated increases, the number of additional operations to be carried out on the PLC side will increase, since more operations will be necessary to calculate the operating time on the PLC side. . In other words, as described above, the operating time will be determined by cyclically performing operations on the PLC unit 1 continuously, leading to the execution of unnecessary operations.

Summary of the invention

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to obtain the operating time of devices as service information, without affecting the control system on the PLC side. Specifically, it is also an object of the invention to be able to accurately measure, on the dependent unit side, time based on operations, such as operating time, waiting time, etc., of input and output devices connected to the unit. dependent.

The invention is as defined in claim 1. A dependent unit related to the present invention is one to which a control device is connected and which communicates, for I / O with the controller over remote lines. And it comprises measurement means for measuring a physical magnitude of said controller or of the aforementioned dependent unit itself, and has the ability to output to the lines information based on measured values ​​that have been obtained with said measurement means, if they are satisfied. default conditions.

By predetermined conditions, in this case, should be understood those that are fulfilled in certain time intervals or in a predetermined time, or various conditions of when a measured value exceeds the preset standard value, or when there is a request from outside, or when a starts an operation by application of the power supply. Or, the information based on a measured value can be the measured value itself or a processed value such as the result of a comparison of the measured value with the standard value, for example. Furthermore, a line transmitting information based on the related measured value may be such a remote line or a different network line, including a wireless link. Note that the line is referred to, in the embodiment, as a network.

The measuring means is also capable of measuring based on various signals such as an internal signal from the dependent unit, an input signal to the dependent unit, a signal to be output from a signal, etc. Also, in this case, a signal can be a digital signal, such as ON / OFF, or an analog signal, such as a voltage. And, if the physical magnitude is a digital signal, detecting a point of change in the signal, such as a rise or fall of HIGH / LOW signals, is one version of the physical magnitude measurement.

ES 2 328 076 T3

Furthermore, a version of the concept contained in a signal that is the basis for the measurement of physical magnitude is one that contains a signal that has to be fed as input to the dependent unit or emitted from it as output, through a terminal. In other words, it is, for example, a signal from the IN terminal to which the input device of the dependent unit is connected, a signal from the OUT terminal to which the output device of the dependent unit is connected, a signal from the terminal of the dependent unit to which the power supply is connected, a signal from the interface terminal of the dependent unit to which the network is connected, etc. And signals from each terminal are included that can not only directly measure the physical magnitude from signal lines connected to that or from that terminal, but also measure a state of each terminal (ON / OFF) by detecting a value of the I / O memory associated with that terminal, in the case of an IN terminal or an OUT terminal.

Furthermore, there are various kinds of physical quantities to be measured. In other words, they can be, for example, the voltage of the mains power supply to be supplied through the dependent unit object of the fifth embodiment, the supply voltage to be supplied to said controller through the dependent unit object of the fifth embodiment, the operating time to be counted using as a trigger a change of the I / O data to the controller connected to the dependent unit itself or to a different dependent unit, object of the first to third embodiments, etc.

Thus, although in the embodiment, the physical quantity was the operating tempo or the supply voltage of the input and output devices, the physical quantity to be measured in the present invention is not limited to these, but other quantities will be included. physical. To be specific, the activation time or operating time of the dependent unit is counted. This can be obtained by integrating the time while the power supply is ON. In addition, it can be the activation time of an input or output device, etc. In addition, the number of operations of an input or output device, that is, the number of times of ON / OFF, can be counted. Also, it can be the number of errors in communication with the main unit or occurrences of abnormal communication. Needless to say, they are not limited to those illustrated and listed.

In addition, another configuration to solve can be a dependent unit to which a control device is connected and whose I / O communicates with the controller through a remote line and can be configured including measuring means to measure a physical magnitude of the aforementioned controller or of the aforementioned dependent unit itself, decision means to make a judgment comparing a measured value with those measurement means with a standard value, and the ability to issue as output to a line the result of the judgment held by said decision-making means. In this case, said ability to output an output can be configured so that said measured value can be output to said linked line. It goes without saying that the related ability is not required.

According to the two configurations described above, the dependent unit itself is capable of measuring, with the measuring means, a physical quantity of its own or of a control device and obtaining a measured value. The measurement means work independently of the control system processing that is implemented by sending and receiving I / O data with the controller (main unit) through a conventional remote line. Therefore, the effects on control can be removed as soon as possible. Likewise, a predetermined receiver can be notified of non-limiting data (non-I / O data) such as service information, that is, information based on a measured value obtained with the measurement means, reserving it in the dependent unit and issuing it. as output to a line (network) with a predetermined timing. This allows the receiver to collect information based on the measured value.

Furthermore, a destination for the output of the function may be a controller, a monitor means connected to a line or a dependent unit. It goes without saying that the destination may be a different one. And the controller contains a main unit or PLC, etc. The monitor means also includes a configurator as well as the monitor unit.

Furthermore, said output function can be set to output in accordance with an internal trigger such as the result of an internal judgment of the dependent unit, start-up of the power supply, a transmission timer, and so on. Needless to say, it can be based on an external trigger.

By "internal initiator", in this specification it is to be understood one based on the result of the execution of a predetermined treatment of the dependent unit itself and that is generated in it. And, to show an example of an internal trigger, the following are available: In other words, if it is judged whether a value measured in the dependent unit reaches or exceeds a threshold, it will be the result of that judgment. Some use that generated signal as a trigger signal. Also, if an initial treatment is carried out with the power supply of the dependent unit connected, the information stored in a non-volatile memory can be output, during that initial treatment, to a line or a trigger can be generated, etc. In addition, sometimes a clock is provided in the dependent unit, whereby a trigger signal is regularly generated every time a predetermined time elapses, or a trigger signal is generated at a predetermined time. Also, based on the conditions of the communication traffic with the main unit, a trigger signal is sometimes generated when there is additional time in the communication processing or when an abnormality arises, such as an abnormal voltage.

On the other hand, an "external trigger" is based on an order received by a dependent unit through a network, and is generated outside the dependent unit. And, as an example of an external trigger, you have a

ES 2 328 076 T3 information request order from the main unit to the dependent unit, an information request order from the monitor to the dependent unit, an information request order from the configurator, an order originated in the tool and sent via PLC or main unit, etc.

Furthermore, as a specific means to achieve the objectives of the present invention, various configurations may be adopted, as described below. In other words, a processor according to the present invention is a processor incorporated in a main or slave unit, connected to the network for FA (factory automation) and determines the operating time of an output device connected to the slave unit. which has been connected to said network, comprising: means for obtaining a start time when an OUT terminal of the dependent unit to which said output device is connected has changed; means for obtaining information about a stop time, in which an INPUT terminal of the dependent unit to which an input device is connected, detects that said output device which is in a predetermined state, has changed; and means for calculating the operating time of said output device based on said information about the start time and said information about the stop time.

Furthermore, a node according to the present invention is a node that can be connected to the network for the FA, and that is designed to include the ability to obtain information about the start time, when the output device attached to the dependent unit connected to said network; the ability to obtain information, from the dependent unit to which the input device is connected, that detects that said output device is in predetermined conditions, about the stop time, when the notification is received that the INPUT terminal has changed to which the input device is connected; and the calculation capacity, which allows calculating the operating time of said output device based on said information about the start time and said information about the stop time. This node can be, for example, a main unit or a dependent unit.

On the other hand, the dependent unit related to the present invention is a dependent unit to which the output device and the input device can be connected which detects that the output device is in predetermined conditions, and which is designed to include the ability to obtain information about the start time, when the OUT terminal to which said output device is connected has changed; the ability to obtain information about the stop time, when the INPUT terminal to which said input device is connected has changed; and the calculation capacity, which makes it possible to calculate the operating time of said output device based on said information on the start time and on said information on the stop time. The present invention corresponds to an embodiment of the mixed dependent unit.

Furthermore, other means of incorporating the dependent unit related to this information consists of a dependent unit to which the output device can be connected, and which may include the ability to obtain information about the start time, when the OUT terminal has changed to the that said output device is connected; the ability to obtain information, from another dependent unit to which the input device is connected, which detects that said output device is in a predetermined condition, about the stop time, when a notification is received that it has changed the INPUT terminal to which said input device is connected; and the calculation capacity, which calculates the operating time of said output device based on said information on the start time and on said information on the stop time. The present invention corresponds to the realization of a dependent unit whose representation has been omitted in the drawings.

Still other means consist of a dependent unit to which the input device can connect which detects that the output device is in a predetermined condition, and which may include the ability to obtain information about the time of departure when a notification is received, from another dependent unit to which said output device is connected, that the OUT terminal to which that output device is connected has changed; the ability to obtain information about the stop time when the INPUT terminal to which said input device is connected has changed; and the calculation ability to calculate the operating time of said output device based on said information about the start time and said information about the stop time, The present invention is incorporated in accordance with the embodiment of the INPUT dependent unit .

Furthermore, because “the OUT terminal or the IN terminal has changed”, it should be understood “a case in which it changes from DISCONNECTION to CONNECTION and a case in which it changes from CONNECTION to DISCONNECTION”. In other words, the rise or fall of a signal applies to a change that has occurred. Strictly speaking, putting a signal ON is not necessarily synonymous with detecting a rising signal. In other words, not only will a standard state value (steady state) be reversed, as a result of High / Low, but the rise from Low to High or the fall from High to Low can also be detected, if there has been a single CONNECT pulse (B -> A -> B), for example, and a series of signals are considered as a CONNECT signal, which will change from B -> A -> B in this short period of time (in any case, a signal is judged to have been put ON). On the other hand, if it is considered that, for a single ON pulse, a signal has been turned OFF immediately after being turned ON, putting a signal ON is synonymous with a signal of increasing value, provided that the DISCONNECT status is Low. This also applies to the relationship between turning a signal OFF and a falling signal.

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Therefore, starting from the CONNECTION and DISCONNECTION of a signal, the following four patterns can be achieved: “Time that elapses since an OUTPUT terminal is put in CONNECTION until an INPUT terminal is put in CONNECTION”, “time that elapses since an OUTPUT terminal is put in CONNECTION until an INPUT terminal is put in DISCONNECT”, “time that elapses from when an OUTPUT terminal is placed in DISCONNECT until an INPUT terminal is placed in CONNECTION ”, and "time that elapses from when an OUT terminal is turned OFF until an IN terminal is turned OFF". Similarly, when noting the rise and fall of an impulse, the grouping of the patterns described above is also applicable, substituting ON for rising and OFF for falling. Note that in the descriptions that follow, to facilitate understanding, it will be considered that putting a terminal ON is synonymous with promotion and that putting a terminal on DISCONNECT is synonymous with descent and, therefore, these terms can be used with the same meaning.

Furthermore, the respective real-time information is obtained from timing means that can measure the time of the built-in timer, clock, counter, etc.. This means that there is not only absolute information, such as time information, but also relative information such as timer value, counter value, etc. In the case of time information, the operating time can be determined by obtaining the difference between the start time and the stop time. In the case of a counter value, etc., the operating time can be determined by obtaining a difference of the counter value between a counter value at the start time and the stop time. In this case, by multiplying by a difference of the counter value or the time required for the counter value to increase by 1, specific information about time, such as a few seconds, etc., can also be obtained. Also, the stopwatch function can be provided so that time counting can be started after the timer and counter have been returned to "0" at the start time and the related time counting stops at the time of the start. stop. By doing this, a difference from “0” at the start time, that is, a value at stop, can be the operating time, which will avoid calculations.

