I / O station storing configuration data
Through a non-volatile storage device that stores configuration data in the I/O station, the problem of difficulty in recovering the I/O station itself after configuration and connection is lost is solved, and the effect of rapid self-configuration and reduced downtime is achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202411279437.3
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-09-25
- Filing Date
- 2024-09-12
- Publication Date
- 2025-03-25
AI Technical Summary
Existing I/O stations are difficult to recover on their own after configuration and connection are lost, resulting in increased downtime and increased configuration complexity.
By introducing nonvolatile storage devices into the I/O station, the configuration data is stored, so that the I/O station can configure or initiate configuration on its own and re-establish the lost communication connection.
It realizes rapid self-configuration of I/O stations after power outage or connection loss, reducing downtime and configuration complexity.
Smart Images
Figure CN119697208A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to an input-output (I / O) station connected to a plurality of network devices in an industrial automation system. Background Art
[0002] I / O stations (also called I / O systems) are used in industrial automation systems to connect field devices (such as sensors, actuators, etc.) in industrial plants to the controllers of the plants. An I / O station typically includes a fieldbus communication interface (FCI) and an I / O module to which the field devices are connected, wherein the FCI interface is arranged to forward data between the module and the controller via a fieldbus or fieldbus network. Since the controller is digital and at least some of the field devices may be analog legacy devices (e.g., requiring 4 to 20 mA signals), the I / O station may convert analog signals to digital signals and vice versa. Each I / O module may be any one or a combination of a digital input (DI) module, a digital output (DO) module, an analog input (AI) module, or an analog output (AO) module.
[0003] In order to configure the I / O stations, for example at first startup or after a power outage, an engineering tool can be connected to the I / O stations, for example via a fieldbus. The engineering tool is usually a computing device, for example a PC, of a human operator of the automation system, with the aid of which the operator can configure the I / O stations, for example via an engineering service installed on the engineering tool. Summary of the invention
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved I / O station which can be configured more easily.
[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, an I / O station is provided, which is connected to multiple network devices of an automation system. The I / O station includes multiple I / O modules, each of which provides one or more I / O channels, and the one or more I / O channels are connected to corresponding one or more field devices. The I / O station also includes an I / O network interface for forwarding data between the module and the network device via a network. Each I / O channel connected to the corresponding field device is connected to at least one of the network devices via network communication. The I / O station also includes a non-volatile storage device, which stores configuration data for the I / O station.
[0006] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an automation system including a plurality of network devices, a plurality of I / O stations of the present disclosure, and a network via which the I / O stations are communicatively connected to the network devices.
[0007] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for configuring an embodiment of an I / O station of the present disclosure is provided. The method includes obtaining configuration data from a storage device of the I / O station, and configuring the I / O station according to the obtained configuration data, including reestablishing a previously lost communication connection with at least one of the network devices (e.g., at least one controller).
[0008] By having the I / O station store its own (all or at least some) configuration data, the I / O station is enabled to configure itself, e.g. independently of the network or in cooperation with a network device, but initiated by the I / O station. Thus, for example following a power outage or other loss of connection to the network or network device, the I / O station is able to configure itself or at least initiate such configuration, thereby saving time and reducing downtime, and reducing the complexity of any control associated with the I / O station. The topology of the I / O station (i.e. which I / O channels are connected to which field devices) is the same before and after configuration, so there is no reconfiguration in this sense, but rather an improved way of getting the I / O station up and running again after a disturbance.
[0009] It should be noted that any feature of any aspect may be applied to any other aspect where appropriate. Likewise, any advantage of any aspect may be applied to any other aspect. Other objects, features and advantages of the accompanying embodiments will become apparent from the following detailed disclosure, the attached dependent claims and the accompanying drawings.
[0010] Generally, all terms used in the claims will be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless otherwise expressly defined herein. All references to "one / an / the element, device, component, member, step, etc." should be openly interpreted as referring to at least one instance of an element, device, component, member, step, etc., unless otherwise expressly stated. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless expressly stated. The use of "first", "second", etc. for different features / components of the present disclosure is intended only to distinguish features / components from other similar features / components, without giving any order or hierarchy to the features / components. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Embodiments will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0012] Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of an automation system according to some embodiments of the present invention.
