Programmable logic controller device having relay function of CPU module, and control method thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a PLC device that relays information via a CPU module. The CPU module of the present invention has the effect of enabling a monitoring user terminal not connected to the second communication module to obtain information about the second network by receiving information about the second network from the second communication module and transmitting it to the first communication module when a monitoring user terminal connected to the first communication module requests information about the second network configured by the second communication module.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) device, and in particular to a PLC device having a relay function. Background Technology

[0002] A PLC is a control device used for automatic control or monitoring in factories. It receives sensor values, performs logical operations according to a pre-set user program, and controls externally connected devices based on the results. The PLC operates according to a control program written by the user, through which various commands and operations are processed.

[0003] Depending on the purpose of use, such PLCs can comprehensively manage various control devices ranging from small factories to large-scale plants. To this end, PLCs are composed of modules with various functions that form a single PLC system, and the CPU module controls and monitors this PLC system. The functions of the CPU module can be broadly classified into three categories: module control, user program processing, and system diagnostic functions.

[0004] Among the modules that make up a PLC, communication modules are typically used to form independent networks. Therefore, users receive information through the communication modules and access that information via a monitoring PC.

[0005] However, in the current PLC configuration, since a separate monitoring PC is configured for each communication module, there is a problem in that users must switch between monitoring PCs for each communication module to obtain the necessary information for network identification.

[0006] The inventors of the present invention have been conducting research efforts to solve the problem of connecting communication modules in the prior art PLC configuration to a monitoring PC. After much effort to create a PLC capable of connecting multiple communication modules to a single PC and conveniently monitoring multiple networks at once, the present invention has been completed. The problem to be solved

[0007] The objective of the present invention is to provide a PLC device having a CPU module relay function capable of connecting a plurality of communication modules to a single PC, and a method thereof.

[0009] Meanwhile, other unspecified objects of the present invention will be further considered to the extent that they can be easily inferred from the following detailed description and effects. means of solving the problem

[0010] A PLC device according to the present invention comprises a CPU module; a first communication module; and a second communication module, wherein

[0011] The above CPU module is characterized by transmitting information of a second network configured by a second communication module to which the monitoring user terminal is not connected to a monitoring user terminal connected to the first communication module.

[0012] The first communication module and the second communication module are characterized by forming independent networks through network modules connected to each other.

[0013] The first communication module is characterized by not being directly connected to the second communication module.

[0014] When the monitoring user terminal connected to the first communication module requests information of a second network configured by the second communication module from the first communication module, the first communication module requests information of the second network from the CPU module, and the CPU module transmits information of the second network to the monitoring user terminal through the first communication module.

[0015] A PLC device control method according to another embodiment of the present invention is performed by a PLC device comprising a CPU module; a first communication module; and a second communication module, and

[0016] The method is characterized by comprising: a step of receiving a request for information regarding a second network connected to a second communication module from a monitoring user terminal connected to the first communication module; and a step of transmitting information regarding the second network to the monitoring user terminal by the CPU module.

[0017] The first communication module and the second communication module are characterized by forming independent networks through network modules connected to each other.

[0018] The first communication module is characterized by not being directly connected to the second communication module.

[0019] After the step of receiving an information request for the second network, the method further comprises: a step in which the first communication module transmits the information request for the second network to the CPU module; a step in which the CPU module receives information about the second network from the second communication module; and a step in which the CPU module transmits information about the second network to the first module. Effects of the invention

[0020] According to the present invention, by means of a CPU module having a relay function, it is possible to obtain information of multiple separately configured networks using a single monitoring user terminal.

[0021] Therefore, there is also the advantage of being able to understand all of them from one location without having to visit each of the distant networks in person.

[0023] Meanwhile, it should be added that even if an effect is not explicitly mentioned here, the effects described in the following specification and the provisional effects expected by the technical features of the present invention are treated as described in the specification of the present invention. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0024] FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a PLC device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of a control method for a PLC device according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a typical PLC device. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the network configuration of a PLC device according to the prior art. ※ It should be noted that the attached drawings are provided as examples for reference to help understand the technical concept of the present invention, and the scope of the rights of the present invention is not limited by them. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0025] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, we will examine the configuration of the present invention as guided by various embodiments thereof and the effects derived therefrom. In describing the present invention, detailed descriptions of related known functions are omitted if they are deemed obvious to a person skilled in the art and could unnecessarily obscure the essence of the invention.

[0026] Terms such as 'first' and 'second' may be used to describe various components, but said components should not be limited by said terms. These terms may be used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, 'first component' may be named 'second component,' and similarly, 'second component' may be named 'first component.' Furthermore, singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Unless otherwise defined, terms used in the embodiments of the present invention may be interpreted in the sense commonly known to those skilled in the art.

