JP2019175302A - Apparatus controller and apparatus control method - Google Patents

Abstract

A device control device and a device control method that allow a device to be newly controlled to be added without changing a control program of the control device. A device control device (2) is assumed to control one or more target devices (5). For this purpose, a control device (1) that processes signals input from one or more input devices (4) and controls the operation of one or more output devices (3) obtains one or more signals obtained by the processing. An access unit (21) capable of acquiring data and a control unit (22) for controlling a target device using the data acquired by the access unit are provided. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a device control apparatus and a device control method for controlling a target device based on a signal input from one or more input devices.

  At work sites such as factories and warehouses, control devices are widely used. One or more input devices and one or more output devices are connected to the control device. The control device processes a signal from the input device and controls the operation of the output device. A PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) is a typical example of a control device.

  In factories and the like where control devices are widely used, surveillance cameras have been introduced in recent years, and there are many places where video taken by a surveillance camera is recorded continuously for 24 hours 365 days. The recorded video is usually stored for a predetermined period, and is discarded after the period.

  In the case of simply recording a video, in order to confirm the situation at the time of occurrence of a defect, it is necessary to look at the video to identify the time of occurrence of the problem. For this reason, it is common to see images for a relatively long period, and it is a fact that a specific operation often takes a long time. For this reason, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, only the images of the period before and after the time when the condition is satisfied are stored. An intrusion of a suspicious person into the factory, an abnormality occurring in a device installed as a production facility, etc. correspond to a defect here.

JP 2003-150211 A Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-087790

  When adding a surveillance camera capable of recording video before and after the time when the condition is satisfied, conventionally, a control program to be executed by the control device is changed, and a function is added to the control program. However, the change of the control program usually requires a great amount of cost because it requires a lot of time and labor for the operation verification even if the change portion is small. From this cost, control program changes should be avoided as much as possible.

  In the control device, since the control program is changed to add a function, the intended operation may not be performed by one or more output devices connected to the control device. This is because the timing of the signal output to the output device changes before and after the control program is changed. When the control device is used in a production system that is already operating in a factory or the like, there is a high probability that an output device that cannot perform the intended operation is generated because the number of output devices is large. When it is found that there is an output device that does not operate as intended, debugging must be performed, and then operation verification must be performed again. For this reason, operation verification is indispensable. Since this operation verification is also necessary, changing the control program is usually costly.

  In addition, there exists a thing which monitors the information which a control apparatus outputs as a signal outside in a prior art (for example, refer patent document 1 and patent document 2). The information is basically for controlling the output device. The content and timing of information output to the output device vary depending on the function and use of the output device. Many devices are usually improved in performance and multifunction, and in particular, the multifunction increases the amount of information for controlling the device. For this reason, the information obtained by monitoring is necessary for appropriate control of equipment that should be newly controlled, such as surveillance cameras, even if appropriate control of existing equipment is possible. It does not necessarily contain all the information.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a device control apparatus and a device control that can add a device to be newly controlled without changing a control program of the control device. It is in providing a method.

  The device control apparatus according to the present invention is based on the premise that the target device is controlled, and processes one or more data obtained from the control device that processes a signal input from the input device and controls the operation of the output device. And an access unit that can acquire the target device, and a control unit that controls the target device using the data acquired by the access unit.

  Further, the device control method according to the present invention is based on the premise that the device is a method for controlling an output device to be controlled based on a signal input from the input device. Information processing for controlling the output device to be added when a second control device is prepared and a new output device is added in addition to the first control device that processes the signal from When the device is selected from the first control device and the second control device, and the second control device is selected, one or more data obtained by the first control device performing processing is obtained. The second control device controls the output device to be added.

  According to the present invention, a device to be newly controlled can be added without changing the control program of the control device.

It is a figure explaining the structural example of the production system to which the apparatus control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention was applied. It is a figure explaining the function structural example of the calculating part mounted in the apparatus control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the example of an apparatus control process. It is a figure explaining the structural example of the production system to which the equipment control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention was applied. It is a figure explaining the structural example of the production system to which the equipment control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention was applied.