Therefore, obtaining information about time is a concept that is not limited to obtaining a specific time or counter value, but includes the action of setting to "0", and so on. In other words, related actions are also those aimed at indirectly obtaining information that the "starting time is 0". Furthermore, as is evident from the preceding descriptions, "operating time" is also the concept that includes not only a system of absolute units that specifically indicates "x seconds" but also values ​​correlated with the time, just like the value of a counter.

Also, having a change (triggered) means that a default terminal changes “from DISCONNECT to CONNECT” or from “CONNECT to DISCONNECT”. The determination of whether or not it is the related trigger is made by monitoring the CONNECT / DISCONNECT of that terminal, or it can be detected directly based on an instruction being output for that terminal (for example, an instruction to switch to CONNECT / DISCONNECT) , if the related terminal is your own. Furthermore, if said terminal is provided in another dependent unit, it can be recognized that a change has occurred according to a notification from the related dependent unit.

Furthermore, if a main unit is constituted by a node, although a notification that a predetermined terminal has changed may be received, from the dependent unit to which the input or output device is connected, an OUTPUT data is sent to the dependent unit to which the output device is connected so that with that transmit output the OUT terminal is considered to have changed and then information about the start time can be obtained.

Also, the output device corresponds to the actuator 14 in the embodiment, while the input device corresponds to the sensors 15 and 15 'in the embodiment. And, a predetermined state of the output device detected by the input device, means for example that a predetermined action has been completed and that, in the embodiment, the mobile unit 14a has moved to a predetermined position.

In the respective invention described above and in particular in the dependent unit to which input and output devices are connected, since it can be directly recognized that the OUT and IN terminals have changed, the operating time can be determined with great precision and without being affected by communication cycles, etc. In the embodiment, each function can be implemented in practice by the application program embedded in the MPU.

And, in the precondition of each dependent unit described above, it is better to include means for storing and retaining adjustment information to identify the normal range of said input or output device and compare the operating time obtained above with the above. setting information described above. Since the operating time can be determined with relatively good precision in accordance with the present invention, comparison with the setting information makes it possible to judge whether the input or output device is in a normal state or the time of its operation is approaching. substitution, etc.

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On the other hand, although any of the respective inventions described above relates to the operation of an output device (an output device to be monitored), the present invention is not limited to this but is applicable to time detection based on the operation of an input device.

In other words, when the invention refers to a dependent unit, it is a dependent unit to which first and second input devices that detect the condition of the device can be connected and that can be configured including the ability to obtain information about the device. start time when the INPUT terminal to which said first input device is connected has changed; the ability to obtain information about the stop time in which the IN terminal has changed, to which said second input device is connected; and the calculation capacity, to calculate the operating time of said device based on said first information on the start time and on said information on the stop time.

Furthermore, it is a dependent unit to which a first input device can be connected and which can be configured to include the ability to obtain information about the start time when the INPUT terminal to which said first input device is connected has changed. entrance; the ability to obtain information about the stop time when it is received, from another dependent unit to which said first input device is connected, the notification that the INPUT terminal to which said second input device is connected has changed; and the calculation ability to calculate the operating time of the apparatus to be monitored by said first and second input devices based on said information on the start time and on said information on the stop time.

On the other hand, contrary to the above, it is a dependent unit to which a second input device can be connected, and which can be configured to include the ability to obtain information about the start time when a notification is received, from another dependent unit to which the first input device is connected, that the IN terminal to which that second input device is connected has changed; the ability to obtain information about the stop time when the INPUT terminal to which said second input device is connected has changed; and the calculation ability to calculate the operating time of the apparatus to be monitored by said first and second input devices based on said information on the start time and on said information on the stop time.

According to this invention, using a timing means incorporated in the node or dependent unit side, the time that elapses from when an operation of the output device has started until the output of an input device changes is measured. (the output device will enter a default state). Thus, the time can be correctly determined based on the operating time of the output device.

Therefore, starting from the CONNECTION and DISCONNECTION of a signal, the following four patterns can be achieved: “Time that elapses from when an INPUT terminal is put in CONNECTION until an INPUT terminal is put in CONNECTION”, “time that elapses since an INPUT terminal is put in CONNECTION until an INPUT terminal is put in DISCONNECT”, “time that elapses from when an INPUT terminal is put in DISCONNECTION until an INPUT terminal is put in CONNECTION ”, and "time that elapses from when an INPUT terminal is turned OFF until an INPUT terminal is turned OFF". Similarly, when noting the rise and fall of an impulse, the grouping of patterns described above is also applicable, eg substituting ON for rise and OFF for descent.

Furthermore, in the precondition of the respective invention that determines the operating time based on changes of the previous two INPUT terminals, it is most preferable that the configuration includes comparing means that stores and retains adjustment information to identify the normal range of said apparatus, and compare said determined operating time with said setting information. Furthermore, it is also possible to include the ability to notify a main unit with a predetermined timing, through a network, about at least one of said operating time and said comparison results obtained with said comparison means.

Likewise, a node related to the present invention is a node that can be connected to a network for FA, and that can be configured to include the ability to obtain information about the start time, when the INPUT terminal to which a first is connected has changed. input device attached to the dependent unit that is connected to said network; the ability to obtain information about the stop time, when receiving, from the dependent unit to which the second input device is connected, the notification that the INPUT terminal to which the second input device is connected has changed; and the calculating ability to calculate the operating time of said output device based on said information about the start time and the said information about the stop time.

Furthermore, a processor related to the present invention is one incorporated in a main unit or a dependent unit connected with a network for FA, and which determines the operating time of a predetermined apparatus, and which may be configured to include means for obtaining a starting time from a

ES 2 328 076 T3 INPUT terminal of the dependent unit to which a first input device is connected that monitors the conditions of said apparatus; means for obtaining information about a stop time from an INPUT terminal of the dependent unit to which the second input device is connected that monitors the conditions of said apparatus; and means for calculating the operating time of said apparatus based on said information on the start time and on said information on the stop time.

In the respective invention described above, although an apparatus corresponds to an output device (actuator 14) connected to the OUT terminal of a dependent unit that is connected to the same network of an input device, the present invention is not limited to this and it may be an output device connected to a network different from those to which a dependent unit, etc., of the present invention is connected or a device separate from the network.

And, an apparatus to be monitored is not only one that can be considered physically identical but can be a plurality of apparatus if the plurality of devices, even when physically separated, comprises a system that operates in cooperation or in connection with others, and the related system corresponds to an apparatus mentioned in the present invention.

Furthermore, it is good to provide the ability to notify a main unit, with a predetermined timing, through a network, about at least one of said operating time and the result obtained from a comparison with the aforementioned means of comparison. An alarm, etc. can be issued by executing related possibilities, notifying a main unit and thus a PLC or host computer, etc., about the operating time.

Furthermore, in a network power supply monitoring system, a main unit, a plurality of dependent units, a network configurator and a power supply unit are connected by a network, and the monitoring system of the power supply to the network will be the premises of the network system that supply current to the aforementioned dependent units from the previously mentioned power supply unit to the network, through the aforementioned network. And, in at least one dependent unit of the aforementioned plurality of dependent units, the current supply monitoring means are provided that monitor a state of the power supply of the network supplied through said network from the source. power supply to the aforementioned network and, in the aforementioned network configurator, means are provided for collecting states of the power supply of the network of the dependent units monitored by the aforementioned monitoring means of the power supply by communication with said at least one dependent unit through said network, and means for control, in a unified way, said states collected from the power supply of the network of the dependent unit monitored by the said monitoring means of the power supply.

Preferably, the aforementioned current supply monitoring means comprise voltage detection means that detect, in sequence, a current voltage value of said network power supply, and minimum selection means, which choose a minimum value from the aforementioned current values ​​detected in sequence by said voltage detection means, and which can be configured in order to collect, through said network, said current values ​​detected by said voltage detection means and said minimum value selected by said minimum selection means, and to present, on a monitor, said current values ​​collected from said network supply voltage, together with the minimum values ​​mentioned above.

In such a case, said current supply monitoring means comprise monitoring voltage storage means that store a desired monitoring voltage, and alarm information storage means, which store alarm information when a current value of said mains supply voltage, detected by said voltage detection means, falls below the monitored voltage value, stored in the aforementioned surveillance voltage storage means, and which can be configured to monitor alarm conditions of the power supply of each of the aforementioned dependent units, collecting, through said network, alarm information stored in the aforementioned alarm information storage media.

Furthermore, said current supply monitoring means comprise monitoring voltage storage means that stores a desired monitoring voltage, and alarm information storage means that store alarm information when a minimum value of said supply voltage of the network, detected by said minimum selection means, falls below the value of the monitoring voltage stored in said monitoring voltage storage means, and which can be configured in order to monitor current supply alarm conditions of each aforementioned dependent unit collecting, through said network, alarm information stored in said alarm information storage means.

In the monitoring system of the power supply for an input / output device, at least one dependent unit of the plurality of above-mentioned dependent units has monitoring means that monitor how the power supply supplies the devices connected with that dependent unit, and means of notification that notify, through said network, the aforementioned host computer, the result of the detection carried out by said monitoring means of the monitoring system of the power supply to the devices

ES 2 328 076 T3 input / output, which monitor how the power supply feeds the devices connected to the aforementioned dependent unit of the network system that connects the host computer and the plurality of dependent units through the network, whose equipment host mentioned above is configured with monitoring means that monitor how it supplies the power supply to the devices connected to said dependent unit, based on the aforementioned detection result reported by the aforementioned communications media.

Each of the means constituting a dependent unit and a node according to the present invention, and a processor, can be incorporated in practice by means of dedicated physical circuits or by means of a programmed computer.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 shows a traditional example.

Fig. 2 shows a traditional example.

Fig. 3 illustrates the configuration of a network system to which the first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Fig. 4 illustrates an example of the internal structure of a dependent unit related to the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a timing graph showing how the OUT terminal and the IN terminal work.

Fig. 6 is a flow chart illustrating the function of the MPU.

Fig. 7 shows an example of a transmission frame to send the result of the operation.

Fig. 8 depicts the configuration of a network system to which the second embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Fig. 9 shows an example of the data structure of the table that relates the dependent unit OUTPUT and the dependent unit INPUT.

Fig. 10 illustrates an example of a message for setting data relating to the OUT dependent unit and the IN dependent unit, for a predetermined dependent unit.

Fig. 11 illustrates a modification of the first embodiment.

Fig. 12 illustrates other modifications of the first embodiment.

Fig. 13 shows the configuration of a network system to which the third embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Fig. 14 illustrates the action of the third embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 15 depicts the configuration of a network system to which a modification of the third embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Fig. 16 is a flow chart illustrating functions of a hybrid type apparatus incorporating respective embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 17 shows an example of a data structure for the table that relates 2 dependent units.

Fig. 18 shows an example of a message to set data to relate 2 dependent units, for a predetermined dependent unit.

Fig. 19 shows the configuration of a network system to which the fourth embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Fig. 20 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the components of each dependent unit in the fourth embodiment.

Fig. 21 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the components of a network configuration of the fourth embodiment.

Fig. 22 is a flow chart illustrating processes of the network configurator of the fourth embodiment.

Fig. 23 illustrates a specific example of the process of displaying the power supply status of the network configurator of the fourth embodiment.

ES 2 328 076 T3

Fig. 24 illustrates a specific example of the network configurator power display process of the fourth embodiment.

Fig. 25 is a flow chart illustrating processes of each dependent unit of the fourth embodiment.

Fig. 26 depicts the configuration of a network system to which the fifth embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Fig. 27 is a block diagram illustrating functions of the fifth embodiment.

Fig. 28 is a block diagram illustrating a specific configuration example of a dependent unit of the fifth embodiment.

Fig. 29 is a flow chart for illustrating the operation of the dependent unit of the fifth embodiment.

