Control panel, computer program product and method for recording and / or controlling and / or regulating a technical process

Abstract

Control panel (8) for a device (23) that detects and / or controls and / or regulates a technical process, where at least one determined property is assigned to the technical process and wherein the control panel (8) has several sub-areas (1a-6e) which are arranged in a mosaic-like manner in the form of adjacent quadrilaterals, and wherein the control panel (8) is assigned a computer-based editing mode, wherein in the editing mode an assignment of at least one sub-area (1a-6e) can be edited and the at least one sub-area (1a-6e) can be assigned at least one and / or one further determined property, characterized by the fact that at least one linking element can be assigned to at least one sub-area, which serves to link determined properties.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a control panel for a device that detects and / or controls and / or regulates a technical process, wherein at least one determined property is assigned to the technical process, and wherein the control panel has several sub-areas that are designed in a mosaic-like manner in the form of adjacent quadrilaterals, and wherein a computer-based editing mode is assigned to the control panel, wherein in the editing mode an assignment of at least one sub-area can be edited and the at least one and / or a further determined property can be assigned to the at least one sub-area.

[0002] Control panels of the type in question have been known in practice for years. According to current technology, technical processes are represented as mosaic diagrams on physical panels. These panels are equipped with various display elements, switches, and indicator lights in individual sections. The technical process—in particular, its sequence—is printed onto the individual sections of the mosaic diagram and thus depicted. Access to the control panel is therefore only possible from a specific location.

[0003] Furthermore, control panels are known where the technical process is represented in elaborate, graphical animations using modern data processing equipment. Creating unknown, computer-based control panels is time-consuming and requires specialized expertise. A user of the device with which they wish to monitor, control, and / or regulate the technical process is generally unable to create such control panels.

[0004] Document DE 10 2008 017 292 A1 concerns a computer-based system designed for the administration and / or control of a building management system, where the building management system comprises several actuators, sensors, and / or command devices located in different rooms of the building. A database is provided in which information regarding the actuators, sensors, and / or command devices of the building management system, as well as data on an axis-cell structure of the building, are stored. The system is designed to provide a graphical user interface on a display, which shows a graphical representation of the building and the arrangement of the actuators, sensors, and / or command devices located within it.

[0005] Document US 2019 / 0150253 A1 describes a method for configuring and managing a DALI network, including the display of rows of cells on a mobile device's screen. The cells are connected to addresses in DALI networks. The method further includes the selection of a DALI controller by the mobile device, where the DALI controller is connected to a DALI network.

[0006] German patent application DE 10 2004 030 032 A1 discloses a system for configuring and / or parameterizing an automatable machine using a model whose technology objects represent functional elements of the machine. This is intended to simplify the configuration of an automation process. To this end, the various technology objects are graphically represented as model components. The respective mechatronic signal flow between the technology objects can be defined graphically by means of connections that link the inputs and outputs of the technology objects.

[0007] Finally, document US 2002 / 0022895 A1 shows a graphical user interface that includes a system configuration editor for configuring a machine control system and a function sequencer for arranging the execution of functional processes within the machine control system. The system configuration editor graphically represents how logical functions are connected to electrical functions within the physical machine system and allows the user to establish and modify these connections. Logical function blocks comprise one or more software program objects that perform logical functions, such as picking a part in a pick-and-place machine control system. The system configuration editor allows a logical function to be configured to use different electrical functions when executing its programmed function.

[0008] The present invention is therefore based on the objective of designing and further developing a control panel of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way as to enable more flexible access to the control panel.

[0009] According to the invention, the aforementioned problem is solved by the features of claim 1. Accordingly, at least one linking element can be assigned to at least one sub-area, which serves to link determined properties.

