Fieldbus Subscriber Configuration via Generated Communication Classes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing engineering stations for configuring and parameterizing fieldbus subscribers, such as the TIA portal, are overly complex and resource-intensive, making them challenging for small installation configurations and inexperienced technicians.
Innovation Solution
A method that generates an object-oriented class with elements and functions for communication between fieldbus subscribers, using a configuration file and program library code, which simplifies the parameterization and configuration process by providing a lightweight 'code snippet' that can be easily inserted into user programs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a comprehensive engineering station like TIA portal is used for configuring and parameterizing fieldbus subscribers, then complete access to entire digitized automation is achieved, but the system becomes overly complex and challenging for inexperienced users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the comprehensive engineering station functionality into a standalone, lightweight configuration tool that can operate independently. This tool extracts only the essential configuration and parameterization capabilities needed for fieldbus subscribers, separating them from the full-featured but complex TIA portal environment. The segmented tool provides complete access to digitized automation for decentralized peripheral devices without requiring the entire automation framework.
2Adaptability or versatility
If TIA portal is used for small installation configurations, then complete engineering capabilities are available, but the software is overly powerful and resource-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential configuration and parameterization functionality from the TIA portal into a separate, lightweight tool. This extracted tool takes out only the necessary engineering capabilities for configuring and parameterizing fieldbus subscribers, eliminating the need to run the entire resource-intensive TIA portal environment for small installation configurations. The extracted tool maintains adaptability for decentralized peripheral devices while significantly reducing software resource consumption.
3Adaptability or versatility
If TIA portal is used for simple parameterization tasks, then comprehensive engineering functions are available, but the interface is too challenging for inexperienced commissioning technicians
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a specialized configuration tool with a simplified user interface tailored specifically for configuration and parameterization tasks. Instead of presenting the comprehensive but complex TIA portal interface, the local quality principle creates a focused tool with appropriate complexity level for the specific task, making it accessible to inexperienced commissioning technicians while maintaining access to necessary engineering functions for fieldbus subscriber configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for configuring and parameterizing field bus subscribers interconnected via a field bus, wherein a first field bus subscriber provides and/or receives process data and a second field bus subscriber allows a user program to run, where a topology is determined by a configuration tool with configuration parameters of the field bus subscribers in a configuration file, the first field bus subscriber is parameterized for subsequent communication via the field bus with a configuration data set including a first part of the configuration file, from the configuration file and further code portions from a program library, an object-orientated class is generated with elements and functions for communication between the first and second field bus subscribers, and the class is instanced in the user program of the second field bus subscriber, the functions being used for communication during execution of the user program to permit access to the process data.