Wireless integrated control and monitoring system
A technique is provided or integrating system design, sales, and manufacturing functions. Systems including networked and programmable electrical components, such as motor control centers, and other electrical power control arrangements are designed, and a database is created for the design, including component and system designation data. The database may further include configuration information, settings, and so forth. The database is used as a tool in establishing a sales solicitation proposal from which sales of the system are offered. The same database is then used to program the various components of the system, such as through a temporary network link or via a permanent data network once the system is assembled.
Latest Patents:
- DRUG DELIVERY DEVICE FOR DELIVERING A PREDEFINED FIXED DOSE
- NEGATIVE-PRESSURE DRESSING WITH SKINNED CHANNELS
- METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING A SUBSTRATE SUPPORT
- DISPLAY PANEL AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF, AND DISPLAY DEVICE
- MAIN BODY SHEET FOR VAPOR CHAMBER, VAPOR CHAMBER, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/672,934, entitled “SYSTEM DESIGN, PROPOSAL AND PROGRAMMING METHOD AND APPARATUS”, filed Sep. 28, 2000, which is herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUNDThe present invention relates generally to the field of electrical control and monitoring systems, and more particularly to a system and method that integrates functions of design, sales and marketing, manufacturing, and programming of system components.
In the field of electrical controlling monitoring systems, various techniques are known and are currently employed for completing initial system designs, and manufacturing systems based on the designs following sales. Due to the often separate nature of the design, sales, and manufacturing operations, however, existing systems typically treat these phases of the product cycle quite distinctly. Conventionally, engineered systems are designed by engineers and technicians for regular product offerings or for client or application-specific implementation. The designs might include component and system specifications, drawings, and so forth. Components may be selected from manufacturer's literature or catalogues in accordance with the specifications. Based upon a system design, a sales or marketing proposal would be provided for evaluation and use as a basis for placing an order for the system.
Following receipt of an order, a manufacturer or systems integrator would typically revert to the initial system design for ordering parts and assembling the parts into the final system. Where programmable components were included in the system, specialized programmers or technicians pre-program certain components manually, and visit the installation site to carry out final programming and trouble shooting needed to bring the system into complete compliance and functionality. Such manual programming is, however, quite costly and can lead to errors through data input, manual and machine copy errors, and so forth. Moreover, locating, identifying, and correcting such errors are also very time consuming operations.
Although electrical systems have become increasingly sophisticated, the procedures used for designing, selling, manufacturing and programming such systems has evolved very little. Modern industrial control and monitoring systems, for example, may include a large number of programmable devices which function interactively to carry out specified automation procedures. However, the approach to designing, selling and installing the systems still requires that programmers or specialized software be employed to implement the system design in compliance with the initial layout, with no appreciable link between the initial design process used for generating a sales solicitation and the manufacturing and programming operations.
There is a need, therefore, for an improved technique which may be employed to design, sell, manufacture, and program systems, particularly in the area of industrial automation. There is a particular need for a technique which will not only facilitate the design, sales solicitation, and manufacturing operations, but which will provide greater uniformity and consistency between the initial design and the final implementation, reducing or avoiding time consuming operations and errors which may occur in conventional processes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONThe present invention provides a novel technique for integrating design, sales, manufacturing, and programming functions designed to respond to these needs. The technique may be employed with a wide range of systems, but is particularly well suited to industrial automation systems where various programmable components are integrated for cooperative functions. In accordance with the technique, the design of the system initiates a database which serves as the basis for component specification, network designations, and so forth. The database is used to generate the initial sales proposal, and may be modified in accordance with modifications in the proposal or specification.
Based upon a received order, the database information is then used as a basis for manufacturing operations. Specifically, the database may serve for ordering parts, assembling the parts, wiring the parts, and so forth. Finally, data stored in the database and available throughout the procedure, may be downloaded to specific components, such as to identify the components, their functions in the system, system designations, locations of components in the system, network node points, and so forth. The present technique thus provides an enhanced integrated approach to system design, sales, and implementation.