[0010] In accordance with the invention, it has first been recognized that a computer-based editing mode enables user access to the control panel without requiring in-depth specialist knowledge to create or edit the control panel, particularly to edit the assignment of sub-areas and assign specific properties to them. A further advantage is the improved usability of the control panel and the device, as the assignment of at least one and / or at least one further specific property to each sub-area can preferably be configured and / or adjusted by the user. Thus, the technical process can be represented by the control panel. Structural changes to the technical process can be implemented and incorporated into the control panel accordingly.To enable more flexible access to the technical process via the control panel, each sub-area can be assigned at least one linking element. This linking element, or several links, serves to connect specific properties and can, for example, represent the calculation and / or processing of set or measured process parameters. The linking elements are preferably selected from graphical elements consisting of lines, angles, intersections, and text fields. This linking can be implemented graphically in the front end and / or at the process level. Advantageously, the linking elements allow for visual programming of the control panel, the device, and the process, which a user can perform without specialized knowledge or the assistance of a programmer.Each sub-area can preferably be provided with a corresponding graphic that corresponds to the display element or the linking element.

[0011] To allow for a more flexible allocation of the determined properties to the sub-areas, an advantageous embodiment allows the allocation to be performed by an allocation unit. This allocation of determined properties to the sub-areas of the control panel can optionally occur solely in a front-end and / or in both the front-end and a back-end with regard to the acquisition and / or control and / or regulation of the technical process.

[0012] With a view to more flexible acquisition, control, and / or regulation of technical processes, the technical process can be any technical process that is to be acquired, controlled, and / or regulated. For example, the technical process can lie in the field of general measurement, control, and regulation technology, hydrometry, remote control systems, and / or industrial plant and automation technology, as well as higher-level control systems and infrastructures.

[0013] Acquisition, control, and / or regulation refers to any intervention in the technical process. Quantities associated with the process, such as those relating to material, energy, or information transfer within the process or parts thereof, can be measured and thus acquired using sensors. These process-related quantities can also be set or influenced, and thus controlled, by means of an actuator or control element. If an acquired process quantity is fed back to the device, the process can be controlled based on this acquired quantity, resulting in a regulation system.

[0014] Deterministic properties are understood to mean that they can be determined for a limited number of technical processes and can be selected from a predetermined, finite set of properties. These deterministic properties can be communicated between the control panel in the front end and the device in the back end via predefined protocols. These protocols can be, for example, TCP / IP or other well-known or standardized remote control protocols.

[0015] With a view to more flexible data acquisition, control, and / or regulation, an advantageous embodiment allows manipulation of the technical process by editing the assignment of at least one sub-area of ​​the control panel. In other words, both the control panel in the front end and the device, and thus the technical process, in the back end can be edited and / or modified to flexibly implement changes at the operator level and / or at the process level.

[0016] With a view to more flexible monitoring, control, and / or regulation of the process in response to changes in the technical process, the control panel, according to a further advantageous embodiment, can be equipped with a signaling and / or alarm function that can be triggered, for example, when a process parameter reaches a certain threshold. The signaling and / or alarm function can be assigned to the entire control panel or to individual sections.

[0017] With a view to improved acquisition and monitoring of the technical process, as well as more flexible access to the control panel and thus to the device, another advantageous embodiment allows—together with, or particularly as an alternative to, the linking elements and defined properties—at least one display element to be selectively assigned to the sub-areas, representing defined properties assigned to the respective sub-area. The one or more display elements can represent one or more of the defined properties, preferably at least one state and / or at least one measured value of the process. It is possible to assign one or more defined properties to each sub-area. Each defined property can be assigned one or more display elements. Conversely, one or more defined properties can be assigned to the display element.This also makes it possible to assign one or more display elements to each sub-area.

[0018] With a view to more flexible access to individual sub-areas and their assignment, according to an advantageous embodiment, the mosaic-like sub-areas formed in the form of adjacent polygons can be combined with further sub-areas, in particular in the form of triangles, pentagons, hexagons, heptagons, octagons, or combinations thereof. In particular, with isosceles triangles, quadrilaterals, or hexagons, a two-dimensional control panel can be seamlessly divided into sub-areas, each comprising up to three, four, or six adjacent sub-areas.

