Parameter setting method for plc system

Abstract

This invention relates to a PLC device with variable parameter settings. Instead of storing the parameters themselves, the variable parameters are converted into parameter program instructions and stored in the program memory, thereby enabling the device to actively change parameter values ​​based on changes in the sensing values ​​of the factory equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a control method for a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller). Background Technology

[0002] A PLC is a control device used for automatic control or monitoring in a factory. It is a device that receives sensed values, performs logical operations according to a pre-set user program, and controls externally connected equipment based on the results.

[0003] In order to properly configure the PLC according to the usage environment and perform the functions desired by the user, the PLC includes software for user-adjustable parameter items and parameter settings, and parameter memory for storing the set parameters.

[0004] To set the parameters internal to the PLC, a method using PADT (Program and Debugging Tool) on a PC (Personal Computer) is employed. While PADT offers the advantage of convenient parameter input via a PC's GUI, it suffers from the drawback that both a PC and PADT are required for setting or changing parameters. Furthermore, since parameter values ​​are stored in the PLC's internal memory, there's a limitation: when dynamically adjusting the PLC settings based on changes in factory conditions, parameter values ​​cannot be freely modified.

[0005] To address the problems of existing PLC parameter setting methods, the inventors of this invention have continuously conducted research and development. The inventors of this invention have devoted considerable effort to developing a PLC parameter setting method that can proactively change and apply PLC parameter settings according to factory conditions, ultimately completing this invention. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide a method for actively changing PLC parameters according to the situation even without a PADT, so as to overcome the limitation that a PC and PADT are required for changing PLC parameter settings in the past.

[0008] On the other hand, other objects of the present invention not explicitly stated can be considered in addition to those which can be readily deduced from the following detailed description and its effects.

[0009] Technical solutions to the problem

[0010] The parameter setting method of the PLC system of the present invention is executed by a control unit including one or more processors and a memory, and the parameter setting method of the PLC system includes:

[0011] The parameter input step involves receiving parameters from a parameter editor; the parameter conversion step involves converting the received parameters into program instructions; and the parameter transmission step involves transmitting the converted parameters into program instructions to the PLC device.

[0012] In particular, during the parameter transmission step, the parameters, which are converted into program instructions, are transmitted to the parameter program memory of the PLC device.

[0013] The parameter setting method for the PLC device of the present invention is executed by the control unit of the PLC device, which includes one or more processors and a memory. The parameter setting method for the PLC device includes:

[0014] A parameter receiving step that receives parameters converted into program instructions by a parameter editor and a program editor; and a parameter storing step that stores the received parameters converted into program instructions in a parameter program memory.

[0015] Additionally, after the parameter storage step, the system may include: a step of receiving sensed values ​​from sensors in the factory equipment; a step of determining preset conditions for the received sensed values; a step of loading parameters based on the determined conditions into a parameter memory; and a step of applying the loaded parameters into the parameter memory in the operating system of the PLC equipment.

[0016] Another embodiment of the PLC device with changeable parameter settings according to the present invention is characterized by comprising:

[0017] The control unit includes one or more processors; a program memory that stores programs for driving the processors and parameters converted into program instructions; and a parameter memory that stores parameters as a result of running the parameter program instructions.

[0018] It may also include a parameter program memory for storing the parameters that are converted into program instructions.

[0019] Preferably, the control unit compares the sensed values ​​received from the sensors of the factory equipment with preset conditions, executes parameter program instructions with parameter values ​​that meet the conditions, and stores the parameters as result values ​​in the parameter memory.

[0020] Invention Effects

[0021] According to the present invention, PLC parameters can be changed according to the situation even without a PC and PADT. Therefore, it has the advantage of being able to quickly respond to changes in the situation of factories using PLC systems.

[0022] In addition, since users can edit and set parameters using PADT in the same way as before, it also has the advantage of a convenient editing method that can be directly adopted through the GUI.

[0023] On the other hand, it should be further noted that even effects not explicitly mentioned herein are considered to be the effects and potential effects described in the following description that are expected from the technical features of the present invention, and are regarded as having been described in the description of the present invention. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of a PLC system based on existing technology.

[0025] Figure 2 This is an example of a PLC program editor based on existing technology.

[0026] Figure 3 This is an example of a PLC parameter editor based on existing technology.

