Control system, control method of control system, and control program

Abstract

To cope with a new function while suppressing a design change of a hardware configuration related to input / output of an IO module mounted on an IO node.SOLUTION: The present application relates to a control system for controlling a plurality of devices including a first device and a second device by transmitting and receiving control signals to and from the plurality of devices via a first 1IO module having an input / output interface corresponding to the first device and a second 2IO module having an input / output interface corresponding to the second device. In this control system, the communication path between the first 1IO module and the second 2IO module is set such that first data related to a control signal input from the first device to the first 1IO module is transmitted to the first 2IO module, and the first 2IO module outputs second data related to the first data received from the first 1IO module to the second device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a control system, a control method for a control system, and a control program. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, a control system for controlling components of a power plant or the like is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This type of control system includes at least one IO node for inputting and outputting various data to and from the controlled device, and a control device for performing arithmetic processing using the various data input and output by the IO node. The IO node included in such a control system is configured to be able to communicate with the control device that performs the arithmetic processing, and functions as an input / output interface between the controlled device and the control device. The IO node is equipped with multiple IO modules corresponding to the types and number of data input and output to and from the device. Each IO module has an input port for inputting data to be taken in as input parameters required for the arithmetic processing performed by the arithmetic device, and an output port for outputting the arithmetic results obtained by the arithmetic processing performed by the arithmetic device to the controlled device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-199658 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Typically, the multiple IO modules installed in this type of IO node are configured to function as input / output interfaces appropriate for the data being handled. For example, in a control system for controlling turbines used in power plants, the IO modules installed in the IO node are developed for each application to function as input / output interfaces corresponding to the function, such as analog input / output, digital input / output, LVDT, and frequency input. To implement new functions in such control systems, software updates can be performed by rewriting the processing logic, but this is difficult because the hardware configuration of each IO module installed in the IO node is designed to handle the data being handled. Therefore, implementing new functions requires a new design or major design changes to the hardware configuration of the IO modules installed in the IO node to accommodate the type and number of parameters input and output by the new function, resulting in significant development time and cost.

[0005] At least one embodiment of the present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a control system, a control method for a control system, and a control program that can accommodate new functions while minimizing design changes to the hardware configuration related to the input / output of IO modules installed in an IO node. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, a control system according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure includes: A control system for controlling a plurality of devices including a first device and a second device by transmitting and receiving control signals between the plurality of devices including the first device and the second device via a first IO module having an input / output interface corresponding to the first device and a second IO module having an input / output interface corresponding to the second device, A communication path between the first IO module and the second IO module is configured to transmit first data regarding the control signal input from the first device to the second IO module, and to output second data regarding the first data received from the first IO module to the second device.

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, a control method for a control system according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure includes: A control method for a control system for controlling a plurality of devices including a first device and a second device by transmitting and receiving control signals to and from the plurality of devices including the first device and the second device via a first IO module having an input / output interface corresponding to the first device and a second IO module having an input / output interface corresponding to the second device, the method comprising: The communication path between the first IO module and the second IO module is configured to transmit first data regarding the control signal input from the first device to the first IO module to the second IO module, and to output second data regarding the first data received from the first IO module to the second device.

[0008] In order to solve the above problem, a control program for a control system according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure includes: A control program for a control system for controlling a plurality of devices including a first device and a second device by transmitting and receiving control signals to and from the plurality of devices including the first device and the second device via a first IO module having an input / output interface corresponding to the first device and a second IO module having an input / output interface corresponding to the second device, The communication path between the first IO module and the second IO module is configured to transmit first data regarding the control signal input from the first device to the first IO module to the second IO module, and to output second data regarding the first data received from the first IO module to the second device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a control system, a control method for a control system, and a control program can be provided that can accommodate new functions while minimizing design changes to the hardware configuration related to the input / output of an IO module installed in an IO node. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a control system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a communication path within an IO module corresponding to a first communication path in a comparative example. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a processing flow corresponding to FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a communication path within an IO module corresponding to a second communication path in one embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a processing flow corresponding to FIG. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the setting contents of a setting file corresponding to a second communication path in an embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a communication path within an IO module corresponding to a third communication path in another embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a processing flow corresponding to FIG. 7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, several embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the configurations described as the embodiments or shown in the drawings are merely illustrative examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a control system 1 according to one embodiment. The control system 1 is a system for controlling a plurality of devices 2 that constitute a plant facility or the like as control targets. The specific control content implemented by the control system 1 is not limited, but the control system 1 controls the devices 2 by acquiring data from the plurality of devices 2, performing arithmetic processing on the data according to the control content, and transmitting a control signal based on the arithmetic processing result to the devices 2. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the plurality of devices 2 include a first device 2a and a second device 2b, but the number and specifications of the devices 2 that are the control targets of the control system 1 are not limited to this.