[0019] For example, a first sub-area can be assigned to a defined property, with the defined property being displayed on the user interface in the first sub-area using a display element. This defined property could be, for example, a binary state of a valve—such as "open / closed"—and can be linked directly or via one or more linking elements to a second sub-area adjacent to the first, or to several further sub-areas adjacent to the second or to each other, and then to a third sub-area. There, the defined property can, for example, be displayed using a display element or further processed to determine or calculate a process variable.The control panel can therefore be individually adapted to the specific requirements of each technical process and edited accordingly if boundary conditions change.

[0020] To allow for more flexible control panel layout, an advantageous embodiment allows the number of sub-areas to be freely selected. For example, the number of rows and / or columns and / or lines per control panel can be defined. The entire control panel can be displayed on one screen. Alternatively, only a portion of the control panel, comprising one or more sub-areas, can be displayed, allowing the control panel to be distributed across multiple screens. Switching between different screens or sections of the control panel, which may then be necessary, can also be accomplished via a sub-area to which a corresponding deterministic property—namely, rules for switching between the current and subsequent sections of the control panel—can be assigned.

[0021] To allow for more flexible control panel configuration, an advantageous embodiment enables the assignment of one of the sub-areas to be copied and / or moved. In this way, the assignment of one sub-area can be transferred to one or more other sub-areas. This makes it possible, in particular, to duplicate identical, comparable, or similar defined properties, and significantly accelerates the entire assignment process.

[0022] With a view to more flexible acquisition, control, and / or regulation of technical processes, the device, according to a further advantageous embodiment, can include a programmable logic controller (PLC). In this case, a defined property can comprise a preferably protocol-based information object, which is provided by the PLC for the purpose of data exchange. The information objects can have a fixed structure and contain all process-essential information about the technical objects associated with the process.

[0023] With a view to more flexible access to the technical process via the control panel, according to a further advantageous embodiment, each information object can be assigned a technical object that detects and / or controls and / or regulates a parameter in the technical process. The one or more technical devices can be, for example, a pump, a submersible probe, a radar device, a telemetry device, a data logger, a level control cabinet, or a device for transmitting and / or receiving electromagnetic waves, in particular a preferably cable-guided microwave unit. These technical objects enable the measurement or setting of parameters in the technical process and can be linked to the control panel via the device.

[0024] For particularly convenient and safe operation, the control panel can be designed as a touchscreen with a graphical user interface. This graphical user interface can be implemented not only on touchscreens but also on other control panels. The graphical user interface can display multiple sub-areas. Preferably, in edit mode, the user can assign a specific property to a sub-area by tapping it. The control panel can also be displayed on a computer screen and operated using a mouse and keyboard, or it can be displayed and operated in a conventional manner using other known methods.

[0025] To simplify communication and management of sub-area assignments, an advantageous embodiment allows the mapping of specific properties, display elements, and / or linking elements to the sub-areas to be stored in configuration data. The configuration data can comprise one or more configuration files and be stored on a local storage medium and / or on a server.

[0026] The local storage medium can preferably be assigned to the control panel or, more generally, to the device. Configuration data stored on the server can be accessed from there by the assignment unit. Based on the configuration data, the assignment unit can then edit the assignment of at least one sub-area and / or selectively assign at least one of the defined properties to that sub-area.

[0027] With a view to particularly flexible editing of the sub-areas, according to a further advantageous embodiment, the configuration data on the server can be accessed via a mobile device and / or a data processing unit. The configuration data can be created, modified, and / or deleted on the mobile device. The mobile device can be, in particular, a laptop, tablet, or smartphone, etc. Thus, the user can configure the sub-areas of the control panel regardless of location.

