Duplex control device

Abstract

To provide a redundant controller that allows a new control master card to immediately communicate with a controlled device when a first standby switching occurs.SOLUTION: A redundant control controller 100 includes a first controller 100A and a second controller 100B for monitoring and controlling controlled devices 50A and 50B. The first controller 100A is provided with a first master card 20A that collects addresses and device information of the controlled devices 50A and 50B set in a field network 40, and transmits the addresses and the device information to the second controller 100B before a first standby switch that switches functions of a control system controller and a standby system controller occurs. The second controller 100B is provided with a second master card 20B that stores the addresses and device information of the controlled devices 50A and 50B received from the first controller 100A.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present application relates to a duplex control device. [Background technology]

[0002] In conventional dual control devices, a technology has been proposed in which a control system master card automatically recognizes devices connected to a field network, acquires information held by the devices, and configures the devices (see, for example, Patent Document 1 for related technology). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-269998 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In conventional redundant control devices, the control system master card was able to automatically recognize devices connected to the field network, obtain device information about the devices, and configure the devices, but there was no way to notify the standby system master card of the device information before the standby switchover (switchover between the control system control device and the standby system control device).

[0005] Therefore, when a standby switchover occurred, the old standby master card (new control master card) had not yet set the address and device information of the controlled equipment, so there was a problem that the new control master card could not immediately communicate with the controlled equipment.

[0006] In addition, after a standby switchover occurs, there is a method in which the old standby master card (new control master card) automatically recognizes the equipment and acquires the equipment information again, but in this case, there is an issue in that communication between the master card and the equipment is temporarily cut off.

[0007] The present application discloses a technology for solving the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a duplicated control device in which, when the first standby switchover occurs, the address and device information of the controlled device are already set in the old standby system master card (new control system master card), and the new control system master card can immediately communicate with the controlled device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The duplex control device disclosed in the present application comprises: a first control device and a second control device that monitor and control the control target device; When one of the first control device and the second control device is performing monitoring and control of the control target device as a control system control device, the other is a redundant control device that is on standby as a standby system control device, the first control device includes a first master card that collects addresses and device information of control target devices set in a field network, and transmits the addresses and the device information to the second control device before an initial forced switching occurs to switch functions of the control system control device and the standby system control device; the second control device includes a second master card that stores the address and the device information of the control target device received from the first control device; The address and the device information are transmitted and received by: Receive the address and the device information from the first master card of the first control device a CPU card of the first control device; The address and the device information are passed to the second master card of the second control device. via the field network connecting the CPU card of the second control device , by transmitting from the CPU card of the first control device and receiving by the CPU card of the second control device. This is what is done. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the redundant control device disclosed in the present application, when the first standby switchover occurs, the addresses and device information of the controlled devices are already set in the old standby master card (new control master card), and a redundant control device that can immediately communicate with the controlled devices can be provided. Therefore, communication with the controlled devices can be continued before and after the standby switchover, and stable plant operation can be achieved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a redundant control device and a controlled device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 3 is a diagram showing a device configuration set at each address in a field network according to the first embodiment; FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a processing flow of the master card of the A system immediately after operation according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of a duplex control device and a controlled device according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Embodiment 1 The redundant control device according to the first embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a duplex control device 100 and controlled devices. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the device configuration set at each address of the field network 40. As shown in FIG. The dual control device 100 is a dual control device that includes a control device 100A (first control device) and a control device 100B (second control device). The dual control device 100 is used for monitoring and controlling a plant.

[0012] Normally, one of the control devices 100A and 100B acts as a control system control device and monitors and controls the controlled devices. At this time, the other control device stands by as a standby control device, and in the event of an unexpected failure or maintenance of the control system control device, standby switching (switching between the functions of the control system monitoring device and the standby control device) is performed, and the new control system control device continues to monitor and control the controlled devices (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as devices).

[0013] The control device 100A includes a CPU card 10A (CPU: Central Processing Unit), a master card 20A (first master card), a memory 30A, and an auxiliary storage device (not shown), etc. Similarly, the control device 100B includes a CPU card 10B, a master card 20B (second master card), a memory 30B, and an auxiliary storage device (not shown), etc.

[0014] The redundant control device 100 is connected to external devices 50A and 50B to be controlled via a field network 40 (such as a local area network, control & communication link, or process field bus) via a repeater R. The devices 50A and 50B are supplied with power by a power source P. The master card 20A and the master card 20B are also connected via the field network 40.

[0015] In the following description, the control device 100A is the control device of system A, and the control device 100B is the control device of system B. The master card 20A of system A automatically recognizes the addresses of the devices 50A and 50B connected to the field network 40. Here, an example is shown in which the device 50A set to address #1 and the device 50B set to address #4 are automatically recognized.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, the field network 40 includes a device 50A set to address #1 and a device 50B set to address #4, and no devices set to other addresses.

