JPH0588744A - Controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To display a large quantity of information with a small number of function keys and at the same time to improve the operability of a controller by assigning a specific function to each function key. CONSTITUTION:A full-dot display 10 is provided on a front panel of a controller and at the same time the functions proper to each screen are assigned to a limited number of function keys KY1-KY10 for each evolution of the screens. Thus the evolution is carried out to various screens necessary for the control operations with operation of the key KY7 having a screen evolving function. Furthermore the evolution is carried out to the tuning screen and the engineering screen of different dimensions with the simultaneous operation of the key KY7 and another specific key. In such a constitution, the control operations are carried out and various parameters are set with operations of a limited number of function keys. Then it is possible to set various parameters while confirming the control operating states with the same display 10 by providing a change key KY6 on a tuning setting screen.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a controller used for process control and the like. More specifically, a full-dot display is used on the front operation panel, and various displays for control operation are used on the display. The present invention relates to a controller that has a high function and a good man-machine interface function that enable information to be switched and displayed, as well as control operation, screen switching, and setting of various parameters based on signals from operation keys. ..

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a single loop controller using a microprocessor has been widely put into practical use. Such a single loop controller is a distributed control system (DC
Compared to S), it has the advantages of less engineering burden and good operability. The conventional single-loop controller has information necessary for control (process amount PV, set value SV, control output MV) on the operation panel on the front surface thereof, as seen in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-57721. Indicator for displaying, operation keys for changing set values and adjustment modes (automatic adjustment mode, manual adjustment mode, etc.)
The operation keys for changing are arranged, and setting means for setting various parameters for control calculation, specifying various functions, and specifying correction calculation are provided on the side surface of the instrument.

[0003]

Such a conventional controller has the feature that it can maintain the same operability as an analog controller, but various parameters can be set by pulling the meter out of the rack and placing it on the side. There was a problem that the setting means provided had to be operated. Further, since the front panel is provided only with the minimum indicator and operation keys necessary for control, for example, the transition (trend) information of the process amount PV, which is helpful for control operation, is different from the controller. It was necessary to prepare a recorder separately. The present invention has been made in view of these points, and various operation information necessary for performing control operation of a process, trend information of a process amount PV, and a controller are provided on a controller front panel having a limited area. An object of the present invention is to provide a controller with good operability by allowing information for setting various control parameters to be displayed by a simple key operation and reducing the number of keys provided on the front panel.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention to achieve such an object is to input a process amount from a process, execute a control operation based on a set control parameter, and output a control output to the process. In the controller, a display unit provided on the front face of the controller and capable of displaying a mixture of characters and figures, a screen development key provided on the front face of the controller for instructing the development of the screen displayed on the display unit, and A plurality of operation keys provided on the front of the meter and used for control operation and setting of various parameters, operation screen creating means for displaying at least the process amount and control output amount as a bar graph on the display unit, and process amount transition Trend graph screen creating means for displaying a trend graph on the display, and information for adjusting control parameters used for the control calculation on the display A tuning screen creating means to be displayed and an operation screen created by the operating screen creating means and a trend graph screen created by the trend graph screen creating means on the display when a signal from the screen expansion key is received. Is displayed in a switchable manner, and when a signal from the screen development instruction key and a specific operation key among the operation keys is received at the same time, the tuning screen created by the tuning screen creating means is displayed on the display unit. The controller is characterized by further comprising display control means for expanding the screen and operation key function changing means for changing the functions of the plurality of operation keys in response to the screen expansion by the display means.

[0005]

