Method for the project engineering of an automation system

• US 20040237065A1
• Filed: 05/13/2004
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Dausend, Stefan, Weissbach, Bernhard, Brousek, Norbert
• Granted Patent: US 7,508,770 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/101
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/05 Programmable logic controllers, e.g. simulating logic interconnections of signals according to ladder diagrams or function charts
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/15006 Set configuration from master control station

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for the project engineering of an automation system and in particular for configuring hardware modules in an automation system, comprising the steps:

a) Open an existing project or create a new project in a project engineering software tool,

b) Open or generate, in this project, a station having a plurality of slots,

c) Open a hardware catalog comprising a plurality of hardware modules,

d) Insert at least one hardware module from the hardware catalog into the station,

e) Save the station together with the inserted modules.

In the process one or more hardware modules can be combined to form a hardware packet. In order to insert the hardware modules which are combined in a hardware packet, the hardware packet must first be selected and, as soon as the hardware packet is integrated into the station, all the hardware modules contained therein are automatically allocated to free slots of the station.

Claims

1-2. -2. (cancelled)

3. A method for configuring hardware modules in an automation system, comprising:

opening an existing project or creating a new project in a project engineering software tool;

opening or generating, in this project, a station having a plurality of slots;

opening a hardware catalog comprising a plurality of hardware modules;

inserting at least one hardware module from the hardware catalog into the station; and

saving the station together with the inserted hardware modules.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising:

automatically allocating the hardware modules to free slots of the station.

5. A method according to claim 3, wherein one or more hardware modules can be combined to form a hardware packet, wherein in order to insert the hardware modules which are combined in a hardware packet, the hardware packet must first be selected and, as soon as the hardware packet is integrated into the station, all the hardware modules contained therein are automatically allocated to free slots of the station.

6. A computer program product for implementing a method for configuring hardware modules in an automation system, the method comprising:

opening an existing project or creating a new project in a project engineering software tool;

opening or generating, in this project, a station having a plurality of slots;

opening a hardware catalog comprising a plurality of hardware modules;

inserting at least one hardware module from the hardware catalog into the station; and

saving the station together with the inserted hardware modules.

7. A method for packaging hardware modules to a hardware packet in an automation system, comprising:

opening an existing project or creating a new project in a project engineering software tool;

opening or generating, in this project, a station having a plurality of slots;

opening a hardware catalog comprising a plurality of hardware modules;

inserting at least one hardware module from the hardware catalog into the station; and

saving the station together with the inserted hardware modules, wherein one or more hardware modules are combined to form a hardware packet.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein in order to insert the hardware modules which are combined in a hardware packet, the hardware packet must first be selected.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein as soon as the hardware packet is integrated into the station, all the hardware modules contained therein are automatically allocated to free slots of the station.