[0013] The components of the control system 1 can communicate with each other and are configured by an electronic computing device such as a computer equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. The control system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a plurality of IO nodes 4, an MPS 6, an EMS 8, an OPC 10, and an ACS 12. These components are configured to be able to communicate with each other. In this embodiment, the plurality of IO nodes 4 and the MPS 6 of the control system 1 are arranged in the vicinity of the device 2 to be controlled, and are able to communicate with the EMS 8, OPC 10, and ACS 12 arranged in remote locations via a communication network 14.

[0014] The hardware constituting each component of the control system 1 includes a storage device such as a memory (RAM or ROM) that stores a program for executing the control method described below, and by executing the program, the control method described below is implemented, thereby realizing various functions.

[0015] The control system 1 includes a plurality of IO nodes 4 for controlling the devices 2. The plurality of IO nodes 4 are input / output interfaces corresponding to data input / output to / from the devices 2 in relation to arithmetic processing performed by the control device MPS 6. In this embodiment, the control system 1 includes a first IO node 4A and a second IO node 4B as the plurality of IO nodes 4, but the number of IO nodes 4 included in the control system 1 is not limited. In the following description, the first IO node 4A and the second IO node 4B will be referred to collectively or without distinction as "IO node 4" as appropriate.

[0016] Each of the multiple IO nodes 4 includes multiple IO modules 16 and an IO adapter 18. The IO module 16 is an input / output interface having a hardware configuration corresponding to the data input / output to / from the IO node 4. Generally, the computational processing performed by the MPS 6 requires input / output of multiple types of data, and therefore the IO node 4 includes a number of IO modules 16 corresponding to the types of data input / output. In other words, the IO node 4 includes multiple IO modules 16 having hardware configurations corresponding to different types of data input.

[0017] 1 illustrates an example in which the first IO node 4A has IO modules 16-1 to 16-3 and the second IO node 4B has IO modules 16-4 to 16-6, but there is no limit to the number of IO modules 16 mounted on each IO node 4. In the following description, the IO modules mounted on each IO node 4 will be referred to collectively or without distinction as "IO modules 16" as appropriate.

[0018] The multiple IO modules 16 mounted on each IO node 4 can send and receive data to and from the other IO node 4 or the MPS 6 via the IO adapter 18. In other words, the IO adapter 18 functions as an interface when the IO node 4 communicates with other components in the control system 1. Incidentally, the communication between the IO node 4 and the MPS 6 can be carried out using, for example, Ethernet.

[0019] The MPS 6 is a control unit capable of performing arithmetic processing using various data input and output via each IO node 4, and transmits and receives control signals to and from a plurality of devices 2.

[0020] The EMS 8 is a component for maintenance purposes that creates the control logic and system configuration of the control system 1. The OPC 10 is capable of communicating with the MPS 6 via a communication network 14, and is configured to directly operate part of the calculation processing within the MPS 6 and to detect errors or alarms present in the processing logic of the MPS 6 by monitoring information handled in the calculation processing performed by the MPS 6. The ACS 12 is configured to file and save information on part of the process data of the calculation processing sent from the MPS 6 and errors or alarms detected by the OPC 10.

[0021] The control system 1 having such a configuration includes a storage unit (not shown) for storing a setting file 20 (see FIG. 6) for setting a communication path in each IO node 4. The storage unit for storing the setting file 20 is configured, for example, as a flash device in the IO module 16. The setting file 20 is information for setting a communication path between the input and output of the IO module 16 mounted in each IO node 4, and is rewritably stored in the storage unit. In this embodiment, the configuration is such that the communication path can be switched from a first communication path L1, which is a comparative example described below, to a second communication path L2 according to this embodiment by rewriting the setting file 20.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a communication path in the IO module 16 corresponding to the first communication path L1 in the comparative example, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a processing flow in the comparative example corresponding to FIG.

