INDUSTRIAL PLANT AND METHOD FOR GRAPHICALLY REPRESENTING CHANNEL RELATIONSHIPS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an industrial plant comprising a first control device in which a first user program runs, a second control device in which a second user program runs, a plurality of drives which are controlled or regulated by the user programs, objects are assigned to the drives in the user programs, synchronous relationships existing between the objects, the user programs having a plurality of different execution structures which influence the synchronous relationships between the objects in such a way that a synchronous relationship is either an active synchronous relationship or an inactive synchronous relationship.

[0002] The invention also relates to a method for graphically displaying synchronous relationships between a plurality of drives in an industrial plant, wherein objects are assigned to the drives in a first user program for a first control device and in a second user program for a second control device and the objects are configured, the plurality of drives is controlled and / or regulated by the user program, the user programs are executed in such a way that a plurality of different sequence structures occur which influence the synchronous relationships between the objects in such a way that a synchronous relationship is either an active synchronous relationship or an inactive synchronous relationship.

[0003] EP 2 149 825 B1 discloses a project navigator for the hierarchical representation of technology objects on a display device, wherein the technology objects are interconnected and model a machine with cascaded synchronous control.

[0004] DE 101 25 384 A1 aims to simplify the engineering of automation systems. Therefore, the functionality of the control system is implemented using an object model.

[0005] The object model enables the functional interconnection of technology objects. A project browser ensures the representation of the interaction of all components involved in an application and their interrelationships.

[0006] EP 1 217 476 A2 discloses a device and a method for commissioning and diagnosing control systems, wherein a control program for the control system is based on an object model and has technology objects for synchronous axes.

[0007] The invention is based on the object of realizing improved diagnostic options for distributed synchronous operations based on the known prior art.

[0008] For the industrial plant mentioned at the outset, the object is achieved in that a device for graphically displaying synchronous relationships between the objects is provided. For this purpose, the device has an analysis tool which is designed to analyze the user programs with regard to the objects and the synchronous relationships between the objects using data technology and is further designed to obtain from the analytically determined data, on the one hand, a first data set about the objects used and, on the other hand, a second data set about a time reference about active and inactive synchronous relationships between the objects. For graphical representation on a display, a processing means is provided which is designed to graphically display the objects with their active or inactive synchronous relationships on the basis of the determined first data set and the determined second data set. The device has a recording means on,which is designed to install a first reading service on the first control device and a second reading service on the second control device, wherein the reading services are designed to carry out a trace of the objects in the first user program or in the second user program and to record a temporal assignment to status data, synchronization data and operating mode data of the objects in a first trace file or a second trace file, respectively. Furthermore, the processing means is designed to display a history of the active synchronous relationship between two objects located on different control devices with the aid of the recorded trace files of the control devices.

[0009] Since the control programs select the active synchronous operations during machine operation depending on the situation, it is advantageous to display the active synchronous operations as a graph over time. For machine commissioning, a user requires information about the active synchronous operations. It should be noted that due to the high processing speeds of the control programs, frequent changes to the active synchronous operations occur, which must also be subsequently documented using recordings.

[0010] Now, the course of the active synchronous operation relationship can advantageously be traced even on different control devices. Synchronous operation relationships across the boundaries of a single control device are referred to as distributed synchronous operation. The data required to record distributed synchronous operation includes the configuration data of the configured interconnections and the communication between the control devices, the current interconnection states (e.g., inactive, active, synchronization of selected interconnection partners), and current object states (e.g., being processed, in an error state). The individual technological objects can be calculated on different control devices; this is then referred to as distributed synchronous operation.

[0011] According to the invention, the interaction of all technology objects at a specific point in time is represented graphically. This provides a complete overview of the synchronization between the technology objects in the industrial plant, even across control boundaries, i.e., distributed synchronization. A user of the industrial plant is now able to visually capture the synchronization prevailing at that point in time during each commissioning step.

[0012] The diagnostic option already outlined is further improved by the fact that the processing means is also designed to prepare a time slider for representation on the display, and that the time slider is designed to show the course of the active synchronization relationship on the display for a selected point in time, thus making the course of the active synchronization relationships comprehensible. The time slider can now be used interactively; for example, it is grabbed with a mouse and moved to the right in time or moved back to the left in time. Depending on the position of the time slider, the synchronization relationships between the technology objects or between the objects present in the process structure at the selected point in time change.

