Automation System Field Device, Controller and Method for Operating the Automation System for Carrying Out Said Method

Abstract

An automation system, a controller, a field device and method for operating the automation system, wherein a first field device is provided for an operation on site with an operating unit, where depending on an operator input, the first field device transmits a request for a provision of data to the controller, which returns to the field device corresponding data relating to functionalities in the automation system lying outside the first field device, and where information corresponding to the data is output on the operating unit of the first field device such that an on-site display in the automation system of existing measurement values that were previously not available on the first field device, or a configuration of automation functions which do not run on the first field device is advantageously permitted.

Claims

1. A method for operating an automation system having at least one controller and a plurality of field devices interconnected via a network for data communication, at least one first field device of the plurality of field devices including an operating unit, the method comprising: transmitting, by the at least one first field device, depending upon a pre-determined or pre-determinable operator input, a request to the controller for a provision of data relating to functionalities lying outside the at least one first field device in the automation system; transmitting, by the controller, corresponding data according to the received request to the at least one first field device; and outputting, by the at least one first field device, an item of information corresponding to the received data on the operating unit.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the request transmitted by the at least one first field device contains an identification of the data to be provided which is unique, at least within the automation system.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the item of information is a process value which has been detected by one of (i) a second, other field device and (ii) another soft process value calculated from detected process values.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the item of information is a process value which has been detected by one of (i) a second, other field device and (ii) another soft process value calculated from detected process values.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the item of information relates to a configuration of the automation system.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission of the request via the network occurs with one of (i) a pre-determined alarm, (ii) a pre-determined message and (iii) a pre-determined response code.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission of the request via the network occurs with a pre-determined code for a device variable.

8. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the transmission of the request via the network occurs with a pre-determined code for a device variable.

9. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the transmission of the request via the network occurs with a pre-determined code for a device variable.

10. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the transmission of the request via the network occurs with a pre-determined code for a device variable.

11. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the transmission of the data according to the received request occurs via one of (i) HART Cmd, (ii) acyclic PROFIBUS communication and (iii) a pre-configured output slot via deterministic PROFIBUS communication.

12. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the transmission of the data according to the received request occurs via one of (i) HART Cmd, (ii) acyclic PROFIBUS communication and (iii) a pre-configured output slot via deterministic PROFIBUS communication.

13. An automation system comprising: at least one controller; and a plurality of field devices interconnected via a network for data communication, at least one first field device of the plurality of field devices including an operating unit; wherein the at least one first field device is configured to transmit a request to the controller for a provision of data relating to functionalities in the automation system lying outside the first field device, depending upon a pre-determined or pre-determinable operator input; wherein the controller is configured to transmit data corresponding to the received request to the first field device; and wherein the at least one first field device is further configured to output an item of information corresponding to the received data on the operating unit.

14. A field device for an automation system, comprising: an operating unit; wherein the field device is configured to transmit a request to the controller for provision of data relating to functionalities in the automation system lying outside at least one first field device, depending upon a pre-determined or pre-determinable operator input, receive data from a controller corresponding to the request and to output an item of information corresponding to the received data on the operating unit.

15. A controller for an automation system, wherein the controller is configured to receive a request from at least one first field device including an operating unit, depending upon a pre-determined or pre-determinable operator input, for provision of data which relates to functionalities in the automation system lying outside the at least one first field device and to transmit data to the at least one first field device data corresponding to the received request.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Embodiments and advantages of the invention will now be described in greater detail making reference to the drawings in which an exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated, in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a block circuit diagram of an automation system in accordance with the invention;

[0020] FIG. 2 shows different communication sequences; and

[0021] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the method in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Similar parts are provided with the same reference signs in the drawings.

[0023] FIG. 1 shows an automation system 1 that is used in an automation system (not shown) to control a process. In the automation system 1, a station 2, a programmable controller 3, a remote IO 4, a first field device 5, a second field device 6, a third field device 7 and a fourth field device 8 are connected to one another by a network 9 for data communication. The network 9 can be an arbitrary industrial network, for example, with PROFIBUS, PROFINET, HART or FF protocol. For the individual connections that exist between the specified components in the network 9, different communication standards, which differ in the respective physical transmission technique and/or the respective communication protocol, can naturally be used in the same network 9.

[0024] Together, the programmable controller 3 and the remote-IO 4 form a controller at a higher-level from the field devices 5 . . . 8. The first field device 5 is provided with an operating unit 10, the second field device 6 is provided with an operating unit 15 at which an operator 11 can make inputs and on which information concerning the automation system 1 can be output. Self-evidently, the further field devices 7 and 8 can also be provided with operating units (not shown in the drawings).

