Programmable controller

• US 7,114,155 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2001
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Wendel, Volker, Stripf, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): BANANKHAH, MAJID A
• Application Number:
  US09/843,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20010025294A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,975 Days
• Field of Search: 718/100, 718/102, 717/1, 717/5, 717/6, 700/5, 700/7, 700/11, 700/18, 700/20, 709/315, 709/328
• US Class Current: 718/100
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/056 Programming the PLC
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41845 characterised by system universality, reconfigurability, modularity
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/13146 Process image blocks have a relation to software function blocks
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/13148 Object oriented programming
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/13185 Software function module for simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/15042 Synoptic display of process, mimic diagram
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31156 Network structure, internet
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31161 Java programcode or simular active agents, programs, applets
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31186 TCP-IP internet protocol
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31246 Firewall
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31367 MMS manufacturing message specification, rs511, iso9506
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32161 Object oriented control, programming
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34038 Web, http, ftp, internet, intranet server
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34263 OLE object linking and embedding, OPC ole for process control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A programmable controller suitable for use in a globally distributed automation network. In addition, a universal management engineering and information system for such a globally distributed automation network is described. It is used in a globally distributed automation network.

Claims

1. Programmable controller to which software function blocks of a control program can be sent, the control program being processed by the programmable controller cyclically and/or with interrupt control during control operation, the software function blocks being designed to be loadable and capable of being tied into the control program while it is running, wherein

the software function blocks are designed to be object-oriented to have software function block objects and designed to be loadable into the programmable controller over the Internet and an Internet communication interface of the programmable controller, and

the programmable controller has a software function block execution system for tie-in of the software function block objects and for processing the control program.

2. Programmable controller according to claim 1, wherein

the software function block execution system includes an exe engine object, a watchdog, a bootstrap and an input/output module object, in which a process image of inputs and outputs can be deposited, and to which signal states can be sent from process inputs and through which signal states can be sent to process outputs,

the bootstrap generates the software function block objects and the input/output module object before the start of control operation and sends the following to the exe engine object:

a list of the software function block objects to be processed for the case of cyclic processing of the control program,

a list of the software function block objects to be processed for each process input in case of interrupt-controlled processing of the control program,

at the start of control operation, the bootstrap the exe engine object, which first starts the watchdog which resets the exe engine object when the cycle time is exceeded, and then cyclically

updates the inputs of the process image,

processes one processing step of the software function block objects in case of cyclic processing of the control program,

ascertains changes in signal states at the inputs in case of interrupt-controlled processing of the control program and processes the software function block objects assigned to these inputs,

updates the outputs of the process image.

3. Programmable controller according to claim 2, wherein the exe engine object and the watchdog are designed as threads.

4. Programmable controller according to claim 1, wherein the communication interface permits TCP/IP protocol communication.

5. Programmable controller according to claim 1, wherein the software function blocks are Java-byte-coded and can be created in Java C programming language or in a programming language that complies with the IEC 1131 standard.

6. Programming unit for processing software function blocks of a control program that can be sent to a programmable controller which processes the control program cyclically and/or with interrupt control during control operation, the software function block objects being designed to be loadable and to be capable of being tied into the control program while it is running, wherein

the programming unit creates object-oriented software function blocks

the programming unit sends the software function blocks to the programmable controller over the Internet and an Internet communication interface of the programming unit, and/or

the software function blocks can be sent to the programming unit after the software control block is acted upon, the software function blocks being sent over the Internet and the Internet communication interface.

7. Programming unit according to claim 6, wherein the programming unit has a software function block execution system for simulation of the control program.

8. Programming unit according to claim 6, wherein the communication interface permits TCP/IP protocol communication.

9. Programming unit according to claim 6, wherein the software function block objects can be created in Java C, the programming language which can run on the programming unit, or in a programming language that complies with the IEC 1131 standard, and they can be translated to Java byte code by the programming unit.

10. Operating and monitoring device having operating and monitoring software blocks of an operating and monitoring software program for creating and displaying a process image that includes multiple image objects and is provided for managing a process, the image objects being related to software function blocks of a control program which is processed by a programmable controller during control operation, the operating and monitoring software blocks being designed to be loadable and to be capable of being tied into the operating and monitoring program while it is running, wherein

the operating and monitoring device creates object-oriented operating and monitoring software blocks,

the operating and monitoring software blocks can be transmitted by the operating and monitoring device over the Internet and an Internet communication interface of the operating and monitoring device, and

operating and monitoring software blocks and/or characteristics of the process can be sent to the operating and monitoring device over the Internet and the Internet communication interface, and

the operating and monitoring device has an operating and monitoring software block execution system for processing the operating and monitoring software blocks.

11. Operating and monitoring device according to claim 10, wherein the communication interface permits TCP/IP protocol communication.

12. Operating and monitoring device according to claim 10, wherein the operating and monitoring software blocks can be created in Java C, the programming language which can run on the operating and monitoring device, or in a programming language that complies with the IEC 1131 standard and they can be translated to Java byte code by the operating and monitoring device.

13. Intelligent field unit to which at least one software function block of a control program can be sent, a program being processed by the field unit cyclically and/or with interrupt control during control operation, the software function block being designed to be loadable and to be capable of being tied into the control program while it is running, wherein

the software function blocks are designed to be object-oriented and loadable into the field unit over the Internet and an Internet communication interface, and

the field unit has a software function block execution system for tie-in of the software function block and for processing the control program.

