US 7,139,622 B2Granted

Method and device for programming a failsafe control system

AssigneePilz GmbH & Co. KG

InventorsJohannes Klopfer, Morteza Rasaei, Richard Veil

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Abstract

A method for programming a failsafe control system comprises the steps of defining logical interconnections between input signals of the failsafe control system and of assigning interconnection products to output signals of the failsafe control system. The steps of defining and assigning take place on the basis of predefined function-specific program modules, which are selected from a set of such program modules. According to one aspect, each selected program module is uniquely assigned to a defined functional group, with a first functional group containing program modules which pick up input signals of the failsafe control system and provide first interim variables in response thereto, a second functional group containing program modules which logically interconnect the first interim variables to one another and provide second interim variables in response thereto, and a third functional group containing program modules which assign the second interim variables to the output signals of the failsafe control system. A corresponding programming device is also disclosed.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A method of programming a failsafe control system having an input stage for receiving input signals, an output stage for providing output signals, and a processing stage for executing a failsafe control program, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a set of predefined function-specific program modules comprising first program modules configured to pick up the input signals in a failsafe manner and to provide first interim variables in response thereto, second program modules configured to generate second interim variables corresponding to logical interconnections between said first interim variables, and third program modules configured to assign said second interim variables to said output signals,
providing a graphic user interface having a display screen with a programming area that is divided into at least first, second and third sub-areas;
assigning a graphic symbol to each of said program modules;
selecting a plurality of the first, second, and third program modules from the set of program modules, and
combining the program modules selected to form the failsafe control program by selectively placing the graphic symbol assigned to each of said selected plurality of first, second and third program modules into one of said first, second and third sub-areas in said programming area on said display screen;
wherein the graphic symbol assigned to a first program module can only be placed in the first sub-area, the graphic symbol assigned to a second program module can only be placed in the second sub-area, and the graphic symbol assigned to a third program module can only be placed in the third sub-area;
and further,
wherein the placement of said graphic symbols within each of said sub-areas in said programming area on said display screen determines the interconnection of the selected program modules in the failsafe control program.

5 more elements

A device for programming a failsafe control system having an input stage for receiving input signals, an output stage for providing output signals, and a processing stage for executing program modules selectable from a set of predefined function-specific program modules stored in a memory, said function-specific program modules comprising first program modules configured to pick up said input signals in said control system and to provide first interim variables in response thereto, second program modules defining logical interconnections between said input signals and to provide second interim variables in response thereto, and third program modules configured to assign said second interim variables to said output signals;

said programming device comprising:
a computer connected to said memory and including an operator interface with a display screen having a programming area that is divided into at least first, second, and third sub-areas, said computer being programmed to enable an operator via said interface to select from said memory a plurality of the first, second, and third program modules from said set of program modules and interconnect said selected plurality of program modules to form a failsafe control program by selectively placing symbolic representations of said selected plurality of program modules into said first, second and third sub-areas, said computer being further programmed to prohibit the placement of (i) a first program module in either of the second or third sub-areas, (ii) a second program module in either of the first or third sub-areas, and (iii) a third program module in either of the first or second sub-areas;
and
means for transferring said formed failsafe control program to the failsafe control system.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/638,672Filed 11 Aug 2003 · continuation
Priority: DE 101 08 96220 Feb 2001
Published: US 2004/0064205 A11 Apr 2004
Granted: 21 Nov 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

G05B 19/056
Programmable logic controllers, e.g. simulating logic interconnections of signals according to ladder diagrams or function charts: programming the PLC
G05B 19/0426
Using digital processors: programming the control sequence
G05B 2219/13144
Plc programming: gUI graphical user interface, icon, function bloc editor, OI operator interface
G05B 2219/23255
Pc programming: object oriented programming, OOP