Engineering Interface for Selective PLC Variable Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems lack the ability to selectively collect or rewrite variables stored in higher-level control devices controlling industrial machines, limiting the precision of control and potential for failure prevention.
Innovation Solution
A production system with an engineering device that allows users to specify and manage the collection or rewriting of variables, optimizing data sharing settings to prevent overload and enhance security, while reducing processing loads on higher-level control devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all variables stored in the higher-level control device are collected and analyzed, then the precision of control and failure prevention is improved, but the processing load on the higher-level control device increases and may hinder control operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the variable collection and analysis process by introducing a data collection device that operates independently from the higher-level control device. Instead of the higher-level control device handling all variable collection and analysis, the system divides functions: the higher-level control device maintains control responsibilities while the data collection device handles data gathering and analysis, thereby reducing processing load on the control device while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a data collection device as an intermediary between the higher-level control device and the analysis process. This intermediary device collects variables from the higher-level control device and performs analysis, preventing the control device from being overloaded while ensuring comprehensive variable analysis for failure prevention.
2Measurement precision
If more variables are subjected to collection and rewriting, then the control precision is improved, but the data recording volume and network communication increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing selective collection and rewriting of specific variables based on their importance and characteristics. The engineering device enables users to specify which variables should be collected or rewritten, rather than uniformly processing all variables. This targeted approach maintains control precision for critical variables while reducing overall data volume and network communication requirements.
3Device complexity
If the higher-level control device performs all variable management operations, then the system is simpler, but the control device may become overloaded and control operations may be hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the system into distinct functional components: the higher-level control device responsible for control operations, the data collection device for data gathering, and the engineering device for configuration. This segmentation prevents the control device from becoming overloaded by offloading data management tasks to specialized devices, thereby maintaining control operation efficiency while managing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The data collection device performs self-service by autonomously collecting variables from the higher-level control device and performing analysis without requiring the control device to directly manage these operations. This reduces the processing burden on the control device while maintaining comprehensive variable monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
A production system, including an engineering device configured to set a higher-level control device capable of controlling a control device configured to control one or more industrial machines, wherein the engineering device is configured to: display a name of each of a plurality of variables stored in the higher-level control device; receive specification of a variable to be subjected to at least one of collection or rewriting from among the plurality of variables; and perform setting of the at least one of the collection or rewriting of the specified variable.