[0013] Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of an I / O station according to some embodiments of the present invention.
[0014] Figure 3is a schematic block diagram of a storage device in an I / O station according to some embodiments of the present invention.
[0015] Figure 4 is a schematic block diagram of an engineering tool according to some embodiments of the present invention.
[0016] Figure 5 is a schematic flow chart of certain embodiments of the method of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Embodiments will now be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain embodiments are shown. However, other embodiments in many different forms are possible within the scope of the present disclosure. Specifically, the following embodiments are provided by way of example to make the present disclosure comprehensive and complete, and to fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. Throughout the specification, the same numbers refer to the same elements. It is said that two devices are "communicatively connected" in this article, which means that they are connected so that they can communicate with each other, such as wirelessly or non-wirelessly.
[0018] Figure 1 An automation system 1 is illustrated, including a plurality of I / O stations 10. The I / O stations may be embedded hardware and software that converts physical signals from a process running in a plant (either directly from the process or via field devices) to digital values for inputs, and converts digital values to physical signals of the process (either directly to the process or via field devices) for outputs. The I / O stations 10 are connected to a plurality of network devices via a network 3. The network may include one or more fieldbuses. The network 3 may be configured to communicate according to the OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) communication protocol.
[0019] The network devices may include any of one or more (e.g., multiple) controllers 2, one or more (e.g., only one) human-machine interfaces (HMIs) 5, and / or one or more (e.g., only one) engineering tools 6. The controller 2 may be embedded hardware and software that executes a real-time plant process-specific application that, for example, reads signals from an I / O station 10, writes signals to an I / O station 10, and / or receives commands from an HMI 5. The HMI 5 may report the state of the process to an operator based on data read from the (multiple) controllers 2 and / or the I / O stations 10. The HMI 5 may additionally command the controller 2 to initiate an action. The engineering tool 6 may configure the binding and conversion of the I / O channels of the I / O station 10 and / or the application in the controller 2. The engineering tool 6 may be executed on a PC, where activities do not require time limits.
[0020] exist Figure 1In the example of FIG. 1 , there are three I / O stations 10 and three controllers 2. However, there need not be a one-to-one relationship between the number of I / O stations and the number of controllers, and any one controller may be connected to any I / O channel in any I / O station. In some embodiments, at least one of the network devices 2, 5, and / or 6 (e.g., at least one controller 2) may be communicatively connected (i.e., connected so that communication is possible, e.g., wirelessly or non-wirelessly) to the I / O channels of at least two of the I / O stations 10.
[0021] exist Figure 1 In the example of FIG. 5 , the controller 2 is connected between the I / O station 10 and the HMI 5. For example, the HMI 5 can be connected directly to the station 10, rather than via the controller. However, other topologies are possible. The engineering tool 6 can be connected to any or all of the I / O stations 10 and / or any of the controllers 2, for example via the network 3. Typically, the engineering tool 6 is connected only when needed, but in some embodiments, it can be permanently connected.
[0022] Each I / O station 10 includes a plurality of I / O modules 12 that interface with the network 3 via an I / O network interface 11. The modules 12 may be connected to the network interface 11 via one or more I / O buses 13 within the station 10, and / or there may be a point-to-point connection between the modules 12 and the network interface 11.
[0023] Figure 2 The diagram shows an I / O station 10 connected to a plurality of field devices 21, such as Figure 1 One of the stations 10 in the module 12. Each module 12 provides one or more I / O channels 20, wherein each channel 20 is capable of connecting a corresponding field device 21 (i.e., one device per channel and one channel per device). In the example, one of the modules 12 provides only one channel 20, and therefore may be capable of connecting only one field device 21. In another example, one of the modules 12 provides 16 channels 20, enabling the module to connect up to 16 field devices 21. There may be unused channels 20 (i.e., channels to which no field device is connected), but each channel 20 connected to a field device 21 is communicatively connected to at least one of the network devices, such as one or more controllers 2, via the network interface 11 and the network 3.
[0024] The modules 12 and / or the network interface 11 may be mechanically connected to one or more base plates 26 within the station 10. In some embodiments, a single base plate 26 provides slots for mechanically connecting the module 12 and the network interface 11. In other embodiments, the functionality is provided by multiple modular base plates 26, one of which provides a slot for mechanically connecting the network interface 11.