  Embodiments of a device control apparatus and a device control method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a production system to which a device control apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied. This production system is constructed in a factory or the like for product manufacture, and the device control apparatus 2 according to the first embodiment is applied to this production system. As shown in FIG. 1, the production system includes a control device 1, a production device 3, an abnormality detection sensor 4, and a control target device 5 in addition to the device control device 2.

  The production device 3 and the abnormality detection sensor 4 are connected to the control device 1, and the control target device 5 is connected to the device control device 2. The control device 1 is also connected to the device control device 2. The device control device 2 may be a device manufactured separately from the control device 1, but may be a device mounted on the control device 1.

  The production device 3 is an output device controlled by the control device 1, and is, for example, a part of equipment provided on the production line. Although only one unit is shown in FIG. 1, there are actually a plurality of units. In FIG. 1, the production device 3 and the control device 1 are directly connected, but the production device 3 may be connected to a slave of the control device 1. In other words, the production device 3 may be indirectly connected to the control device 1. Here, for convenience of explanation, only the production device 3 is assumed as an output device.

  The abnormality detection sensor 4 is an input device that outputs data necessary for the control device 1 to execute processing in the form of a signal. Although only one of the abnormality detection sensors 4 is shown in FIG. 1 as an input device, there are actually a plurality of other input devices. In FIG. 1, the abnormality detection sensor 4 and the control device 1 are directly connected, but the abnormality detection sensor 4 may be connected to a slave of the control device 1. That is, the abnormality detection sensor 4 may be indirectly connected to the control device 1. Here, for convenience of explanation, only the abnormality detection sensor 4 is assumed as an input device.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the abnormality detection sensor 4 includes a detection unit 41 and an output unit 42. The detection unit 41 is for detecting an abnormality that has occurred, and outputs a signal corresponding to the detection result. The output unit 42 converts the signal from the detection unit 41 into a signal that can be recognized by the control device 1 and outputs the signal. Here, a signal output from the output unit 42, that is, the abnormality detection sensor 4 is referred to as a “detection signal”. This detection signal is assumed to be active when the detection unit 41 detects an abnormality, and inactive when the detection unit 41 does not detect an abnormality.

  The control device 1 is a PLC, for example, and processes the detection signal from the abnormality detection sensor 4 to control the production device 3. For this purpose, the control device 1 includes a calculation unit 11, a memory unit 12, a diagnostic I / F (InterFace) 13, an input / output I / F 14, and a storage unit 15, as shown in FIG.

  The input / output I / F 14 is a hardware group that enables output of signals to the production equipment 3 and input of detection signals from the abnormality detection sensor 4. When the input / output I / F 14 receives a signal, the input / output I / F 14 outputs a digital signal representing the content of the signal to the arithmetic unit 11.

  The storage unit 15 is a non-volatile rewritable storage device such as a flash memory or an ERPM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory). The storage unit 15 is used for storing a control program described later.

  The memory unit 12 is a memory used by the arithmetic unit 11 for work, and corresponds to a normal main storage device, that is, a RAM (Random Access Memory). On the memory unit 12, a storage area 12a for a control program and a storage area 12b for data such as various state quantities and various calculation results are secured. Hereinafter, the data stored in the storage area 12b will be collectively referred to as “parameters”, and “12b” will be assigned as a code for distinction. Similarly, “12a” is assigned as a code to the control program stored in the storage area 12a. The control program 12 a is a program that resides on the memory unit 12.

  The size of the storage area 12b, the parameters stored in the storage area 12b, and the storage location thereof can be set by the user as part of the control program 12a. Accordingly, the control program 12a secures the storage area 12b on the memory unit 12 according to the setting contents, and stores various parameters on the storage area 12b according to the setting contents. Hereinafter, information indicating the setting contents related to the used resource in the memory unit 12 is referred to as “used resource setting information”.