Operation: By operating the screen expansion key, the operation screen required for control operation and its monitoring and the trend graph screen are displayed on the display. From this state, if you operate the screen expansion key and a specific key among the operation keys at the same time,
A tuning screen for setting PID calculation parameters and the like is displayed on the display. The operation key function changing means changes the functions of the plurality of operation keys according to the screen displayed on the display. This makes it possible to display a large amount of information with a small number of operation keys and improve operability.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration perspective view showing an example of the appearance of a controller according to the present invention. In the figure, CL is a controller main body, and PL is a front panel of the controller. Here, for example, a full-dot liquid crystal display 10 with a backlight and a plurality of operation keys KY1 are arranged side by side on the display 10. ~ KY
Operation keys KY so that 7 are lined up at the bottom of the display 10 again.
8 to KY10 are provided. The display 10 is a small CRT
Similarly, it is configured so that characters and figures can be mixedly displayed, and each operation key is configured by, for example, a push button switch or the like. Unlike the conventional device, operation keys for setting parameters, an indicator, and various setting switches are not installed on the side of the controller.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the controller of the present invention. In this figure, 1 is a measured value register for storing a process amount (measured value) PV, 2 is a set value register for storing a set value SV, 3 is a control operation such as PID for the deviation between the measured value PV and the set value SV. The control calculation unit 4 for performing the above includes a register for storing various parameters such as PID used in the control calculation unit 3, and parameter setting means for setting the PID parameter and the like in the control calculation unit 3,
Reference numeral 5 is an output register for storing the control output (manipulation amount) MV calculated by the control calculation unit 3. Each of these functions is realized by software installed in the microprocessor. Reference numeral 6 denotes a manual adjusting means for manually adjusting the control output MV, which is effective in the manual mode and is configured so that the manual output can be adjusted based on an instruction from the operation keys KY8 to KY10. 71, 72
Is an operation mode changeover switch, which receives an instruction from the mode changeover operation keys KY1 to KY3 to be described later,
It is configured to switch to operation mode, automatic operation mode, manual operation mode, etc. by the host computer. These configurations are almost the same as those of the conventional controller using a microprocessor. 10 is a display provided on the front panel of the controller, which is also shown in FIG.
Is an operation keyboard installed around this display 10.
A plurality of operation keys KY1 to KY10 are provided. Among these operation keys, the operation key KY7 is the display 10
A function as a screen expansion key for instructing the expansion of the screen to be displayed in is assigned.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a screen creating means for creating various screens to be displayed on the display device 10, which inputs a measured value PV, a set value SV, and a control output MV, respectively, and an operating keyboard K.
The signal from B is input. In the screen creating means 8, reference numeral 81 is an operating screen creating means for displaying the measured value PV and the control output MV as bar graphs and the set value SV in association with the measured value PV on the display 10. It has various screen creation functions. Reference numeral 82 is a trend graph screen creating means for displaying the transition of the measured value PV on the display device 10 as a trend graph, and 83 is a tuning screen creating means for adjusting and setting various control calculation parameters set in the control calculation part 3. is there. Reference numeral 9 is a display control means for controlling the screen display (screen development) on the display device 10. This display control means receives a signal from the screen development key KY7,
The operation screen created by the operation screen creating means 81 and the trend graph screen created by the trend graph screen creating means 82 are displayed on the display unit 10, and the screen expansion key KY7 and a specific operation key other than this, for example, KY9. When the signals from both are received at the same time, the tuning screen creating means 8 is displayed on the display 10.
Control the screen development so that the tuning screen created in 3 is displayed. Reference numeral 11 is a display device 1 by the display control means 9.
In response to screen development with 0, multiple operation keys, for example, KY1
~ Operation key function changing means for changing the function of KY10. The operation key function changing means 11 is, for example, the display 1
When the operation screen is displayed at 0, each operation key KY
1 to KY6 function as operation keys for changing the control mode and setting values, and when the tuning screen is displayed, select the type of parameter and set the parameter value. The function of each operation key is changed so as to function as an operation key for setting.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operation screen created by the operation screen creating means 81 and the functions assigned to the operation keys when this screen is displayed. Display 10
The operation screen displayed on the screen is a bar graph B in which the measured value PV expands and contracts in the vertical direction in the vicinity of the center of the screen.
A bar graph BG2 is displayed on the lower side of the screen so that the control output MV expands and contracts in the left-right direction according to the value.
Is displayed. In the bar graph showing the control output MV, the sign "C" on the left side means that the control output MV becomes smaller and the valve is closed, for example, and the sign "O" on the right side indicates that the valve is It means to open. Further, the set value SV is associated with the bar graph BG1 indicating the measured value PV on the same scale and is displayed as a triangular instruction mark MK. The position of this instruction mark changes the set value (operation keys KY4, K
(Y5 operation) along with the scale SL. This type of display simulates the front panel surface (instrument diagram) of a conventional controller, and is designed so that an operator familiar with the conventional controller can monitor and operate the control operation status without feeling discomfort. I am doing it. The PV value, SV value, and MV value are also displayed as digital numerical values in the operation screen. Further, the tag number (TIC-1000) attached to the control loop which this controller is in charge of is displayed at the top of the screen. According to such an operation screen, when monitoring away from the controller, the PV, SV, and MV values, which are the main data, can be recognized on an analog display. The numerical value can be recognized on the digital display.