[0023] The first communication path L1 in the comparative example is a path in which data input from the first device 2a and data output to the first device 2a are completed within a single IO module 16. FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate an example in which analog input AI data is received from the first device 2a, and AO data, which is the result of calculation by a POL calculation unit 34 in the IO module 16, is output to the first device 2a. In this case, the IO module 16 has a hardware configuration including an input interface corresponding to the AI ​​data input from the first device 2a and an output interface corresponding to the AO data output to the first device 2a. The IO module 16 in this comparative example includes an AI control unit 30 for controlling the input of AI data from the first device 2a, an input POL point number area 32 for temporarily storing the AI ​​data acquired by the AI ​​control unit 30, a POL calculation unit 34 for performing POL calculation, an output POL point number area 36 for temporarily storing the calculation result of the POL calculation unit 34, and an AO control unit 38 for controlling the output of AO data to the first device 2a.

[0024] In the IO module 16 in which the first communication path L1 is set by the configuration file 20, first, the AI ​​data input from the first device 2a is acquired by the AI ​​control unit 30 (step S100). The AI ​​control unit 30 writes the acquired AI data to the input POL point number area 32 (step S101). Then, the POL calculation unit 34 reads the AI ​​data written to the input POL point number area 32 in step S101 and performs calculation processing (POL calculation) using the data (step S102). The calculation result of step S102 is written to the output POL point number area 36 (step S103). The calculation result written to the output POL point number area 36 is read by the AO control unit 38 (step S104) and appropriately output to the first device 2a (step S105). In this way, in the first communication path L1, the data input from the device 2a is output to the first device 2a via a path that is completed by a single IO module 16.

[0025] Because the first communication path L1 includes a single IO module 16 having a hardware configuration corresponding to the input of AI data from the first device 2a and the output of AO data to the first device 2a, even if a software update is performed by rewriting the arithmetic processing logic of the MPS 6 to realize a new function, the parameters that can be supported by the hardware configuration of the IO module 16 are restricted to the input / output parameters corresponding to the first device 2a. In contrast, in the present embodiment described below, this problem can be preferably solved by switching the communication path from the first communication path L1 to the second communication path L2 by rewriting the setting file 20 stored in the storage unit.

[0026] Next, Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the communication path within the IO module 16 corresponding to the second communication path L2 in this embodiment, Figure 5 is a diagram showing the processing flow corresponding to Figure 4, and Figure 6 is a diagram showing the setting contents of the setting file 20 corresponding to the second communication path L2 in this embodiment.

[0027] The second communication path L2 inputs and outputs data between a plurality of IO modules 16 (a first IO module 16A and a second IO module 16B), unlike the first communication path L1 of the comparative example in which data is input and output using a single IO module 16. The first IO module 16A is an IO module 16 having a hardware configuration including an input / output interface corresponding to the input / output parameters of a first device 2a among the plurality of devices 2, similar to the IO module 16 in the comparative example described above, and the second IO module 16B is an IO module 16 having a hardware configuration including an input / output interface corresponding to the input / output parameters of a second device 2b among the plurality of devices 2 (i.e., the first IO module 16A and the second IO module 16B have input / output interfaces corresponding to different input / output parameters).

[0028] The first IO module 16A and the second IO module 16B constituting the second communication path L2 can be arbitrarily selected from among the multiple IO modules 16 included in each of the multiple IO nodes 4 of the control system 1. For example, the first IO module 16A and the second IO module 16B may belong to a common IO node 4, or may belong to different IO modules 4. In the following embodiment, a case will be described as an example in which the second communication path L2 is constituted by the first IO module 16A and the second IO module 16B, which are two IO modules arbitrarily selected in this way from the multiple IO modules 16 constituting the IO node 4 of the control system 1.

[0029] In the following embodiment, the second communication path L2 is realized by the first IO module 16A and the second IO module 16B working together, and the collaboration between these IO modules 16 is achieved by recognizing each other by referring to the addresses (e.g., MAC addresses) assigned to each IO module.

[0030] 4 to 6, the first IO module 16A is configured by the configuration file 20 with an AI control unit 30 for controlling the input of AI data from the first device 2a (at least a portion of the control signals transmitted and received between the MPS 6), an input POL point number area 32 for temporarily storing the AI ​​data acquired by the AI ​​control unit 30, a POL calculation unit 34 for performing POL calculations, and a virtual transmission POL point number area 40 for temporarily storing the AI ​​data acquired by the AI ​​control unit 30 for transfer. That is, like the IO module 16 of the comparative example described above, the first IO module 16A has a hardware configuration of an input / output interface corresponding to the AI ​​data input from the first device 2a and the AO data output to the first device 2a, and the virtual transmission POL point number area 40 is configured in place of the output POL point number area 36 by rewriting the configuration file 20.