Fig. 30 is a flow chart for illustrating the operation of the main unit of the fifth embodiment.

Fig. 31 is a block diagram illustrating other specific configuration examples of a dependent unit of the fifth embodiment.

Fig. 32 is a circuit diagram illustrating a specific circuit example of the power supply for the input monitoring unit to be incorporated in a dependent unit of the fifth embodiment.

Description of the preferred embodiments

Fig. 3 shows an example of a configuration of a system to which the present invention is applied. As illustrated in the same figure, in this embodiment not only are the PLC unit 10 and a main unit with communications capability integrated, but also that main unit 11 is connected with a field network (remote circuit) 12. Furthermore , this PLC unit 10 and the main unit 11 are connected by a general transmission line. Furthermore, a mixed dependent unit 13, to which input and output devices can be connected, is connected to this field network 12.

The PLC unit 10 is also called a CPU unit and cyclically performs I / O refresh, executes programs and performs peripheral processing. Furthermore, although the representation has been omitted, in addition to the PLC unit 10, several units are connected, according to need, that constitute the PLC. However, the related units, themselves, are usually public knowledge, so their detailed explanation will be omitted. Likewise, the main unit 11 carries out communications between the main unit and the dependent unit with the mixed unit 13 and, at the request of the main unit 11, I / O data is sent and received from input and output devices connected with the dependent unit 13 mixed. And between the PLC unit 10 and the main unit 11 an exchange of I / O data is carried out thanks to data communications executed through the general transmission line, as I / O renewal treatment, in a cyclical treatment. executed by PLC unit 10. Note that the aforementioned communications between the main unit and the dependent unit are carried out asynchronously with respect to the cyclical processing of the PLC unit 10.

This mixed dependent unit 13 is of a hybrid type in which the functions of the OUT dependent unit 4b and of the input dependent unit 4A, represented in fig. 2, an actuator 14 is connected to the OUT terminal and, to the IN terminal, a sensor 15 is connected that monitors a position of a mobile unit 14a of the actuator 14.

Fig. 4 shows an example of the internal structure of the mixed unit 13. In other words, connected to the field network 12, it comprises the transmission and reception circuit 13a, the MPU 13b connected to the transmission and reception circuit 13a, the output circuit 13c connected to the output devices and the input circuit 13d. , connected to input devices. Furthermore, it comprises an external, non-volatile memory 13e, a timer (internal clock) 13f, etc.

And, the transmission and reception circuit 13a has the ability to receive a frame that circulates through the field network 12, judging, by analyzing a header part, if the frame is addressed to it and finally accepting frames that only addressed to it and passed to the MPU 13b, and the ability to output transmission frames (eg, a frame for sending IN data addressed to the main unit 11) as output over the field network provided by the MPU 13b.

The MPU 13b executes a predetermined treatment according to the information stored in a received frame data unit provided by the transmitting and receiving circuit 13a, the basic capability of which is to issue a control signal to turn a CONNECT / DISCONNECT terminal OFF. predetermined to the output circuit 13c according to OUT data of a data part. It also has the ability to get the ON / OFF status of the input terminal by the input circuit 13d,

ES 2 328 076 T3 that generates a frame to transmit, as IN data, the information obtained to the main unit 11 and pass it on to the transmission and reception circuit 13a.

To control the operation of the actuator 14 in the previous system, a user program installed in the PLC unit is executed cyclically, the main unit 11 is notified that the OUT terminal of the mixed dependent unit 13 has to be put in CONNECTION when predetermined conditions are met, and the main unit 11 sends a predetermined frame (OUT data) to the mixed dependent unit 13, which corresponds according to communication cycles.

The mixed dependent unit 13 turns ON the OUT terminal connected to actuator 14 according to a received frame / OUT data). This WILL ACTIVATE (open) a valve (not shown), thereby advancing mobile unit 14.

On the other hand, as has been described in the example of the prior art, since a sensor 15 is provided together with the actuator 14, this will be put into CONNECTION, that is, the INPUT terminal to which the sensor 15 is connected will be put into CONNECT, when the mobile unit 14a moves to a predetermined position (in the embodiment, a full-motion position). Since the MPU 13b can know, through the input circuit 13d, that the IN terminal has been set ON, it will transmit it as IN data to the main unit 11 when it is time to transmit its own frame. Then, the main unit 11 will pass the INPUT data obtained at the time of the renewal treatment of the PLC unit 10.

As the capabilities and configuration of each processing unit to perform the respective above and related processing are similar to those of the prior art, a detailed description thereof is omitted herein. Now, in the present invention, the mixed dependent unit 13 has the ability to measure the operating time of said actuator.

In other words, since the MPU 13b can recognize a state of an OUT or IN terminal that it itself possesses, as illustrated in fig. 5, using the timer (internal clock) 13f, measures, for example, the time t that elapses from when the predetermined OUT terminal is put on CONNECTION, until the IN terminal is put on CONNECTION, and stores the result of that measurement in the internal volatile memory 13b '. Note that, in this document, the same state must be understood by putting the OUT and IN terminals in CONNECTION, as by increasing the magnitude of a signal.

As the mixed dependent unit 13 also retains information on the normal operating time, it is endowed with the ability to determine whether or not the previous measurement result is within the normal operating time, and to judge the state of the actuator 14 ( There is no need to say that the judgment result will be stored and retained in the internal volatile memory 13b '). And, the aforementioned normal run time may be one that can be set by a threshold, such as within 10 ms, or one that can be set by two thresholds, such as from 90 ms to 100 ms. A set value to identify this normal operating time is stored in the external non-volatile memory 13e and sent to the internal volatile memory 13b 'each time the power is turned on.

In addition, although not specifically shown, in the non-volatile external memory 13e are stored, as an associated table structure, a combination of OUT and IN terminals to be monitored and the above-mentioned setting values. And, related information is fed to the internal volatile memory 13b ', but that internal volatile memory 13b' also has the table structure, whereby, in effect, the judgment or measurement result can also be associated and stored.

And, to be specific, the processing unit 13b 'of the MPU 13b is designed to execute the flow chart illustrated in FIG. 6. Furthermore, the run time t to be monitored is based on the premise that both the OUT and IN terminals have been switched from OFF (Low) to ON (High), as shown in fig. 5, that is, the increasing value signals are related to each other and the time that elapses from the growth of that OUTPUT signal to that of the INPUT signal, will be considered as operating time t.

As shown in fig. 6, it must first be determined (ST1) whether or not there is growth on the applicable OUT terminal (in fig. 3, the OUT terminal to which actuator 14 is connected).

And, if growth is detected, then the start time (counter value) should be obtained (ST2) from timer 13f. Note that, although in this embodiment we have used the timer (counter), as we only measured the operating time, we would have better used the internal clock to also obtain data associated with the date and time the operating time was measured. .

Next, it will be determined (ST3) whether or not there is promotion in the applicable INPUT terminal (when the CONNECT signal comes in). And, if ascent is detected (If in the decision of step 3), a value of the timer 13f (stop time) is obtained, a difference with the start time obtained in step 2 is calculated and the result is stored in the result buffer.

ES 2 328 076 T3

On the other hand, since the settings that provide the operating time of a normal actuator have been retained in advance, they are compared with the operating time calculated in step 5, and it is determined if it is within the (normal) range and stores results in a buffer, along with that comparison (ST6).

And, if the previous procedures were executed in sequence and repeatedly on the established objects to be monitored, and the procedures were completed in all their points (If in ST7), the operating time and the result of the comparison obtained would be stored and retained in the internal volatile memory 13b 'as status information for each object to be monitored (actuator 14, etc.). Since these procedures are to be executed according to an interrupt instruction, a next instruction must be expected if up to 8 procedures are to be executed.

On the other hand, the result of the comparison or the maintenance time previously stored and retained, can be transmitted to the main unit 11 and thus to the PLC unit 10 if, for example, the main unit 11 outputs a message with a predetermined timing and the mixed dependent unit 13 that receives the message returns, in response to it, the operating time, etc., of an object device (address) specified by the message. Thus, it is preferable to use a message from the main unit 11, since the communications on the side of the main unit 11 are independent of the transmission of I / O data, and information can only be received about an object that needs to be monitored. .

Notification of the related uptime, etc., is not limited to a response to the above-mentioned message and thus can also be transmitted, for example, by scrutiny between the main unit and the dependent unit. In other words, each dependent unit sends INPUT data to main unit 11 with a predetermined timing. Therefore, as shown in fig. 7, it is possible to carry out the notification by generating and sending a transmission frame that comprises, in the data unit, INPUT data, a usual input terminal state plus the result of the operation managed by that dependent unit (operating time or comparison result, etc.). This method is preferred because it saves the main unit the need to generate and send a message requesting the acquisition of a run time.

Furthermore, as another scheme, a state change may be used in which the dependent unit side fulfills the primary entity mission. In other words, the mixed dependent unit 13 sends the result to the main unit 11 only when any change is made to the operating time or the result of the operation of an object to be managed by it. Adoption of this scheme can prevent residual data from flowing over the field network 12 and reduces traffic because the main unit can receive uptime, etc., only when necessary.

In this embodiment, since not only the run time calculation is executed but also the status can be judged, and both stored / retained on the dependent unit side, the necessary information can be obtained without any cyclical operation on the PLC unit 10, and also without effects of communication cycles in the field network 12. However, since the operating time is calculated within the dependent unit, the operating time can be obtained, even if it is shorter than one cycle of the cyclic operation.

Fig. 8 shows the second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, instead of a mixed dependent unit, the OUT dependent unit 20 and the IN dependent unit 21 are connected to the field network 12. And, by means of peer-to-peer communications (communications between dependent units), OUT terminal ON / OFF information is transmitted from OUTPUT dependent unit 20 to INPUT dependent unit 21 (usually, a dependent unit to which sensor 15 is connected) .

Then, in the treatment unit of the MPU in the dependent unit INPUT 21, procedures similar to those represented in the process graph of fig. 6, in which, based on the CONNECTION / DISCONNECTION information of the OUT terminal received from the OUTPUT dependent unit 20, the start time is obtained when the applicable OUT terminal is put into CONNECTION and the stop time, in which the default INPUT terminal is set to CONNECTION, and not only is the operating time determined from a difference between the two, but also it is compared with established values ​​and the result of the comparison is preserved.

Furthermore, data transmission from the OUT dependent unit 20 to the IN dependent unit 21 can be implemented, for example by having the IN dependent unit 21 store and preserve, in advance, the node number of the associated OUT dependent unit. and the bit number of the OUT terminal, etc., causing the INPUT dependent unit 21 to request the OUTPUT dependent unit 20 for the stored node number about a state of the bit number with a predetermined timing, and causing the OUTPUT dependent unit 20 to report the ON / OFF state of the node number. applicable bit in response to that request.

According to this method, the OUT dependent unit 20 only has to respond to a transmission request and thus there is no need to store or retain any information about the associated IN dependent unit 21. On the contrary, by also having the dependent unit OUTPUT 20 store and retain information

ES 2 328 076 T3 on the associated INPUT dependent unit, for example, when you want to CONNECT the OUT terminal, you can notify the CONNECTION information applicable to the associated INPUT dependent unit 21, which not only facilitates the starting time when notifies you of this CONNECTION information but also the stop time when the INPUT terminal is put into CONNECTION, calculates the operating time from both moments and, likewise, gets the result of a comparison with the adjustment values.

Then, it is possible to make the dependent unit INPUT 21, etc., store the information necessary to measure the operating time, creating a table that relates "node number (MACID) and bit number of the dependent unit INPUT", " node number (MACID) and OUT dependent unit bit number ”, and“ OUTPUT watchdog time unit ”along with relationship data as shown in Fig. 9, namely assignment number, by means of a utility device and then, based on this table, creating a message including related information of the data unit for the dependent unit that is to store and preserve it and sending it to the applicable dependent unit via field network 12, via the applicable utility device or main unit 11.