[0027] Figure 4 This is a schematic structural diagram of a PLC system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 5 These are examples of parameters converted into program instructions according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 6 This is a schematic structural diagram of a PLC system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 7 This is a flowchart of a PLC parameter setting method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] It should be clarified that the accompanying drawings are provided as illustrative examples for understanding the technical concept of the present invention, and the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to these drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0032] Hereinafter, the structure of the present invention guided by various embodiments and the effects of such structure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the process of describing the present invention, detailed descriptions of relevant prior art that are deemed obvious to those skilled in the art and would obscure the gist of the invention will be omitted.

[0033] The terms "first," "second," etc., can be used to describe various constituent elements, but these constituent elements should not be limited to the terms used above. The terms used above may only be used to distinguish one constituent element from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the invention, "first constituent element" may be named "second constituent element," and similarly, "second constituent element" may be named "first constituent element." Furthermore, unless the context clearly specifies otherwise, singular expressions include plural expressions. Unless otherwise defined, the terms used in the embodiments of the invention may be interpreted in the sense that are well-known to those skilled in the art.

[0034] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the structure of the invention guided by various embodiments and the effects thereof will be described.

[0035] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of a PLC system based on existing technology.

[0036] The PLC system includes PLC device 10, PC 20, and factory equipment 30.

[0037] PC 20 is used to configure and run PLC device 10. The program and parameters executed on PLC device 10 can be configured on PC 20 using PADT (Program and Debugging Tool). PADT 22 may include a program editor 24 and a parameter editor 26.

[0038] The program editor 24 can create instructions that are executed on the PLC device 10 in the form of a GUI (Graphical User Interface). It can also create input / output methods for the PLC device 10. Figure 2 An example of a program editor based on existing technology is shown.

[0039] The parameter editor 26 also allows users to set parameters in a GUI format. Figure 3 This section shows an example of a parameter editor in the prior art.

[0040] The program and parameters created in the PADT22 of PC20 are loaded into the program memory 14 and parameter memory 16 of PLC device 10, respectively.

[0041] PLC device 10 includes program memory 14 and parameter memory 16 for controlling factory equipment 30. For this purpose, a control unit (not shown) may be included, which may include an executable operating system (PLC O / S) 12. The control unit may include more than one processor and memory.

[0042] The PLC device 10 receives sensed values ​​from the sensor 32 of the factory equipment and determines parameters based on the values ​​executed by the user program to control the actuator 34.

[0043] However, since the parameter values ​​stored in parameter memory 16 are fixed as described above, PC20 and PADT22 are required to change the parameters. This presents the problem that the parameters of PLC device 10 cannot be changed and applied when PC20 or PADT22 cannot be used. Furthermore, it causes operational difficulties when PLC device 10 needs to apply parameters that dynamically change based on status inputs during the operation of factory equipment.

[0044] Figure 4 This is a schematic structural diagram of a PLC system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention for solving this problem.

[0045] Unlike existing PLC devices, the PLC device 110 also includes a parameter program memory 116, which is used to store parameters that are converted into a program.

[0046] In addition, the PADT122 of PC120 also includes a component 126 for converting parameters into program instructions (Parameter Configuration Instruction).

[0047] Similar to existing technologies, the PADT122's parameter editor receives the required parameters from the user. However, unlike existing technologies, the input parameter values ​​are not directly passed to the parameter memory 118. Instead, the parameter values ​​are converted into program instructions by the program editor 114.

[0048] Then, the parameter program instructions, which are converted into program instructions, are stored in the parameter program memory of PLC device 110. Figure 5 This shows an example of parameters being converted into program instructions.

[0049] The parameters stored in the parameter program memory 116 are loaded into the parameter memory 118 by the run instruction. The parameters loaded into the parameter memory 118 are used by the PLC operating system (O / S) 112 to calculate the input data of the factory equipment 130 and output the results.

[0050] The sensed values ​​measured by sensor 132 of factory equipment 130 are determined by PLC operating system 112, and parameters can be dynamically changed based on the determination results. In the prior art, parameters are loaded into parameter memory using a PC and PADT to change parameters. However, unlike this, the present invention executes parameter program instructions stored in parameter program memory 116, and the parameters are stored in parameter memory 118, which can then be directly used by PLC operating system 112. Therefore, parameter values ​​can be loaded into parameter memory 118 even without going through PC 120 and PADT 122.

[0051] Figure 5 The example shows a case where the parameter value is stored in the parameter program memory 118 in the form of a SetParam instruction.