  The arithmetic unit 11 is, for example, one or more CPUs (Central Processing Units), and processes a digital signal input from the input / output I / F 14 by executing a control program 12a resident in the storage area 12a of the memory unit 12. Then, the production equipment 3 is controlled. Control of the production device 3 is performed by outputting a digital signal representing a signal to be transmitted to the production device 3 from the calculation unit 11 to the input / output I / F 14. When the input / output I / F 14 outputs a signal corresponding to the digital signal to the production device 3, the production device 3 is driven by the control of the calculation unit 11.

  The diagnostic I / F 13 is hardware for connection with the device control apparatus 2. The device control apparatus 2 can access the memory unit 12 of the control device 1 by the diagnosis I / F 13. The standard of the diagnostic I / F 13 is not particularly limited.

  The device control device 2 is a single information processing device, and controls the control target device 5 connected directly or indirectly. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the control target device 5 includes an input / output unit 51, a control unit 52, and a drive unit 53.

  When the production system is a system built in a factory, the control target apparatus 5 is also an apparatus installed in the factory or outside the factory. Specifically, the control target device 5 is, for example, a surveillance camera. When the control target device 5 is a surveillance camera, the drive unit 53 is a photographing unit that captures a moving image, the input / output unit 51 is hardware that enables communication with the device control apparatus 2, and the control unit 52 is the device control apparatus 2. And a controller that manages the operation of the drive unit 53.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the device control apparatus 2 includes a monitoring I / F 21, a calculation unit 22, a memory unit 23, an input / output I / F 24, and a storage unit 25. The monitoring I / F 21 is hardware for connection with the control device 1. The calculation unit 22 is, for example, one or more CPUs, and executes processing for controlling the control target device 5.

  The storage unit 25 is a nonvolatile rewritable storage device such as a flash memory or a hard disk device. This storage unit 25 is used for storing various programs and data to be read out to the memory unit 23.

  The memory unit 23 is a memory used by the calculation unit 22 for work, and corresponds to a normal main storage device, that is, a RAM. On the memory unit 23, a storage area 23a for device control programs and a storage area 23b for data used for processing are secured. Hereinafter, data stored in the storage area 23b will be collectively referred to as “parameters”, and “23b” will be assigned as a symbol for distinction. The device control program stored in the storage area 23a is denoted by “23a” as a code.

  The input / output I / F 24 is a hardware group that enables communication with various types of control target devices 5. The calculation unit 22 controls the control target device 5 via the input / output I / F 24 by executing the device control program 23a.

  The control target device 5 is a device to be controlled according to the detection result by the abnormality detection sensor 4 or the control status of the control device 1. Thereby, the control target device 5 is a device that is normally controlled by the control device 1. In the first embodiment, among the devices to be controlled as output devices, the device control apparatus 2 controls devices that are not directly related to product manufacturing or that do not require relatively high-precision control. By setting it as the control object apparatus 5, the output apparatus is divided into two categories.

  The parameter 12 b of the control device 1, that is, the data stored in the storage area 12 b secured in the memory unit 12 includes the detection result by the abnormality detection sensor 4, data indicating the control status of the control device 1, and the like. For this reason, in the first embodiment, the computing unit 22 is caused to access the memory unit 12 via the monitoring I / F 21 to acquire the parameter 12b that is data stored in the storage area 12b. The acquired parameter 12b is stored in the storage area 23b in the memory unit 23 and is handled as the parameter 23b.

  The storage location of each parameter 12b stored on the storage area 12b as well as the storage area 12b can be specified from the use resource setting information. Therefore, by defining the access data created from the use resource setting information in the device control program 23a or preparing it as data to be referred to by the device control program 23a, the arithmetic unit 22 of the device control apparatus 2 can monitor the data. Necessary parameters 12b can be acquired from the control device 1 via the I / F 21 and the diagnostic I / F 13.

