WO2003038604A1

WO2003038604A1 - Control parameterization method and device

Info

Publication number: WO2003038604A1
Application number: PCT/DE2002/003934
Authority: WO
Inventors: Heiko Dietze; Stephan Rupf; Markus Weinländer
Original assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2001-10-24
Filing date: 2002-10-17
Publication date: 2003-05-08
Also published as: EP1438655A1; DE10152345A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a control parameterization method and device. A object-related set of parameters is drawn up by means of a graphic editor, the set of parameters is converted into a machine code and the machine code is loaded into the control via a communication link. In order to minimize the control memory size, no graphic metadata is filed in said control. The objects are automatically placed in a represented image.

Description

description

Method and device for parameterizing a controller

The invention relates to a method and a device for parameterizing a controller.

Controllers are devices that contain a memory and a processing unit. They are parameterized before they are used. As part of this parameterization, the user loads a set of parameters, which are device-specific settings, into the controller.

One problem is that the complexity of the parameter sets to be loaded is increasing more and more. For this reason, parameterization tools have already been used which allow easier input of parameters for the user via a graphical user interface. Such a parameterization tool consists, for example, of a conventional personal computer, which is rather equipped with suitable parameterization software.

For certain types of parameters, such as logical links, a graphical representation in the form of function diagrams is useful. This graphical representation enables the visual display of the parameters to capture even more complex relationships and enter them into the tool.

Visual input of parameters requires so-called meta parameters or metadata. These give, for example, the

Position of an element in the function diagram to be created in the form of coordinates. These metaparameters are no longer required later for the operation of the control.

The entered parameter sets are translated into a machine-coded file in the personal computer and then via a communication link into the controller or in the controller Memory loaded. Since one wants to keep the costs for the memory of the controller low, the most compact possible storage is sought.

It is already known to reload the machine-coded file corresponding to the parameter sets from the control to the personal computer forming the parameter setting tool, so that the user can make parameter changes. It is necessary to retranslate the machine-coded file into a form that can be read and edited by the user. This retranslation is carried out using an additional software component. If the respective parameter set was generated via a visual representation, the retranslation mentioned includes the preparation of the machine data in a graphic representation.

Due to the need to save storage costs and the associated shortage of memory in the controller, in many cases the metaparameters or metadata that are required for the graphic display but not for the operation of the controller are not saved in the controller. For this reason, they are no longer immediately available for any necessary back-translation. One problem is therefore how the graphical representation can be generated in cases where the metadata is not saved in the controller.

To solve this problem, it has already been proposed to assign the metadata to a separate file and to store it on a floppy disk outside the control system. A disadvantage of this solution is that if the diskette is lost or the stored file is accidentally deleted, no visual display or graphical representation can take place if the machine-coded file is to be translated back into parameters that can be read and edited by the user. Another disadvantage of this solution is that when changing the parameter set is accidentally omitted to update the metadata as well. This can lead to strong deviations between the graphical representation at the time of the parameter input and the graphical representation at the time of the further updating of the parameter set. These deviations can be so great that the metadata can no longer be used.

Furthermore, in order to solve the problem mentioned, it has already been proposed to automatically generate a visual representation from the machine-coded file or the parameter set during the reloading, without using metadata. The disadvantage of this solution is that the visual representation obtained can deviate considerably from the original representation when the user is input.

The invention is based on this prior art

1 is based on the object of specifying a method and a device for parameterizing a control in which the disadvantages mentioned above do not occur.

This object is achieved by a method having the features specified in claim 1 and by a device having the features specified in claim 6. Advantageous refinements and developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The advantages of the invention consist in particular in that, without the need to store metadata, it is ensured that when a parameter set present in machine-coded form is reloaded from a controller into the parameterization tool, this parameter set can be visualized, which can be done with the input of the Parameters present visual representation matches. Another advantage of the invention is that the user enters the parameters of input of metadata or meta parameters is exempt, since this metadata, to which the coordinates of objects belong, is determined automatically. This means that the user is not burdened with display tasks that relate to the arrangement of the objects, but can concentrate on his main task, namely the creation of a function diagram.

The use of stored algorithms for the automatic placement of the objects and for the automatic insertion of selected object connections ensures that the image arrangement corresponds to the expectations of the users regarding the structure of the representation. The generated image is thus optimized in the course of the parameter input by the algorithm used, for example in the sense that the length of the connections and the number of changes in direction of the connections are reduced as much as possible.