Furthermore, the OUT watch time unit is a time unit to watch the conditions of other dependent units and asks about the state of the bit applicable to related watch time intervals. Therefore, this related OUTPUT monitoring time unit is the minimum unit of the ability to measure operating time.

Also, in Figs. 9 and 10, the setting values ​​for the relationship between the OUT dependent unit (OUT terminal) and the IN dependent unit (IN terminal) are illustrated and, if added, the ability to compare the drive-side requested run time dependent on the setting values, setting values ​​can also be associated and transmitted for comparison.

In this embodiment, as the output devices such as the actuator 14, etc., and the input devices, such as the sensor 15, etc. to be monitored, they are connected to different dependent units, communications through the field network 12 are carried out at least once. However, the time delay has nothing to do with the cyclical time of the user program of the PLC unit 10, being instead only attributed to communication cycles even though the communication cycles are very short in time. comparison with the cyclical time and thus a value more similar to the real operating time can be obtained than that managed on the user program side.

Also, in the above embodiment, the calculation of the operating time takes place in the dependent unit INPUT 21 to which the sensor 15, input device, is connected. Contrary to this, by sending information on the INPUT terminal ON / OFF from the dependent unit 21 to the associated OUTPUT unit 20, the calculation of the operating time and the comparison with the setting values ​​can be performed on the dependent unit side. OUT 20.

Furthermore, the calculation of the operating time is not necessarily limited to the operating time of the output device from which it is to be obtained, nor of a dependent unit to which an input device such as a sensor monitoring that device is connected. output but may be a different dependent unit. In this case, the information on the CONNECTION / DISCONNECTION of the OUT terminal and the information on the CONNECTION / DISCONNECTION of the IN terminal must be obtained and calculated from the OUTPUT dependent unit 20 and the INPUT dependent unit 21, respectively.

In addition, since the operating time of such a dependent unit to which there is no input / output device connected can be determined, it can be obtained with the main unit 11, incorporating this calculation capacity (capacity to implement the graph of process illustrated in Fig. 6). Even in this case, since the cyclical time of the user program has no effect on the PLC unit, the operating time can be determined with relatively good precision.

Also, if obtained with the main unit 11, the ON / OFF information of the OUT or IN terminal can be obtained using the control of the main unit 11 over the transmission / reception of I / O information, although, as in the case from another dependent unit, it can be obtained at the request of the associated dependent unit and responding to the requirement, or by a configuration such that the associated dependent unit notifies the main unit 11 when a predetermined terminal is put ON. In other words, the run time can also be obtained by acquiring the start time when associated OUT data is sent and the stop time when IN data is received.

Incidentally, in any of the respective embodiments or modifications described above, although examples are shown in which the operating time is considered to be the time that elapses from when the output terminal is turned ON (increases the value) until the terminal input is put into CONNECTION (decreases the value), the present invention is not limited to them and, as operating time, the period from when the output terminal changes until the input terminal changes can be obtained.

ES 2 328 076 T3

In other words, as shown for example in Fig. 11, if a CONNECT signal is sent to the OUT terminal of the mixed dependent unit 13 (it can also be the OUT 20 dependent unit) to which the actuator (cylinder) 14, the valve is opened thus advancing the mobile unit (cylinder head) 14a. And, in the example illustrated in Fig. 5, the sensor 15 is designed to detect a position of full movement of the mobile unit 14a, while in the example shown in Fig. 11, in which the system is designed so that the sensor 15 'is provided in the intermediate position of the movement path of the mobile unit 14a, this sensor 15' detects the passage of the mobile unit 14a through the intermediate position X and outputs a perception signal (the IN terminal of the mixed dependent unit 13 is set to ON). However, although the figures show the examples that are suitable for the mixed dependent unit 13, it goes without saying that the system can also be applied when the OUT and IN dependent units are configured separately, in a similar way to the second embodiment. .

In this case, as the sensor 15 'has a certain detection area, the output signal of the sensor 15' (input signal to the IN terminal) will go ON (increase the value) when the mobile unit 14a reaches the intermediate position X (when it enters the sensing area of ​​the sensor). And, if the mobile unit 14a continues to advance and leaves the detection area, it will go OFF (decrease in value).

Now, whenever the output signal from sensor 15 'goes ON (increase the value at the IN terminal) or changes from ON to OFF (decrease the value at the IN terminal), it can be determined that the mobile unit 14a has exceeded the intermediate position X. The determination can be made depending on the purpose for which it is desired to obtain the operating time. And, when the operating time t it takes for the first to grow is obtained, the operating time can be determined, using the respective embodiment described above, relating (linking) the increase of one signal with that of the other.

On the other hand, to determine the operating time t 'that it takes to decrease the latter, the process graph shown in fig. 6, and can be obtained by substituting the decision in step 3 with "Did the applicable INPUT switch of ON -> OFF?" This is the embodiment associated with the OUTPUT terminal: CONNECT (rise) -> DISCONNECT (descent) IN terminal.

Furthermore, in any of the above-described embodiments and respective modifications, although the start time of the operating time is when the OUT terminal is put ON (up), the present invention is not limited thereto and can be considered a trigger. when the OUT terminal is placed in DISCONNECT (lowering).

By way of example, as shown in fig. 11 above, when the OUT terminal of the mixed dependent unit 13 is set to ON and the valve is ON, air or fluid will circulate in it, and the mobile unit 14a will be advanced. However, there is a cylinder of the type in which when the OUT terminal is turned OFF and the valve is also turned OFF, the mobile unit 14a will retract and automatically regain an original position. Then, as shown in fig. 12, not only will this type of cylinder that returns when this output is reduced will be mounted, but also the sensor 15 ', which detects the mobile unit 14a, will be located in the intermediate position Y of the return path.

Now, suppose a case in which the operating time (t1, t1 ') counts from when the mobile unit 14 begins to retract until it reaches the intermediate position Y. In this case, the start moment is obtained as a trigger when the OUT terminal is set to DISCONNECT. Likewise, it is considered a trigger to obtain the stop time when the INPUT terminal is put in CONNECTION (rise) or is put in DISCONNECT (descent). When linked with the ON at the IN terminal, the run time t1 can be obtained, while the run time t1 'can be obtained when linked with the OFF at the IN terminal.

And, regarding the ability to execute these procedures, the process chart shown in fig. 6 is the basis for the first case and can be dealt with by replacing the decision in step 1 with "Did the applicable OUTPUT switch of ON -> OFF pass?". This is the embodiment associated with OUT terminal: DISCONNECT (descent) -> INPUT terminal: CONNECT (ascent). Also, in the latter case, it can be addressed by further changing the decision in step 3 to "Did the applicable INPUT switch go from ON -> OFF?" This is the embodiment associated with OUT terminal: DISCONNECT (descent) -> INPUT terminal: DISCONNECT (descent).

Furthermore, the operating time calculated in the second embodiment and in the modifications described above can be sent to the main unit 11 or the PLC unit 10 in various ways, for example voluntarily or on demand, etc., as shown in the first embodiment. .

Fig. 13 shows the third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, unlike the respective embodiments and modifications described above, the operating time of the apparatus (actuator 14) is to be obtained based on the input signal from two input devices (sensors).

ES 2 328 076 T3

In other words, similarly to the first embodiment, the actuator is connected to the OUT terminal of the mixed dependent unit 13 and to the IN terminal is connected the sensor that monitors a position of the mobile unit 14a of that actuator 14. Without However, in this embodiment, two sensors, such as the first and second sensors 16a and 16b, are provided as the sensor to be connected to the IN terminal. And the first and second sensors 16a and 16b are located, respectively, at X and Y, in the middle of the path of travel (intermediate position) of the mobile unit 14a, whereby the passage of the mobile unit 14a can be detected. by the intermediate positions X and Y. Furthermore, the internal structure of the mixed dependent unit 13 is similar to that shown in FIG. Four.

According to this system, when the OUT data is ON, the mobile unit 14a of the actuator 14 begins to advance from the origin. Then, as shown in fig. 14, when the mobile unit 14a reaches the intermediate position X, the output of the first sensor 16a is turned ON and then turned OFF when the mobile unit passes through the intermediate position X. This output will simply serve as the input signal of the INPUT terminal for the first sensor 16a of the mixed dependent unit 13.

If the mobile unit 14a continues to advance and reaches the intermediate position Y, the output of the second sensor 16b is turned ON and then turned OFF when the mobile unit passes through the intermediate position Y. This output will simply serve as a signal. input of the INPUT terminal for the first sensor 16a of the mixed dependent unit 13.

In this case, the operating time required for the mobile unit 14a to move from the intermediate position X to the intermediate position Y can be determined in the mixed dependent unit 13 by relating (linking) the outputs of the first and second sensors 16a and 16b , that is, signals corresponding to two INPUT terminals. In addition, regarding the relationship between two INPUT terminals, in the same way as in the respective embodiments and modifications described above, such as the start time and the stop time are obtained using a change of the INPUT terminal as a trigger, this change can be from DISCONNECT -> CONNECTION (ascent) or of CONNECTION -> DISCONNECT (descent).

Therefore, as shown in fig. 14 (b), if the rise of the output signal (IN terminal) of the first sensor 16a is related to the rise of the output signal (IN terminal) of the second sensor 16b, the time T1 will be the operating time. Likewise, if the rise of the output signal (IN terminal) is related to the fall of the output signal (IN terminal) of the second sensor 16b, time T2 will be the operating time.

On the other hand, as shown in fig. 14 (c), a trigger to obtain the start time may be the descent of the output signal (IN terminal) of the first sensor 16a. In this case, the time T3 will be determined as the operating time, relating the decrease in the signal of the first sensor 16a and the rise of the output signal (IN terminal) of the second sensor 16b, and the time T4 will be determined as the operating time. operation relating the descent of the output signal (IN terminal) of the second sensor 16b.

Of course, the operating time when the mobile unit 14a is retracted can also be determined. In this case, unlike in the previous case, relating a change in the output of the second sensor and that of the first sensor 16a, the starting moment will be obtained based on the second sensor 16b and the stop moment will be obtained based on the first perceiver 16a.

Furthermore, in the previous example, although an example has been described in which both sensors detect the intermediate positions of the movement path of the mobile unit (the step will cause the signal to change from DISCONNECT -> CONNECT -> DISCONNECT), nor It goes without saying that it is also good for one of the sensors to detect a full motion position. Furthermore, the monitoring of the two sensors is not necessarily limited to monitoring the operation of one appliance and the operating conditions of different appliances can be monitored. As an example, when sensors are respectively provided to monitor operations performed by two robots, the delay that occurs from when one robot starts to operate (completion of the operation) until the other robot begins to operate (completion of the operation) can be determined. operation). As such, the operating time is not limited to that of a single appliance (idle period), but is the concept that includes the operating time of the entire system (appliance) comprising a plurality of appliances, as before exposed.

Then, the ability of the MPU 13b (treatment unit 13b ") to determine the operating time based on a change of the two INPUT terminals mentioned above, can be achieved in practice, basically by similar procedures to those represented by the graph of process shown in fig. 6. And, in this flow chart of FIG. 6, steps 1 and 3 will be changed, as appropriate, obtaining each moment according to whether the two INPUT terminals to be related are ON or OFF. That is, when the start time is obtained based on a change from DISCONNECT to CONNECT (climb), the decision in step 1 will change to "Has the applicable INPUT switch changed from DISCONNECT to CONNECT?" and, when obtained based on a change from ON to OFF (down), the decision in step 1 will change to "Has the applicable INPUT switch changed from ON to OFF?" Also, when the stop time is obtained based on a change from ON to OFF (lowering), the decision in step 3 will change to “Has the applicable INPUT switch changed from ON to OFF?”.