  Output devices that are directly related to the manufacture of products must be timely and accurately controlled. However, output devices that are not directly related to the manufacture of products, specifically monitoring cameras, display devices, etc., have a degree of control requirements, that is, timing requirements and accuracy requirements. Both are relatively low. For this reason, in the first embodiment, output devices are divided into two categories, and an output device with a low degree of control requirement is set as a control target device 5 and is controlled by the device control apparatus 2. Hereinafter, a category having a relatively high level of control requirement is referred to as a “first category”, and a category having a relatively low requirement level is referred to as a “second category”.

  When the device control apparatus 2 controls the output device belonging to the second category as the control target device 5, the frequency of changing the control program 12a executed by the control device 1 can be suppressed. This is because when adding an output device belonging to the second category, the device control apparatus 2 may control the added output device as the control target device 5. Even when an output device belonging to the second category is added by replacing it with another output device, it is possible to cause the device control apparatus 2 to control another output device. Therefore, by setting the output device belonging to the second category as the control target device 5, it is possible to cope with the addition of the output device belonging to the second category without changing the control program 12a.

  When the device control apparatus 2 newly controls an output device belonging to the second category by addition or replacement, it is necessary to change the device control program 23a. However, the change can be performed easily and in a short time compared to the control program 12a. Therefore, compared with the case where the control program 12a is changed by adding an output device belonging to the second category, it is possible to respond at a lower cost and in a shorter time.

  In the first embodiment, it is assumed that the position of the storage area 12b, the parameter 12b stored in the storage area 12b, and the storage location thereof are known in advance, but these are known in advance. Not necessary. For example, when there is a program tool capable of acquiring an arbitrary parameter 12b, the necessary parameter 12b may be acquired using the tool. For this reason, the acquisition method of the parameter 12b is not particularly limited.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a functional configuration example of the calculation unit 22 mounted in the device control apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As described above, the calculation unit 22 is, for example, a CPU. The functional configuration example shown in FIG. 2 is realized by executing the device control program 23 a resident in the memory unit 23 except for the memory unit 23.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the calculation unit 22 that executes the device control program 23 includes a main control unit 201, a first input / output control unit 202, and a second input / output control unit 203 as functional configurations. In addition to the parameter 23b, the memory unit 23 controls the condition data group 231 that is a collection of condition data representing the contents of the condition for controlling the control target device 5, and the control target device 5 that satisfies the condition. A control data group 232 that is a collection of control data representing contents to be stored is stored in the memory unit 23. The condition data group 231 and the control data group 232 are data groups that are read from the storage unit 25 to the memory unit 23, for example.

  The condition data group 231 and the control data group 232 are actually all or most of the data groups defined in the device control program 23a. Here, for convenience of explanation, the condition data group 231 and the control data group 232 are simulated for convenience.

  The first input / output control unit 202 is a function for accessing the control device 1 via the monitoring I / F 21. The main control unit 201 accesses the control device 1 via the first input / output control unit 202, acquires the parameter 12b from the control device 1, and stores the acquired parameter 12b in the memory unit 23 as the parameter 23b.

  The second input / output control unit 203 is a function that enables communication with the control target device 5 via the input / output I / F 24. The main control unit 201 controls the input / output I / F 24 via the second input / output control unit 203 to communicate with the control target device 5.

  The main control unit 201 manages the first input / output control unit 202 and the second input / output control unit 203 by using the memory unit 23 as a work, and executes processing for controlling the control target device 5. Reading of the device control program 23a from the storage unit 25 to the memory unit 23 is realized by the arithmetic unit 22 executing, for example, a program stored in the storage unit 25 as firmware or basic software.

  When the CPU executes the device control program 23a, the device control unit 210 is realized on the main control unit 201. As shown in FIG. 2, the device control unit 210 includes a parameter acquisition control unit 211, a comparison unit 212, a control content determination unit 213, and a control execution unit 214.