In an exemplary embodiment, the technique may be employed for specification of components in networked industrial automation systems, such as motor control centers. In a motor control center application, software used to design the system and specify components, such as motor controllers, variable speed motor drives, relays, switch gear, and the like, initiates the database which is used throughout the integrated procedure. Pricing information, delivery information, and the like may be accessed based upon the specifications to generate a sales or marketing proposal. Once a solicited order is received, parts may be ordered specifically for the motor control center from the database, and the components are assembled into subunits. Either at the sub-unit level, or following final or partial assembly of the system, entries from the database are downloaded into programmable components to aid in the system implementation and programming, such as to identify the device node, locations in a motor control center enclosure, and so forth. The data downloaded into the component is therefore consistent with the initial system design, the sales proposal, and any changes made in these. The data may serve as a basis for later accessing, polling, monitoring or controlling the various components.
DRAWINGSThe foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:
Turning now to the drawings, and referring first to
In addition to the component assembly and network, system 10 includes a system controller 16 and a monitoring station 18. System controller 16 may, in fact, be defined by various devices both within and external to the component assembly, and may comprise computer systems connected to the component assembly via network 14. Where included in the system, system controller 16 may store programs, routines, control logic, and the like for regulating operation of the components of the system. Monitoring station 18, described in greater detail below, may be local to or separate from system controller 16. The monitoring station permits operational status and parameters to be monitored in real time, and affords programming of certain of the components of assembly 12. It should be noted that while a single assembly 12 is illustrated in the figures and described herein, the component assembly 12 may, in fact, include a range of assemblies, each located near one another or remote from one another in a particular application, interconnected with controller 16 and monitoring station 18 via network 14.
Network 14 may also permit data exchange with additional monitoring and control stations. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, a field engineer laptop 20 may be coupled to network 14 to produce representations of the system, monitor parameters sensed or controlled by the system, program components of the system, and so forth. Similarly, one or more gateways 22 may be provided which link network 14 to other networks 24. Such networks may use a similar or completely different protocol from that of network 14. The other networks 24 may include various remote devices, as indicated generally by reference numeral 26, which permit remote monitoring and control of components of the system. One or more of the control or monitoring stations in the system may be adapted to be linked to outside elements by wide area networks, as represented generally at reference numeral 28, including the Internet. Thus, monitoring station 18 may access remote resources and monitoring equipment 30 via wide area network 28, as described more fully below.
It should be noted that, while reference is made herein to a wide area network 28, other network strategies may be implemented in the system, including virtual private networks, dedicated communications links, and so forth. While any suitable network 14 may be used in the system, in a present embodiment, an industry standard network is employed, referred to commonly under the name DeviceNet. Such networks permit the exchange of data in accordance with a predefined protocol, and may provide power for operation of networked elements.
Component assembly 12 comprises a range of components, designated generally by reference numeral 32. The components are situated in an enclosure set 34 which may include a single or a plurality of separate enclosures. The enclosure set 34, in the illustrated embodiment, includes sections 36 in which subunits or sub-assemblies of the component assembly are situated. In practice, the enclosure set may be defined by a large enclosure in which individual panel-mounted subunits are positioned in bays 38. Between each of the sections or bays, wireways 40 serve to channel wiring, including trunk and drop cabling for network 14. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, one or more power busses 42 serve to convey electrical power to the enclosure, which is routed to each of the components to regulate the application of the power to downstream loads, such as electric motors, valves, actuators, and so forth.
Components 32 generally include both an operative device, designated generally by the numeral 44, along with network interface circuitry 46, and load-line interface circuitry 48. While reference is made herein, generically, to a component device 44, it should be noted that in an industrial automation context, such devices may include any or all of the power regulation devices mentioned above, as well as others. In general, the devices may serve to regulate any useful industrial process or load, and may be configured to function in cooperation with one another, such as to protect the other components from overcurrent conditions, loss of phase, ground fault, or any other abnormal or unwanted condition. In normal operation, the devices function in accordance with a predetermined routine or program, either stored within the devices themselves, in memory of a programmable logic controller, or in memory of a system controller 16. Moreover, operation of the devices may be regulated in accordance with parameters sensed by the components themselves, or by system sensors. Finally, operation of the devices may be regulated by operator-induced command inputs, including inputs made via a computer interface, push buttons, switches, or in any other suitable manner.