ES 2 328 076 T3

While still referring to this embodiment, the example has been shown in which the dependent unit connecting the first and second sensors 16a and 16b is the mixed dependent unit13 and thus the operation of the actuator 14 is controlled based on data from OUTPUT (ON / OFF signal from OUTPUT terminal) to be output from mixed dependent unit 13, so a control instruction for actuator 14 may not be sent, necessarily, from the same dependent unit. In such a case, the dependent unit to which the first and second sensors 16a and 16b are to be connected may be the INPUT dependent unit rather than the mixed dependent unit. Furthermore, since other configurations and actions / effects are similar to those of the respective embodiments and modifications described above, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Furthermore, as shown in fig. 15, the calculation of the operating time based on the INPUT terminal link, can also be practically incorporated in a system configuration in which the first and second sensors 16a and 16b are connected, respectively, to different dependent units INPUT 21 'and twenty-one". In this case, similar to the second embodiment, the other dependent unit 21 "must be given an INPUT value (starting time in the illustrated example) obtained in an INPUT dependent unit 21 '. Then, the operating time will be determined based on the given INPUT value and on the information obtained about the time in the other dependent unit INPUT 21 ”(stop time in the illustrated example) and the result of the operation will be sent to the main unit 11.

Naturally, the relationship between the INPUT dependent unit that sends and the INPUT dependent unit that receives, can be arbitrary and, thus, as shown, the start time can be sent from the INPUT dependent unit that obtained the stop time to another INPUT dependent unit that got the start time. Furthermore, as described in the modification of the second embodiment, the operating time can also be determined by sending the obtained time information to another dependent unit to which these sensors or various nodes such as the main unit 11 are not connected. Furthermore, since other configurations and actions / effects are similar to respective embodiments and modifications, described above, their detailed description is omitted.

Furthermore, in a node endowed with the ability to calculate the actual operating time of a dependent or main unit, etc., there is a request for any of the above-described patterns to be accommodated. In other words, there are 4 patterns to determine the operating time after the OUT terminal changes until the IN terminal changes, and there are also 4 patterns to determine the operation after the IN terminal change has occurred and until change the output terminal. Thus, in total there are 8 types of patterns.

The MPU 13b (processing unit 13b ') can accommodate any of these 8 patterns by incorporating the capabilities illustrated in the flow chart of FIG. 16.

First, as preconditions, a link relationship of respective terminals will be stored as setting data in the external non-volatile memory. Similar to the first embodiment, this adjustment data can be achieved by creating a table that relates "node number (MACID) and dependent unit bit number where a start trigger is issued, and exchange rate (rise / fall ), and distinction between INPUT / OUTPUT terminals ”,“ node number (MACID) and bit number of the dependent unit where a stop trigger is emitted, and exchange rate (rise / fall) ”, and“ time unit of vigilance", together with relationship data, as shown in fig. 17, namely assignment number, by means of a utility device and then, based on this table, creating a message (see fig. 18) that includes related information in the data unit for the dependent unit that has of storing and preserving it, and sending it over the field network 12 to the applicable dependent unit, through the applicable utility device or main unit 11.

The watchdog time unit is a time unit for monitoring conditions of other dependent units and, in this watchdog time interval, the state of the applicable bit is queried. Thus, this monitoring time unit will be the minimum unit of the operating time measurement capability. Also, it goes without saying, in terms of the IN / OUT terminals type of a start trigger, that the mixed dependent unit has both I / O terminals.

Based on this premise, as illustrated in fig. 16, the setting values ​​will be read (ST10) first. The setting values ​​allow the acquisition of a bit number of the terminals (IN / OUT terminals) to be monitored and the exchange rate that must be the trigger to obtain the moment. Next, it must be decided (ST11) whether or not the applicable IN / OUT terminal has changed. In other words, based on the adjustment data acquired in step 10, it will be determined whether the rise / fall of a terminal to be monitored occurs which will constitute a trigger to determine the start time.

And, if there is a change (Yes in the decision of step 11), it continues to step 12, where a start moment is obtained. It will then be determined (ST13) whether the related applicable IN terminal changes (to decide between raising or lowering, depending on the setting). And, when the ascent is perceived (Yes in the decision of step 13), a value of the timer 13f (stop time) is obtained (ST14), its difference with respect to the start time obtained in step 2 is determined, calculates the run time and the result is stored in the result buffer.

ES 2 328 076 T3

On the other hand, the setting values ​​that allow obtaining the operating time of a normal actuator, have been stored and retained in advance, the normal operating time calculated in step 15 is compared with the setting values ​​to determine if it is found, or not, within the range (it is normal) and the result is also saved (ST16) in the result buffer.

And, if the previous processes are repeatedly executed on the objects to be monitored that have been established and once the processes have been executed at all points (Yes in ST17), the result of the comparison and the determined operating time are stored. and store (ST18) in the internal volatile memory 13b 'as status information. Since these processes execute according to the interrupt instruction, a next instruction must be expected if the processes up to step 18 are to be executed.

Furthermore, the operating time calculated in the third embodiment and its modification described above, can be provided to the main unit 11 or to the PLC unit 10 in various ways, for example voluntarily or on demand, etc., as shown in the embodiments. first and second.

As explained in detail above, according to the respective above embodiments, it is possible that the operating time of the output device can be determined from a difference between the information about when the OUT terminal has changed. of the dependent unit to which the output device is connected, and that corresponding to the moment in which the INPUT terminal of the dependent unit to which the input device that monitors the output device is connected has changed, or the operating time of a specific device (system) can be obtained from the The time interval that elapses from when a certain IN terminal changes until another IN terminal changes. However, as this calculation process, etc., is carried out on the node side, such as a dependent or main unit connected to a network, the operating time of the output device can be accurately measured without being affected. by cyclical operation on the PLC side.

In the above respective embodiments, the operating time, that is, a measured value of physical magnitude related to a control unit (input or output device), is not only determined in a dependent unit but is also compared with a reference value and, then, if predetermined conditions are satisfied, the result of the comparison with the reference value and / or the operating time, are output to the field network 12, and provided to a predetermined apparatus (node) connected to that field network 12. Without being limited thereto, the present invention may be such that, for example, the determined operating time is output without comparing it to the reference value and at predetermined times, letting the PLC unit 10, etc., make the determination. Also, a receiver is not limited to the main unit or a dependent unit, but can be constituted by a configurator or monitor, etc., as well as another controller of the PLC.

Furthermore, as information to be notified, in addition to the result of the determination and / or the operating time, preferably singular, notified information (information not related to the control) of a control device is sent. In other words, if a device has been adjusted so that the time of its replacement approaches when the operating time exceeds a reference value, for example, a user will be able to know in advance information about a faulty device, when it is output together with unique information (device name, manufacturer name, model, manufacturing number) indicating the ID (identification) of the device. Therefore, when visiting a site, you can bring parts that allow you to replace this or another device to replace it and, thus, quickly carry out maintenance operations. And, by storing and preserving unique information about a control device connected to a user in advance, the user can act accordingly by reading it when necessary.

Furthermore, the physical quantity related to a control device to be measured or a dependent unit in the present invention is not limited to the mentioned operating time, and can be various such as a supply voltage to be supplied to a dependent unit, etc., as will be discussed later.

Fig. 19 illustrates a view of a system configuration showing the entire configuration of the fourth embodiment. In this embodiment, there is a network system to which a main unit 30 and a plurality of dependent units, distributed over various locations, are connected via field network 32. Such devices, as input or output devices (input / output device 34) are connected to the dependent unit 33 and the I / O data of the input / output devices 34 is sent to the main unit 30 and received from she. The same is applicable in the respective embodiments and in their modifications described above.

Furthermore, although not shown in the drawings, the PLC unit is connected to this main unit, as in the previous respective embodiments, and constitutes the PLC. Furthermore, the PLC unit and the main unit 30 are not necessarily directly connected to constitute the PLC, and therefore the main unit 30 can be independent of the PLC. In such a case, I / O data will be exchanged via field network 32 or a different network.

Likewise, the mains power supply apparatus 35 is located in the vicinity of the main unit 30. This mains power supply apparatus 35 is connected to the field mains 32, by means of which it is supplied the supply voltage to the main unit 30 or to the dependent unit 33. Furthermore, the power supply also supplies the input / output device 34, via this dependent unit 33.

ES 2 328 076 T3

Furthermore, to this field network 32 is connected the network configurator 36 to which current is also fed from the network power supply apparatus 35.

The aforementioned network configurator 36 is adapted to monitor conditions of network units such as main unit 30, dependent unit 33, etc., and to read and write parameters.

Furthermore, the dependent unit 33 is constituted by a remote I / O terminal, an environmentally resistant terminal, a remote adapter, an I / O link unit, a sensing terminal, an analog input terminal, an output terminal analog, temperature input terminal, RS232C unit, etc., which make up the system.

In the above configuration, each of a plurality of dependent units 33 executes operations such as communications, etc., using the network power source that is being fed from the power supply apparatus to the field network, through field network 32. However, this mains power supply is subject to different voltage drops, depending on the distance from the mains power supply apparatus 35. In this embodiment, since the utility power supply also powers the input / output device 34, a voltage drop will increase accordingly as the input / output device 34 draws current.

And since the guaranteed working voltage of the aforementioned plurality of dependent units 33 is determined to be, for example, 24 V to 11 V, communications will be disabled when the supply voltage is in a position where is fed to the unit dependent on the above-mentioned mains power supply, drops, for example, below 11 V.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the means for monitoring the power supply are provided to monitor conditions of the mains supplies added, respectively, to each dependent unit 33. And, the configuration is such that information on the state of the power supply, indicating the conditions of the mains power supply of each dependent unit 33, which are monitored by the power supply monitoring means, is collected. by the network configurator 36 by means of the field network 32, in order to control, in a unified way, the conditions of the network power supply of each dependent unit.

Fig. 20 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the components of each dependent unit 33 in the PLC system shown in FIG. 19. In fig. 20, the dependent unit 33 is configured with a voltage monitoring unit 33a, a maximum / minimum value holding unit 33b, a current value storage unit 33c, a monitoring voltage storage unit 33d, a comparison 33e, an alarm state storage unit 33f, and a communications control unit 33g.

Now, the voltage monitoring unit 33a monitors the network power supply fed from the field network 32 and detects its current value, and the maximum and minimum values. And, the maximum and minimum voltage values ​​of the mains power supply, detected by the voltage monitoring unit 33a, are retained in the maximum / minimum value holding unit 33b. A current voltage value of the mains power supply, detected by the voltage monitoring unit 33a, is also stored in the current value storage unit 33c.

This dependent unit 33 communicates to the network configurator 36 information about voltage, one of the non-control related system information that does not consist of I / O data stored in the above-described maximum / minimum value holding unit 33b and the current value storage unit 33c, so that the network configurator 36 can check the content. It also has the ability to judge whether or not the current supply voltage is normal and to save the decision result. Furthermore, in a totally abnormal condition where the supply voltage is disabled, it cannot be judged whether it is a normal condition or not because the apparatus itself does not work. Therefore, in this embodiment, a voltage-like state in which the supply voltage drops and is disabled is considered an abnormality, namely, a state that requires some alarm, and said state, if present, is to be recorded.