[0031] Furthermore, the second IO module 16B is configured by the configuration file 20 with a virtual receiving POL point number area 42 for temporarily storing AI data received from the first IO module 16A, a POL calculation unit 34 for performing POL calculations, an output POL point number area 36 for temporarily storing the calculation results of the POL calculation unit 34, and an AO control unit 38 for controlling the output of AO data to the second device 2b. That is, the second IO module 16B has a hardware configuration including an input / output interface corresponding to the second device 2b that handles AI data and AO data different from those of the first device 2a, and the virtual receiving POL point number area 42 is configured in place of the input POL point number area 32 by rewriting the configuration file 20.

[0032] Once the above configuration of the first IO module 16A and the second IO module 16B is established by the configuration file 20, the second IO module 16B recognizes the location of the first IO module 16A and transmits a frame to the first IO module 16A requesting data transmission to the second IO module 16B, thereby allowing the first IO module 16A to read data. Specifically, this process begins with the AI ​​control unit 30 of the first IO module 16A acquiring AI data from the first device 2a (step S200). The AI ​​control unit 30 writes the acquired AI data to the virtual transmission POL point number area 40 as first data to be transmitted to the second IO module 16B (step S201). The first IO module 16A transfers the AI ​​data written to the virtual transmission POL point number area 40 to the second IO module 16B as first data (step S202). The second IO module 16B receives the AI ​​data, which is the first data transferred in step S202, and writes it into the virtual receiving POL point number area .

[0033] The POL calculation unit 34 of the second IO module 16B then reads out the AI ​​data, which is the first data written in the virtual receiving POL point number area 42, and performs calculation processing using the data (step S203). The calculation result of step S203 is read out by the AO control unit 38 (step S204) and output as second data to the second device 2b (step S205). That is, in the second communication path L2, the AI ​​data input from the first device 2a to the first IO module 16A is transferred as intermediate data to the second IO module 16B, and is output from the second IO module 16B to the second device 2b as second data.

[0034] By rewriting the configuration file 20 in this manner, the second communication path L2 realized by the first IO module 16A and the second IO module 16B configured as described above allows data that can be acquired from the first device 2a by the first IO module 16A to be output to the second device 2b via the first IO module 16A and the second IO module 16B. In other words, even if data cannot be output to the second device 2b by the first IO module 16A alone due to hardware configuration constraints, it can be handled by using the hardware configuration of the second IO module 16B that is suitable for outputting the data. In this way, by building a communication path in which the first IO module 16A and the second IO module 16B cooperate using the configuration file 20, the second communication path L2 allows changes to new functions without requiring new hardware design.

[0035] To further explain, the first communication path L1 is set up using only the first IO module 16A, and therefore AI data can be input and AO data can only be output to and from the first device 2a that corresponds to the input / output interface of the first IO module 16A. On the other hand, the second communication path L2 combines the first IO module 16A and the second IO module 16B to handle input and output of other types of data (e.g., voltage, current, RTD (resistance value)) that the first device 2a cannot handle. In other words, by selecting an IO module having an input interface corresponding to the data input to the communication path as the first IO module 16A and selecting an IO module having an output interface corresponding to the data output from the communication path as the second IO module 16B, the second communication path L2 can be set up to handle the intended type of input / output data.

[0036] The second communication path L2 realized by the first IO module 16A and the second IO module 16B can be set by a setting file 20 shown in FIG. 6. The setting file 20 defines each element required to construct the second communication path L2. In the example of FIG. 6, for the first IO module 16A, the type of data input from the first device 2a and the size and address (e.g., MAC address) of the virtual sending POL point number area 40 constructed in the first IO module 16A to store the first data to be transferred to the second IO module 16B based on the data type are defined. For the second IO module 16B, the address of the data request destination (i.e., the address (e.g., MAC address) of the virtual sending POL point number area 40 of the first IO module 16A that is the transfer source of the first data) and the size and address (e.g., MAC address) of the virtual receiving POL point number area constructed in the second IO module 16B to store the first data transferred from the first IO module 16A are defined.