[0013] The diagnostic capability is further refined if the analysis tool is designed to examine the data of the objects and the data of the synchronous relationships between the objects for concrete variables, which have the following sub-data: an identification number of an object, a type which can assume the values ​​master object or slave object, a state which indicates active or inactive, an operating mode which indicates the values ​​speed or position synchronization, a list which indicates the identification numbers of the potential master objects for a slave.

[0014] An algorithm for displaying the active synchronizations can be further simplified if the analysis tool is designed to search the user programs for project files in which synchronization relationships between the objects have been configured in order to determine a set of potential couplings between the objects from the project files.

[0015] For the method mentioned at the beginning, the problem is solved by operating an analysis tool by means of a device for graphically displaying the synchronous relationships between the objects, such that the user programs are analyzed in terms of data technology with regard to the objects and the synchronous relationships between the objects, and from the analytically determined data, a first data set about the objects used and a second data set about a temporal reference of active and inactive synchronous relationships between the objects are determined, for display on a display, a processing means is operated which graphically displays the objects with their active and / or inactive synchronous relationships based on the determined first data set and the determined second data set,wherein a first reading service is installed on the first control device and a second reading service is installed on the second control device by means of a recording means, wherein the reading services perform a trace of the objects in the first user program and a trace of the objects in the second user program, respectively, and thereby record a temporal assignment to status data, synchronization data, and operating mode data of the objects in a first trace file and in a second trace file, respectively. Furthermore, by means of the processing means, a history of the active synchronous relationships between two objects located on different control devices is displayed on the display using the recorded trace files of the control devices.

[0016] The diagnostic capability is further improved if the processing tool is used to prepare a time slider for display on the screen, and by means of the time slider, maintenance personnel can display the history of the active synchronous relationship on the screen for a selected point in time and thus understand the history of the active synchronous relationship, in particular the distributed synchronous relationships.

[0017] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the analysis tool is used to examine the data of the objects and the data of the synchronous relationship between the objects for specific variables, whereby the following sub-data are examined: an identification number of an object, a type which can assume the values ​​master object or slave object, a state which indicates active or inactive, an operating mode which indicates the values ​​speed or position synchronization, a list which indicates the identification number of the potential master objects for a slave.

[0018] It is also advantageous if the analysis tool is used to search the user programs for project files in which synchronous relationships between the objects have been configured and defined, and to determine a number of potential couplings between the objects from the project files.

[0019] An embodiment of the method and device according to the invention is explained below with reference to a drawing. FIG 1 an industrial plant with drives and a device for graphically displaying synchronous relationships, FIG 2 an object, i.e. a technology object, which is assigned to the drives and FIG 3 an example of distributed synchronous operation between several controllers.

[0020] According to FIG 1 An industrial plant 100 is shown with a first control device 1 and a second control device 2. The first control device 1 has a first user program AW1, and the second control device 2 has a second user program AW2. A first object T01 is embedded in the first user program AW1. The first object T01 is responsible for the control and regulation of the first drive A1. A second object T02 and a third object T03 are embedded in the second user program AW2, with the second object T02 being responsible for the control of the second drive A2.

[0021] The first drive A1 is connected to the second drive A2 via a conveyor belt T. To prevent the conveyor belt T from breaking, both drives A1 and A2 must run synchronously; thus, there is a synchronous relationship between the first drive A1 and the second drive A2. Since the drives A1 and A2 are controlled by different control units 1 and 2, this is referred to as distributed synchronization.

[0022] Distributed synchronization can also be understood as an electrical wave. An electrical wave is understood to replicate the function of a mechanical shaft using electrical machines. The mechanical connection is replaced by suitable wiring of the machines or by a closed-loop control system. The goal is the angularly accurate transmission of rotary motion and torque without mechanical coupling.

[0023] Accordingly, the objects T01, T02 are assigned to the drives A1, A2 in the user programs AW1, AW2, and to simulate this mechanical coupling of the shaft, a synchronous relationship GB exists between the first object T01 and the second object T02. Since a number of different sequence structures run in the user programs AW1, AW2, which influence the synchronous relationships GB between the objects T01, T02, T03 in such a way that a synchronous relationship GB is either an active synchronous relationship GBa or an inactive synchronous relationship GBi, the status of the synchronous relationship changes depending on the program execution.