[0027] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, we will examine the configuration of the present invention as guided by various embodiments of the present invention and the effects derived therefrom.

[0029] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a typical PLC device.

[0030] The PLC device (10) may generally include a power module (11), a CPU module (12), an input module (13), an output module (14), a communication module (15, 16), a special module (17), etc.

[0031] The power module (11) is used to supply power to the entire PLC device (10).

[0032] The CPU module (12) controls all installed modules.

[0033] The input module (13) is used to manage input signals coming into the PLC device (10), and the output module (14) is used to manage output signals going out from the PLC device (10) to other devices.

[0034] The communication modules (15, 16) each form a network and are responsible for communication through the network.

[0035] The special module (17) is used to implement special functions such as motor control.

[0036] In the PLC device (10), these various special modules are mounted on the base in the form of cards to form the necessary PLC system.

[0038] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a network configured by such a general PLC device (10).

[0039] Each of the multiple communication modules (15, 16) is connected to a respective network module to form a network, and each network is connected to a user terminal (52, 63) for monitoring the network.

[0040] The user configures an independent network by connecting each network module to each communication module (15, 16).

[0041] A network module (51) can be connected to a first communication module (15) to form a first network, and a monitoring user terminal (52) can be connected to monitor the first network to monitor the network module or network status, etc.

[0042] Other network modules (61, 62) may be connected to the second communication module (16) to form a second network independent of the first network, and another monitoring user terminal (63) may be connected to monitor the second network to monitor the network modules or network status of the second network.

[0043] The first communication module (15) and the second communication module (16) control and monitor the first network and the second network, respectively.

[0044] The user obtains information from the first communication module (15) by using a user terminal (52) connected to the first network to request information from the first network.

[0045] Likewise, in order to obtain information about the second network, a user terminal (63) connected to the second network is used to request information about the second network from the second communication module (16), and information is obtained from the second communication module (16).

[0046] However, when networks are configured independently in this way, the first communication module (15) cannot identify the second network, and the second communication module (16) cannot identify the first network. Therefore, in order to identify the status of each independent network, each network must be identified using a user terminal connected separately to each network. However, connecting a separate user terminal to each network is inefficient in terms of cost, and if the networks are physically far apart from each other, it causes the inconvenience of taking a long time to access each network.

[0048] FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a PLC device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention for solving the inconveniences of such conventional technology.

[0049] The PLC device (100) according to the present invention may include a power module (110), a CPU module (120), a first communication module (130), an input module (140), an output module (150), a special module (160), and a second communication module (170).

[0050] The first network connected to the first communication module (130) and the second network connected to the second communication module (170) each form an independent network. Additionally, the first communication module (130) and the second communication module (170) may each form a heterogeneous network.

[0051] Therefore, the first communication module (130) and the second communication module (170) are not directly connected to each other, and the first communication module (130) cannot directly obtain information from the network modules (71, 72, 73) connected to the second communication module (170). Likewise, the second communication module (170) cannot directly obtain information from the network modules (31, 32) connected to the first communication module (130). Furthermore, if the first communication module (130) and the second communication module (170) each constitute a heterogeneous network, even if the first communication module (130) and the second communication module (170) are directly connected to each other, they will similarly be unable to perform direct communication due to differences in protocols between the heterogeneous networks.

[0052] However, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the CPU module (120) of the PLC device (100) according to the present invention can control both the first communication module (130) and the second communication module (170). Accordingly, the CPU module (120) can obtain information about the first network composed of network modules (31, 32) connected to the first communication module (130) and information about the second network composed of network modules (71, 72, 73) connected to the second communication module (170).

[0053] A monitoring user terminal (33) connected to the first communication module (130) can request network status information or network diagnostic information from the first communication module (130) for monitoring the network.

[0054] Examples of user terminals (33) may be general-purpose computing devices such as desktop PCs, laptop PCs, tablet PCs, netbook computers, workstations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), smartphones, smartpads, or mobile phones, and may be dedicated embedded systems implemented based on Embedded Linux, but are not limited thereto.

[0055] When a user terminal (33) requests network status information from the first communication module (130), the first communication module (130) first determines which network the request is for. That is, the user can input slot information connected to the communication module to which information is to be requested through the user terminal (33), and the first communication module (130) first determines which network the information request is for.

[0056] If the network information request received from the user terminal (33) by the first communication module (130) is for a first network connected to the first communication module (130), the first communication module (130) can directly transmit status information or diagnostic information for the first network to the user terminal (33).

[0057] However, if the network information request received by the first communication module (130) from the user terminal (33) concerns a second network connected to the second communication module (170), the first communication module (130), which is independent of the second network, cannot identify this and directly transmit it to the user terminal (33). This is because the second network is not directly connected to the first communication module (130), so the information cannot be identified.