[0037] In this way, the configuration file 20 includes various information for mutual recognition between the first IO module 16A and the second IO module 16B that construct the second communication path L2 from the multiple IO modules 16. As a result, the first IO module 16A and the second IO module 16 can recognize each other and establish the second communication path L2 independently of the control processing by the upper MPS 6 (i.e., without going through the MPS 6 as a communication path), and can output data input from the first device 2a to the first IO module 16A from the second IO module 16B to the second device 2b.

[0038] In the above embodiment, by setting the second communication path L2 in the setting file 20, the first IO module 16A transfers data acquired from the first device 2a as first data to the second IO module 16B, and the second IO module 16B outputs the result obtained by processing the first data received from the first IO module 16A to the second device 2b as second data. On the other hand, as will be described as the next embodiment, in addition to the above-mentioned first communication path L1 and second communication path L2, a third communication path L3 may be set by rewriting the setting file 20.

[0039] Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a communication path within the IO module 16 corresponding to the third communication path L3 in another embodiment, and Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a processing flow corresponding to Fig. 7. The third communication path L3 is set so that the first IO module 16A transmits the result of arithmetic processing using data acquired from the first device 2a to the second IO module 16B as first data, and the second IO module 16B outputs the first data received from the first IO module 16A as is to the second device 2b as second data.

[0040] Specifically, first, AI data from the first device 2a is acquired by the AI ​​control unit 30 of the first IO module 16A (step S300). The AI ​​control unit 30 writes the acquired AI data to the input POL point number area 32 (step S301). The first IO module 16A reads the AI ​​data written to the input POL point number area 32 and performs calculation processing using the AI ​​data in the POL calculation unit 34 (step 302). The POL calculation unit 34 writes the calculation result as first data to the virtual transmission POL point number area 40 (step 303).

[0041] The second IO module 16B reads the first data from the virtual sending POL point number area 40 of the first IO module 16A (step S304) and writes the first data to the virtual output POL point number area 46. The AO control unit 38 then reads the data from the virtual output POL point number area 46 (step S305) and outputs the data to the second device 2b as second data (step S306).

[0042] In the above embodiment, the first IO module 16A and the second IO module 16B constituting the second communication path L2 or the third communication path L3 may both belong to the first IO node 4A or the second IO node 4B. In this case, any two IO modules among the multiple IO modules 16 belonging to a single IO node 4 become the first IO module 16A and the second IO module 16B. This virtualizes input / output between the IO modules 16 in a single IO node 4, thereby realizing a communication path with improved response speed.

[0043] In the above embodiment, one of the first IO module 16A and the second IO module 16B constituting the second communication path L2 or the third communication path L3 may belong to the first IO node 4A, and the other may belong to the second IO node 4B. In this case, the second communication path L2 is set across multiple IO nodes 4. Therefore, it is possible to virtualize input / output between the IO modules 16 constituting a wider range of IO nodes 4.

[0044] Furthermore, in the control system 1, as described above, the first IO node 4A and the second IO node 4B are configured to be able to send and receive various data to and from the MPS 6, but the second communication path L2 and the third communication path L3 described above can be constructed between the first IO module 16A and the second IO module 16B without going through the MPS 6 based on the configuration file 20. In this case, for example, if the calculation period of the POL calculation unit 34 of the first IO node 4A and the second IO node 4B is shorter than that of the MPS 6, good response accuracy can be obtained by setting the second communication path L2 not to go through the MPS 6 in this manner.

[0045] In the above embodiment, both the first IO module 16A and the second IO module 16B constituting the second communication path L2 or the third communication path L3 have the POL calculation unit 34, but at least one of them may not have the POL calculation unit 34. For example, if the first IO module 16A does not have the POL calculation unit 34, the data acquired from the device 2 in the input POL point number area 32 may be stored as is as first data in the virtual sending POL point number area 40, and then transferred to the second IO module 16B. Also, if the second IO module 16B does not have the POL calculation unit 34, the first data received from the first IO module 16A in the virtual receiving POL point number area 42 may be stored as is as second data in the output POL point number area 36.

[0046] Furthermore, the timing of data transmission and reception between the first IO module 16A and the second IO module 16B constituting the second communication path L2 or the third communication path L3 may be synchronously controlled. For example, the second IO module 16B transmits a data acquisition request to the first IO module 16A. Meanwhile, the first IO module 16A acquires data from the device 2 based on the acquisition request received from the second IO module 16B, and transmits the data to the second IO module 16B as described above. The second IO module 16B receives data from the first IO module 16A and changes the output from the first IO module 16A to one based on the data. In this way, by transmitting and receiving a data acquisition request from the second IO module 16B, which is the receiving side, to the first IO module 16A, which is the transmitting side, synchronous control of data transmission and reception can be achieved.