And, in this embodiment, the monitoring voltage that serves as a criterion to judge whether it is, or not, a state in which an alarm is needed, such as before, that is, a state in which the apparatus appears disabled although is still in operation, it is stored in the monitoring voltage storage unit 33d. Furthermore, in this embodiment, this monitoring voltage is set with microswitches (not shown) of the dependent unit 33.

When the guaranteed operating voltage is 24 V to 11 V, the monitoring voltage stored in this monitoring voltage storage unit 33d will be set slightly higher than 11 V, which is the lower limit of the voltage. As an example, it is fixed at 12V. With this value, it would be possible to communicate to the network configurator conditions of the network power supply supplying this dependent unit 33, before communications are disabled due to the presence of a reduced supply voltage after a power failure. voltage.

ES 2 328 076 T3

The comparison unit 33e compares a current value of the mains supply voltage stored in the current value storage unit 33c with the monitoring voltage stored in the monitoring voltage storage unit 33d and outputs a status alarm when a current value of the mains power supply voltage falls slightly below the monitoring voltage, which is a reference value for comparison.

This alarm state output from the comparison unit 33e is stored in the alarm state storage unit 33f. Now, the alarm state of the alarm state storage unit 33f can be stored as an error flag.

The information about the supply voltage, including the alarm status (error mark) that is the result of the judgment made based on the above-mentioned monitoring voltage, is retained by the dependent unit 33. In this embodiment, this information is retained by the dependent unit is to be passed to the network configurator 36 as a response that is sent in response to a request from the network configurator 36. In other words, the maximum / minimum values ​​of the mains power supply voltage that are kept in the maximum / minimum value holding unit 33b and that are to be supplied to the dependent unit 33, a current value of the voltage of the mains power supply which is stored in the current value storage unit 33c and supplied to this dependent unit 33, and an alarm state stored in the alarm state storage unit 33f, are read to the communications control unit 33g from the maximum / minimum value holding unit 33b, the current value storage unit 33c and the unit 33f for storing alarm states, by the read command from the network configurator 36 illustrated in FIG. 19 and are sent, in response, to the network configurator via field network 32.

Furthermore, similar to a response to be issued following receipt of a command issued from the network configurator 36, as described above, the timing for communicating such voltage information is not limited to a trigger from outside and can be configured such that, depending on an internal trigger, namely a change in the judgment result, the dependent unit 33 makes the shipment voluntarily. This means that the supply voltage for the dependent unit 33 can be monitored and, when it falls below a certain threshold (watchdog voltage), an alarm condition (error mark) and other information about the voltage will be sent to the configurator. 36 network.

Note that the previous voltage monitoring configuration illustrated in Fig. 20 can also be provided on the main unit 30. With this configuration, similar to the previous dependent unit 33, the voltage to be supplied to the main unit 30 from the apparatus can be monitored. 35 power supply to the network.

Fig. 21 is a block diagram showing the component configuration of the network configurator 36 in this embodiment. As shown in fig. 21, the network configurator 36 is configured with an input unit 36a, a communications control unit 36b connected to the field network 32, and a display unit 36c. The following describes specific capabilities of each unit.

The input unit 36a is a human-machine interface such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a functional panel, etc., and has the ability to pass a voltage display instruction from it to the communication control unit 36b. system received thanks to user manipulations.

With the voltage display instruction provided from the input unit 36a, the communications control unit 36b issues in sequence, to each dependent unit 33, a command to read a current value, a command to read a value maximum, a reading order of a minimum value, and a reading order of an alarm state, and collects a current value, maximum / minimum values ​​and an alarm status of the voltage of the current supply to the network in each dependent unit 33, upon receiving a response to these from the dependent unit 33. Then, it passes the collected information to the display unit 36c .

The display unit 36c may be constituted by a display equipment such as a display screen, and outputs and displays conditions of the power supply to the network of each dependent unit 33 received from the communication control unit 36b. This allows the user to be informed of the current condition of the voltage. Thus, the communications of a system separate from the cyclical processes of the PLC unit allows the network configurator 36 to collect conditions from each dependent unit 33, independently of the usual transmission / reception of I / O data and, thus, a user can get centralized control.

In the following, the above processes will be described, namely, the specific procedures to implement in practice the ability of the network configurator 36 to collect information about the voltage of the power supply retained by each dependent unit 33.

Fig. 24 is a flow chart showing the processes of the network configurator 36. First, it must be determined (ST21) whether or not the voltage display instruction of each dependent unit 33 has been input from the input unit 36a. If no voltage display instruction has been entered (NO in the decision in step 21), the input of the voltage display instruction should continue to be expected; While it is determined that the voltage display instruction has been entered (YES in the decision of step 21), the unit number n of the dependent unit will be set to "1" (ST22). Next, it must be determined whether the unit number n is, or

ES 2 328 076 T3 no, the last number. Also, if this is executed after step 22, the decision result must be NO, because n = 1 and is not the last number.

And, if the unit number n is not the last one (NOT in step 43), the order to read a current value will be issued (ST24) for the dependent unit with unit number n, which orders the reading of a current value of the voltage of the mains power supply being fed to the dependent unit 33.

Then, it must be determined (ST 25) whether a response to the command to read a current value has been received from the dependent unit 33 with unit number n. If no response has been received (NO in step 25), this response should be expected. If a response has been received (YES in step 25), the order to read a maximum value will be issued (ST 26) as an output for the dependent unit 33 with unit number n, which orders the reading of a maximum value of the voltage of the mains power supply of the dependent unit 33.

And, it must be determined (ST27) whether a response to this reading command of a maximum value has been received from the dependent unit 33 with unit number n. If no response has been received (No in step 27), this response should be expected. If an answer has been received (YES in step 27), it will be issued (ST28), for the dependent unit 23 with unit number n, the order to read a minimum value that orders the reading of the minimum value of the voltage of the mains power supply being fed to the dependent unit 33.

Then, it must be determined (ST29) whether a response to this reading command of a minimum value has been received from the dependent unit 33 with unit number n. If no response has been received (NO in step 29), this response should be expected. If an answer has been received (YES in step 29), the command to read an alarm state will be issued (ST 30) for the dependent unit with unit number n, which commands the reading of the alarm state from the source of mains power that is feeding the dependent unit 33.

And, it must be determined (ST31) whether a response to this alarm status read command has been received from the dependent unit 33 with unit number n. If no response has been received (NO in step 31), this response should be expected. If an answer has been received (YES in step 31), a user will return to step 23 after incrementing the unit number from n to n + 1 (ST 32). In addition, if a response has been received at each step of the process described above, the content that has been sent as a response must be extracted and stored / preserved.

The previous stage will be repeatedly executed in step 23 until the nth unit is determined to be the last one. Also, the last value of unit number n must be stored and preserved in advance. And, strictly speaking, the determination "is it the last?" in this step 23 it will be "Has the last number been exceeded?" or "Were the processes executed until the last number?". Then, if the processes were executed until the last number (YES in step 23), the status of the current supply to the network of each dependent unit 33 would be presented based on the current value, the maximum value, the minimum value and the alarm status obtained by executing each process described above (ST 33). This would put an end to a series of processes involved in inputting this voltage display instruction, such as issuing commands, receiving responses, and displaying the information obtained from the responses. Furthermore, although commands are issued for the units dependent on the above description, the information about the voltage of the mains to be fed to the main unit can be obtained.

Specific examples of a display on the display unit 36c of a state of power supply conditions obtained as a result of executing the processes in this step 33 include, for example, that shown in FIG. 23. Furthermore, information on the mains voltage supplied to the main unit 30 will also have been obtained in this case. In the upper part of the display screen 37 shown in fig. 23, the connection configuration of this AF system constituted by the main unit 30 (M) and respective dependent units 33 (S1 to S6) is illustrated, while the lower part shows, in a line graph, the maximum value L1, the current value L2 and the minimum value L3 of the mains power supply that supplies each unit.

L4 is the watchdog voltage stored in the watchdog voltage storage unit 33d. When the minimum value L3 or the current value L2 falls slightly below the monitoring voltage L4, the conditions are abnormal and therefore the default alarm screen will be displayed, depending on the alarm status.

Furthermore, it would be better to select whether an alarm is emitted by comparing the monitoring voltage L4 with the minimum value L3 or with the current value L2, depending on the configuration of the AF system or the electrical characteristics, etc., of external devices connected to the dependent unit 33. Furthermore, when a compared value of the minimum value L3 or the current value L2 also falls slightly below, an alarm will be issued accordingly.

According to such a configuration, the conditions of the power supply to the network of each dependent unit 33 can be visually presented to a user in terms of the relationship between the maximum value L1, the minimum value L3, the current value L2 and the voltage of surveillance L4.

It goes without saying that the examples of presentation of the current supply conditions are not limited to those previously described and, thus, fig. 24 illustrates another example. That is, at the top of the display screen 37 illustrated in FIG. 24, the connection configuration of this AF system consisting of

ES 2 328 076 T3 the main unit 30 (M) and the dependent units (S1 to S6). In this regard, this is similar to what is described above. And, in the lower part, the maximum value L1 ', the current value L2' and the minimum value L3 'of the network power supply supplying each unit are shown as a line graph.

L4 is the watchdog voltage stored in the watchdog voltage storage unit 33d. If there is any unit where the L3 minimum value or the L2 current value falls slightly below the L4 monitoring voltage, the conditions are abnormal and therefore the default alarm screen will be displayed, depending on the alarm status.

In addition, it is better to select whether an alarm is emitted by comparing the monitoring voltage L4 with the minimum value L3 or with the current value L2, depending on the configuration of the AF system or the electrical characteristics, etc., of connected external devices to the dependent unit 33. In addition, when a compared value of the minimum value L3 or the current value L2 also falls slightly below, an alarm will be issued accordingly.

Furthermore, although no alarm condition is present in figs. 23 and 24, this alarm state can be set to appear according to the configuration of the AF system connection illustrated in each figure. It can be configured to appear on a different splash screen than each figure.

Incidentally, a current value of the mains supply voltage varies all the time, depending on an operating state of external devices such as motors, etc., connected to the dependent unit 33 or the load conditions of other dependent units, etc. ., connected to the middle part of the electrical cable of the network that extends from the apparatus 35 of power supply to the network, to the dependent unit 33. This is because if a voltage drop over an extremely short period of time does not result in stall or impaired performance, it is preferable to detect only, as abnormal conditions, the voltage by which the voltage sensing means (unit monitoring voltage) continue longer than the predetermined time.

Furthermore, the maximum and minimum values ​​of the mains supply voltage are useful for keeping track of a range of voltage fluctuations, and the current value is useful for understanding current situations. If an alarm is issued when a current value of the mains supply voltage falls below the monitoring voltage, management on the safer side would be possible.

On the other hand, the treatment in the dependent units 33 is as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 25. In other words, it must first be determined (ST51) whether a command has been received from the network configurator 36. Now, if an order has not been received from the network configurator 36 (NO in step 51), a user will return to step 51. This means that, in this step 51, the receipt of an order with processing must be expected.

If in step 51 it is determined that a command has been received from the network configurator 36 (YES in step 51), then it must be determined (ST 52) whether this received command is the command to read the current value. Now, if the command received is the command to read the current value (YES in step 52), not only will a current value be read from the mains power supply of this dependent unit stored in the current value storage unit 33c , but also the current value will be returned (ST53) to the network configurator 36 in response to the command received by the communication control unit 33g. This will end the treatment that takes place when the order is received this time.

In addition, if the received command is not to read the current value (NO in step 52), a user will jump to step 54 to determine (ST54) if the received command is the command to read the maximum value. Then, if the order received is the order to read the maximum value (YES in step 54), the maximum value of the network power supply that feeds the dependent units 33, stored in the value holding unit 33b maximum / minimum, it will be returned to the network configurator 36 as a response (ST 55). This will terminate the treatment involved in receiving the order this time.