[0025] The station 10 comprises a non-volatile data storage device 22 storing configuration data for configuring the station. In some embodiments, the storage device 22 is included in the network interface 11. In some embodiments, the storage device is included in a substrate 26, for example in a substrate mechanically connected to the network interface 11.
[0026] Figure 3 A non-volatile data storage device 22 is illustrated which is arranged in the station 10. Configuration data 23 for configuring the station 10 is stored in the storage device 22. The stored configuration data 23 enables the station 10 to configure itself when necessary, or at least to initiate such configuration. In some embodiments, the stored configuration data 23 includes or consists of all the configuration data required to configure the station 10, in which case the station 10 does not need to cooperate with any network device, such as a controller 2 or an engineering tool 6 for configuring the station. In certain other embodiments, the stored configuration data 23 may enable the station 10 to initiate its own configuration, for example including enabling the station to obtain further configuration data from a network device, such as a controller 2 or an engineering tool for completing the configuration of the station.
[0027] Since the topology of the station 10 is static, i.e., the same before and after the station is configured using the stored configuration data 23, this means that the same field device 21 is connected to the same channel 20, and the stored configuration data 23 is generally specific to the station 10, just as when connected to the same field device through the same channel 20. In some embodiments, the stored configuration data 23 can be regarded as including a set of configuration data, wherein since the topology is static, only one set of configuration data is required to configure the station 10. When the station is configured using the stored configuration data 23, there is no switching between different configurations of the station 10. If it is determined that the topology of the station has changed before configuration, such as during a power outage or other loss of connection, the I / O station may not be configured by the stored configuration data, or at least the I / O station may not be configured by the stored configuration data. Instead, in this case, the configuration data used for configuration can be obtained from a network device (e.g., an engineering tool).
[0028] In some embodiments, the storage device 22 also stores an identifier 24 of the station 10, typically a unique identifier 24. The identifier 24 can be used in communications with any network device to identify the station 10 with the network device. For example, the station 10 can send the stored identifier 24 to the engineering tool 6 as a request for configuration data for the engineering tool. The station 10 is identified to the engineering tool 6 by the identifier 24, and the engineering tool 6 can then determine what configuration data to send to the station 10. For example, the engineering tool 6 can determine from which engineering service 25 (see Figure 4) sends the requested configuration data. In some embodiments, configuring the station 10 using the stored configuration data 23 may include requesting supplementary configuration data from the engineering tool via the stored identifier 24, whereby the supplementary configuration data received from the engineering tool 6 may also be used when configuring the station 10. Additionally or alternatively, before or after configuring the station 10, the station may request updated configuration data from the engineering tool 6 via the stored identifier 24, whereby the stored configuration data 23 may be updated with (e.g., replaced with) the updated configuration data received from the engineering tool 6. Thus, the stored configuration data 23 may be kept up to date. Similarly, additional configuration data (such as the supplementary and / or updated configuration data discussed herein) may be requested from any other network device (instead of the engineering tool 6), such as from the controller 2 or from the HMI 5.
[0029] Figure 4 An engineering tool 6 is illustrated which comprises a plurality of engineering services 25. Each service 25 may be specific to a respective station 10 or controller 2, for example.
[0030] Figure 5 Some embodiments of the method performed in the station 10 to configure the I / O station 10 of the present disclosure are illustrated. S1 configuration data 23 is obtained from a storage device 22 in the I / O station 10. Then, the S2 station 10 is configured according to the obtained S1 configuration data 23, including reestablishing a previously lost communication connection with at least one of the network devices 2, 5 and / or 6 (e.g., at least one controller 2).
[0031] In some embodiments of the invention, the configuration S2 of the I / O station 10 further comprises obtaining an identifier 24 of the I / O station from a storage device 22 in the I / O station 10 and sending a request for supplementary configuration data to an engineering tool 6 connected to the network 3, the request comprising the obtained identifier 24. In response to the sent request, the supplementary configuration data is then received from the engineering tool 6. The station 10 can then be configured S2 based on the obtained configuration data stored in S1 and the supplementary configuration data received from the engineering tool 6. In this case, not all configuration data required to configure the station 10 need to be stored in the storage device 22, but the station can request the remaining configuration data from the engineering tool.