[0024] In order to facilitate commissioning and / or diagnostics, particularly for commissioning engineers of the industrial plant 100, a device 20 for graphically displaying synchronous relationships GBa, GBi between the objects T01, T02, T03 is provided according to the invention. The device 20 has an analysis tool 21, which is designed to data-analyze the user programs AW1, AW2 with regard to the objects T01, T02, T03 and the parameterized synchronous relationships between the objects T01, T02, T03. The analysis tool 21 is designed to search the user programs AW1, AW2 for the presence of project files in which synchronous relationships between the objects T01, T02, T03 have been configured in order to obtain a set of potential couplings 60 between the objects T01, T02, T03 from the project data. For an illustration of the potential couplings 60 see also FIG 3 .

[0025] For the graphical representation of the synchronous relationships between the objects T01, T02, T03, a processing means 23 is provided, which is designed to graphically represent the objects T01, T02, T03 with their active or inactive synchronous relationships GBa, GBi on the basis of the determined first data set D1 and the determined second data set D2.

[0026] During machine operation, control programs AW1 and AW2 select active synchronous operations depending on the situation. The synchronous operations between objects T01, T02, and T03 are displayed as a diagram over time. For machine commissioning, the user therefore requires information about the active synchronous operations GBa. It should be noted that due to the high processing speed of control programs AW1 and AW2, frequent changes to the active synchronous operations GBa occur, which must also be subsequently made traceable.

[0027] For this purpose, it is advantageous for the device 20 to have a recording means 24 which is designed to install a first read service LD1 on the first control device 1 and a second read service LD2 on the second control device 2, wherein the read services LD1, LD2 are designed to carry out a trace of the first object T01 in the first user program AW1 and a trace of the second object T02 and the third object T03 in the second user program AW2. A first trace file T1 and a second trace file T2 are recorded using the read services LD1, LD2. In order to make the course of the actively distributed synchronous operations traceable, the read services LD1, LD2 are used to set up recording functions on the control devices 1, 2 which correspond to a trace. A permanent recording, namely an endless trace, can also be implemented.

[0028] The processing means 23 is further designed to display a history 40 of the active synchronous relationships GBa between two objects T01, T02, which are located on different control devices 1, 2, from the display 22 using the recorded history files T1, T2 of the control devices 1, 2.

[0029] This makes the course of the active synchronous relationships GBa traceable. The required data includes a configuration of the planned interconnections and the communication between the control devices 1, 2, the current interconnection states (e.g., inactive, active, synchronization, selected interconnection partner) as well as current object states (e.g., processing or error state). The analysis tool 21 is designed to examine the data of the objects T01, T02, T03 and the data of the synchronous relationships GBi, GBa between the objects T01, T02, T03 for concrete variables, which have the following subdata: an identification number ID (see example in FIG 2 ), a type T, which can assume the values ​​master object or slave object, a state Z, which indicates active or inactive, an operating mode B, which indicates the values ​​speed or position synchronization, a list L, which indicates the identification numbers ID of the potential master objects for a slave.

[0030] The processing means 23 is further configured to prepare a time slider 25 for display in the display 22, the time slider 25 being configured to display the course 40 of the active synchronous relationship GBa on the display 22 for a respectively selected time t1 and thus to make the course of the active synchronous relationships GBa comprehensible.

[0031] In the display 22, the time slider 25 is at the time t1 and at the time t1 the first object T01 has an active synchronization relationship GBa with the second object T02 and the first object T01 has an inactive synchronization relationship GBi with the third object T03.

[0032] The required graphic data 5 for the display 22 are prepared via the processing means 23. The first reading service LD1 in the first user program AW1 or in the first control unit 1 sends its data to the device 20 via a first data path 3. The second reading service LD2 in the second control unit 2 sends its data to the device 20 via a second data path 4.

[0033] With the FIG 2 The first object T01 is shown with its variables and subdata required for determining a synchronous relationship. An identification number (ID) indicates which object it is. A type (T) indicates whether it is a master or a slave. A list (L) can contain other possible identification numbers (ID) of other potential master objects for this object if this object is a slave. Status data (instead of), synchronization data (sync), and operating mode data (modes) are also available.