On the keyboard KB, the operation key KY1
2 to KY3 are assigned a function for switching the operation mode, and the switch means 71, 72 of FIG. 2 are driven in accordance with signals from these operation keys. That is, when the operation key KY1 is pressed, the host computer is in a host computer operation mode in which the set value SV is given and the control operation is performed. When the operation key KY2 is pressed, the controller alone performs the control operation. become,
When the operation key KY3 is pressed, a manual adjustment mode in which the control output MV can be manually adjusted is entered. Operation keys KY4, KY5
Is assigned a function for setting the set value SV, and by pressing these operation keys, the value of the set value register 2 can be changed. The value of this setting value register 2 is
It can be recognized as the position of the set value mark MK on the display 10. The operation keys KY8 to KY10 are assigned a function for changing the control output MV when the mode is switched to the manual adjustment mode. That is, the signals from these operation keys are given to the manual adjusting means 6 in the state where the mode is switched to the manual adjusting mode. Here, the control output MV is decreased by pressing the operation key KY8, and the operation key KY10
The control output MV can be increased by pressing. Further, by simultaneously pressing the operation key KY8 or KY10 and the operation key (acceleration key) KY9, the speed of decrease or increase of the control output MV can be increased to promptly change to a desired control output value.

FIG. 4 shows a trend graph screen creating means 82.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen created by and a function assigned to each operation key when this screen is displayed. On this trend graph screen, the measured value PV of the control loop in charge of the controller is displayed as a trend graph TG of past data from the current time up to, for example, 48 hours before. For the current data and the set value SV, the bar graph BG1 is displayed at the latest time position of the trend graph.
And set value instruction mark MK. Such a trend graph is useful for grasping the behavior of the process at startup, monitoring during stable operation, and checking the unmanned operation status at night or on the next morning, for example, within a certain recording cycle. By recording the maximum value and the minimum value of the generated process value PV in a rod shape, it is devised so that a sudden change in data generated in a short cycle can be recognized. At the bottom of the screen, the control output MV is displayed as a bar graph BG2 so as to expand and contract in the left-right direction according to the value. This bar graph display is the same as the operation screen. The PV value, SV value, and MV value at the current time are also displayed as digital numerical values at the top of the screen. Among the operation keys of the keyboard KB, the operation keys KY1 to KY10 are assigned the same functions as when the operation screen is displayed. The operation keys K8 to KY10 may be assigned a function of instructing reduction / enlargement of the time axis of the trend graph, for example, the operation keys KY4 and KY5, respectively, of a range (amplitude direction) enlargement / reduction function.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen created by the tuning screen creating means 83, and a view showing each function assigned to each operation key when this screen is displayed. The tuning element in the controller is P
Although there are tuning of the ID calculation parameter and tuning when the PID calculation parameter is self-tuned (STC), a setting screen for the PID calculation parameter and the like is shown here. This screen has
It will be selected from the tuning menu screen.
The tuning screen for this PID calculation parameter is PI
While displaying many parameters related to D calculation parameters at the same time, the setting items and their parameter setting values are
It is displayed in the magnified window in the upper part. Thereby, the target parameter can be set while grasping the mutual relation between the parameter to be set and other parameters. Further, at the position corresponding to each operation key on the right side of the screen, a symbol indicating the function assigned to the operation key is displayed. That is, KY1 and KY2 are keys for moving the cursor position (reverse display portion), KY3 is a save key, KY4 and KY5 are increase / decrease keys for parameter setting values, and K
Y6 shows the function as a change key.