  The parameter acquisition control unit 211 is a function for performing control for acquiring the parameter 12 b from the control device 1. In order to acquire the parameter 12b, the parameter acquisition control unit 211 controls the first input / output control unit 202.

  When the control device 1 is a PLC, the parameter 12b includes data such as an internal relay, an internal register, a timer, and a counter. Other internal information that can be acquired from the control device 1 includes the operation state of the control device 1 itself, the device model name, the manufacturing number, and the like. Such data may be obtained from the control device 1 instead of the parameter 12b or together with the parameter 12b.

  The comparison unit 212 compares the parameter 23b, which is the acquired parameter 12b, or data generated using the parameter 23b with each condition data constituting the condition data group 231 and specifies a satisfied condition. It is.

  The value indicating the state of the detection signal output from the abnormality detection sensor 4 is one of the parameters 12b. Therefore, a newly satisfied condition can be specified in accordance with the transition of the detection signal from inactive to active, transition from active to inactive, time during which transition is active, and the like. In addition, when the parameter 12b includes data representing a state quantity such as a voltage value and a current value, a newly satisfied condition can be specified according to the state quantity.

  For example, when the control target device 5 is a surveillance camera, some surveillance cameras include a pan (P) for moving the shooting direction to the left and right, a tilt (T) for moving the shooting direction up and down, and a zoom (Z) for changing the shooting range. Some of them are equipped with a PTZ function. If the surveillance camera equipped with this PTZ function is the control target device 5, an arbitrary place can be photographed. For example, the production device 3 in which an abnormality is detected can be taken.

  Even if the shooting condition of the surveillance camera equipped with the PTZ function is changed by detecting an abnormality, it is not usually possible to take an image of the production device 3 at the moment when the abnormality is detected. However, when the timing at which an abnormality occurs can be predicted, the production device 3 at the moment when the abnormality actually occurs is photographed by changing the imaging conditions assuming the production device 3 where the abnormality is predicted in advance. can do.

  The video at the moment when the abnormality occurs may be useful for identifying the cause of the abnormality. Specifically, there are cases in which it is possible to respond more quickly and appropriately to dealing with an abnormality that has occurred and taking measures to suppress the occurrence of the abnormality. Accordingly, the prior response using the control target device 5 to the abnormality that occurs is very important in appropriately performing the production of the product.

  For this reason, in the first embodiment, not only the parameter 12b obtained from the control device 1, but also the data obtained from the parameter 12b, that is, the data to be changed according to the situation is used as the comparison target of the condition data. Thereby, the control object apparatus 5 can be utilized more effectively.

  Prediction of the timing of occurrence of an abnormality can be performed by utilizing a known technique such as deep learning. Input to the model constructed by deep learning includes data obtained from the parameter 12b, that is, data values, values calculated using one or more data, and data that cannot be obtained from the parameters 12b. May be. For example, in a motor used for transmitting power to the belt, the friction coefficient changes depending on the temperature, and therefore the environmental temperature may be input as data. When the motor driving conditions are changed according to the environmental temperature, the necessary power to the belt can be supplied more appropriately.

  The control content determination unit 213 is a function for specifying the control content for the control target device 5 that satisfies the conditions for executing the control. The control execution unit 214 is a function for executing control on the control target device 5 according to the specified control content.

  In order to execute control on the control target device 5 for each control content, the control execution unit 214 includes a trigger signal control unit 221, a device drive control unit 222, and a parameter operation control unit 223 as shown in FIG. . The notification control unit 241 shown in FIG. 2 is a component added in the third embodiment to be described later, and is not included in the first embodiment.

  The control target device 5 includes a device having a function of storing a record for only a set period before and after the time when the signal is input by a signal input. The trigger signal control unit 221 is a function for controlling such a device to output a signal for storing a record. Hereafter, the signal is referred to as “trigger signal”.

