PLC Online Monitoring via Native Code and Sequence Circuit Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing configurations for realizing an online monitor on a display device in Factory Automation are complicated due to the need for a runtime unit on the computer device, making it difficult to provide an online monitor without increasing processing load and resource requirements.
Innovation Solution
A control system that executes user programs in native code, allowing for online monitoring even if the circuit components of the sequence program cannot be restored, by providing the execution results to the display device and using sequence circuit information to facilitate interpretation, thereby reducing processing load and resource requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a runtime unit is provided on the computer device to realize the same execution environment as PLC, then the online monitor can be realized, but the configuration of the computer device becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the runtime unit from the display device and relocates it to the control device. This allows the display device to display runtime information without needing to execute the control program itself, thereby simplifying the display device configuration while maintaining online monitor functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a communication interface as an intermediary between the control device and display device. The control device executes the program and provides runtime information through this interface, which then displays the information, eliminating the need for the display device to have runtime execution capabilities
2Reliability
If the display device provides online monitor functionality, then execution state can be monitored, but the processing load and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the program execution function from the display device and places it solely in the control device. The display device only receives and displays runtime information provided by the control device, significantly reducing its processing load and resource requirements while maintaining monitoring capability
Solution Approach 2:
The control device serves itself by executing the program and generating runtime information, then provides this information to the display device. This self-service approach eliminates the need for the display device to perform complex execution operations, reducing overall system processing load
Data Source
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AI summary
This control device includes a storage unit which stores native code generated from a first user program that includes a sequence program, and a calculation processing unit which executes the native code stored in the storage unit. A display device of the present invention includes: a storage unit which stores sequence circuit information that is generated from the first user program and defines a circuit configuration of the sequence program; and a monitor functioning unit which acquires, from the control device, a circuit output state that indicates the execution state of the native code, and visualizes the execution state of the sequence program in the control device on the basis of the acquired circuit output state and the sequence circuit information.