The change key KY6 is used when the PID calculation parameter tuning screen is displayed.
By operating (pressing) Y6, you can monitor the operation screen or the trend graph screen (the screen that was displayed before expanding to the tuning screen) only while operating (while pressing). .. By providing such a change key, it becomes possible to display the operation result or the trend graph screen on the screen of the same display 10 for the tuning result and change / adjust the parameter value while monitoring. By expanding to the tuning screen, the function of each operation key is changed to each function as displayed on the screen by the operation key function changing means 11. On this tuning screen, the item to be set is selected by moving the cursor (reverse display) using the operation keys KY1 and KY2 (cursor moving key). The item selected at this time is enlarged and displayed in the enlarged window at the top for easy understanding.
In this example, the proportional band PB is selected. Next, by operating the operation keys KY4 or KY5 (increase / decrease key), the value of the parameter (here, 45
The value of 0.0) is increased or decreased from that value to the desired value. The parameter values set in this way are valid as they are, but the operation key KY3
By operating the (save key), a non-volatile memory (register) provided in the parameter setting means 4
And so on.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the development of the screen. First, the operation screen as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display 10 as a standard screen. When the screen development key KY7 is operated while the operation screen (standard screen) is displayed, the trend graph screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed. When the screen development key KY7 is operated again while the trend graph screen is displayed, the screen returns to the operation screen. In this example, the controller is in charge of one control loop, but if it is configured to handle multiple control loops in parallel, the operation screen and trend of other control loops will be the same. Configure so that the graph screen can be displayed as shown by the broken line. If the screen development key KY7 and the speed increase key KY9 are pressed at the same time when the operation screen or trend graph screen is displayed, the tuning menu screen for expanding to the tuning screen as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. When, for example, the tuning screen of the PID calculation parameter is designated (selected), a screen as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. Here, in the tuning menu screen, a desired tuning screen is selected by assigning each selection item as a soft key to each operation key KY1 to KY6 so that six items can be selected. If the change key KY6 is pressed while the tuning screen is displayed, the operation screen or trend graph screen is displayed while the change key KY6 is pressed. Whether the operation screen or the trend graph screen is displayed when the change key KY6 is pressed depends on which screen was opened immediately before the transition to the tuning menu screen. In other words, if you have expanded from the operation screen to the tuning screen,
When the change key KY6 is pressed, the operation screen is displayed. Release the change key KY6 to return to the original tuning setting screen. When the screen development key KY7 and the speed increasing key KY9 are simultaneously pressed while the tuning screen is displayed, the screen returns to the operation screen or the trend graph screen, and these screens remain after the keys are released.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the screen creating means 8
Alarm screen creating means 8 for displaying various alarm information at the same level as the operation screen and trend graph screen 8
4 is provided, and at the lower level of the tuning screen, there is provided an engineering screen creating means 85 mainly used at the time of engineering such as selection of controller function, setting of input range, setting of communication function. .. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an alarm screen created by the alarm screen creating means 84, and a view showing each function assigned to each operation key when this screen is displayed. On this alarm screen, for example, the screen is expanded from the trend graph screen by operating the screen expansion key KY6. The controller monitors, for example, whether the process amount PV is above a certain upper or lower limit value, or PID
When self-tuning a calculation parameter,
Various functions are provided to monitor whether these parameters are properly tuned and to monitor the system such as whether the operation of the controller itself is normal.

The alarm screen is a screen used for recognizing and confirming these monitoring results, and is a process alarm display area AR1, a self-tuning error display area AR2, and a system alarm area AR.
3 etc. are prepared. Further, a symbol (CLR) indicating a clear function assigned to the operation key is displayed at a position near the lower part on the right side of the screen corresponding to the operation key KY6. A corresponding alarm item is displayed in each alarm area. The item “PL1” highlighted here indicates the item currently being generated. The non-inverted display items indicate items that have occurred in the past. The * mark displayed at the beginning of each item is a mark that prompts the operator to confirm. When the operation key KY6 to which the clear function is assigned is operated, it means that the alarm that has occurred is confirmed, and the display of the * mark disappears.

FIG. 9 shows an engineering screen creating means 8.
Figure showing an example of the engineering screen created in 5
It is a figure which shows each function allocated to each operation key, when this screen is displayed. On this engineering screen, the menu screen for selecting the engineering screen is displayed by operating the screen expansion key KY6 and the speed up key KY9 simultaneously from the tuning screen, and the engineering screen as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed from the menu screen. The screen will be selected. FIG. 9 shows a signal conditioning screen for setting the type and range of the sensor input connected to the controller. Usually, these engineering screens are used before starting the operation of the controller, and are set in a state where the control calculation is stopped. Therefore, in this screen, the bar graph display showing the control output MV for monitoring the process is not shown. Also, in the case of this screen, the setting value is automatically saved in the internal memory at the same time as the setting,
The save key function is not assigned to any operation key. In this signal conditioning screen, 91 is a screen title, 92 is a display indicating whether setting is possible, 93 is a setting item name, and here, an item name for adjusting the zero point is displayed. 94 is data and 95 is a display showing a unit. The operation key KY1 is assigned the function of the menu key (major item selection key).
Y2 is a parameter key (small item selection key), operation key K
Y3 is assigned a cursor key, operation keys KY4 and KY5 are assigned a set value increasing / decreasing key, and operation key KY6 is assigned a setting data writing key.