[0017] The master card 20A of the A system accesses the field network 40 in order starting from address #1, and if there is a response, it determines that the device exists. Here, there are responses from device 50A set at address #1 and device 50B set at address #4, so it determines that each device exists. Since there are no responses from any other addresses, it determines that no devices set at other addresses exist.

[0018] Device 50A at address #1 is a device that operates as a DI (Digital Input, hereinafter simply referred to as DI) and holds device information indicating that it is a DI. Device 50A at address #4 is a device that operates as an AI (Analog Input, hereinafter simply referred to as AI) and holds device information indicating that it is an AI.

[0019] Meanwhile, at this point, the master card 20A of the A system does not yet hold the device information of the device set at address #1 and the device set at address #4. Therefore, the master card 20A of the A system issues a request to obtain device information to the device 50A set at address #1. In response, the master card 20A receives the device information "DI" from the device 50A set at address #1. Similarly, when the master card 20A issues a request to obtain device information to the device 50B set at address #4, it receives the device information "AI" from the device 50B in response.

[0020] In this way, the master card 20A of the A system obtains the device information DI and AI held by the device 50A set at address #1 and the device 50B set at address #4, respectively.

[0021] The master card 20A of the A system connects to the devices 50A and 50B based on DI, which is the device information of the device 50A set at address #1, and AI, which is the device information of the device 50B set at address #4. The master card 20A of the A system checks whether communication with the device 50A set at address #1 is possible.

[0022] If communication is possible, device information DI is sent to device 50A set at address #1. It also checks whether communication is possible with device 50B set at address #4. If communication is possible, device information AI is sent to device 50B set at address #4. This resets the device information for each of devices 50A and 50B.

[0023] Thereafter, the master card 20A of the A system notifies the master card 20B of the B system, which is currently the standby system, of the addresses and device information of the devices 50A and 50B via the field network 40. This allows the addresses of the devices 50A and 50B and their respective device information acquired by the master card 20A of the A system to be stored in the master card 20B of the B system, which is the standby system.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the processing flow of the master card 20A of the A system immediately after operation. Step S001 is a process for automatically recognizing the addresses of devices connected to the field network 40. The master card 20A accesses the devices in order starting from address #1 shown in Fig. 2, and if there is a response, determines that the device exists. Here, since there is a response from device 50A set at address #1, it is determined that device 50A exists.

[0025] Step S002 is a step for determining whether the process of automatically recognizing devices has been performed up to the maximum address. In this example, a maximum of 40 devices can be connected to the field network 40. Once 40 devices have been automatically recognized, the process of the next step S003 is performed.

[0026] In the first embodiment, there is a device 50A set to address #1 and a device 50B set to address #4, and there are no devices set to other addresses. When a process for automatically recognizing up to 40 devices is performed, the devices that are automatically recognized are the device 50A set to address #1 and the device 50B set to address #4.

[0027] Step S003 is a process of obtaining device information held by the recognized device. As described above, device 50A set at address #1 is a device that operates as a DI and has device information called DI. Device 50B set at address #4 is a device that operates as an AI and has device information called AI.

[0028] Meanwhile, in this state, the master card 20A of the A system does not yet retain the device information of the device 50A set at address #1 and the device information of the device 50B set at address #4. Therefore, the master card 20A of the A system issues a request to obtain device information to the device 50A set at address #1. In response, the master card 20A receives the device information "DI" from the device 50A set at address #1. Similarly, when the master card 20A issues a request to obtain device information to the device 50B set at address #4, it receives the device information "AI" from the device 50B in response.

[0029] In this way, the master card 20A of the A system obtains the device information DI and AI held by the device 50A set at address #1 and the device 50B set at address #4, respectively.

[0030] Step S004 is a process of resetting the device information obtained from the device 50A and the device 50B to each device. The master card 20A of the A system connects with the device 50A and the device 50B based on DI (digital input), which is the device information of the device 50A set at address #1, and AI, which is the device information of the device 50B set at address #4. The master card 20A of the A system checks whether communication is possible with the device 50A set at address #1. If communication is possible, it transmits DI (digital input), which is the device information, to the device 50A set at address #1. It also checks whether communication is possible with the device 50B set at address #4. If communication is possible, it transmits AI, which is the device information, to the device 50B set at address #4.

[0031] Step S005 is a process in which the master card 20A of the A system notifies the master card 20B of the B system, which is a standby system, of the addresses of the devices 50A and 50B and the device information of each device via the field network 40. Here, an identifier is attached so that it is clear that the address and device information of each of the devices 50A and 50B is being sent. For example, if the identifier is 0xAA, the value 0xAA is set at the beginning of the packet, followed by the address and device information of each device. When the standby system master card 20B receives a packet with the identifier 0xAA, it determines that the address and device information of the device set in the field network 40 have been sent, and takes in the data internally.