[0028] To prevent unauthorized access to the configuration data, direct communication between the control panel and the mobile device or data processing unit can be implemented, for example, via a VPN network. Preferably, editing the configuration of at least one sub-area of ​​the control panel manipulates the technical process by creating and / or modifying configuration data. The configuration of the sub-areas and the defined properties can thus be transferred or inherited both upwards and downwards between the front end and the back end. Software associated with the control panel can initially access the configuration data. This configuration data consists, on the one hand, of its own defined properties and, on the other hand, includes rules for handling other defined properties—for example, information objects.

[0029] These rules can, for example, define the graphical representation of a related technical object or govern the storage, processing, use, or evaluation of its defined properties. The configuration data can initially be stored on the operator panel's local storage device according to these rules. For further processing, the configuration data can be transferred to the server. The server can be located on an internal network or a network cloud. The information objects read from the PLC can then be linked to the predefined rules according to the layout of the operator panel's sub-areas. The additional configuration data obtained in this process can then be copied and / or moved to the server. In other words, the configuration file acts as the link between the front end and the back end, i.e., between the operator panel and the device / PLC / process.

[0030] With a view to particularly flexible use of the configuration data, according to an advantageous embodiment, the configuration data can also contain information regarding the assignment of the control panel's sub-areas. This information can also include a graphical arrangement of the control panel's sub-areas and can likewise be copied and / or moved to the server. A particular technical advantage is that the configuration data file size is much smaller than if all information relating to the entire process had to be represented according to the predefined protocols. In other words, due to its predefined and finite properties, the configuration data can be stored in smaller data packets or configuration files than the entire process would be. This enables the inheritance of the configuration data even with low bandwidth.

[0031] The aforementioned task is further solved by a computer program product comprising program code that, when executed by a data processing device, generates a control panel of the type described. The data processing device can be the device itself—for example, the PLC or a computer system associated with the PLC—or it can be the mobile device, a computer, or another conventional data processing device.

[0032] For the sake of long-term storage and easy transport, the computer program product can, according to an advantageous embodiment, be stored on non-volatile, computer-readable memory. Particularly in the field of industrial controls and PLCs, this can be helpful for security reasons, for example, to prevent unauthorized external access, or to ensure intercompatibility between hardware components of different generations.

[0033] The aforementioned problem is further solved in accordance with the invention by a method for detecting and / or controlling and / or regulating a technical process by means of a device using an operating panel of the type described.

[0034] There are now various ways to advantageously elaborate and further develop the teaching of the present invention. For this purpose, reference should be made, on the one hand, to the claims subordinate to claim 1 and, on the other hand, to the following explanation of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawing. In conjunction with the explanation of the preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawing, generally preferred embodiments and further developments of the teaching are also explained. The drawing shows Fig. 1 in a diagram a graphic representation of an embodiment of a section of a control panel according to the invention, Fig. 2. In a diagram, an exemplary graphical representation of a window for editing the assignment of a sub-area of ​​the control panel with a linking element, Fig. 3. In a diagram, an exemplary graphical representation of a window for editing the assignment of a sub-area of ​​the control panel with a display element. Fig. 4. In a diagram, an exemplary graphical representation of a window for editing the assignment of a sub-area of ​​the control panel with another display element and Fig. 5 in a diagram a schematic representation of information flows when using a control panel according to the invention.

[0035] Fig. Figure 1 shows six columns 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and five rows a, b, c, d, e of sub-areas 1a-6e, which form a section 7 of an embodiment of a control panel 8, which is in Fig. 1 accordingly, only a portion of it can be seen. Sub-areas 1a-6e are formed in a mosaic-like pattern of adjacent quadrilaterals. Each sub-area 1a-6e is used to describe the Fig. 1 uniquely determined by specifying its position in the control panel 7 according to columns 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and rows a, b, c, d, e.