[0052] The SetParam instruction is used to set parameters. When the SetParam instruction is executed, the parameters stored along with the SetParam instruction are loaded into the parameter memory 118. Since a PLC can be connected to multiple slots and channels on a single base, parameters about the base, slots, and channels are stored depending on which PLC is being controlled. Parameters about operation or the range of inputs / outputs, along with parameters about the processing performed based on them, are stored together and loaded into the parameter memory upon execution of the SetParam instruction, and can be used by the PLC operating system 112 at the required time.

[0053] Figure 6 An example of a PLC device according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0054] The memory within the PLC device 210 can be composed of a program memory 214 and a parameter memory 218. However, compared with existing technologies, Figure 4 Unlike other embodiments, program memory 214 and parameter program memory 216 are not physically separated, but use different regions of the same memory.

[0055] If the program instructions stored in the parameter program memory area 216 are executed in the PLC operating system (O / S) 212, the parameters included in the program instructions are loaded into the parameter memory 218 for use in running the factory equipment 230.

[0056] Figure 7 The method for setting and changing parameters performed by the PLC system is illustrated in outline.

[0057] The parameter setting method for the PLC system of the present invention can be executed by a control unit including one or more processors and a memory. The processor of the control unit can execute program instructions for setting parameters of the PLC system, and the memory can store program instructions and data for driving the processor.

[0058] If parameters are received from the user (S10), these parameters will not be directly loaded into the parameter memory, but will be converted into parameter instructions (S20).

[0059] The parameters converted into instruction form are stored in program memory, not parameter memory (S30). In another embodiment, the parameters converted into instruction form may also be stored in parameter program memory, which is separate from program memory.

[0060] Parameters stored in the program memory or parameter program memory are loaded into the parameter memory by the execution instruction when needed (S40).

[0061] The operating system of the PLC device determines changes in sensed values ​​by checking the sensor input values ​​of the factory equipment (S50). If the changes meet the preset conditions, the changed parameters are loaded into the parameter memory by running a parameter instruction (S60) in order to load the changed parameters. For example, if the measured value of the sensor responsible for input voltage in sensor 132 of the factory equipment 130 rises above the preset voltage, the parameters are loaded into the parameter memory by running a parameter instruction to change the motor setting parameters in order to reduce the motor speed.

[0062] The parameters are reloaded into the parameter memory and used in the operation of the factory equipment through the PLC operating system (S70).

[0063] According to the present invention as described above, the parameters are not directly stored in the parameter memory, but are converted into instruction form and stored in program form. This has the following advantages: when it is necessary to change the parameters, the parameters can be actively changed even without a PC or PADT.

[0064] The scope of protection of this invention is not limited to the embodiments described and depicted above. Furthermore, it is emphasized once again that the scope of protection of this invention should not be limited by obvious changes or substitutions in the technical field to which this invention pertains.

Claims

1. A parameter setting method of a PLC system, executed by a control section of a PLC device including one or more processors and memories, wherein, The parameter setting method includes: The parameters are converted into program instructions by the program and debugging tool, namely PADT, which includes the step of instructing the parameters to be loaded into the parameter memory of the PLC device based on the conditions of the sensing information. The PLC device receives parameters that have been converted into program instructions through a parameter editor and a program editor; The PLC device stores the received parameters, which are converted into program instructions, in the parameter program memory. The step of the PLC device receiving sensing information from the sensors of the factory equipment; The step of the PLC device determining the conditions of the sensed information; The PLC device executes the program instructions to load the parameters into the parameter memory based on the conditions of the sensed information; and The step of applying the parameters loaded into the parameter memory in the operating system of the PLC device; The memory of the PLC device includes the parameter memory and the program memory. The PADT is an interface program configured to set the PLC's programs and parameters through a user terminal.

2. A PLC device with adjustable parameter settings, wherein, include: The control unit includes one or more processors; Program memory stores the program used to drive the processor and the program instructions after parameter conversion; as well as Parameter memory stores parameters that are the result of executing the program instructions; The control unit is configured as follows: Determine the conditions for sensing information contained in the signals received from sensors in factory equipment; The control unit executes the program instructions according to the conditions of the sensed information to load the parameters into the parameter memory; and The control unit applies the parameters in the operating system of the PLC device; The program instructions are generated by the program and debugging tool, PADT, which converts the parameters. The program instructions include instructions to load the parameters into the parameter memory based on the conditions of the sensed information. The PADT is an interface program configured to set the PLC's programs and parameters through a user terminal.

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