[0047] As another example of synchronous control between the first IO module 16A and the second IO module 16B, the first IO module 16A, which acquires data from the first device 2a, may monitor the data from the first device 2a to determine when to update the data. Then, when the data from the first device 2a is updated, the data may be transmitted to the second IO module 16B. In this case, the latest data can be transmitted to the second IO module 16B when the data is updated, while synchronously controlling transmission and reception between the first IO module 16A and the second IO module 16B.

[0048] As described above, according to each of the above embodiments, the first IO module 16A and the second IO module 16B provided in the IO node 4 of the control system 1 cooperate to construct a communication path across multiple IO modules 16, thereby making it possible to handle data that cannot be handled by a single IO module 16 without changing the hardware configuration. As a result, even when incorporating new functions by rewriting the arithmetic processing logic installed in the MPS 6, this can be accommodated without newly designing the hardware of the IO node 4.

[0049] In addition, within the scope of the present disclosure, the components in the above-described embodiments may be replaced with well-known components as appropriate, and the above-described embodiments may be combined as appropriate.

[0050] The contents described in each of the above embodiments can be understood, for example, as follows.

[0051] (1) A control system according to one aspect includes: A control system (1) for controlling a plurality of devices (2) including a first device (2a) and a second device (2b) by transmitting and receiving control signals to and from the plurality of devices (2) via a first IO module (16A) having an input / output interface corresponding to the first device (2a) and a second IO module (16B) having an input / output interface corresponding to the second device (2b), A communication path between the first IO module and the second IO module is configured to transmit first data regarding the control signal input from the first device to the second IO module, and to output second data regarding the first data received from the first IO module to the second device.

[0052] According to the above aspect (1), in a control system having a first IO module and a second IO module having input / output interfaces corresponding to a first device and a second device, first data relating to content acquired by the first IO module from the first device can be transmitted to the second IO module, and the second IO module can output second data to the second device. This makes it possible to handle data that cannot be handled by the first IO module alone having the input / output interface corresponding to the first device by setting a communication path spanning the first IO module and the second IO module. Setting a communication path spanning the first IO module and the second IO module in this way virtualizes the input / output between the two modules, making it possible to incorporate new functions by rewriting the arithmetic processing logic without requiring a new design of the IO module hardware.

[0053] (2) According to another aspect, in the above aspect (1), The communication path is configured so that the first IO module transmits at least a portion of the control signal acquired from the first device to the second IO module as the first data, and the second IO module outputs the result of arithmetic processing using the first data received from the first IO module to the second device as the second data.

[0054] According to the above aspect (2), the first IO module transmits the content acquired from the first device as at least a part of the control signal transmitted and received between the devices to the second IO module as first data, and the second IO module performs arithmetic processing using the first data received from the first IO module, and the result can be output to the second device as second data.

[0055] (3) According to another aspect, in the above aspect (1), The communication path is configured so that the first IO module performs arithmetic processing using at least a portion of the control signal acquired from the first device and transmits the result to the second IO module as the first data, and so that the second IO module outputs the first data received from the first IO module to the second device as the second data.

[0056] According to the above aspect (3), the first IO module performs arithmetic processing using the content acquired from the first device as at least a part of the control signal transmitted and received between the first IO module and the device, and transmits the result as first data to the second IO module. The second IO module acquires the first data received from the first IO module and outputs it to the second device as second data.

[0057] (4) In another embodiment, in any one of the above (1) to (3), The communication path is set by the first IO module and the second IO module specified based on a setting file (20) rewritably stored in a storage unit.

[0058] According to the above aspect (4), the communication path between the first device and the second device is configured using the first IO module and the second IO module identified based on a configuration file stored in the storage unit. That is, which IO module among the multiple IO modules included in the control system is used to configure the communication path can be appropriately changed by rewriting the configuration file. Therefore, even if the logic of the system is changed in software to accommodate a new function, the communication path between the first IO module and the second IO module can be configured by rewriting the configuration file so that input / output appropriate for the changed logic is realized. As a result, an input / output interface for implementing the new function can be virtually realized without changing the hardware configuration of the IO modules.