[0025] In conventional automation systems, their engineering, configuration and operation was only possible via the station 2 and not via, for example, one operating unit 10 which, as shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, is associated with the field device 5. In order to now also enable a configuration and operation of the automation system 1 via the operating unit 10, a new mode of operation of the automation system is introduced. If the operator 11 wishes to access data that relates to functionalities in the automation system 1 outside the first field device 5 by operating the first field device 5, a corresponding request, indicated in FIG. 1 by an arrow 12, is sent to the remote IO 4, where the request can be provided with a unique identifier of the desired data within the automation system (1). This is answered by the remote IO 4 with the provision of the requested data, symbolized by the arrow 13. In this way, for example, process values detected by the second field device 6 that are known to the controller can be displayed on the operating unit 10. This is indicated in FIG. 1 with a dashed arrow 14.

[0026] The new mode of operation described above for monitoring the application running on the automation system 1, here specifically for displaying a process value detected outside the first field device 5, is based on a communication sequence, which is described in greater detail below, making reference to FIG. 2, together with a further communication sequence which is suitable for the configuration of the application.

[0027] Shown in FIG. 2 on the left side, as already referred to above, is the communication sequence between the first sensor 5 and the remote IO 4 as part of the controller, and on the right side, a communication sequence between the second sensor 6 and the controller (remote IO 4). During normal operation of the system, which is controlled by the automation system, the process values detected respectively by the first sensor 5 and the second sensor 6 are cyclically transferred to the controller, as symbolized in FIG. 2 with arrows 23 and 24. Taking the example of a 4-20 mA interface with a HART protocol, this can occur, for example with the HART Cmd 1, making use of a HART response code. In the application which runs in the controller, the obtained process values are used, for example, for calculating further soft process values or for calculating manipulated variables with which intervention in the operation of the system occurs. If monitoring of the application is now to be performed by an operator 25 on the first sensor 5, then following suitable operator input (monitor application) at the operating unit 10 (FIG. 1) of the first sensor 5, the wish for an on-site display, for example, in the response code to the HART Cmd 1, is signaled to the controller, as is symbolically represented in FIG. 2 by an arrow 26. The data corresponding to the received request, in the example described, the value of a process variable currently detected by the second sensor 6 or a soft process value calculated in the controller from a plurality of received process values, is thereafter transmitted by the controller in accordance with an arrow 27 to the first sensor 5 on the operating unit of which the information previously desired by the operator 25 is displayed.

[0028] If an operator 28 wishes to implement on the second sensor 6, for example, measures for changing the configuration of the automation system, then he undertakes a corresponding input (configure application) at the operating unit 15 (FIG. 1) of the second field device 6 and in the response code to the HART Cmd 1, the wish for an on-site operation is signaled (as indicated by an arrow 29 in FIG. 2) to the controller. By subsequent polling using the device-specific HART command, the desired configuration parameters can be transferred from the controller to the second sensor 6. This is symbolized by an arrow 30 in FIG. 2.

[0029] Alternatively to the use of the HART Cmd 1 described above, the cyclic transfer of the process values is naturally also possible using the HART Cmd 9. The signaling of an on-site display by the first sensor 5 or the signaling of a desired on-site operation by the second sensor 6 can also occur with the use of a HART device variable which, in addition to the respective process value, is requested by the controller via HART Cmd 9.

[0030] With the aid of the communication sequences shown in FIG. 2, measurement values that initially were not available on the first sensor 5 can be displayed on the first sensor 5 in an advantageous manner. Furthermore, by undertaking operating inputs at the second sensor 6, automation functions that do not occur on the second sensor 6 can be configured. In order to provide this operating possibility, with the aid of the communication sequences shown, data that relates to functionalities lying outside the sensors 5 and 6 in the automation system is made available to the first sensor 5 or the second sensor 6. Naturally, the communication sequence described based on the second sensor 6 can also be performed with the first sensor 5 and the communication sequence described based on the first sensor 5 can also be performed with the second sensor 6.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method for operating an automation system 1 having at least one controller 3, 4 and a plurality of field devices 5 . . . 8 interconnected via a network 9 for data communication, where at least one first field device 5 of the plurality of field devices 5 . . . 8 includes an operating unit 10.

[0032] The method comprises transmitting, by the at least one first field device 5, depending upon a pre-determined or pre-determinable operator input, a request to the controller 3, 4 for a provision of data relating to functionalities lying outside the at least one first field device in the automation system 1, as indicated in step 310.

[0033] Next, the controller 3, 4 transmits corresponding data according to the received request to the at least one first field device 5, as indicated in step 320.

[0034] An item of information corresponding to the received data on the operating unit 10 is now output the at least one first field device 5, as indicated in step 330.

[0035] Thus, while there have been shown, described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.