The components may be configured for direct connection to the data network 14, or may require connection to the network a translator 50. In the illustrated embodiment to
When positioned in the enclosure set 34, the components, devices, translators, and other elements of the system, may be represented as having specific locations or coordinates 58 and 60. In the illustrated embodiment, coordinate 58 represents a horizontal location of the components from a left-hand side of the enclosure set. Coordinate 60, on the other hand, represents the location of the components from a top side of the enclosure set. As noted below in greater detail, memory objects of each component or translator may store data representative of these coordinates to facilitate their location in the system, as well as to enhance certain of the monitoring and display functions of the system. In addition to coordinates 58 and 60, the components may include physical extent designations, such as size or space factors, designated generally by reference numeral 62, corresponding to the relative extent of a component or a sub-assembly within the enclosure set. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, coordinates 58 and 60, and factors 62 may permit the components to be accurately located and depicted in the system as described below.
Monitoring station 18 includes a computer console 64 in which various types of memory supports 66 may be employed, such as magnetic or optical memory devices (e.g., CD ROM's). The computer console 64 is adapted to cooperate with peripheral devices, such as conventional computer monitor 68, and input devices such as a keyboard 70 and mouse 72. Moreover, the console 64 may cooperate with additional peripheral devices, such as a printer 74 for producing hard-copy reports.
Certain of the functional circuitry contained within each component 32 is illustrated in
Similar functional circuitry is included within each translator 50, as illustrated generally in
Monitoring station 18 may include, as a software platform, any suitable processor or computer workstation. As illustrated in
Referring to
Database 96 serves as the foundation for programming of memory objects within the components and translators of the system. In a present embodiment, the database is established during system design, but may be modified subsequently depending upon system requirements and system redesigns. The database includes entries 98 designating the system, the components in the system, physical and configuration parameters of the components, textual labels for user viewable representations, system settings, events, and so forth as described in greater detail below. The database also serves as the source for data stored within the memory objects of each component and translator.
As illustrated in
A second memory object 102 stores additional data derived from database 96. Such data remains resident within each component or translator following system assembly. The block data 104 of memory object 102 includes code which identifies or designates the system, the components, and physical location or configuration information for the components. Moreover, object 102 preferably includes allocated memory for configuration of input or output nodes coupled to the network via the component. In the illustrated embodiment, object 102 includes code representative of a system identification, a system extent or size, the identification of a section within which the component is located, a size or space factor, a width factor, a device type, a number of input points within the node, a device type for each of the input points, if any, a number of output points in the node, and designations for device types of any outputs, if any. It should be noted that certain components or translators may accommodate inputs only, outputs only, or neither inputs nor outputs.
In general terms, the system identification code and system extent or size code is representative of the system in which the components are located. Because many applications may include several such systems, this data aids in monitoring and viewing component information by individual system. The section identifications, space factor and width information, generally corresponding to the coordinates 58 and 60, and to the size factor 62 discussed above with reference to
As noted above, data which populates each dedicated memory object of the components or translators is preferably stored in the objects during initial configuration, but may be modified subsequent thereto. In accordance with certain aspects of the present technique, an integrated design, sales, and manufacturing system permits the database 96 to be used for a number of purposes throughout the life of the system, from its initial design to its final implementation.