[0059] (5) In another embodiment, in any one of the above (1) to (4), The first IO module has a virtual sending POL point number area (40) for storing the first data to be sent to the second IO module, The second IO module has a virtual receiving POL point number area (42) for storing the first data received from the first IO module.

[0060] According to the above aspect (5), the first IO module is provided with an input POL point number area for storing first data to be input to the second IO module. The first data stored in the input POL point number area is transmitted to the second IO module via a communication path. The second IO module stores the received first data in the output POL point number area, allowing it to be handled appropriately.

[0061] (6) In another embodiment, in any one of the above (1) to (5), The system includes a first IO node having the first IO module mounted thereon, and a second IO node having the second IO module mounted thereon.

[0062] According to the above aspect (6), the first IO module and the second IO module that construct the communication path are arranged between the first IO node and the second IO node, thereby making it possible to virtualize input / output between the IO modules that constitute different IO nodes.

[0063] (7) In another embodiment, in any one of the above (1) to (5), The system includes an IO node having the first IO module and the second IO module mounted thereon.

[0064] According to the above aspect (7), the first IO module and the second IO module that construct the communication path are arranged in the same IO node, thereby obtaining a communication path with a good response speed.

[0065] (8) In another embodiment, in any one of the above (1) to (7), The first IO module and the second IO module are capable of communicating with a control device (MPS6) that can transmit and receive the control signal between them.

[0066] According to the above aspect (8), by setting up a communication path between an IO module that can communicate with the control device, it is possible to realize new functions without having to newly design or change the design of the hardware configuration of the IO module.

[0067] (9) In another embodiment, in the above embodiment (8), The communication path is set between the first IO module and the second IO module without passing through the control device.

[0068] According to the above aspect (9), the communication path between the first IO module and the second IO module is set so as not to go through the control device, thereby enabling the calculation processing related to the newly added function to be executed at a good processing speed.

[0069] (10) In another embodiment, in the above embodiment (8) or (9), The first IO module and the second IO module have a shorter calculation period than the control device.

[0070] According to the above aspect (10), by setting up a communication path between IO modules with short operation cycles, a better processing speed can be obtained compared to when a control device with a long operation cycle is included.

[0071] (11) In another embodiment, in any one of the above (1) to (10), the second IO module transmits a request to acquire the first data to the first IO module; The first IO module executes acquisition of the first data based on the acquisition request.

[0072] According to the above aspect (11), by transmitting and receiving a request to acquire the first data from the second IO module on the receiving side to the first IO module on the transmitting side, it is possible to realize synchronous control of mutual data transmission and reception.

[0073] (12) In another embodiment, in any one of the above (1) to (10), The first IO module transmits the first data to the second IO module at the timing when the first data is updated.

[0074] According to the above aspect (12), the latest data can be transmitted to the second IO module at the timing when the data is updated, while controlling the transmission and reception between the first IO module and the second IO module in synchronization.

[0075] (13) A control method for a control system according to one aspect includes: A control method for a control system for controlling a plurality of devices including a first device and a second device by transmitting and receiving control signals to and from the plurality of devices including the first device and the second device via a first IO module having an input / output interface corresponding to the first device and a second IO module having an input / output interface corresponding to the second device, the method comprising: The communication path between the first IO module and the second IO module is configured to transmit first data regarding the control signal input from the first device to the first IO module to the second IO module, and to output second data regarding the first data received from the first IO module to the second device.

[0076] According to the above aspect (13), in a control system having a first IO module and a second IO module having input / output interfaces corresponding to a first device and a second device, first data relating to content acquired by the first IO module from the first device can be transmitted to the second IO module, and the second IO module can output second data to the second device. This makes it possible to handle data that cannot be handled by the first IO module alone having the input / output interface corresponding to the first device by setting a communication path spanning the first IO module and the second IO module. Setting a communication path spanning the first IO module and the second IO module in this way virtualizes the input / output between the two modules, making it possible to incorporate new functions by rewriting the arithmetic processing logic without requiring a new design of the IO module hardware.

[0077] (14) A control program for a control system according to one aspect includes: A control program for a control system for controlling a plurality of devices including a first device and a second device by transmitting and receiving control signals to and from the plurality of devices including the first device and the second device via a first IO module having an input / output interface corresponding to the first device and a second IO module having an input / output interface corresponding to the second device, The communication path between the first IO module and the second IO module is configured to transmit first data regarding the control signal input from the first device to the first IO module to the second IO module, and to output second data regarding the first data received from the first IO module to the second device.

