Method for Operating an Application Program for Executing in an Electric Control Unit for a Drive System, Electric Control Unit, Drive System and System

Abstract

A method for operating an application program for executing in an electric control unit for a drive system includes managing at least one application parameter using an application parameter manager.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A method for operating an application program for execution on an electrical control unit for a drive system, the method comprising the steps of: providing an application parameter manager; and managing at least one application parameter by way of the application parameter manager.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the application parameter manager is added to the application program.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of: defining the at least one application parameter by way of the application program; and making the at least one defined application parameter available to the application parameter manager via a pilot module added to the application program.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of: managing at least one device parameter by way of a device parameter manager, wherein the device parameter manager is added to firmware on the electrical control unit.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of: distributing data from outside the electrical control unit relating to the at least one application parameter or the at least one device parameter by way of a parameter manager distributor on the electrical control unit, wherein the parameter manager distributor distributes data relating to the at least one device parameter to the device parameter manager and distributes data relating to the at least one application parameter to the application parameter manager.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the electrical control unit is a frequency converter, a servo converter, a motion controller or a Visu controller.

17. An electrical control unit for a drive system, comprising: an application program for execution on the electrical control unit; and an application parameter manager for managing at least one application parameter.

18. The electrical control unit according to claim 17, further comprising: a device parameter manager for managing at least one device parameter, wherein the device parameter manager is added to firmware on the electrical control unit.

19. A drive system, comprising: an actuator; and an electrical control unit according to claim 17, wherein the electrical control unit is designed to control the actuator.

20. The drive system according to claim 19, wherein the actuator is an electric motor.

21. A system, comprising: an actuator; an electrical control unit comprising an application program for execution on the electrical control unit and an application parameter manager for managing at least one application parameter; and a user operable control device by which a user manages the at least one application parameter.

22. The system according to claim 21, further comprising: a device parameter manager of the electrical control unit for managing at least one device parameter, wherein the device parameter manager is added to firmware on the electrical control unit; and wherein the user operable control device allows the user to manage the at least one device parameter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a system according to the invention with a drive system according to the invention with an electrical control unit according to the invention when carrying out a method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a system 5 according to the invention. The system 5 has a, in particular electrical, drive system 10. The drive system 10 has an electrical control unit 20 according to the invention and an actuator 30 in the form of an electric motor. The control unit 20 is designed to control the actuator 30. In detail, the control unit 20 is electrically connected to the actuator 30, as indicated in FIG. 1 by a dotted line.

[0043] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the electrical control unit 20 is a frequency converter. In alternative exemplary embodiments, the control unit is a servo converter, a motion controller or a Visu controller. In addition, a DBA system is shown in the present case. In alternative exemplary embodiments, a CBA system can additionally or alternatively be present.

[0044] Additionally, the drive system 10 has a sensor 40. The sensor 40 has the electrical control unit 20 and additionally the actuator 30 associated with it. The control unit 20 is designed to take a sensor signal, not depicted, of the sensor 40 as a basis for controlling the actuator 30. In detail, the control unit 20 is in signal contact with the sensor 40, as indicated in FIG. 1 by a dashed line.

[0045] In alternative exemplary embodiments, the drive system can have more than the one electrical control unit, in particular at least two, in particular at least five, in particular at least ten. In particular, the control unit in the case of a CBA system can have a controller and just a single or more than one converter, in particular at least two, in particular at least five, in particular at least ten. Additionally, the drive system in alternative exemplary embodiments can have more than the one actuator, in particular at least two, in particular at least five, in particular at least ten. Further, the drive system in alternative exemplary embodiments can have more than the one sensor, in particular at least two, in particular at least five, in particular at least ten. The control unit can have more than the one associated actuator, for example for the case of what are known as two- or multiple-axis applications. Moreover, the control unit can have more than the one associated sensor.

[0046] A method according to the invention for operating an application program SP in the form of a PLC-based program for execution on the electrical control unit 20 for the drive system 10 has the step of: managing at least one application parameter AP by way of an application parameter manager APV. In detail, the application parameter manager APV is designed to manage the at least one application parameter AP.

[0047] The electrical control unit 20 according to the invention for the drive system 10 has the application program SP for execution on the control unit 20 and the application parameter manager APV for managing the at least one application parameter AP. In detail, the control unit 20 is designed to execute the application program SP to operate the drive system 10. In addition, the system 5 or its drive system 10 or its control unit 20 is designed to carry out the method.

[0048] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the electrical control unit 20 has the one application program SP. In alternative exemplary embodiments, the control unit can have more than one application program, in particular at least two, in particular at least five, in particular at least ten. Additionally, the control unit can be designed to execute multiple, in particular different, application programs, in particular with different and/or at least to some extent the same application parameter/s, beside one another or in parallel.

[0049] In detail, application parameter manager APV is added to the application program SP, in particular integrated into the application program SP. In alternative exemplary embodiments, the application parameter manager does not need to be added to the application program.

[0050] Further, the method has the step of: defining the at least one application parameter AP by means of the application program SP; making the at least one defined application parameter AP available to the application parameter manager APV by means of a pilot module KM. The pilot module KM is added to the application program SP, in particular integrated into the application program SP. In detail, the pilot module KM is designed to make the at least one defined application parameter AP available to the application parameter manager APV.

[0051] Moreover, the method has the step of: managing at least one device parameter GP by means of a device parameter manager GPV. The device parameter manager GPV is added to firmware FW on the electrical control unit 20, in particular integrated into the firmware FW. In detail, the device parameter manager GPV is designed to manage the at least one device parameter GP.

[0052] The electrical control unit 20 has the device parameter manager GPV for managing the at least one device parameter GP. The device parameter manager GPV is added to the firmware FW on the control unit 20, in particular integrated into the firmware FW.

[0053] In addition, the system 5 has a user-operable control device 60 in the form of a management PC with an output device in the form of a display and an adjusting device or an input device in the form of a keyboard and a mouse for a user to manage the at least one application parameter AP and/or the at least one device parameter GP.

[0054] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the user-operable control device 60 is produced apart from the drive system 10 or its electrical control unit 20. The control device 60 is coupled to the control unit 20 and is in data contact with the control unit 20 for the purpose of interchanging data DA, in particular via an interface 50 of the control unit 20, as indicated in FIG. 1 by a solid line. Before and/or after management, the control device does not need to be in data contact with the control unit. In alternative exemplary embodiments, the control unit and/or the drive system can have the control device.

[0055] Additionally, the method has the step of: distributing data DA from outside the electrical control unit 20, in particular from the user-operable control device 60, relating to the at least one application parameter AP or the at least one device parameter GP by means of a parameter manager distributor PVV on the control unit 20. The parameter manager distributor PVV distributes data DA relating to the at least one device parameter GP to the device parameter manager GPV and distributes data DA relating to the at least one application parameter AP to the application parameter manager APV. In detail, the parameter manager distributor PVV is designed to distribute data DA relating to the at least one device parameter GP to the device parameter manager GPV and to distribute data DA relating to the at least one application parameter AP to the application parameter manager APV.

[0056] As the exemplary embodiments shown that are explained above demonstrate, the invention provides an advantageous method for operating an application program for execution on an electrical control unit for a drive system that facilitates operation of the application program, and an electrical control unit, a drive system having an electrical control unit of this kind and a system having an electrical control unit of this kind and/or a drive system of this kind.