Plant for controlling process equipment

• US 20040220683A1
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB AB (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB AB (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Andersson, Bjorn, Ryegard, Henrik
• Granted Patent: US 7,085,608 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/17
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41845 characterised by system universality, reconfigurability, modularity
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31094 Data exchange between modules, cells, devices, processors
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31101 Configuration file with format of relevant messages for different equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31437 Monitoring, global and local alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33121 Host loads program from attached module to control that module
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45226 Process control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

In a plant for controlling an equipment (4) adapted to carry out a process a superior arrangement (1) exists and has a first interface (2) to a programming unit (3) and a second interface (5) between the process equipment (4) and the arrangement. The arrangement has members (6) for transmitting information between the two interfaces. A memory member (9) adapted to store important data required for describing and defining the process of the process equipment is arranged in the process equipment itself. The arrangement (1) is provided with a rule data base (8) and a text data base (7) containing a configuration file for communication between the process equipment and the arrangement through the second interface by utilising a general process application protocol and a text file, respectively, adapted to the format of said data in the memory member of the process equipment.

Claims

1-10. -10. (cancelled)

11. A plant for controlling process equipment adapted for carrying out a process, comprising:

a master system having a first interface to a programming unit adapted for entering commands to the process equipment for setting control parameters for the process and a second interface to the process equipment, transmitting members in the master system for transmitting information between the first and second interfaces and by that between the programming unit and the process equipment, a memory member arranged in the process equipment adapted to store data required for describing and defining the process of the process equipment as well as means adapted to enable access to said data through the programming unit so as to enable a determination of said commands based upon said data, the master system being provided with a rule data base and a text data base including a configuration file for communication between the process equipment and the master system through the second interface by utilizing a general process application protocol and a text file, respectively, adapted to the format of said data in the memory member of the process equipment, and the rule data base and the text data base are connected of said transmitting members and adapted to enable interpreting of data sent from the process equipment according to said application protocol by the transmitting member and transmitting therethrough to the programming unit.

14. A plant according to claim 11, comprising a plurality of process equipments connected to the master system in common through a second interface.

15. A plant according to claim 14, wherein the process equipments are of at least two different types, and the rule data base and the text data base contain a particular configuration file and text file for each type of process equipment.

16. A plant according to claim 11, wherein the master system comprises a process controlling member connected to the transmitting member for bi-directional communication therewith so as to obtain control of the process to be carried out by the process equipment.

17. A plant according to claim 11, wherein the transmitting member is adapted to send information received from the process equipment about particular events, such as faults in the process, to a member included in the master system and adapted to note and indicate such events.

18. A plant according to claim 11, wherein the first interface comprises a man-machine interface (MMI=Man Machine Interface).

19. A plant according to claim 11, wherein said master system comprises a master system of a robot intended to carry out said process.

20. A plant according to claim 19, wherein the process equipment comprises welding equipment on a welding robot.