Data logging apparatus

Details Data logging apparatus Data logging apparatus

1996-02-01

2002-04-30

Grant, William (Department: 2121)

Data processing: generic control systems or specific application

Generic control system, apparatus or process

Plural processors

C700S007000, C709S208000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06381501

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a data logging apparatus which logs data including those stored in a programmable logic controller or those on a communication line.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 58
is a block diagram illustrating the general configuration of a conventional type of data logging apparatus, and in this figure, designated at the reference numeral
1
-
24
is a programmable logic controller (called PLC hereinafter), at
1
-
1
a memory incorporated in the PLC, at
1
-
15
a controller for FA (called FAC hereinafter), at
1
-
30
a data collecting/storing means for reading data stored in the memory
1
-
1
incorporated in the PLC
1
-
24
, at
1
-
6
an auxiliary memory, and at
1
-
7
a memory.
Next, operations of the data logging apparatus according to the present invention will be described. First, a logging processing sequence in FAC
1
-
15
with reference to a flow chart shown in
FIG. 59
will be described. The FAC
1
-
15
collects data from the memory
1
-
1
in each PLC
1
-
24
with the data collecting/accumulating means
1
-
30
(S
1
-
110
). Then the collected data is stored in the auxiliary memory
1
-
6
or the memory
1
-
7
by the data collecting/accumulating means
1
-
30
(S
1
-
111
).
FIG. 60
is a block diagram illustrating the general configuration of a conventional type of PLC, and in this figure, designated at the reference numeral
7
-
1
is a CPU which executes a user program, at
7
-
2
a memory in which programs including user programs and those for data logging are stored, at
7
-
3
an I/O device which turns ON an LED or inputs the state of a switch.
FIG. 61
is a block diagram illustrating contents of a PLC memory, and in this figure, designated at the reference numeral
7
-
8
is a program in which a program for inputting state of a switch with the I/O device
7
-
3
and a user program for providing LED displays or for other purposes and a data logging program for logging the state of a switch at a certain interval are combined, and at
7
-
9
is a device area for user programs as well as for data logging.
FIG. 62
is a functional diagram illustrating functions of a conventional type of data logging apparatus, while
FIG. 63
is a flow chart illustrating operations of a conventional type of data logging apparatus. At first, the input state of a switch or other device is read from the I/O device
7
-
3
(S
7
-
4
). Then, the input state is written in the device area
7
-
9
(S
7
-
5
). A data logging process is executed, and the logged data is written in the device area
7
-
9
(S
7
-
6
). Then the data is read from the device area, and output is executed by the I/O device (S
7
-
7
).
FIG. 64
is a block diagram illustrating the general configuration of a conventional type of data logging apparatus, and in this figure, designated at the reference numeral
8
-
1
is an I/F for executing communications with the FAC, said FAC reading data stored in the device area in the PLC, accumulating the data therein, and displaying the stored data on a CRT screen, at
8
-
2
is an I/F for executing communications with the PLC, at
8
-
3
is a CPU which executes a user program for the FAC, and at
8
-
4
is a memory in which device data read out from the PLC or results of computing by a user program are stored.
FIG. 65
is an explanatory view showing contents of a memory in a conventional type of FAC, and in this figure, designated at
8
-
11
is device data read from the PLC, at
8
-
12
is a user program which executes processing with the device data
8
-
11
, and at
8
-
13
user program data processed by the user program
8
-
12
. The user program changes the current value (to the device data), and computes a maximum value or others from the device value. The reference numeral
8
-
14
indicates log data.
FIG. 66
is a block diagram illustrating the general configuration of a conventional type of data logging apparatus, while
FIG. 67
is a flow chart illustrating processing operations of the data logging apparatus shown in
FIG. 66. A
user program reads out device data from the PLC (S
8
-
17
). Then device data conversion is executed (for instance, *
50
(multiplication)) (S
8
-
18
), and the converted device data is written in the user program data
8
-
13
(S
8
-
19
). Then a maximum value, a minimum value, an average, and a total are computed according to the device value, the values are written in the user program
8
-
12
(S
8
-
20
), the device value is written in the log data
8
-
14
, and a logging number is advanced by 1 (S
8
-
21
).
FIG. 68
is a block diagram illustrating the general configuration of a conventional type of data logging apparatus, and in this figure, the reference numeral
9
-
2
indicates a clock for measuring time for reading a device value from the PLC.
FIG. 70
is an explanatory drawing illustrating contents of a memory in a conventional type of FAC. In this figure, the reference numeral
9
-
6
indicates a user program for reading a device from the PLC and setting up a date and time, while the reference numeral
9
-
7
indicates log data for a current value, the date and time to be written in.
FIG. 69
is a functional drawing illustrating functions of a conventional type of data logging apparatus, while
FIG. 71
is a flow chart illustrating processing operations of a conventional type of data logging apparatus. In this figure, a user program reads out a date and time from the clock and writes the values in the log data (S
9
-
10
).
FIG. 72
is a flow chart illustrating processing operations of a conventional type of data logging apparatus. The user program checks whether there is any logging condition for execution of logging or not ( S
10
-
5
). If logging is required, processes S
8
-
17
to S
8
-
21
are executed. Then, processing is executed using logged data, or other processing is executed (S
10
-
6
).
FIG. 73
is a block diagram illustrating the general configuration of a conventional type of data logging apparatus, and in this figure, the reference numeral
11
-
1
indicates a CRT on which a result of logging is displayed, while the reference numeral
11
-
2
indicates a printer which prints the result of logging.
FIG. 74
is an explanatory drawing showing contents of a memory in a conventional type of FAC, and in this figure, the reference numeral
11
-
6
indicates a user program which gives an instruction for printing to the printer
11
-
2
.
FIG. 75
is a functional drawing illustrating functions of a conventional type of data logging apparatus.
FIG. 76
is a flow chart illustrating processing operations of a conventional type of data logging apparatus. The user program makes a determination as to whether displaying or printing is required or not (S
11
-
7
), and if it is determined that such an operation is required, the operation for displaying or printing is executed (S
11
-
8
).
FIG. 79
is a block diagram illustrating the general configuration of a conventional type of data logging apparatus, and FAC
1
and FAC
2
read a device value and execute a data logging process respectively.
FIG. 77
is a functional drawing illustrating functions of a conventional type of data logging apparatus, while
FIG. 78
is a flow chart illustrating processing operations of a conventional type of data logging apparatus. The user program
13
-
5
for FAC
1
transmits a request for receiving a device value to the PLC (S
13
-
5
), waits for reply from the PLC indicating reception of the device value (S
13
-
6
), and then transmits a signal indicating that the reply was received to the PLC (S
13
-
7
). Also the user program for the FAC
2
executes the same processing when communicating with the PLC. In the process to send and receive a signal to and from the PLC, checking that a request for receiving from the PLC is executed (S
13
-
8
), and if the request for receiving has been issued, a reply indicating receipt is sent to the FAC (S
13
-
9
), then, the end of receiving is awaited (S
13
-
10
).
Technical documents relating to this invention include Japanese Patent l

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