As illustrated in
In accordance with the present technique, the database established in accordance with the design set forth by the design module 108, and used by the sales solicitation module 110 for generating proposal 112 then serves to configure the actual objects contained within the components and translators of the system. A configuration tool 114, referred to in the system as a “configurator,” serves to extract data from the database needed to populate each dedicated memory object of the components. As summarized below, the configurator may be linked to the components prior to their assembly in the system, or during their mounting within the individual sections or bays which are subsequently placed within the enclosure set. Thus, the configurator may be linked to the components via a temporary network link to address the memory locations of the objects, and to download the corresponding entries from database 96 into the objects. Alternatively, the configurator may be linked to the components following partial or final assembly of the system, such as through the data network 14 discussed above.
The processor of monitoring station 18 (see
In addition to the menus and views summarized above, the software operative on the monitoring station also preferably affords easy access to a variety of support documentation, from a node point in
It should be noted that the software summarized above with reference to
In the physical representation of
It will be noted that the representations described herein, including the representation of
The monitor representation 160 of
In addition to the indication of current parameter levels, the monitor representation 160 includes displays of historical parameter levels. The historical displays may take any convenient form, and in a present embodiment imitate conventional strip chart output as indicated at reference numeral 178 in
The monitor representation 160 may further include textual representations of various settings, configurations, and so forth, for the particular component. In the embodiment illustrated in
The various views created and displayed in accordance with the present technique include a variety of textual descriptions and labels which may be displayed in various languages as desired by the user. In a present embodiment, the multilingual aspect of the representations is facilitated by the inclusion of language entries for each label, stored within database 96 (see
In the embodiment illustrated in
The provision of the multilingual entries translated into the available languages in database 96 offers several distinct advantages. For example, the user may switch languages as desired during operation of the system, and without interrupting other functions of the system, such as real time monitoring and control. Moreover, the languages may be available for building real time views, including the physical view and the monitoring views at various locations accessible via a network interface as described above. A given system may thus be serviced remotely, such as by network connection to a different country or location. Furthermore, the provision of languages in translation as entries within the database permits the software to be provided in a single version and easily upgraded by simply allowing for access to a subsequent series of entries in the database, with corresponding options in the language menu.
In addition to the foregoing views, the present technique provides a spreadsheet-type representation or page which may be organized for each component, or for the entire system as illustrated in
Because the system provided herein is designed to cyclically poll the components for their state and specific operational parameters, events for the individual components or for the entire system may be logged.
As noted above, the present system permits the real time monitoring, physical view construction, event logging, and so forth, with links directly to support documentation.
As noted above, the present technique permits an integrated system for designing, building, and utilizing electrical components in a programmable networked system, such as a motor control center. The technique includes, in the preferred embodiment, a database which is established during the design phase, and which is used as the basis for programming or configuring memory objects stored within the networked components and devices.
As illustrated in
Phase 218 in the process includes assembly of the components and subunits of the system, as indicated at step 230. The assembly may proceed by subunit or subassembly, such as in sections or “buckets” in certain types of system. Each subunit may therefore include one or more components which are mounted within the subunit and interconnected with wiring to permit their later incorporation into the system. At step 232 the components of each subunit are configured from database 96, such as by downloading database entries into the memory objects embedded within each component. At step 234 the components and subunits are assembled and installed in the system. In many applications, step 234 will include mounting of the actual components in system enclosure sets, along with any support connections and monitoring systems at a customer location. At step 236 the components may be further configured, such as via the data network described above. It should be noted that component configuration may occur at either step 232 or at step 236, or at both steps, depending upon the desired configuration data and the manner in which it is downloaded into the components. Thus, the configuration of the components may occur prior to assembly, during assembly, such as following partial assembly and subunits, or following system final assembly.
Phase 220, involving actual use of the system for monitoring and control purposes, may begin with step 236 in which the components are configured via the data network. Step 236 is also shown as at least partially included in phase 220 because, as summarized above, the memory objects may be designed for reprogramming or reconfiguring during use of the system. Such reconfiguration may be suitable where the component function is modified, inputs or outputs are added to specific components, a component location is changed, and so forth. The system may then function in accordance with a wide range of protocols and system architectures. In the summary of
While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown in the drawings and have been described in detail herein by way of example only. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.