[0032] In this way, according to the duplex control device of this embodiment 1, the addresses and device information of the devices 50A and 50B held by the master card 20A of the control system A are notified in advance to the master card 20B of the standby system B via the field network 40, so that the master card 20B of the standby system B can also obtain the addresses and device information of the devices 50A and 50B before the first standby switchover occurs.

[0033] Therefore, when the first controlled switchover occurs, the master card 20B of the system B, which has newly become the control system, can connect to the devices 50A and 50B based on the addresses and device information that it has already obtained.

[0034] Furthermore, since master card 20B of system B, which was the standby system, has already obtained the addresses and device information of devices 50A and 50B from master card 20A of system A, which was the control system, there is no need for warming up after the first manual switching occurs, to automatically recognize the addresses of devices 50A and 50B, and to obtain the device information held by each device from the recognized devices 50A and 50B. Therefore, communication between master card 20B, which has newly become the control system, and devices 50A and 50B is not interrupted, and even when the first manual switching occurs, duplex control device 100 can continue to communicate with the controlled devices, allowing stable plant operation.

[0035] Next, the control switching method will be explained. A master card 20A of the control system A and a master card 20B of the standby system B are mounted on the chassis (including the backboard) of the duplex control device 100. CPU cards that perform control processing and standby processing are also mounted on the chassis (including the backboard) for the control system A and the standby system B. Control and standby information is held by the respective CPU cards 10A, 10B, and is notified to each master card 20A, 20B via the chassis. For example, if the control / standby signal on the backboard is "1", it is determined to be the control system, and if the control / standby signal is "0", it is determined to be the standby system.

[0036] Each master card 20A, 20B polls the control / standby signal at regular intervals, and performs a controlled switching process when the control / standby signal switches. For example, initially, the control / standby signal of the master card 20A of the A system is set to "1." This control / standby signal is polled, and when the control / standby signal changes to "0," controlled switching is performed and the card operates as a standby master card. Conversely, the control / standby signal of the master card 20B of the B system changes to "1," and the card becomes a control master card.

[0037] Embodiment 2 The redundant control device according to the second embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the duplex control device 200 and the controlled devices. The redundant control device 200 is a redundant control device that includes a control device 200A (first control device) and a control device 200B (second control device). The redundant control device 200 is used for monitoring and controlling a plant.

[0038] Normally, one of the control devices 200A and 200B acts as a control system control device to monitor and control the controlled devices. At this time, the other control device stands by as a standby control device, and in the event of an unexpected failure or maintenance of the control system control device, standby switching (switching of the functions of the control system monitoring device and the standby control device) is performed, and the new control system control device continues to monitor and control the controlled devices (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as devices).

[0039] The control device 200A includes a CPU card 210A, a master card 220A, a memory 230A, an auxiliary storage device (not shown), etc. Similarly, the control device 200B includes a CPU card 210B, a master card 220B, a memory 230B, an auxiliary storage device (not shown), etc.

[0040] The redundant control device 100 is connected to external control target devices 50A and 50B via a field network 40 and a repeater R. Power is supplied to the devices 50A and 50B from a power source P. The CPU card 210A and the CPU card 210B are also connected via the field network 40.

[0041] In the following description, the control device 200A is the control device of system A, and the control device 200B is the control device of system B. The master card 220A of system A automatically recognizes the addresses of the devices 50A and 50B connected to the field network 40, and collects and stores these addresses. Here, an example is shown in which the device 50A set to address #1 and the device 50B set to address #4 are automatically recognized.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 2, the field network 40 includes a device 50A set to address #1 and a device 50B set to address #4, and no devices set to other addresses.

[0043] The master card 220A of the A system accesses the field network 40 in order from address #1, and if there is a response, it determines that the device exists. Here, there are responses from device 50A set at address #1 and device 50B set at address #4, so it determines that each device exists. Since there are no responses from any other addresses, it determines that no devices set at other addresses exist.

[0044] The device 50A at address #1 is a device that operates as a DI (digital input) and holds device information indicating that it is a DI. The device at address #4 is a device that operates as an AI and holds device information indicating that it is an AI.

[0045] Meanwhile, at this point, the master card 220A of the A system does not yet hold the device information of the device set at address #1 and the device set at address #4. Therefore, the master card 220A of the A system issues a request to obtain device information to the device 50A set at address #1. In response, the master card 220A receives and stores the device information "DI" from the device 50A set at address #1. Similarly, when the master card 220A issues a request to obtain device information to the device 50B set at address #4, it receives and stores the device information "AI" from the device 50B in response.

[0046] In this way, the master card 220A of the A system obtains the device information DI and AI held by the device 50A set at address #1 and the device 50B set at address #4, respectively.