[0036] Control panel 8 is one of Fig. 1. A device not shown, which detects and / or controls and / or regulates a technical process. The device may, in particular, be a programmable logic controller (PLC). The technical process may be a hydrometry and / or pumping process. This technical process is assigned determined properties. The determined properties preferably comprise protocol-based information objects, wherein each information object at a control level is assigned a Fig. 1. Another technical object, not shown, is assigned at the process level. This technical object captures, controls, and / or regulates a variable within the technical process. Fig. Pumps 9 and 10 are assigned to sub-areas 3c and 5c respectively, which is always recognizable to a user by the pump symbols in the upper right corners of sub-areas 3c and 5c.

[0037] Sub-areas 2a, 3c, and 5c are further assigned display elements. These display elements represent determined properties assigned to pumps 9, 10, and 11. In the case of sub-areas 2a and 3c, these are the operating hours of pumps 9 and 10, and in the case of sub-area 5c, a frequency assigned to pump 11.

[0038] Sub-areas 1d, 2d, 5b and 6b are assigned further display elements. These display elements represent determined properties in the form of measured values ​​12-15 of process quantities in their respective units.

[0039] Sub-areas 1c, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3d, 4d, 5a, 4d, and 6a are assigned connecting elements. The connecting elements in sub-areas 1c, 3a, 5a, and 5d are angles. The connecting element in sub-area 3d is a T-junction. The connecting elements in sub-areas 2b, 2c, 3b, 4d, and 6a are lines, some of which are marked with arrows.

[0040] Sub-areas 1e and 6e are assigned linking elements in the form of text fields. These linking elements are assigned rules.

[0041] The arrows 16 and 17 can be used to switch between individual sections 7 of the control panel 8.

[0042] Control panel 8 has a computer-based editing mode. In this editing mode, the assignment of at least one of the sub-areas 1a-6e can be edited.

[0043] In Fig. In section 2, window 18a is visible, which allows the control panel 8 to be edited. In a left-hand area of Fig. Figure 2 shows a drop-down menu 19. Drop-down menu 19 has several submenus. These submenus include, among others, a button 20a for language selection, a button 20b for logging the user in and out, a button 20c to lock and unlock the control panel, a button 20d to switch between edit mode and regular operating mode, a button 20e to define the number of columns 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and rows a, b, c, d, e per control panel, a button 20f to copy and / or move the contents of sub-areas 1a-6e, a button 20g to label individual screen pages or sections of control panel 8 with a heading, and a button 20h to close or exit drop-down menu 19.

[0044] In Fig. In step 2, button 20e is activated, and a window 18b is opened for defining the number of columns 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and rows a, b, c, d, e. In the example in Fig. The control panel 8 shows the state depicted in 2 - as shown in Fig. 1. Seven screen pages or sections, each with five rows (a, b, c, d, e) and six columns (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), are displayed. These numbers can be increased or decreased in window 18b. A point-based overview of the seven screen pages or sections is located at the bottom of panel 8.

[0045] Fig. Figure 3 shows a window 18c for editing the assignment of a link element to a sub-area of ​​control panel 8. In addition to the link element, a specific property in the form of a color 22a or text can also be assigned to the sub-area.

[0046] Fig. Figure 4 shows a window 18d for editing the assignment of a sub-area of ​​the control panel 8 with a display element, here exemplified in the form of a frequency 22b of a technical object.

[0047] Fig. Figure 5 shows a window 18e for editing the assignment of a sub-area of ​​the control panel 8 with a different display element, here exemplified in the form of the data 22c, which are to be assigned to a pump involved in the technical process and can be read from a protocol-based information object of the device 23.

[0048] Fig. Figure 6 shows information flows when using the control panel 8, where the device 23 for acquiring and / or controlling and / or regulating the technical process comprises a programmable logic controller (PLC). The control panel can read information objects 24 from the PLC. The information objects 24 are linked to rules 26 permanently stored in a local data carrier 25.

[0049] The additional configuration data 27 obtained in this process is moved to a cloud server 28 and can be exchanged and inherited between the control panel 8 and the one cloud server 28 according to arrow 29.

