Method for Starting Up a Controller System, and Controller System

Abstract

A method for starting up a controller system having at least one electric controller and a plurality of hardware modules of different types which can be coupled to the controller. To each type of hardware module there is assigned a type-specific parameter set and a type-specific control program. A respective parameter set has a quantity of parameters with adjustable parameter values. The method has the steps of: coupling a hardware module to the controller, determining the type of the coupled hardware module by way of the controller, selecting the type-specific control program by way of the controller, and by way of the controller, selecting the type-specific parameter set as an adjustable parameter set.

Claims

1. to 9. (canceled)

10. A method for starting up a controller system, comprising: at least one electrical controller; and a plurality of hardware modules of different types which are couplable to the controller, wherein a type-specific parameter set and a type-specific control program are assigned to each type of hardware module, and wherein a respective parameter set has a set of parameters with adjustable parameter values, wherein the method comprises the steps of: coupling a hardware module to the controller; using the controller to determine the type of coupled hardware module; using the controller to select the type-specific control program; and using the controller to select the type-specific parameter set as the adjustable parameter set.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the hardware modules are field bus modules for field buses of different types, the hardware modules are transducer modules for transducers of different types, and/or the hardware modules are safety modules of different types.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the control program is selected from a memory inside the controller.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein all type-specific parameter sets are loaded from a memory outside the controller into a parameter set memory inside the controller, and the type-specific parameter set is selected from the parameter set memory inside the controller.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the steps of: adjusting values of parameters in the loaded parameter set; and storing the adjusted values.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the controller is a frequency converter, a servo converter or a motion controller.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the controller system further comprises an operating device which is operable in a start-up mode and in a diagnostic mode, the method further comprises the steps of: coupling the operating device to the controller, wherein the parameters in all type-specific parameter sets are visible and adjustable in the start-up mode irrespective of the type of hardware module coupled to the controller, and wherein only the parameters in the parameter set corresponding to the type of hardware module coupled to the controller are visible and adjustable in the diagnostic mode.

17. A controller system, comprising: at least one electrical controller; and a plurality of hardware modules of different types which are couplable to the controller, wherein a type-specific parameter set and a type-specific control program are assigned to each type of hardware module, wherein a respective parameter set has a set of parameters with adjustable parameter values, wherein the controller is configured to execute the acts of: determining a type of hardware module coupled to the controller; selecting the type-specific control program; and selecting the type-specific parameter set as the adjustable parameter set.

18. The controller system according to claim 17, further comprising: an operating device which is configured to adjust the parameter values.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The invention is described in detail below with reference to the drawing, in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 schematically shows a controller system having an electrical controller, which is started up by means of a method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIG. 1 schematically shows a controller system 1. The controller system 1 has, by way of example, an electrical controller 2 in the form of a frequency converter. It goes without saying that the controller system 1 can have a multiplicity of controllers.

[0027] The controller system 1 also has a plurality of (here, three by way of example) hardware modules 3a, 3b, 3c of different types which can be coupled to the controller 2. In the present case, the hardware modules 3a, 3b, 3c are field bus modules for field buses of different types; for example, the hardware module 3a is a PROFINET field bus module, the hardware module 3b is an EtherCAT field bus module, and the hardware module 3c is an Ethernet/IP field bus module.

[0028] A type-specific driver program or control program 5a, 5b, 5c is assigned to each type of hardware module 3a, 3b, 3c, wherein the control program 5a is, for example, a PROFINET stack, the control program 5b is an EtherCAT stack, and the control program 5c is an Ethernet/IP stack. The control programs 5a, 5b, 5c are stored in a memory 6 inside the controller 2.

[0029] A type-specific parameter set 4a, 4b, 4c is also assigned to each type of hardware module 3a, 3b, 3c, wherein a respective parameter set 4a, 4b, 4c has a set of parameters with adjustable parameter values which need to be adjusted in a suitable manner during start-up.

[0030] The controller 2 is started up as follows.

[0031] In a step 1 (symbolized by the number 1 inside a circle), one of the hardware modules 3a, 3b or 3c is coupled to the controller 2 by virtue of it being plugged into a plug connection of the controller 2 provided for this purpose, for example. The controller 2 now identifies the type of hardware module which has been plugged in. A type-specific identifier can be written to each hardware module 3a, 3b or 3c, for example during its manufacture, and stipulates whether a PROFINET, an EtherCAT or an Ethernet/IP field bus module is involved, for example. This identifier is read out in a boot sequence of the controller 2, with the result that the controller 2 has knowledge of the type of hardware module which has been plugged in.

[0032] In a step 2 (symbolized by the number 2 inside a circle), the controller 2 selects the control program matching the identified type of hardware module from the memory 6 and loads the selected control program into an FPGA 9. The control program contains all IP cores/stacks required for the field bus used. On the basis of the control program which has been loaded, the FPGA then processes a protocol stack matching the field bus used.

[0033] In a step 3 (symbolized by the number 3 inside a circle), the controller 2 loads all parameter sets 4a to 4c belonging to the hardware modules 3a, 3b, 3c from an SD card 7 into an internal parameter set memory 10. Alternatively, the parameter sets 4a to 4c can also be loaded from a superordinate control system.

[0034] In a step 4 (symbolized by the number 4 inside a circle), the controller 2 then selects the parameter set matching the identified type of hardware module from the parameter set memory 10, and then loads the selected parameter set as the adjustable parameter set, with the result that the parameters in the loaded parameter set are available for parameterizing the electrical controller 2.

[0035] These steps make it possible to implement a project for different field bus connections. If a PROFINET hardware module is plugged in, the PROFINET stack and the PROFINET parameters are also available; if another hardware module is plugged in, the corresponding data are loaded.

[0036] The controller system 1 may have an operating device 8 which is designed to adjust the parameter values.

[0037] The operating device can be operated in a start-up mode, illustrated on the left by way of example, and in a diagnostic mode, illustrated on the right by way of example.

[0038] The parameters in all type-specific parameter sets 4a, 4b, 4c are visible and adjustable in the start-up mode irrespective of the type of hardware module 3a, 3b, 3c coupled to the controller 2, symbolized by way of example by the number 5 inside a circle.

[0039] In contrast, only the parameters in that parameter set 4a, 4b, 4c which corresponds to the type of hardware module 3a, 3b, 3c coupled to the controller 2 are visible and adjustable in the diagnostic mode, symbolized by the number 6 inside a circle.

[0040] In other words, all parameters of all possible field buses are displayed in the start-up mode and can be adjusted by a start-up engineer. That is to say, during start-up, all field buses can be parameterized regardless of whether or not they are currently plugged in as a module. The start-up mode should be adjusted for a system developer, for example when planning the controller system, whereas the diagnostic mode is useful for an end user who would only like to parameterize the actually prevailing configuration.

[0041] The embodiments were described in the context of hardware modules in the form of field bus modules. It goes without saying that the invention can also be used in the context of all hardware modules which can be coupled to the controller and which entail a higher degree of software complexity in the controller. In particular, this applies to transducer modules and/or safety modules, especially if they use higher-quality and more complex protocols.