Further advantageous properties of the invention result from its exemplary explanation with reference to the figures. Show it:

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram to explain a device according to the invention,

Figure 2 shows an example of a window display created using the graphics editor and

Figures 3a-f diagrams to illustrate the creation of a parameter set.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram to explain a device according to the invention. The device shown contains a personal computer PC which has a keyboard 1, a mouse 1 a, a processor unit 2 with a memory 2 a and a display 3. This personal computer that with suitable software is used as a parameterization tool, by means of which a user can create or enter the parameters of a parameter set. To simplify the creation of the parameters, the parameterization tool has a graphic editor, by means of which a graphic representation in the form of a function diagram takes place on the display 3.

The entered parameters or the created parameter set is translated in the processor unit 2 into a machine-coded file and fed via a communication link 4 to a controller 5 for its parameterization. There the said file is stored in a memory 5a, which is connected to a processing unit 5b.

If the parameter set is to be changed at a later point in time, then the machine-coded file is read out of the memory 5 a of the controller 5 and transmitted back to the processor unit 2 via the communication link 4. Using suitable software, the machine-coded file is converted back into a form that can be read and edited by the user, ie. H. into a graphic representation shown on the display 3 in the form of a function diagram, which corresponds to the original graphic representation when the parameters are entered.

According to the invention, neither when the parameters are originally entered nor when the machine-coded file is converted back into a form which can be read and edited by the user, metadata which indicate the position of an object in the function diagram in the form of coordinates are required. Instead, the objects are automatically placed in the parameterization tool, immediately after the inserted object has been connected to other objects. This is done using stored algorithms, as will be explained by way of example with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. For the above-mentioned conversion of the machine-coded file into one of the User-readable and editable form, the algorithms just need to be inverted. This advantageously ensures that the visual representation obtained after the reverse conversion corresponds to the visual representation present when the original parameters were entered.

In the following it is assumed that logical algebraic structures should be entered as parameters. A graphic editor is provided to make this entry easier for the user. This graphic editor works with objects and connections between the objects.

Objects are, for example, adders, subtractors, multipliers, dividers, amplifiers, negators, comparators, etc. All these objects are contained in a stored parameter list and are linked there with various possible properties. These objects are shown on the display using image files (bitmaps), each object being assigned its own image file. An object is opened or inserted into a displayed image by double-clicking after a cursor has been positioned on the respective image file shown on the display using the mouse 1a.

Connections characterize the relationships between two objects. When connecting two objects - as will be explained below - different rules apply. Different connection types are used, which depend on the objects or operants concerned. One type of connection indicates the presence of digital signals, another the presence of analog signals. The connections in the picture shown are displayed using lines. As part of entering consecutive

Objects, the connections are automatically adjusted the circumstances changed by entering a new object.

A separate window is assigned to the graphics editor. An example of such a window display is shown in FIG. 2. The window shown is structured in the sense of a grid, the grid lines of which are shown in the figure for illustration. The grid has a large number of columns and rows, each grid element having a width and a height which in each case correspond to 20 pixels.

The individual objects are placed in this grid using predefined rules. The placement is such that an object is assigned to a grid element. The distance between two objects corresponds at least to the distance between two neighboring grid lines. The distance of an object placed near the edge of the image from the edge of the image is at least the distance between two adjacent grid lines. If the user inserts a new object into the image, the processor unit 2 automatically checks whether the aforementioned conditions are met. If this is not the case, one, several or all objects in the image are automatically repositioned or shifted so that the conditions mentioned are met.

Each object has one or more connections. Their positions on the respective object are defined in advance and shown together with the object in the displayed image file.

There are three types of connections, namely connections over which analog values are transmitted, connections over which digital signals are transmitted, and nodes within the connections.

Objects can only be connected with connections at the predefined positions on the respective object. Only connections between mutually compatible objects or operands are possible. For example, an analog measured value cannot be connected to a digital object.

As a further rule, reverse connections in which the output of an object is connected to the input of an object arranged in a previous column are not permitted.

The number of allowed connections on each output connection is unlimited. Open output connections may not be permitted for certain objects, for example adders. If the user does not occupy an output connection of such an object, a warning is displayed.

If an output signal is fed to the inputs of several subsequent objects, the display of a node within the connections is automatically generated.

No connection should - if possible - cross another connection. As a result, when a parameter set or a logical algebraic structure is created, the image is constantly reorganized so that this rule can be observed.

If possible, all connections within a grid element will be displayed symmetrically. The distance between two connections or between a connection and an object must be at least 6 pixels wide. If there is not enough space to display all connections, the displayed image is automatically reorganized to meet this rule. Connections run only horizontally or vertically. The number of corners occurring within a connection becomes so small kept as possible. Different types of connections are shown differently graphically.