On this signal conditioning screen, while setting data in the signal conditioner unit provided in the signal input circuit of the controller is read, the value can be changed to make settings or operation commands. In the signal conditioner unit, each item is classified into two layers, that is, a large item and a small item, and the pages can be read one after another with the menu key KY1 and the parameter key KY2. Cursor key K
The digit of the read data is selected digit by digit by Y3, and the data of the value is changed with the increase / decrease keys KY4 and KY5. When the desired data is reached, finally write key KY
By 6, write to the memory in the signal conditioner unit. Data settings on the engineering screen are
It is necessary to stop the control calculation of the controller and set it in the non-operation mode. Therefore, at the time when it is first developed (opened) on the engineering screen, "SET INHIBIT" indicating that the setting is impossible is displayed in the display section 92 indicating whether the setting is possible. It is in a state (operating state). In this state, cursor key KY3
When you operate, the setting is possible
"E", the control calculation is stopped, and the setting data in the signal conditioner unit can be read. In addition, in these engineering screens, a screen for setting a password is prepared so that no one can freely change the parameter in the engineering screen. Here, if a specific password (for example, composed of four digits) is set, it is necessary to input the password when opening each engineering screen and changing the parameters.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing how the screen is developed in the apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIG. The difference from the screen expansion shown in FIG. 6 is that the alarm screen as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed from the operation screen and the trend graph screen by operating the screen expansion key KY7. In addition, when the tuning setting screen is displayed and the operation keys KY7 and KY9 are simultaneously operated, the engineering screen as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed.

As described in detail above, the present invention is
A full-dot display is provided on the front panel of the controller, and each time a screen is expanded to a limited number of operation keys, a unique function is assigned to that screen. It is configured to expand to various screens required for control operation and to expand to tuning screens or engineering screens with different dimensions (levels) by operating the screen expansion key and other specific keys simultaneously. Is. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a controller with good operability, which is capable of performing an operation for control operation and setting various parameters with a limited number of operation keys. Further, by providing a check key on the tuning setting screen, various parameters can be set while confirming the control operation status on the same display.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration perspective view showing an example of an external appearance of a controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of the controller of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation screen and each function assigned to each operation key.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a trend graph screen and each function assigned to each operation key.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a tuning screen and each function assigned to each operation key.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing development of a screen in the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a configuration block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an alarm screen and each function assigned to each operation key.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a signal conditioning screen.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing how a screen is developed in the apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 PID control calculation section 4 Parameter setting means 8 Screen creation means 81 Operation screen creation means 82 Trend graph screen creation means 83 Tuning screen creation means 84 Alarm screen creation means 85 Engineering screen creation means 9 Display control means 10 Display device 11 Operation key function Change means KB operation keyboard

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masao Yokomori 2-3-9 Nakamachi, Musashino-shi, Tokyo Yokogawa Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A controller in which a process amount from a process is input, a control calculation is executed based on a set control parameter, and a control output is output to the process. , Etc. can be displayed together, a screen expansion key is provided on the front of the controller to instruct the expansion of the screen displayed on the display, and a control operation and various parameter settings are provided on the front of the controller. A plurality of operation keys used, an operation screen creating means for displaying at least the process amount and the control output amount as a bar graph on the display device, and a trend graph screen creating means for displaying the transition of the process amount as a trend graph on the display device. A tuning screen creating means for displaying information for adjusting a control parameter used in the control calculation on the display, When a signal from the surface expansion key is received, the operation screen created by the operation screen creating means and the trend graph screen created by the trend graph screen creating means are switchably displayed on the display unit to expand the screen. Key and a signal from a specific operation key among the operation keys are received at the same time,
Display control means for displaying the tuning screen created by the tuning screen creating means on the display unit, and operation key function changing means for changing the functions of the plurality of operation keys in response to screen development on the display unit are provided. A controller characterized by. 2. A function of a change key is assigned to one of the operation keys while the tuning screen is displayed on the display unit, and the operation screen or trend graph screen is displayed while the change key is being pressed. The controller according to claim 1, wherein 3. An alarm screen creating means for displaying various alarm information on a display is provided, and the display control means displays a signal from the screen expansion key while the operation screen or trend graph screen is being displayed. The controller according to claim 1, wherein when the alarm is received, the alarm screen is displayed. 4. A controller function selection, an input range setting,
Engineering screen creation means mainly used at the time of engineering such as setting of communication function is provided. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the engineering screen is displayed on the display device when signals are simultaneously received.