WO2009000422A2

WO2009000422A2 - Method and device for monitoring an automated system

Info

Publication number: WO2009000422A2
Application number: PCT/EP2008/004698
Authority: WO
Inventors: Markus Hummel; Thomas Maisch; Ralf Schurer
Original assignee: Dürr Systems GmbH
Priority date: 2007-06-28
Filing date: 2008-06-12
Publication date: 2008-12-31
Also published as: DE102007029930A1; WO2009000422A3

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to improve a method for monitoring an automated system in such a way as to facilitate the analysis of the behaviour of said system. To achieve this, data that describes the sequence of conditions in the system or part of said system is stored and a data output sequence reflecting the sequence of conditions in the system or part of said system is generated on the basis of at least one subset of the stored data. The invention also relates to an improved device for monitoring an automated system.

Description

Method and device for monitoring a technical installation

The invention relates to a method for monitoring a technical system.

Technical systems, such as machines, equipment and / or apparatus can have a high degree of complexity. In order to facilitate the control and monitoring of such facilities, systems may be used to output the data relating to the current status of a facility in a manner that is understandable to a human. The output of this data is usually on a human-machine interface. This man-machine interface can be observed by a person to understand the current state of the system.

It has been found that with the aid of the systems described above, especially in highly complex installations, it is difficult to reconstruct incidents on the basis of the observed data so that the cause of the accident can be determined.

On this basis, the present invention has the object to provide a method for monitoring a technical system, with which an analysis of the behavior of the system is facilitated.

In a method for monitoring a technical system, this object is achieved by storing data describing a state sequence of the system or a part of the system and by generating a data output sequence representing the state sequence of the system or part of the system based on at least a subset of the stored data. The inventive method makes it possible to create a history of the state of the plant and store this history as a state sequence. The saving and reproducing of a sequence of states has the advantage that a temporal course of the behavior of the plant or a part of the plant not only by directly observing data output during operation of the system in real time, but if necessary, at a later date and in particular as often repeatable can be traced.

The stored data describing a state sequence of the plant or of an installation part contains a multiplicity of data elements. A data element is understood to mean a (for example physical) state variable that can vary over time. The totality of all stored data elements or a subset of all stored data elements form the basis for generating a data output sequence. This means that the stored data are not completely output at a certain point in time (for example, as a diagram indicating the course of a state variable over a time axis), but with the aid of temporally successive data outputs, so that successive states of the system according to this time series are reproduced. This sequential data output is particularly helpful in the analysis of plant or plant incident. If such an incident occurs, the data output sequence can be used to track how the plant or a part of the plant has behaved in a past period. With the help of the sequence of data outputs, ie the sequential reproduction of successive, stored states of the plant or a plant part, the cause of a fault can be determined particularly easily. Here, a person observing the data output sequence can concentrate on one data output at a time. Since the data outputs are rendered as part of a time ordered data output sequence, changes in the state of the data can be reproduced Plant or a plant part particularly easy to understand. This allows a particularly simple and rapid analysis of the behavior of the plant or a part of the plant.

The method according to the invention also makes it possible to repeat the data output sequence as often as desired. In this way, an analysis of the behavior of the system can be carried out in several analysis runs, each of which may involve various details of the behavior of the technical installation or of a part of the installation. The method according to the invention is thus also particularly suitable for training purposes in order to acquaint people with the functioning of a technical installation.

The method according to the invention makes it possible to provide a type of "video recorder" with which a system state can be "rewound", "pre-rewound" and / or "played back" in particular. With the aid of such a "video recorder", it is possible to replace a physical system or a current state of this system by a previously recorded image of the state of the system in a playback time.

In the context of the method according to the invention, it is possible for a sequence of states to be reproduced with the aid of the stored data output sequence such that an operator perceives a reproduction of this stored data output sequence in exactly the same way and observes as an output of real-time data. Furthermore, the operator can also react in the reproduction of the stored data output sequence in the same way as in the real-time observation, so that for the analysis of incidents no specially trained personnel is required.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the state sequence is a time sequence of real states of the plant or of the plant part. This allows an analysis of actually occurring conditions of the plant or a part of the plant. In this way, for example, actually occurring incidents can be analyzed. According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the state sequence is a temporal sequence of virtual states of the plant or the plant part. This allows a simulation of the behavior of the plant. In this case, actually occurring states or states to be avoided can also be part of the state sequence which is reproduced with the aid of the data output sequence. This procedure is not only advantageous to simulate incidents in the system, but also to optimize the system in terms of their structure and / or operation. For training purposes, it may also be advantageous to include virtual states in the state sequence.

According to a development of the invention, the data describing a state sequence of the plant or of a plant part contains a plurality of data groups, each data group representing the state of the plant or of the plant part at a time assigned to this data group. Each data group contains at least one data item which relates to a (for example physical) state variable which can vary over time. The data groups thus make it possible to provide a snapshot of a real or virtual state of the plant or part of the plant. Based on a plurality of data groups, a data output sequence can then be generated.