[0050] The assignment of specific properties and / or display elements and / or linking elements to sub-areas 1a-6e is also stored in the configuration data 27, which can be stored on the local data carrier 25 and / or on the cloud server 28. In other words, the configuration data 27 contains information regarding the assignment of sub-areas 1a-6e of the control panel 8.

[0051] The configuration data 27 on the cloud server 28 is accessible via a mobile device 30 and can be created, modified, and / or deleted using the device 30. The configuration data 27 can be exchanged and inherited between the mobile device 30 and the cloud server 28 as indicated by arrow 31. The mobile device has a touchscreen; tapping or selecting a sub-area 1a-6e displays the respective window for editing the configuration to the user, see [reference]. Fig. 3, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5.

[0052] The configuration data 27 on the cloud server 28 are according to Fig.6 are also accessible by means of a data processing device 32 – for example, a central control room of a control or monitoring system, a PC, or another known data processing device 32 – and can be created, modified, and / or deleted by means of the data processing device 32. The configuration data 27 can be exchanged and inherited between the data processing device 32 and the cloud server 28, as indicated by arrow 33.

[0053] The embodiments of the control panel 8 shown in the drawing can be embodied in a computer program product comprising program code which, when executed by means of a mobile device 30 or any data processing device 32, generates the control panel 8. The computer program product can be stored on non-volatile, computer-readable memory.

[0054] Regarding further advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention, reference is made to the general part of the description and to the attached claims in order to avoid repetition.

[0055] Finally, it should be expressly pointed out that the exemplary embodiments of the device according to the invention described above serve only to discuss the claimed teaching, but do not limit it to these exemplary embodiments.

Claims

[1] Control panel (8) for a device (23) that detects and / or controls and / or regulates a technical process, where at least one determined property is assigned to the technical process and wherein the control panel (8) has several sub-areas (1a-6e) which are arranged in a mosaic-like manner in the form of adjacent quadrilaterals, and wherein the control panel (8) is assigned a computer-based editing mode, wherein in the editing mode an assignment of at least one sub-area (1a-6e) can be edited and the at least one sub-area (1a-6e) can be assigned at least one and / or one further determined property, characterized by , that at least one linking element can be assigned to at least one sub-area, which serves to link determined properties. [2] Control panel (8) according to claim 1, wherein at least one display element (22a, 22b, 22c) can be assigned to the sub-areas (1a-6e) which represents a determined property assigned to the respective sub-area (1a-6e). [3] Control panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mosaic-like sub-areas (1a-6e) formed in the shape of adjacent quadrilaterals are combined with further sub-areas in the shape of triangles, pentagons, hexagons, heptagons, octagons. [4] Control panel according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the device (23) comprises a programmable logic controller (PLC), wherein the determined property is a preferably protocol-based information object (24). [5] Control panel according to claim 4, wherein each information object (24) is assigned a technical object (9, 10, 11) that detects and / or controls and / or regulates a quantity in the technical process. [6] Control panel according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the assignment of determined properties and / or display elements and / or linking elements to the sub-areas (1a-6e) can be stored in configuration data (27), wherein preferably the configuration data (27) can be stored on a local data carrier (25) and / or on a server (28). [7] Control panel according to claim 6, wherein the configuration data (27) on the server (28) can be accessed by means of a mobile device (30) and / or by means of a data processing device (32) and can be created and / or modified and / or deleted. [8] Control panel according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the configuration data (27) includes information relating to the assignment of the sub-areas (1a-6e) of the control panel (8). [9] Computer program product comprising a program code which, when executed by means of a data processing device (32), generates a control panel (8) according to any one of claims 1 to 8. [10] Non-volatile computer-readable memory comprising the computer program product according to claim 9. [11] Method for detecting and / or controlling and / or regulating a technical process by means of a device (23) using an operating panel (8) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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