[0032] Additionally or alternatively, before or after configuring S2 the station 10, in some embodiments of the invention, the station may request and store updated configuration data from the engineering tool 6. Thus, the method may comprise obtaining S3 an identifier 24 of the I / O station from a storage device 22 in the I / O station 10, and sending S4 an update request to the engineering tool 6 connected to the network 3, the update request comprising the obtained S3 identifier 24. In response to the sent S4 update request, the station 10 then receives S5 updated configuration data from 6, and stores S6 the updated configuration data 23 in the storage device 22.
[0033] In some embodiments of the invention, configuring S2 is performed in response to a loss of connectivity between I / O station 10 and at least one of network devices 2, 5 and / or 6, such as due to a power outage affecting the I / O station.
[0034] Above, the present disclosure has mainly been described with reference to a few embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the embodiments disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the present disclosure, as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. An input / output (I / O) station (10) arranged to be connected to a plurality of network devices (2, 5, 6) including at least one controller (2) via a network (3) in an automation system (1), the I / O station comprising: A plurality of I / O modules (2), each I / O module providing one or more I / O channels (20), wherein the one or more I / O channels (20) are arranged to connect to corresponding one or more field devices (21); as well as an I / O network interface (11) connected to the I / O module within the I / O station (10) and arranged to forward data between the module (12) and the network device via the network (3); wherein each of the I / O channels (20) arranged to connect a corresponding field device (21) is communicatively connectable to at least one of the network devices via the network (3); as well as The I / O station (10) further comprises a non-volatile storage device (22), wherein the non-volatile storage device (22) stores configuration data (23) for the I / O station.
2. An I / O station according to claim 1, wherein the non-volatile storage device (22) is included in the I / O network interface (11) and / or is included in a substrate (26) providing a narrow slot, in which the I / O network interface is mechanically connected to the narrow slot.
3. An I / O station according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the configuration data (23) stored in the non-volatile storage device (22) includes or consists of all the configuration data required for configuring the I / O station (10).
4. The I / O station according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the network device comprises any one of the following: one or more controllers (2), one or more human-machine interfaces (5) and one or more engineering tools (6).
5. An I / O station according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-volatile storage device (22) also stores a unique identifier of the I / O station.
6. The I / O station according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the I / O network interface (11) is configured to forward the data via the network (3) according to an OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) communication protocol.
7. The I / O station according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the stored configuration data (23) are specific to the I / O station when connected to the field device (21).
8. An I / O station according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stored configuration data (23) is one and only one set of configuration data, for example when connected to the field device (21), the set of configuration data being specific to the I / O station.
9. An automation system (1), comprising: Multiple network devices (2, 5, 6); A plurality of I / O stations (10) according to any one of the preceding claims; as well as The network (3), the I / O station (10) is communicatively connected to the network device via the network (3).
10. The automation system according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the network devices (2, 5, 6), such as at least one controller (2), is communicatively connected to I / O channels (20) of at least two of the I / O stations (10).
11. A method for configuring an I / O station (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the method comprising: Obtaining (S1) the configuration data (23) from the storage device (22) in the I / O station (10); as well as The I / O station (10) is configured (S2) based on the obtained (S1) configuration data (23), including re-establishing a previously lost communication connection with at least one of the network devices (2, 5, 6), such as at least one controller (2).
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein configuring (S2) the I / O station (10) further comprises: obtaining an identifier (24) of the I / O station from the storage device (22) in the I / O station (10); sending a request for supplementary configuration data to an engineering tool (6) connected to the network (3), the request comprising the obtained identifier (24); and receiving supplemental configuration data from said engineering tool (6) in response to said request sent; The I / O station is further configured according to the received supplementary configuration data (S2).
13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, further comprising: obtaining (S3) an identifier (24) of the I / O station from the storage device (22) in the I / O station (10); sending (S4) an update request to an engineering tool (6) connected to said network (3), said update request including said identifier (24) obtained (S3); receiving (S5) updated configuration data from the engineering tool (6) in response to the request sent (S4); as well as The updated configuration data (23) is stored (S6) in the storage device (22).
14. A method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the configuring (S2) is performed in response to a loss of connection between the I / O station (10) and at least one of the network devices (2, 5, 6), for example due to a power outage affecting the I / O station.