PROCESSING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONFIGURING AN AUTOMATION SYSTEM

• US 20160224001A1
• Filed: 11/05/2014
• Published: 08/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: BRUCK, Antoine, CHAUVET, Antonio, CANDILLE, Gilles, STAWIKOWSKI, Jean-Marie
• Granted Patent: US 10,228,674 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 19/052 Linking several PLC's
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/1204 Multiprocessing, several plc's, distributed logic control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/163 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart, intelligent house
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23251 Use two or more different programming languages in same program

Abstract

A method configuring an automation system with plural controllers including first and second controllers, the method including: obtaining a first function block, having a first interface, suitable for a first application, and created by a first tool compliant with a first standard; creating a platform independent model for a second application with a second tool compliant with a second standard; creating a platform definition model of the first controller for the second application; creating a platform specific model for the second application, including: allocating and compiling, with the second tool, a primary part of the second application including the second function block for the first controller and a secondary part of the second application for the second controller; and downloading the first controller configuration, the first application, and the primary part of the second application to the first controller.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A method for configuring an automation system with a plurality of controllers including a first controller and a second controller, the method comprising:

obtaining a first function block including a first interface, which first function block is configured for a sequential first application compliant with a first standard, the first function block being created by use of a first tool compliant with the first standard;

creating a platform independent model for an event-driven second application compliant with a second standard with a second tool compliant with the second standard, wherein creating the platform independent model comprises incorporating a second function block comprising the first interface and an event interface;

creating a platform definition model of the first controller for the second application to form a first controller configuration;

creating a platform specific model for the second application, wherein creating the platform specific model for the second application comprises;

allocating and compiling, with the second tool, a primary part of the second application including the second function block for the first controller and a secondary part of the second application for the second controller;

instantiating the first function block with the first tool;

allocating, with the first tool, logical input/outputs to physical input/outputs; and

compiling the first function block with the first tool into a first application; and

downloading the first controller configuration, the first application, and the primary part of the second application to the first controller.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the first standard is IEC standard 61131-3.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the second standard is IEC standard 61499.

16. A method according to claim 13, wherein the first function block comprises one or a plurality of private variables and an algorithm.

17. A method according to claim 13, wherein creating the platform independent model comprises accessing a shared database comprising an agnostic presentation of the first function block with the second tool.

18. A processing device for an automation system, comprising:

a controller configured to execute in parallel a sequential first application compliant with a first standard, and an event-driven second application compliant with a second standard,

the first application embedding a first function block having a first interface and the second application embedding a second function block comprising the first interface and an event interface.

19. A processing device according to claim 18, wherein the first standard is IEC standard 61131-3.

20. A processing device according to claim 18, wherein the second standard is IEC standard 61499.

21. A processing device according to claim 18, wherein the first function block comprises one or a plurality of private variables and an algorithm.

22. A method for operating an automation system with a plurality of controllers including a first controller and a second controller, the method comprising:

executing a sequential task of a first application, the first application embedding a first function block with a first interface; and

executing a distributed second application in parallel with the first application, the second application embedding a second function block comprising the first interface and an event interface.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein executing the second function block comprises executing an algorithm of the first function block.

24. A method according to claim 22, wherein executing the second function block comprises writing and/or reading a variable of the first function block.