  The control target device 5 includes a device that can specifically instruct the operation content. The surveillance camera equipped with the PTZ function corresponds to an example of the device. The device drive control unit 222 is a function that realizes control for causing the control target device 5 such as a monitoring camera to perform an operation according to the situation.

  In the production device 3 controlled by the control device 1, it may be necessary to newly set an operation condition or change the setting content. For example, assuming that there is no possibility that the temperature of the production device 3 exceeds the allowable maximum temperature, and the upper limit temperature allowed by the production device 3 is not set, it is necessary to set the upper limit temperature due to changes in the environment or the like. There is a case. Even if an upper limit temperature is set, it may be found that the upper limit temperature is inappropriate. In addition, in the production equipment 3 that performs processing using a jig that requires exchanging a drill or the like, there is a case where an upper limit is set for the processing time or the number of times of processing when the jig is used for processing. This setting of the upper limit corresponds to the setting of the timing at which maintenance / inspection work, that is, maintenance should be performed. Among the production devices 3, there is a device in which an abnormality may be detected due to some temporary factor, for example, a temporary low voltage, generation of relatively large noise, or the like. The production device 3 in which an abnormality is detected due to a temporary factor may not actually cause an abnormality.

  For this reason, the parameter operation control unit 223 refers to the parameter actually used for control in the parameter 12b stored by the control device 1 or a parameter to be newly used for control. This is a function that realizes control for manipulating parameter values used for control. By this parameter operation control unit 223, the production device 3 is stopped at a temperature exceeding the upper limit temperature, the upper limit temperature is changed, the machining time with reference to the torque value that changes depending on the state of the jig, for example, the drill blade, or the machining It is possible to extend the number of times and release the stop of the production device 3 stopped due to a temporary failure. In other words, the production device 3 directly controlled by the control device 1 is controlled by the device control device 2 with different contents, for example, control with changed conditions, control using unused functions, and more complicated Control that requires processing can be performed. Therefore, advantages such as more appropriate operation of the production system and improvement of the operation efficiency can be obtained. Since the change of the parameter value as described above does not directly affect the operation of the production equipment 3, even if the value of the parameter is changed, basically no problem occurs in the execution of the control program 12a.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of device control processing. This device control process is a process realized by the computing unit 22 executing the device control program 23a, and the device control program 23a is executed, for example, every time a predetermined time elapses or according to an instruction from the outside. . The device control unit 210 is realized by the CPU executing this device control process. Next, the device control process will be described in detail with reference to FIG. A device control unit 210 is assumed as a main body that executes processing.

  First, in S31, the device control unit 210 performs monitoring for acquiring the parameter 12b stored in the control device 1. This monitoring is performed by controlling the monitoring I / F 21 via the first input / output control unit 202 as described above.

  Next, in S32, the device control unit 210 compares the parameter 12b acquired by monitoring or the data generated from the parameter 12b with each condition data in the condition data group 231 on the memory unit 23 to newly satisfy the condition. The specified conditions are identified. In subsequent S33, the device control unit 210 determines whether or not there is a newly satisfied condition. If one or more newly satisfied conditions exist, the determination in S33 is YES and the process proceeds to S34. If there is no newly satisfied condition, the determination in S33 is NO, and the device control process ends here.

  In S <b> 34, the device control unit 210 refers to the corresponding condition data in the control data group 232 on the memory unit 23 for each newly satisfied condition, so that the target control along the referenced condition data is performed. The target device 5 is controlled or the value of the parameter 12b managed by the control device 1 is manipulated. Thereafter, the device control process ends.

  In the first embodiment, only the control target device 5 is connected to the device control apparatus 2, but an input device is connected so that a signal input from the input device is reflected in the control of the control target device 5. Anyway. This is because an input device that outputs a signal that is not directly related to the control of the output device belonging to the first category may be connected to the device control apparatus 2. When such an input device is connected to the device control apparatus 2, addition of the input device can be handled without changing the control program 12a.