All of the aforementioned rules regarding the representation of the objects and the connections are combined to form an algorithm and stored in the software of the processor unit 2 stored in the memory 2a. During the input of the parameters mentioned, the processor unit 2 monitors compliance with the rules mentioned and automatically places the objects belonging to the parameter set within the displayed image.

This is explained in the following by way of example with reference to FIGS. 3a-3e, which show diagrams to illustrate the creation of a parameter set. In these figures, the grid elements are numbered for ease of understanding.

FIG. 3a shows an originally empty grid into which an adder ADD has been inserted. This adder, since the grid was still empty when the adder was inserted, can be inserted by the user anywhere in the grid. The processor unit 2, however, automatically moves this object to the grid position 2/2 after its generation, the first number indicating the column number and the second number indicating the row number.

The next input step is shown in FIG. 3b. For example, the two input objects AI shown are used by the user in column 1 in rows 1 and 3. However, using the stored algorithms, processor unit 2 automatically shifts these objects such that one input object AI automatically positions at grid position 2/2 and the other input object AI positions at grid position 2/4 and the already existing adder ADD to the grid position 4/2 is moved. An alternative input option, not shown in FIG. 3b, is to insert a new object, for example, in one of the columns 3 - 9. This is then automatically moved from the processor unit 2 to the grid position 4/2.

The next input step is shown in FIG. 3c. For example, a comparison object EQ (comparator) is inserted in row 1 of column 5. As can be seen from FIG. 3 c, this is automatically shifted to the grid position 6/2 by the processor unit 2.

The next input step is shown in FIG. 3d, in which an event object EVENT, for example a lamp or a result output element, is inserted into the image. This is automatically moved by the processor unit 2 to the grid position 8/2.

Alternative input options, not shown in FIG. 3d, consist, for example, of using a further input object in column 1, a subtraction level, etc. in column 3.

FIG. 3e shows the next input step in which connections are inserted into the image. The following connections are permitted:

- from 2/2 to 4/2;

- from 2/4 to 4/2;

- from 2/2 to 6/2;

- from 2/4 to 6/2;

- from 4/2 to 6/2; and

- from 6/2 to 8/2.

All other connections are not permitted due to the stored algorithm. The desired connection options are selected from the displayed. This are shown in Figure 3e. The dashed lines symbolize the presence of analog signals and the solid line the presence of a digital signal. The dark circle symbolizes a node.

FIG. 3f shows the next input step in which a further adder ADD is inserted into the image. This additional adder is to be connected to the output of the already existing adder ADD positioned at grid position 4/2. This further adder is automatically positioned by the processor unit 2 at the grid position 6/4. The already existing objects EQ and EVENT are automatically moved by the processor unit 2 to the grid positions 8/2 and 10/2.

In the parameter input described above, a cursor is advantageously used, by means of which a desired grid position can be marked. This can be done regardless of whether this grid position is already occupied or not. The movement of this cursor can also be used to control scrolling of the image in the window shown.

Once selected, objects can basically be inserted in any free grid position. After this insertion, the processor unit 2 automatically controls a repositioning of all objects and connections, taking into account the stored algorithms.

In principle, connections can be used using the mouse la. This is done by clicking on an object connection, holding down the left mouse button and moving the mouse to the target connection of the desired further object. If this connection is not permitted, a warning is displayed. Alternatively, connections can also be generated using an associated window.

Claims

claims

1. Method for parameterizing a controller, in which a parameter set relating to objects is created using a graphic editor, the created parameter set is converted into a machine code and the machine code is loaded into the controller via a communication connection, characterized in that the placement of the objects in a depicted Image is made automatically.

2. The method according to claim 1, ie, that object coordinates are automatically calculated for the automatic placement of the objects in the displayed image.

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, that the automatic placement of the objects in the displayed image is carried out using stored placement rules.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, that the parameter set further contains object connections and an object connection is automatically inserted into the displayed image after its selection.

5. The method of claim 4, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the automatic insertion of the object connection in the displayed image is carried out using stored connection rules.

6. Device for parameterizing a control, with a computer serving as a parameterizing tool, which has input means, a processor unit and a display, one Controller containing memory and a communication link which serves to transfer data between the computer and the controller, the processor unit being used to convert an object-related parameter set into a machine code and the display being used to show an image corresponding to the parameter set, characterized in that the processor unit ( 2) automatic placement of the objects in the image shown is provided.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6, so that the processor unit (2) has a memory (2a) in which a software program having placement rules is stored.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7, so that the processor unit (2) has a memory (2a) in which a software program having connection rules is stored.

9. Device according to one of claims 6-8, so that the processor unit (2) is provided for the conversion back of the machine code into a parameter set using the inverted placement rules and connection rules.