Claims
1. A method for monitoring or controlling operation of an electrical industrial equipment system, the method comprising:
- displaying a representation of programmable physical components of the system in a computer workstation for a human operator based upon display data;
- detecting an operator selection of one of the physical components from the representation on the computer workstation;
- wirelessly acquiring data representative of real time operation of the selected physical component based on the operator selection; and
- displaying a monitoring or control window in the computer workstation based upon the acquired data.
2. The method of claim 1, comprising monitoring or controlling operation of the electrical industrial equipment over a wide area network, over a virtual private network (VPN) or over dedicated communication links, or a combination thereof.
3. The method of claim 1, comprising monitoring or controlling operation of the electrical industrial equipment over the Internet to monitor or control operation of industrial equipment system.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of the wirelessly acquired data is stored in a database accessible to a user.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the database stores data representative of a network address for the selected component, and wherein the wirelessly acquired data includes data acquired from the selected physical component at a network address.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the database stores designation data for the selected physical component that include data representative of a function of the selected physical component in the equipment system.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the physical components includes a memory object storing configuration parameters thereof, and wherein the wirelessly acquired data includes data acquired from a memory object of the selected physical component.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected component includes an input/output circuit for receiving and transmitting data to an external device coupled to the component.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring or control window includes representations of virtual meters indicating operational parameters of the selected physical component.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring or control window includes a link to documentation descriptive of the selected physical component.
11. A computer system for monitoring or controlling operation of an electrical industrial equipment system, the system comprising:
- an human machine interface having an interface program configured to display a representation of programmable physical components of the system on a computer workstation for a human operator and to detect an operator selection of one of the physical components from the representation on the computer workstation; and
- wherein the human machine interface program is configured to wirelessly acquire data representative of real time operation of the selected physical component, and to display a monitoring or control window in the computer workstation based upon the acquired data.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the wirelessly acquired data is acquired over a wide area network, over a virtual private network (VPN), or over dedicated communication links or a combination thereof.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the wirelessly acquired data is acquired over the Internet to monitor or control operation of industrial equipment system.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the wirelessly acquired data is representative of a physical configuration of the component including data representative of a location of the component in the system.
15. The system of claim 11, wherein the displayed data includes a dimensionally approximate representation of each component and a location of the component with respect to other components of the system.
16. The system of claim 11, further comprising a database for storing data representative of operational parameters of the selected physical component, wherein at least some of the wirelessly acquired data is stored in a database.
17. An electrical industrial equipment system comprising:
- a plurality of programmed physical components configured to control operation of electrical loads; and
- a computer system coupled to the physical components for monitoring or controlling operation of the physical components, the computer system comprising:
- an human machine interface having an embedded human machine interface program configured to display a representation of the programmable physical components of the system on a computer workstation for a human operator, and to detect an operator selection of one of the physical components from the representation on the computer workstation; and
- wherein the human machine interface program is configured to wirelessly acquire data representative of real time operation of the selected physical component, and to display a monitoring or control window in the computer workstation based upon the acquired data.
18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a database for storing data representative of operational parameters of the selected physical component, wherein at least some of the wirelessly acquired data is stored in the database.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the database stores data representative of a network address for the selected component, and wherein the wirelessly acquired data includes data acquired from a selected physical component at a network address.
20. The system of claim 17, wherein each of the physical components includes a memory object storing configuration parameters thereof, and wherein the wirelessly acquired data includes data acquired from the memory object of the selected physical component.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 23, 2007
Publication Date: Mar 27, 2008
Applicant:
Inventors: Kevin Retlich (Wauwatosa, WI), David Jensen (Barneveld, WI), John Caspers (Racine, WI), Wayne Wielebski (New Berlin, WI), Dave Blair (Wauwatosa, WI), David Brandt (New Berlin, WI)
Application Number: 11/880,569
International Classification: G06F 19/00 (20060101); G06F 17/30 (20060101); G06F 17/40 (20060101);