  In the first embodiment, the object to be referred to and the object to be manipulated are the parameters 12b managed by the control device 1. In many cases, a plurality of control devices 1 such as PLCs are installed. For this reason, the control device that manages the object to be referred to may be different from the control device that manages the object whose value is to be manipulated. For example, the parameter 12b managed by the control device 1 may be referred to, and a plurality of parameters of the control device 1 and other control devices may be set as operation targets of the device control apparatus 2. In such a case, since a plurality of control devices are made to correspond to one device control apparatus 2, it is possible to more easily add a device to be newly controlled.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a production system to which the device control apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is applied. In FIG. 4, the same reference numerals are given to the same or basically the same components as those in the first embodiment. Accordingly, with reference to FIG. 4, the description will be made in a manner that focuses only on portions that differ from the first embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the control device 1, the device control device 2, and the control target device 5 are connected to a network 6. Thereby, the device control apparatus 2 controls the control target device 5 by an instruction via the network 6.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a production system to which the device control apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention is applied. Also in FIG. 5, the same reference numerals are given to the same or basically the same components as those in the first embodiment. Accordingly, with reference to FIG. 5, the description will be given in a form that focuses only on portions different from the first embodiment.

  In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the production system includes two networks 61 and 62. The network 61 is connected to the control device 1, the device control device 2, the production device 3, and the abnormality detection sensor 4. The other network 62 is connected to the device control apparatus 2 and the control target device group 500. As the control target device group 500, FIG. 5 shows three units of the monitoring camera 5 (1), the recorder 5 (2), and the display device 5 (3). The surveillance camera 5 (1) includes a position driving unit 53a that enables the photographing direction to be changed.

  The recorder 5 (2) is used for storing the video imaged by the surveillance camera 5 (1). The device control apparatus 2 controls the surveillance camera 5 (1) and the recorder 5 (2) together to store the video captured by the surveillance camera 5 (1) as data in the recorder 5 (2). For this purpose, the surveillance camera 5 (1) transmits the captured video to the recorder 5 (2), for example, via the network 62.

  In the third embodiment, the control device 1 and the device control device 2 are not directly connected. For this reason, the diagnostic I / F 13 is not required for the control device 1, and the monitoring I / F 21 is not required for the device control apparatus 2. Thereby, in FIG. 5, the diagnostic I / F 13 and the monitoring I / F 21 are omitted. The acquisition of the parameter 12b from the control device 1 of the device control apparatus 2 and the change of the parameter 12b are both performed by a request from the device control apparatus 2 via the network 61.

  By setting the display device 5 (3) as a control target, the device control device 2 can provide various information to a worker or the like via the display device 5 (3). Therefore, in the third embodiment, a notification control unit 241 is added to the control execution unit 214 as shown in FIG. The notification control unit 241 controls a device that can provide information, such as the display device 5 (3), and performs control for providing necessary information in a timely manner.

  Many of the production devices 3 are configured such that a signal indicating the state is input directly or indirectly to the control device 1 by an input device. The value represented by the signal is stored as one of the parameters 12b. Thereby, it is possible to estimate the change in the state of the production device 3 and / or predict the time when the change occurs according to the change in the value. The estimation of the change and the prediction of the timing can be performed by comparison with the corresponding condition data. Here, the condition data to be compared includes a threshold value to be compared with the output result of the model constructed by deep learning.

  For example, it is assumed that the production device 3 is a device that rotates a drill. The torque value during rotation of the drill varies depending on the state of the drill blade. As the blade wears, the torque value increases. As the drill breaks, the torque value decreases rapidly. The torque value can be stored in the control device 1 as one of the parameters 12b.

  For this reason, information related to maintenance can be provided in a timely manner by referring to the parameter 12b. If the production device 3 is a device that rotates a drill, for example, when the torque value exceeds a threshold value, timely information such as the time for replacing the drill or the need to replace the drill is provided. can do. The notification control unit 241 performs control such that necessary information is displayed in a timely manner under the control of the display device 5 (3). By such control, the operational efficiency of the production equipment 3 can be improved. Therefore, it is useful for realizing higher productivity.