[0058] Accordingly, the first communication module (130) transmits the information request for the second network of the user terminal (33) to the CPU module (120).

[0059] Since the CPU module (120) can control all modules within the PLC device (100), it can identify not only information about the first network connected to the first communication module (130) but also information about the second network connected to the second communication module (170).

[0060] Accordingly, the CPU module (120), having received an information request for the second network from the first communication module (130), obtains status information and diagnostic information of the network modules (71, 72, 73) constituting the second network through the second communication module (170).

[0061] The CPU module (120) responds to the request of the user terminal (33) by transmitting information about the second network identified thereafter to the user terminal (33) through the first communication module (130).

[0062] In the same way, according to the relay function of the CPU module (120), any network connected to any communication module connected to the PLC device (100) can be identified by a single monitoring user terminal (33).

[0064] FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of a control method for a PLC device according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0065] A PLC device control method according to the present invention may be performed by a PLC device comprising a CPU module and two or more communication modules (a first communication module, a second communication module, …).

[0066] First, the first communication module receives a network information request from a monitoring user terminal (S110).

[0067] The first communication module first determines which communication module configured the network information request received from the user terminal (S120).

[0068] The user can identify the requested network information by the slot number of the PLC device. The first communication module can determine which network the information request is for by this slot number.

[0069] If the network information request received from the user terminal is for a first network connected to the first communication module, the first communication module directly transmits status information or diagnostic information of the network modules connected to the first communication module, i.e., the first network information, to the user terminal (S130).

[0070] However, if the network information request received from the user terminal is for a second network connected to the second communication module, the first communication module cannot directly identify it, so the first communication module transmits the information request for the second network from the user terminal to the CPU module (S140).

[0071] Since the CPU module can be responsible for controlling all modules within the PLC device, it can identify not only information about the first network connected to the first communication module but also information about the second network connected to the second communication module.

[0072] Accordingly, the CPU module, having received an information request regarding the second network from the first communication module, obtains status information and diagnostic information of the network modules constituting the second network through the second communication module.

[0073] The CPU module then transmits information about the second network identified to the first communication module (S150), and the first communication module responds to the request of the user terminal by transmitting the second network information to the user terminal (S160).

[0075] According to the PLC device and control method including a CPU module having a relay function as described above, the status or diagnostic information of a non-directly connected network can be identified through the relay function of the CPU module even with a single monitoring device, and the effect of identifying heterogeneous networks to which the monitoring device is not connected can also be achieved through the relay of the CPU module. Therefore, in addition to the economic effect of reducing the number of monitoring devices, there is an advantage of not having to directly visit multiple physically separated locations where monitoring devices are situated.

[0077] The scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the description and expression of the embodiments explicitly described above. Furthermore, it is added once again that the scope of protection of the present invention cannot be limited by obvious changes or substitutions in the technical field to which the present invention belongs.

Claims

Claim 1 A PLC device comprising: a CPU module; a first communication module connected to the CPU module; and a second communication module connected to the CPU module; wherein the CPU module transmits information of a second network configured by a second communication module to which the monitoring user terminal is not connected, requested by the monitoring user terminal to a monitoring user terminal connected to the first communication module, the first communication module identifies which network information request is made by the slot number of the PLC device included in the network information request received from the user terminal, and the second communication module is connected to the first communication module or the monitoring user terminal connected to the first communication module only through the CPU module. Claim 2 A PLC device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first communication module and the second communication module each form an independent network by network modules connected to each other. Claim 3 delete Claim 4 A PLC device according to claim 1, wherein when a monitoring user terminal connected to the first communication module requests information of a second network configured by the second communication module from the first communication module, the first communication module requests information of the second network from the CPU module, and the CPU module transmits information of the second network to the monitoring user terminal through the first communication module. Claim 5 A PLC device control method performed by a PLC device comprising: a CPU module; a first communication module connected to the CPU module; and a second communication module connected to the CPU module; wherein the method comprises: receiving a request for information regarding a second network connected to the second communication module from a monitoring user terminal connected to the first communication module; and transmitting information regarding the second network requested by the monitoring terminal to the monitoring user terminal by the CPU module; wherein the first communication module identifies which network information request is made by a slot number of the PLC device included in the network information request received from the user terminal, and the second communication module is connected to the first communication module or the monitoring user terminal connected to the first communication module only through the CPU module. Claim 6 A PLC device control method according to claim 5, characterized in that the first communication module and the second communication module each form an independent network by network modules connected to each other. Claim 7 delete Claim 8 A PLC device control method according to claim 5, further comprising: a step of, after receiving an information request for the second network, a step in which the first communication module transmits an information request for the second network to the CPU module; a step in which the CPU module receives information about the second network from the second communication module; and a step in which the CPU module transmits information about the second network to the first communication module.

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