[0047] The master card 220A of the A system connects with the devices 50A and 50B based on DI, which is the device information of the device 50A set at address #1, and AI, which is the device information of the device 50B set at address #4. The master card 220A of the A system checks whether communication with the device 50A set at address #1 is possible.

[0048] If communication is possible, device information DI is sent to device 50A set at address #1. It also checks whether communication is possible with device 50B set at address #4. If communication is possible, device information AI is sent to device 50B set at address #4. This resets the device information for each of devices 50A and 50B.

[0049] FIG. 4 shows an example in which the master card 220A of the control system, A, acquires the address and device information of the device and notifies it to the master card 220B of the standby system, B. 4 shows that the master card 220A, CPU card 210A, CPU card 210B, and master card 220B have the same contents of data α. This data α stores addresses #1 and #4 acquired by master card 220A of system A, and device information for devices 50A and 50B set at those addresses.

[0050] When the master card 220A of the control system A acquires the addresses and device information of the devices 50A and 50B set in the field network 40, it sets the value of data α to 220Ax, which is a specific address of the master card 220A of the control system A.

[0051] Thereafter, the master card 220A of the A system copies the data α at the specific address 220Ax to the specific address 210Ax of the CPU card 210A of the A system. When the CPU card 210A of the A system recognizes that the data at the specific address 210Ax has been updated, it transfers this data α via the field network 40 to the CPU card 210B of the B system, which is the standby system.

[0052] When the CPU card 210B of the B system receives the data α, it updates the data at the specific address 210Bx to data α. After updating the data at the specific address 210Bx to data α, the CPU card 210B of the B system copies the data to the specific address 220Bx of the master card 220B of the B system, which is the standby system.

[0053] As a result, data α, which is the addresses and device information of devices 50A and 50B in master card 220A of system A, is transferred to specific address 220Bx of master card 220B of system B, which is the standby system, and updated.

[0054] In this way, according to the duplex control device of this embodiment 2, the addresses and device information of the devices 50A and 50B held in advance by the master card 220A of the A system, which is the control system, are notified to the master card 220B of the B system, which is the standby system, via the respective CPU cards 210A and 210B and the field network 40 connecting both CPU cards 210A and 210B. This allows the master card 220B of the B system to also obtain the addresses and device information of the devices 50A and 50B before the first standby switchover occurs.

[0055] Therefore, when the first manual switching occurs, the master card 220B of the B system, which has newly become the control system, can connect to the devices 50A and 50B based on the addresses and device information that it has already obtained.

[0056] Furthermore, since the master card 220B of the standby system B has already obtained the addresses and device information of the devices 50A and 50B from the master card 220A of the control system A via the CPU cards 210A and 210B, it does not need to warm up after the first controlled switchover occurs, automatically recognize the addresses of the devices 50A and 50B, and obtain the device information held by each device from the recognized devices 50A and 50B. Therefore, communication between the master card 220B, which has newly become the control system, and the devices 50A and 50B is not interrupted, and even when the first controlled switchover occurs, the duplex control device 200 can continue to communicate with the controlled devices, thereby ensuring stable plant operation. Details of the controlled switchover are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore will not be described again.

[0057] Although the present application describes various exemplary embodiments and examples, the various features, aspects, and functions described in one or more embodiments are not limited to application to a particular embodiment, but may be applied to the embodiments alone or in various combinations. Therefore, countless variations not illustrated are conceivable within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application, including, for example, cases where at least one component is modified, added, or omitted, and cases where at least one component is extracted and combined with a component of another embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] #1,#4 address, 100,200 duplex control device, 100A, 100B, 200A, 200B control device, 10A, 10B, 210A, 210B CPU card, 20A, 20B, 220A, 220B Master Card, 210Ax, 210Bx, 220Ax, 220Bx specific addresses, 30A, 30B, 230A, 230B memory, 40 field network, 50A, 50B equipment, P power supply, R repeater, α data.

Claims

[Claim 1] a first control device and a second control device that monitor and control the control target device; When one of the first control device and the second control device is performing monitoring and control of the control target device as a control system control device, the other is a redundant control device that is on standby as a standby system control device, the first control device includes a first master card that collects addresses and device information of control target devices set in a field network, and transmits the addresses and the device information to the second control device before an initial forced switching occurs to switch functions of the control system control device and the standby system control device; the second control device includes a second master card that stores the address and the device information of the control target device received from the first control device; The transmission and reception of the address and the device information is performed by transmitting from the CPU card of the first control device and receiving by the CPU card of the second control device via the field network connecting the CPU card of the first control device, which receives the address and the device information from the first master card of the first control device, and the CPU card of the second control device, which passes the address and the device information to the second master card of the second control device.

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