14. Intelligent field unit according to claim 13, wherein

the software function block execution system has an exe engine object, a watchdog, a bootstrap and an input/output module object, in which a process image of inputs and outputs can be deposited and to which signal states can be sent from process inputs and through which signal states can be sent to process outputs,

before the start of control operation, the bootstrap generates the software function block objects and the input/output module object and sends the following to the exe engine object:

for the case of cyclic processing of the control program, a list of the software function block objects to be processed,

for the case of interrupt-controlled processing of the control program, a list of the software function block objects to be processed for each process input,

at the start of control operation, the bootstrap starts the exe engine object which first starts the watchdog (Wd), which resets the exe engine object when the cycle time is exceeded, and then cyclically

updates the inputs of the process image,

processes a processing step of the software function block objects for the case of cyclic processing of the control program,

ascertains changes in signal states at the inputs for the case of interrupt-controlled processing of the control program, and processes the software function block objects assigned to these inputs,

updates the outputs of the process image.

15. Intelligent field unit according to claim 14, wherein the exe engine object and the watchdog are designed as threads.

16. Intelligent field unit according to claim 13, wherein the communication interface permits TCP/IP protocol communication.

17. Intelligent field unit according to claim 13, wherein the software function block objects are Java byte coded and can be created in Java C program language or in a program language in compliance with the IEC 1131 standard.

18. Automation system

having at least one programmable controller to which software function blocks of a control program can be sent, the control program being processed by the programmable controller cyclically and/or with interrupt control during control operation, the software function blocks being designed to be loadable and capable of being tied into the control program while it is running, wherein

the software function blocks are designed to be object-oriented to have software function block objects, and designed to be loadable into the programmable controller over the Internet and an Internet communication interface of the programmable controller, and

the programmable controller has a software function block execution system for tie-in of the software function block objects and for processing the control program;

having at least one programming unit for creating software function blocks of a control program that can be sent to a programmable controller which processes the control program cyclically and/or with interrupt control during control operation, the software function block objects being designed to be loadable and to be capable of being tied into the control program while it is running, wherein

the programming unit creates object-oriented software function blocks

the programming unit sends the software function blocks to the programmable controller over the Internet and an Internet communication interface of the programming unit, and/or

the software function blocks can be sent to the programming unit over the Internet and the Internet communication interface; and

having at least one operating and monitoring device having operating and monitoring software blocks of an operating and monitoring software program for creating and displaying a process image that includes multiple image objects and is provided for process management, the image objects being related to software function blocks of a control program which is processed by a programmable controller during control operation, the operating and monitoring software blocks being designed to be loadable and to be capable of being tied into the operating and monitoring program while it is running, wherein

the operating and monitoring device creates object-oriented operating and monitoring software blocks,

the operating and monitoring software blocks can be transmitted by the operating and monitoring device over the Internet and the Internet communication interface of the operating and monitoring device, and/or

operating and monitoring software blocks and/or process quantities can be sent to the operating and monitoring device over the Internet and the Internet communication interface, and

the operating and monitoring device has an operating and monitoring software block execution system for processing the operating and monitoring software blocks.

19. Automation system according to claim 18 with at least one intelligent field unit to which at least one software function block of a control program can be sent, the program being processed by the field unit cyclically and/or with interrupt control during control operation, the software function block being designed to be loadable and to be capable of being tied into the control program while it is running, wherein

the software function blocks are designed to be object-oriented and loadable into the field unit over the Internet and an Internet communication interface, and

the field unit has a software function block execution system for tie-in of the software function block and for processing the control program.

20. Automation network

having an automation system having at least one programmable controller to which software function blocks of a control program can be sent, the control program being processed by the programmable controller cyclically and/or with interrupt control during control operation, the software function blocks being designed to be loadable and capable of being tied into the control program while it is running, wherein

the software function blocks are designed to be object-oriented and loadable into the programmable controller over the Internet and an Internet communication interface of the programmable controller, and

the programmable controller has a software function block execution system for tie-in of the software function block objects and for processing the control program;

having at least one programming unit for creating software function blocks of a control program that can be sent to a programmable controller which processes the control program cyclically and/or with interrupt control during control operation, the software function block objects being designed to be loadable and to be capable of being tied into the control program while it is running, wherein

the programming unit creates object-oriented software function blocks,

the programming unit sends the software function blocks to the programmable controller over the Internet and an Internet communication interface of the programming unit, and/or

the software function blocks can be sent to the programming unit over the Internet and the Internet communication interface;

having at least one operating and monitoring device having operating and monitoring software blocks of an operating and monitoring software program for creating and displaying a process image that includes multiple image objects and is provided for process management, the image objects being related to software function blocks of a control program which is processed by a programmable controller during control operation, the operating and monitoring software blocks being designed to be loadable and to be capable of being tied into the operating and monitoring program while it is running, wherein

the operating and monitoring device creates object-oriented operating and monitoring software blocks,

the operating and monitoring software blocks can be transmitted by the operating and monitoring device over the Internet and the Internet communication interface of the operating and monitoring device, and/or

operating and monitoring software blocks and/or process quantities can be sent to the operating and monitoring device over the Internet and the Internet communication interface, and

the operating and monitoring device has an operating and monitoring software block execution system for processing the operating and monitoring software blocks; and

having at least one workstation and/or a server which have means for creating and processing object-oriented software function blocks.