[0078] According to the above aspect (14), in a control system having a first IO module and a second IO module having input / output interfaces corresponding to a first device and a second device, first data relating to content acquired by the first IO module from the first device can be transmitted to the second IO module, and the second IO module can output second data to the second device. This makes it possible to handle data that cannot be handled by the first IO module alone having the input / output interface corresponding to the first device by setting a communication path spanning the first IO module and the second IO module. Setting a communication path spanning the first IO module and the second IO module in this way virtualizes the input / output between the two modules, making it possible to incorporate new functions by rewriting the arithmetic processing logic without requiring a new design of the IO module hardware. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 1. Control System 2 equipment 2a 1st device 2b 2nd device 4. IO Node 4A 1st IO node 4B Second IO node 14. Communication Networks 16 IO Modules 16A 1st IO module 16B 2nd IO module 18 IO adapters 20 Configuration Files 22 Memory section 24 Communication Paths 30 AI control section 32 Input POL point number area 34 POL calculation section 36 Output POL point number area 38 AO control unit 40 Virtual sending POL point number area 42 Virtual receiving POL point number area 46 Virtual output POL point number area L1 First communication path L2 Second communication path L3 Third communication path

Claims

1. A control system for controlling a plurality of devices including a first device and a second device by transmitting and receiving control signals between the plurality of devices including the first device and the second device via a first IO module having an input / output interface corresponding to the first device and a second IO module having an input / output interface corresponding to the second device, A control system in which a communication path between the first IO module and the second IO module is configured to transmit first data regarding the control signal input from the first device to the second IO module, and to output second data regarding the first data received from the first IO module to the second device.

2. 2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the communication path is configured so that the first IO module transmits at least a portion of the control signal acquired from the first device to the second IO module as the first data, and the second IO module outputs the result of arithmetic processing using the first data received from the first IO module to the second device as the second data.

3. 2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the communication path is configured so that the first IO module transmits the result of arithmetic processing using at least a portion of the control signal acquired from the first device to the second IO module as the first data, and the second IO module outputs the first data received from the first IO module to the second device as the second data.

4. The control system according to claim 1 , wherein the communication path is set by the first IO module and the second IO module that are specified based on a setting file that is rewritably stored in a storage unit.

5. the first IO module has a virtual transmission POL point number area for storing the first data to be transmitted to the second IO module; The control system according to claim 1 , wherein the second IO module has a virtual receiving POL point number area for storing the first data received from the first IO module.

6. The control system according to claim 1 , comprising: a first IO node equipped with the first IO module; and a second IO node equipped with the second IO module.

7. The control system according to claim 1 , further comprising an IO node having the first IO module and the second IO module mounted thereon.

8. The control system according to claim 1 , wherein the control system is capable of communicating with a control device that is capable of transmitting and receiving the control signal between the first IO module and the second IO module.

9. The control system according to claim 8 , wherein the communication path is set between the first IO module and the second IO module without passing through the control device.

10. The control system of claim 8 , wherein the first IO module and the second IO module have a shorter operation cycle than the control device.

11. the second IO module transmits a request to acquire the first data to the first IO module; The control system according to claim 1 , wherein the first IO module executes acquisition of the first data based on the acquisition request.

12. The control system according to claim 1 , wherein the first IO module transmits the first data to the second IO module at a timing when the first data is updated.

13. A control method for a control system for controlling a plurality of devices including a first device and a second device by transmitting and receiving control signals to and from the plurality of devices including the first device and a second device via a first IO module having an input / output interface corresponding to the first device and a second IO module having an input / output interface corresponding to the second device, the method comprising: A control method for a control system, which configures a communication path between the first IO module and the second IO module so that first data regarding the control signal input from the first device to the first IO module is sent to the second IO module, and the second IO module outputs second data regarding the first data received from the first IO module to the second device.

14. A control program for a control system for controlling a plurality of devices including a first device and a second device by transmitting and receiving control signals between the plurality of devices including the first device and the second device via a first IO module having an input / output interface corresponding to the first device and a second IO module having an input / output interface corresponding to the second device, A control program for a control system that configures a communication path between the first IO module and the second IO module so that first data regarding the control signal input from the first device to the first IO module is sent to the second IO module, and the second IO module outputs second data regarding the first data received from the first IO module to the second device.

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