[0034] With the FIG 3 A configuration example for synchronous relationships between different control devices is shown. An object 41 for a master axis is implemented in a main controller 30. An object 42 for a first axis is implemented in a first slave controller 31. An object 43 for a second axis is parameterized in a second slave controller 32. An object 44 for a transfer axis is implemented in a transfer controller 33.

[0035] With the FIG 3The set of possible potential couplings 60 is shown. The object 41 for the master axis has a first synchronous relationship GB1 with the object 22 for the first axis. However, the object 41 for the master axis also has a third synchronous relationship GB3 with the object 44 for the transfer axis and a fourth synchronous relationship GB4 with the object 43 for the second axis. A second synchronous relationship GB2 exists between the object 42 for the first axis and the object 44 for the transfer axis. Similarly, the object 43 for the second axis has a fifth synchronous relationship GB5 with the object 44 for the transfer axis. Each of the objects 41, 42, 43, 44 has a unique identification number ID. Apart from object 41 for the master axis, the remaining objects 42, 43 for the first and second axes, and object 44 for the transfer axis, have proxies 51, 52, 53, 54, and 55. These proxies 51,...,55 are to be regarded as so-called proxies. The proxies are particularly useful when object 44 for the transfer axis maintains synchronous relationships with three other objects. Accordingly, object 44 for the transfer axis is preceded by a third proxies 53, a fourth proxies 54, and a fifth proxies 55. Accordingly, object 42 for the first axis has a first proxies 51, and object 43 for the second axis has a second proxies 52.

[0036] The objects T01, T02, and T03 are considered technology objects and represent real objects (e.g., an axis) in the controller. The functions of the technology objects can be called via specific instructions in the user program. These functions are executed independently of the user program in the organization blocks (for example, for an engineering system's motion control tasks). The technology objects control or regulate the movement of the real objects and report status information (e.g., the current position).

[0037] The configuration of the technology objects represents the properties of the real object. The configuration data is stored in a technology data block.

[0038] For example, a nonlinear dependency of the position of a following axis to a leading axis can be defined in a synchronous coupling. A cam technology object can be applied multiple times to different technology objects.

[0039] For a synchronous coupling of two axes, the actual position (actual value coupling) of another axis or an external encoder can also be used as the master value. The synchronous axis technology object can also be treated in the user program like the positioning axis technology object, ie the axis can be positioned exactly to a specified position from the user program even without activated synchronous operation.

Claims

1. Industrial plant (100) comprising - a first control device (1), in which a first user program (AW1) runs, - a second control device (2), in which a second user program (AW1) runs, - a plurality of drives (A1, A2), which are controlled and / or regulated by the user programs (AW1, AW2), wherein objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) are assigned to the drives (A1, A2) in the user programs (AW1, AW2), wherein synchronous relationships (GB) exist between the objects (TO1, TO2, TO3), wherein the user programs (AW1, AW2) have a plurality of different flow structures, which have an influence on the synchronous relationships (GB) between the objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) such that a synchronous operation (GB) is either an active synchronous relationship (GBa) or an inactive synchronous relationship (GBi), characterised by an apparatus (20) for graphical representation of synchronous relationships (GBa, GBi) between the objects (TO1, TO2, TO3), which has an analysing tool (21) which is designed to analyse the user programs (AW1, AW2) in respect of the objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) and the synchronous relationships (GB) between the objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) via data link and is further designed to obtain a first data record (D1) relating to the used objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) on the one hand and a second data record (D2) relating to a temporal relation between active and inactive synchronous relationships (GBa, GBi) between the objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) on the other hand from the analytically determined data, wherein a preparation means (23) exists for representation on a display (22) which is designed to graphically represent the objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) with their active and or inactive synchronous relationships (GBa, GBi) on the basis of the determined first data record (D1) and the determined second data record (D2), wherein the apparatus (20) has a recording means (24) which is designed to install a first read service (LD1) on the first control device (1) and a second read service (LD2) on the second control device (2), wherein the read services (LD1,LD2) are designed to carry out a tracing of the objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) in the first user program (AW1) or in the second user program (AW2) and in the process to record a temporal assignment to status data (Stat), synchronisation data (Sync) and operating mode data (Moti) of the objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) in a first trace file (T1) or a second trace file (T2), wherein furthermore the preparation means (23) is designed to indicate on the display (22) with the aid of the recorded trace files (T1, T2) of the control devices (1,2) a course (40) of the active synchronous relationship (GBa) between two objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) which are disposed on different control devices (1,2).