  In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the production device 3 is connected to the device control apparatus 2 via a network 61. From this, additional control over the production equipment 3 can be performed by the equipment control device 2. Thereby, for example, when the control device 1 is not compatible, the production device 3 may be urgently stopped by the control of the device control device 2.

  In the first to third embodiments, the device control apparatus 2 acquires the parameter 12b directly from the control device 1, but the parameter 12b may be acquired indirectly. For example, by causing the control device 1 to transmit the parameter 12b to another information processing device, the device control device 2 may acquire the parameter 12b from the information processing device. The parameter 12b is acquired by an operation from the device control apparatus 2 side, but may be performed by an operation from the control device 1 side. For example, when the content of the parameter 12b is updated, the updated parameter 12b may be transmitted to the device control apparatus 2 by the control device 1. In that case, the device control apparatus 2 may execute the device control process shown in FIG. 3 by receiving the parameter 12b.

  In the first to third embodiments, the device control program 23a is stored in the storage unit 25 and read out to the memory unit 23. However, the device control program 23a is stored in the device control apparatus 2 or directly. It is not necessary to store the data in the connected non-volatile recording medium. That is, the device control program 23a may be one that can be received by the device control apparatus 2 via a network or the like as necessary. Therefore, the recording medium may be a storage medium connected to the network, a storage medium accessible by the information processing apparatus, or the like.

  1 control device, 2 device control device, 3 production device, 4 abnormality detection sensor, 5 control target device, 5 (1) camera, 5 (2) recorder, 5 (3) display device, 6, 61, 62 network, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Calculation part, 12, 23 Memory part, 12a, 12b, 23a, 23b Storage area, 13 Diagnostic I / F, 14, 24 Input / output I / F, 15, 25 Storage part, 21 Monitoring I / F, 22 Calculation part (Control unit), 41 detection unit, 42 output unit, 51 input / output unit, 52 control unit, 53 drive unit, 201 main control unit, 202 first input / output control unit, 203 second input / output control unit, 210 device control 211, parameter acquisition control unit, 212 comparison unit, 213 control content determination unit, 214 control execution unit, 221 trigger signal control unit, 222 device drive control unit, 223 parameter Work control unit, 231 condition data group, 232 control data group 241 notifies the control unit.

Claims (8)

In the device control device that controls the target device,
An access unit capable of acquiring one or more data obtained by the processing from a control device that processes a signal input from the input device and controls the operation of the output device;
A control unit for controlling the target device using the data acquired by the access unit;
A device control device comprising: The control unit estimates the time when an event occurs in the output device based on a change in the value of the data, and controls the target device.
The device control apparatus according to claim 1. The control unit estimates the time when maintenance / inspection work is required for the output device as the time when the event occurs, and controls the target device.
The apparatus control apparatus according to claim 2. The control unit changes the control content of the control device by operating the value of target data to be operated in the data,
The apparatus control apparatus of any one of Claims 1-3. The control unit refers to the data, identifies target data whose value is to be manipulated in the data, and manipulates the value of the target data using the access unit.
The device control apparatus according to claim 4. The control unit identifies the target data based on a change in the value of the data.
The device control apparatus according to claim 5. An access unit capable of acquiring one or more data obtained by the processing from a control device that processes a signal input from the input device and controls the operation of the output device;
A control unit that changes the control content of the control device by operating a value of target data to be operated in the data acquired by the access unit using the access unit;
A device control device comprising: A device control method for controlling an output device to be controlled based on a signal input from an input device,
As an information processing device that controls the output device, in addition to the first control device that processes the signal from the input device and controls the output device, a second control device is prepared,
When newly adding an output device, an information processing device that controls the output device to be added is selected from the first control device and the second control device,
When the second control device is selected, one or more data obtained by the first control device performing the processing is referred to, and the second control device controls the output device to be added. Let
Device control method.

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