Also, if it is decided, in the determination of step 54, that the received command is not the command to read a maximum value, a user will jump to step 56 to determine (ST56) whether the received command is to read the minimum value. Then, if this received command is the command to read the minimum value (Yes in step ST 56), the minimum value of the power supply to the network that feeds the dependent units 33, stored in the unit 33b of retention of maximum / minimum values, will be returned to the network configurator 36 as a response (ST57). This will terminate the treatment involved in receiving the order this time.

Likewise, if in the determination of step 56 it is decided that the order received is not the order to read the minimum value, a user will jump to step 58 to determine (ST 58) if the order received is the order to read the alarm status. . Then, if this order received is the order to read the alarm state (YES in step 58), the alarm state of the current supply to the network of this dependent unit, stored in the unit 33f for storing the state of alarm. alarm, it will be returned (ST 59) to network configurator 36 as a response. This will terminate the treatment involved in receiving the order this time.

Furthermore, if NO is selected in the determination of step 58, that is, the order received is not the order to read the alarm state, the order received this time is not the order to request the reading of any information about

ES 2 328 076 T3 the mains voltage, another treatment associated with that received command will be executed (ST 60). Then a user will go back to step 51 and wait for the next command to be received.

In the above-described embodiment, the monitoring voltage for each dependent unit is manually set by the tamper switch (microswitch or rotary switch, etc.) of the dependent unit. However, this watchdog voltage can be set by manipulation from the network configurator 36, via the field network 32. Then, if the watchdog voltage is set by manipulation from the network configurator 36, it can be set for each dependent unit connected to the network, or jointly if the operating voltage of respective dependent units is identical.

Furthermore, when only one unit dependent on the mains power supply apparatus 35 or a dependent unit connected to an external device, whose load current is high, is provided with the monitoring capability of the mains power supply, The information on monitoring the power supply to the network of such a dependent unit can be sent to the network configurator 36 and displayed.

Likewise, even when all the dependent units 33 are equipped with the monitoring capacity of the power supply to the network, sending to specific dependent units a command to collect the monitoring information of the power supply to the network, the configurator 36 network can selectively display the monitoring information of the power supply to the network of these specific dependent units.

Furthermore, in the foregoing embodiment, all the descriptions have concentrated on cases where the dependent units 33 were provided with means for monitoring the power supply. Incidentally, in some network system configurations, the dependent units with monitoring means of the power supply and those without them are mixed. In such a case, since a traditional dependent unit returns an error response to the command to read a current value from the network configurator 36, the latter can determine that said dependent unit is a traditional unit, lacking means for monitoring the network. power supply. Furthermore, since the network configurator 36 can distinguish the types of dependent units connected via the field network, it is also possible to issue the command to read a current value, etc., only for the dependent units provided with means for the monitoring of the power supply. Therefore, the present invention is also applicable to the network system in which dependent units equipped with the means for monitoring the power supply are mixed with traditional dependent units lacking the means for monitoring the power supply .

Furthermore, the present invention, when speaking of a main unit, is not limited to only one, and can be applied to the PLC system to which a plurality of main units are connected.

As described above, according to the above embodiment, when building a system, the power status of the network power supply can be monitored at one site, centrally, thus reducing the time required. for the construction of the system. Also, since the power status of the network power supply can be checked at any time during the operation of a system, the effect of facilitating the maintenance service of the system, etc. can be obtained.

Furthermore, although in the previous embodiment a collection device is described as a network configurator, the information stored in each dependent unit can be sent to the monitor connected to the field network and can be displayed on that monitor. Of course, the transmission of such non-I / O data to the main unit and the reception from it of said data can also be carried out.

And, also in this embodiment, as the information about the voltage supplied to the dependent units, etc., is not only detected but also stored / preserved on the dependent units side, and the collection / presentation of the information is performed based on a request, etc., from a configurator, it has no effect on cyclical operations on the PLC side.

Fig. 26 and later show the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the physical quantity related to the control device or the dependent unit itself, to be measured, will be the I / O current supply to be provided to the input / output devices connected to the dependent units.

As shown in fig. 26, this FA system is configured with a main unit 40 consisting of a host station, connected to a plurality of dependent units 43 and the field network 42, which are distributed at various points. Furthermore, similarly to the respective embodiments described above, a general field transmission line (e.g. DeviceNet (Trade Mark), etc.) is used as the field network 42, which is a network laid between the main unit 40 and each of a plurality of dependent units 43.

Now, the main unit 40 constitutes the PLC unit of the FA system. Furthermore, similar to FIG. 3, etc., is connected with the PLC unit.

Furthermore, the dependent units 43 not only input a signal from a detector such as a sensor, etc., but also output a signal for a control device such as a valve, etc. In other words, in order to implement control by means of this AF system, devices 44 are connected

ES 2 328 076 T3 default input / output. These input / output devices 44 include an input device 44a, such as a sensor, and an output device 44b, such as a valve, a motor, etc. Then, the output of the power supply apparatus 45 for the input / output device is connected to each dependent unit 43 and current is supplied to each input / output device 44 from that power supply apparatus 45 for the device. entrance exit.

Furthermore, as shown in fig. 27, the power supply apparatus 45 for the input / output device is provided with a power supply unit for the input 45a, for powering the input device 44a, such as a sensor, etc., and a unit power supply for the outlet 45b, to power the outlet device 44b, such as a valve, etc. Then, the voltage supplied from the power supply unit for the input 45a and the power supply unit for the output 45b is also supplied to the current supply monitoring unit 43a to the input / output device. This allows power supply to the input / output monitoring unit 43a to monitor a voltage value and determine the ON / OFF by comparison with a threshold.

Furthermore, although the supply of the power supply to the dependent units 43 themselves is not illustrated, as in the fourth embodiment above, current can also be supplied from the mains power supply apparatus 35 connected to the field mains. 32. It goes without saying that the current can be supplied separately to the power supply terminals of the dependent units, without resorting to the mains. In this case, the dependent units will be provided with terminals for the power supply to the input / output device and power supply terminals for the dependent units, separately and independently. Also, in this case, since a separately prepared power supply reaches the dependent units through the current supply terminals, not only can the voltage of one terminal of that current supply be measured for the dependent unit, and compared with a reference value, but the result of the comparison can also be reported to the configurator, the monitor or the main unit, etc., via the network.

In the above configuration, a plurality of slope units 43 are provided with the unit 43a for monitoring the current supply to the input / output device, which monitors whether, respectively, the input current supply provided from the unit 45a of power supply for the input and the output power supply provided from the power supply unit 45b for the output, is turned ON or OFF, respectively (see fig. 27).

Each dependent unit 43 maintains information on the power supply status for the input / output device, showing the ON or OFF status of the input and output power supplies monitored by this unit 43a of monitoring of the power supply to the input / output device. Then, this information about the status of the power supply to the input / output device (information about the I / O power supply) is sent to the main unit 40 via the field network 42, for example at the request of the main unit 40. This enables the main unit 40 to monitor the status of the power supply to the input / output device (I / O power supply) of a plurality of dependent units 43.

With the above configuration on the main unit 40, when no signal is sent from the input device 44a, such as a sensor, etc., the main unit can quickly judge whether this is due to the power supply for the input of the dependent units 43 is OFF or if it is because a signal cannot actually be input due to a fault, etc., of the input device 44a, such as a sensor, thus improving the reliability of the system.

Similarly, when the operation of the output device 44b, such as a valve, cannot be confirmed, even though a signal is issued to activate a controller (output device 44b) such as a valve, etc., to the dependent units 43, the unit The master can quickly judge if this is because the power supply for the output of the dependent units 43 is OFF or if a signal cannot really be output for the dependent units 43. This can also improve the reliability of the system.

In the PLC unit (not shown) (which incorporates information from the input devices, executes a control program and outputs the result of the execution to the output devices) connected to the main unit 40, it will be possible to know the power status of the power supply of a device connected to the dependent units 43 by means of the main unit 40. Therefore, as the control program (to be programmed in ladder or ladder language, etc.) of the PLC unit (CPU unit) makes it possible to deal with the moment when the power supply of a device connected to the units dependent is set to DISCONNECT, it is possible to improve the reliability of the system.

Fig. 28 is a block diagram showing an example of specific configurations of the dependent units 43 shown in FIG. 27. Furthermore, although fig. 28 shows a case in which the sensor 44a, which is a detector, is connected to the dependent units 43, they can be configured when a valve, etc., which is a controller is connected, and when both a sensor are connected, which it is a detector, like a valve, which is a controller. However, when a valve etc. is connected, not the input power supply but the output power supply will be monitored.

ES 2 328 076 T3

First, input unit 43b is fed a detection signal from sensor 44a. A detection signal from sensor 44a that has been acquired by input unit 43b, namely ON / OFF information, is fed to main unit 40 through communication control unit 43c and via the communication network. field 42. Although I / O data is sent in this way, such a processing function is similar to the traditional one. And, although the power supply for the input is provided to the sensor 44a through dependent units 43, it is provided to the power supply for the input monitoring unit 43a '. The power supply for the input monitoring unit 43a 'monitors the ON and OFF of the power supply for the input to be received from the outside at all times, based on the voltage of the power supply above given for the entrance.

Then, when the communication control unit 43c receives a request sent from the main unit 40 via the field network 42, the communication control unit 43c will provide information indicating the ON and OFF of the power supply for the connection. input that was monitored by the power supply monitoring unit 43a 'for the input, and sends this information to the main unit 40 via the field network 42.

Naturally, although fig. 28 illustrated the monitoring capability for the power supply for the input, in the case of dependent units to which the output device is connected, as described above, the monitoring unit of the power supply will be provided for the output, information about the power supply ON / OFF for the output, and that ON / OFF information will be returned as a response, depending on a request from the main unit 40. And, it is the power supply monitoring unit 43a for the input / output device that collectively explains the monitoring of the power supplies shown in FIG. 27 for entry and exit. This means that, although this fig. 27 illustrates an example in which only the input / output device monitoring unit 43a is provided in the dependent units 43, in practice, similar to that illustrated in FIG. 28, the communication control unit or the input unit or the output unit for controlling I / O data of the input / output devices are also provided. Then, the process charts of Figs. 29 and 30 show an example of the processing algorithm of the main unit 40 and the dependent units 43 that carry out the management / transmission and reception of the information on ON / OFF of the input / output power supply.

Fig. 29 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the dependent units 43. As shown in FIG. 29, first the input / output power supply monitoring unit 43a determines (ST 61) whether the power supply for the input and the power supply for the output are ON. To make this decision, various techniques can be adopted: a threshold can be set close to 0 V and determined to be ON when the threshold is exceeded. Or, as described below, the configuration will be such that the current supply for the input and the current supply for the output are applied to the base voltage of the transistor and thus the current supplies are determined to be ON. when the transistor is ON. In any case, the voltages are determined to be ON when they are compared with a reference value and it is deduced that the reference value for the determination is abnormal.

When the power supply for the input or the power supply for the output is ON (YES in step 61), to the associated error mark of the power supply for the input and the power supply for the output, it is assigned (ST62) the value of DISCONNECT. Also, when the power supply for the input or the power supply for the output is OFF (NO in step 61), the error mark associated with the power supply for the input and the power supply for the output that has been set to DISCONNECT, is set to CONNECT (ST63).

Next, it is determined (ST64) if there is a request for information about the status of the power supply of the input / output devices, coming from the main unit 40 through the field network 42. Now, if there is not requesting information on the status of the power supply of the input / output devices (Not in step 64), a user will return to step 61 to continue with a next process.