2. Industrial plant (100) according to claim 1, wherein the preparation means (23) is further designed to prepare a time slider (25) for representation in the display (22), and the time slider (24) is designed here to display the course (40) of the active synchronous relationship (GBa) on the display (22) for a respectively selected time instant and thus to render clear and transparent the course of the active synchronous relationships (GBa).

3. Industrial plant (100) according to one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the analysing tool (21) is designed to examine the data of the objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) and the data of the synchronous relationships (GBi, GBa) between the objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) for specific variables which have the following subdata: an identification number (ID) of an object (TO1,..,TO3), a type (T) which can assume the values master object or slave object, a state (Z) which specifies active or inactive, an operating mode (B), which specifies the values speed or position synchronous operation, a list (L) which specifies the identification numbers (ID) of the potential master objects to a slave.

4. Industrial plant (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the analysing tool (21) is designed to browse the user programs (AW1, AW2) for project files in which synchronous relationships have been configured between the objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) in order to determine a quantity of potential couplings (60) between the objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) from the project files.

5. Method for graphical representation of synchronous relationships (GBa, GBi) between a plurality of drives in an industrial plant (100), wherein objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) are assigned to the drives in a first user program (AW1) for a first control device (1) and in a second user program (AW2) for a second control device (2) and the objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) are configured, wherein the plurality of drives (A1, A2) is controlled and / or regulated by the user programs (AW1, AW2), the user programs (AW1, AW2) are executed such that a plurality of different flow structures occurs, which have an influence on the synchronous relationships (GB) between the objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) such that a synchronous relationship (GB) is either an active synchronous relationship (GBa) or an inactive synchronous relationship (GBa), characterised in that by means of an apparatus (20) for graphical representation of the synchronous relationships (GBa, GBi) between the objects (TO1, TO2, TO3), an analysing tool (21) is operated so that the user programs (AW1, AW2) are analysed with respect to the objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) and the synchronous relationships (GB) between the objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) via data link and a first data record (D1) relating to the used objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) on the one hand and a second data record (D2) relating to a temporal relation between active and inactive synchronous relationships (GBa, GBi) between the objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) on the other hand is determined from the analytically determined data, a preparation means (23) is operated for representation on a display (22) which preparation means uses the determined first data record (D1) and the determined second data record (D2) to graphically represent the objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) with their active and or inactive synchronous relationships (GBa, GBi), wherein by means of a recording means (24), a first read service (LD1) is installed on the first control device (1) and a second read service (LD2) is installed on the second control device (2), wherein the read services (LD1,LD2) carry out a tracing of the objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) in the first user program (AW1) or the objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) in the second user program (AW2) and in the process record a temporal assignment to status data (Stat), synchronisation data (Sync) and operating mode data (Moti) of the objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) in a first trace file (T1) or a second trace file (T1), furthermore a course (40) of the active synchronous relationship (GBa) between two objects (TO1, TO2, TO3), which are located on different control devices (1,2), is shown on the display (22) by means of the preparation means (23) with the aid of the recorded trace files (T1,T2) of the control devices (1,2).

6. Method according to claim 5, wherein a time slider (24) for the representation in the display (22) is further prepared with the preparation means (23) and by means of the time slider (24), a maintenance personnel can display the course (40) of the active synchronous relationship (GBa) on the display (22) for a respectively selected time instant and thus understand the course of the active synchronous relationships (GBa).

7. Method according to one of claims 5 to 6, wherein with the analysing tool (21) the data of the objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) and the data of the synchronous relationships (GBi, GBa) between the objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) is examined for specific variables, here the following subdata is examined: an identification number (ID) of an object (TO1,..,TO3), a type (T) which can assume the values master object or slave object, a state (Z) which specifies active or inactive, an operating mode (B), which specifies the values of speed or position synchronous operation, a list (L) which specifies the identification numbers (ID) of the potential master objects to a slave.

8. Method according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the analysing tool (21) is used to browse the user programs (AW1, AW2) for project files in which synchronous relationships have been configured and defined between the objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) and a quantity of potential couplings between the objects (TO1, TO2, TO3) is determined from the project data files.