Feeder Automation Logic Translation for Soft PLC Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Field engineers face difficulties in understanding and customizing feeder automation logic developed using advanced high-end programming environments, and logic developed with low-end tools is often dependent on proprietary hardware and requires significant effort, lacking generality.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that updates a system configuration incidence matrix using depth-first and breadth-first searches to detect faults and generate isolation and restoration control logic, integrating low-end soft PLC technology with high-end constituents for user-friendly interface-driven logic generation and transfer to soft PLC products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-end programming environments and languages (Visual Studio, C#, C++) are used to implement feeder automation logic, then the development efficiency is improved and user-friendly interfaces are provided, but field engineers cannot easily understand or customize the logic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary translation layer that converts high-end programming logic (C#, C++) into low-end PLC-compatible logic (ladder diagrams, function block diagrams). This intermediary system allows the benefits of high-end programming to be retained while making the logic accessible to field engineers through familiar PLC programming languages and graphical interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the feeder automation logic into two distinct layers: a high-end programming layer for efficient logic development and a low-end PLC interface layer for engineer accessibility. This segmentation allows each layer to serve its specific purpose without compromising the other, enabling both high productivity and ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If low-end PLC programming tools and IEC 61131-3 languages are used, then field engineers can easily understand and customize the logic, but significant effort is required to build logic from scratch and the logic is dependent on proprietary hardware specifications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal feeder automation logic framework that can be deployed across different PLC hardware platforms. By developing the logic once in a high-end environment and automatically translating it to PLC-compatible formats, the system eliminates hardware-specific reprogramming requirements and reduces development effort across multiple device types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses automated copying and translation of logic from high-end programming environments to PLC programming formats. Instead of manually recreating logic for each PLC platform, the system automatically generates equivalent PLC code, significantly reducing the effort required to build and deploy automation logic.
Data Source
AI summary
A soft PLC technology based computer-implemented method includes updating a system configuration incidence matrix for an electric power distribution system based on both a depth-first search of a connectivity matrix for the electric power distribution system and information about the electric power distribution system, wherein the information includes at least status information about one or more switches of the electric power distribution system. The method further includes detecting a fault in the system based on the incidence matrix. The method further includes generating isolation control logic based on the incidence matrix and isolating the fault based on isolation control logic. The method further includes generating restoration control logic based on a breadth-first search of the incidence matrix and restoring the system based on the restoration control logic.