On the other hand, if a request for information on the status of the power supply of the input / output devices has been received (YES in step 64), the aforementioned error mark is sent to the main unit 40 as a response. and the information on the status of the power supply of the input / output devices via the field network 42. Then, a user will return to step 61, to continue to a next process.

Fig. 30 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the main unit 40. First, it is determined (ST 71) whether there is an instruction to check the power supply of the input / output devices. This instruction can be, for example, a request from the side of the PLC unit. Furthermore, the main unit 40 is provided with manipulation buttons for the instruction to check the power supply of the input / output devices and, by pressing the manipulation buttons, it can be determined that the instruction exists to check the current supply of the devices. input / output devices.

If there is no instruction to check the power supply of the input / output devices (NO in step 71), a user will go back to step 71 to wait for the instruction to check the power supply of the devices.

ES 2 328 076 T3 input / output devices. And, if it is determined that the instruction exists to check the power supply of the input / output devices (YES in step 71), then the unit number of the dependent units 43 will be set to "1" (ST 72) . Next, it is determined (ST 73) whether or not the unit number n is the last number. Also, if this is done after step 72, then n = 1 and it is not the last number. Thus, at the time of the decision, the option NO will be adopted.

And, if the unit number n is not the last (NO in step 73), a request will be issued (ST 74) to read the error mark of the power supply of the input / output devices for the unit. dependent on the unit number n and the input / output device power supply error mark will be read from the unit number (step 75).

And, a process associated with this error mark read from the power supply of the input / output devices is executed (ST 76), then the unit number will be increased to n + 1 (ST 77) and a user will be returned to step 73.

The above process will be executed repeatedly until, in step 73, it is determined that the number n in the unit is the last number. Also, the last value of the unit number n must be stored / retained in advance. And, strictly speaking, the determination as to whether "is it the last?" in this step 73, it will be "Has the last number been exceeded?" or "Did the processes run up to the last number?" Then, if the processes were executed up to the last number (YES in step 73), a series of processes involved in this instruction will end to check the power supply of the input / output devices.

The above process, associated with the error mark in step 76 is executed, for example, based on the ladder or ladder program installed in the main unit 40. Depending on the value of the error mark, messages will be reported such as “The power supply for the input / output devices is normal”, “The power supply for the input of the dependent unit no. 3 is in DISCONNECT ”, etc. and if it is not appropriate to continue the operation, a process such as stopping the operation will be executed.

Furthermore, in the flow chart shown in fig. 30, although the configuration is such that the check of the power supply of the input / output devices of the dependent units of this system will be executed in sequence in all the dependent units, the configuration can be such that the check is executed , as required, only on the power supply of the input / output devices of a specific dependent unit.

Although the fifth embodiment described above is predicated on the system of the type that provides a power source to the input / output devices from the input / output device power supply apparatus 45, as described in the fourth embodiment, Even in the system where the power supply supplies the input / output devices from the mains power supply apparatus via the dependent units, it can be configured so that the dependent units monitor the status of CONNECT or DISCONNECT the power supply to the input / output devices and notify the main unit 40, etc., of the result via field network 42. As an example, this can be achieved by making the internal configuration of the dependent units 43 according to fig. 31.

Although fig. 31 shows the case where the sensor 44a, a detector, is connected to the dependent units 43, a similar configuration will be possible in the case where a valve, etc. is connected, which is a control unit or in the case of that a sensor, etc., which is a detector, and a valve, which is a control unit, are connected. However, if a valve etc. is connected, not the power supply for the input but the power supply for the output will be monitored.

First, a detection signal from the sensor 44a is sent to the input unit 43b. The detection signal from the sensor 44a that the input unit 43b has acquired, namely ON / OFF information, is sent to the main unit 40 through the communications control unit 43c and via the communication network. field 42. Although the I / O data is sent this way, this treatment function is similar to the traditional one. And the power supply for the input is provided to the dependent units 43 from the mains power supply apparatus 47, connected to the field network 42, by means of such field network 42. Then, it is further provided , to the sensor 44a via the dependent units 43d. The short protection circuit 43d is provided in the middle of the power supply line to the sensor 44a of the dependent units. When this short protection circuit 43d detects that a short has occurred on the sensor side 44a, for example, a control is executed so as to break the circuit (open the switch). This means that the power supply to the network provides a power source for, not only the sensor 44a and the dependent units 43 to which that sensor 44a is connected, but also for other dependent units connected to the field network 42 . Therefore, if a short occurred in sensor 44a, the condition would affect the power supply system of the entire network. This is the reason for the provision of the short protection circuit 43d which, therefore, isolates the sensor 44a in which the short has occurred from the current supply system. Furthermore, since the configuration of this short protection circuit 43d is public knowledge, the detailed description of its internal configuration is omitted.

ES 2 328 076 T3

And, starting from the short protection circuit 43d following the supply line to the sensor 44a, voltage is supplied to the current supply monitoring unit 43a 'for the input. Based on the above-given voltage for the input power supply, this input power supply monitoring unit 43a 'monitors the ON and OFF of the input power supply received from the outside at all times. .

This configuration would make it possible to monitor the CONNECTION and DISCONNECTION of the power supply for the input, including the operating status of the aforementioned short protection circuit 43d. This means that the input power supply monitoring unit 43a 'monitors the ON and OFF of the input power supply, and sends back information about the voltage status, resulting from this monitoring, to main unit 40, etc., at the request of main unit 40, etc. Then, the main unit 40, which received through the field network 42 information indicating that the power supply supplying the sensor 44 from the dependent units 43 is OFF, can determine that the short-circuit protection circuit 43d is OFF. said dependent units 43 has worked and has broken the circuit. This means that, in this embodiment, the dependent units 43 are also made to work by supplying current to the network. Therefore, if there is a response from the dependent units (information warning), it can be said that the mains power supply supplies at least the dependent units 43 and then if the power supply for the sensor 44a is turned OFF, it can be determined that the short protection circuit 43d is working.

Furthermore, information from the dependent units 43 in response to a request from the main unit 40 is transmitted through the communication control unit 43c, similar to the dependent units of FIG. 28. This means that when the communication control unit 43c receives a request from the main unit 40, it will obtain the result of the monitoring of the power supply monitoring unit 43a 'for the input and send it to the main unit. 40 through field network 42.

Furthermore, instead of simply making the ON / OFF determination, similar to monitoring the mains power supply of each dependent units in the fourth embodiment, it can be judged whether the voltage values ​​of the power supplies for input / output, they do or do not exceed predetermined thresholds and then The determination of whether it is near the lower limit can be made and reported even though the input / output devices may function.

Incidentally, as a specific circuit configuration to implement the power supply monitoring unit 43a 'for the aforementioned input, the configuration shown in FIG. 32, for example, this circuit is also applicable to the power supply monitoring unit 43a 'for the input of FIG. 28 or fig. 31. Likewise, although this fig. 32 shows the monitoring circuit for the power supply for the input, the monitoring circuit for the power supply for the output can be configured similarly.

As shown in fig. 32, the monitoring circuit for this power supply for the input connects in series the light emitting diode 52a comprising the resistor 51 and the photocoupler 52, to the derived path of the power supply line for the input device 44a and, therefore, to the ground. Also, it connects the bias resistor 53 in series between the phototransistor 52b and the supply voltage Vcc comprising the photocoupler 52. Then, connect a contact of the bias resistor 53 and the phototransistor 52b with the input terminal of the CPU 54 of the dependent units 43.

With this configuration, when the power supply for the input is ON, current flows from the power supply for the input to ground through the resistor 51 -> the light emitting diode 52a of the photocoupler 52 which is then switched to CONNECTION. This turns the phototransistor 52b of photocoupler 52 ON, the internal terminal of CPU 54 is grounded, and then a low value signal is input.

Likewise, when the power supply for the input is OFF, current no longer flows from the power supply for the input to ground through the resistor 51 -> the light emitting diode 52a of the photocoupler 52 which, thus, is turned on. DISCONNECTION. This turns phototransistor 52b OFF and opens the input terminal of CPU 54; then, due to the action of the bias resistor 53, a high value signal is input to the input terminal of the CPU 54.

Therefore, the CPU 54 monitors the value of a signal applied to the input terminal and can detect that the power supply for the input is ON when the signal is low and that the power supply for the input is OFF when has high value. Then the operating voltage (voltage to ON) of phototransistor 52b will be a reference value for the ON and OFF voltage for the input.

Furthermore, when there is more than one input device to be connected to the dependent units, the power from the power supply dependent units can be individually monitored for each

ES 2 328 076 T3 input device or for all input devices together. Similarly, if more than one output device is to be connected to the dependent units, the power from the dependent units of the power supply can be monitored individually for each output device or for all output devices together.

Furthermore, as in the modifications of the fifth embodiment, if information about the existence or non-existence of a short is sent, information about the input / output devices can be sent along with it. This means that a short, if it occurs, often results in maintenance, for example, repair / replacement of the shorted input / output device. Thus, by making the dependent units store and preserve, in advance, information about the input / output devices connected to them, namely, information indicating the ID of the devices (device name, manufacturer name, model and manufacturing number ), and by outputting, together, information indicating the ID of a failed device, a user can know in advance information about the failed device. Therefore, when you visit a site, you can take with you parts to replace this device or a device to be replaced and thus quickly carry out maintenance.

As described so far, according to the examples of the fifth embodiment and its modification, as a host station it can know a status of the power supply (I / O power supply) for the connected input / output devices to respective dependent units, the host station can quickly determine the reason for the lack of signals from the dependent units, i.e. if it is because the power supply does not power the input device or if it is because a signal is not really an input and there is no input. Therefore, the effect of improving the reliability of the system can be achieved.

Also, although the fifth embodiment illustrates an example of the main unit as a host station receiving an ON / OFF information notice of I / O power supply or voltage value, the present invention is not limited to this and can find application in other controllers. Furthermore, regardless of the concept of the host station, it can be a configurator, as in the fourth embodiment, or a monitor 62. Furthermore, various nodes connected to a network, such as another dependent unit, may constitute a destination for a transmission.

This is also valid in the first to fourth embodiments. In other words, the information obtained in each dependent unit can be sent to various nodes connected to the network.

Furthermore, in the above respective embodiments, the example was shown in which the dependent units transmit and receive I / O information to / from the main unit, and the system is controlled through the transmission to the controller (PLC), and the reception from it, of said I / O information through the main unit, and the main unit-dependent unit method between the main unit and the dependent unit was exposed, whereby a desired dependent unit sends back a response to a request from the main unit. However, a dependent unit, according to the present invention, is not limited to a dependent unit carrying out communications between master unit and dependent unit. This means that although it is referred to as a dependent unit, it can use any communication scheme. In this respect, strictly speaking, it is the dependent unit which includes a different concept from the generally defined dependent unit. In other words, a dependent unit, according to the present invention, can employ any communication protocol in the actual transmission / reception, if the ability to send and receive the I / O information necessary for control can be made available, to / from the controller. In particular, a non-I / O information transmission destination, i.e., a transmission object of the present invention, is not limited to a main unit or controller, and can be various nodes such as a configurator or monitor or other dependent units connected to a network. Thus, a communication scheme can be selected as appropriate, depending on a receiver. Naturally, the trigger for sending is not limited to those due to requests from outside, and the transmission can be carried out based on an internal trigger (event that is generated when certain conditions are satisfied, etc.).

Effects of the invention

As described above, the present invention provides measuring means by which a physical quantity of a control unit or dependent units is measured, independently of the control. Thus, without affecting the control system, data not related to the control (non-I / O data), such as service information, are reserved in the dependent units as output to a circuit (network) with a timing and a predetermined receiver is notified thereof.