An embodiment of the invention provides that the data groups are stored at constant time intervals. This allows a regular data acquisition of the condition of the plant or a part of the plant.

A further embodiment of the invention provides that the data groups are stored at variable time intervals. Such a procedure may be advantageous if, in successive periods of time, different numbers of changes in the state of the installation or a part of the installation occur. Advantageously, a time interval is set for storing consecutive data groups. This has the advantage that particularities with regard to the construction and / or the functioning of the technical installation or a part of the installation can be taken into account. For example, it is possible that individual data elements which describe a particular state of the plant or a part of the plant, change only very slowly in their time course. Thus, in the case of a data element relating to the temperature of a liquid required for the operation of the system, it may be sufficient to store the value of this data element only at comparatively large time intervals, for example once a minute or for example every ten seconds. For data elements whose behavior is more dynamic, an assigned value can be quasi-continuously stored at much shorter time intervals, for example once per second or at intervals of fractions of a second. With a selective adjustment of the spacing of successive data groups, the amount of data to be stored can be reduced.

It is advantageous if a speed at which the data output sequence is output is equal to the speed of the reproduced state sequence. This allows the real or virtual conditions of the system to be displayed in real time. In this way, it is also possible for a person to be able to place himself at a later time in the situation of a person who has observed data output at an earlier point in time which have described the state of the plant or a part of the plant that existed at this earlier time. This makes it possible to understand also caused by human error incidents of the system can. This can be advantageous in particular for systems in energy and power plant technology.

It is also favorable if a speed with which the data output sequence is output is lower than the speed of the reproduced state sequence. This allows a reproduction of the states of the Plant or a part of the plant at a lower speed, so that an analysis of the behavior of the plant is facilitated. An observer who is presented with this data output sequence displayed at a lower speed can thus understand the state sequence "in slow motion". This is particularly advantageous in highly dynamic systems.

Depending on the application, it is also advantageous if a speed with which the data output sequence is output is higher than the speed of the reproduced state sequence. This allows you to quickly find a specific condition of the plant and to analyze a sluggish plant faster.

It is particularly advantageous if a speed with which the data output sequence is output is set. This speed setting allows the data output sequence to be selectively slowed down, for example, to analyze high-dynamic operating phases of the plant, or to speed up, for example, for analysis of slower operating phases of the plant.

It is favorable if a chronological order of the data outputs of the data output sequence is equal to a chronological order of the states of the state sequence. This allows a "forward playback" of the states of the state sequence, in which a previous state of the system is played back in time before a later state of the system.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a temporal order of the data outputs of the data output sequence corresponds to a reverse temporal order of the states of the state sequence. In the context of this data output sequence, therefore, a later state of the system is displayed in time before an earlier state of the system. This "backward rendering" may also be helpful in analyzing the behavior of the plant. A further embodiment of the invention provides that the data output sequence begins with the data corresponding to an arbitrarily selected start time of the state sequence. This allows quick and easy access to certain parts of the stored data, which should be supported by an analysis of the behavior of the system.

It is also preferable if the data output sequence ends with the data corresponding to an arbitrarily selected stop time of the state sequence. The selection of a stop time point makes sense, for example, if it is established that an accident to be analyzed of the installation must have taken place in a certain period of time, so that a data output sequence for this time period following the time is not needed.

It is also advantageous if the data output sequence starts with the data which corresponds to an arbitrarily selected start state of the state sequence. This allows a particularly simple analysis of incidents that are associated with certain conditions of the system.

It is also advantageous if the data output sequence ends with the data corresponding to an arbitrarily selected stop state of the state sequence. This stop state can, for example, correspond to the state of the installation during an accident, so that temporally preceding states of the installation can be analyzed with the aid of the data output sequence.

Advantageously, a subset of the stored data is selected to generate the data output sequence. This has the advantage that an analysis of the time history of the system can be concentrated on individual types of data.

In particular, it is possible that the selected subset already during the temporal sequence of real states of the plant or a plant part output data. In this way, it can be understood, for example, how an observer, who has already been shown the data relating to the temporal sequence of real states of the installation or of an installation part, was able to perceive this data.

Alternatively or additionally, it is advantageous if the selected subset during the temporal sequence of real states of the plant or a part of the plant comprises data not yet output. This allows analysis of data that is not rendered during operation of the system, for example, because it is assigned a low priority. An analysis of this data not yet output during operation of the system allows a complete analysis of the temporal sequence of the real states of the plant.

In particular, the selected subset may include data that has not yet been output during the temporal sequence of real states of the installation or of a part of the installation. As a result, an analysis can be carried out specifically on the basis of data that has not already been output.

The selection of the subset of the stored data advantageously takes place as a function of at least one selection condition. This facilitates easy filtering of a large amount of stored data, thus simplifying the analysis of the behavior of the equipment.

The selection of a subset of the stored data preferably takes place as a function of a deviation from at least one desired value of at least one data element. This makes it possible to concentrate an analysis of the behavior of the plant on such data elements that deviate from a predetermined or predefinable setpoint.

As an alternative or in addition thereto, the selection of a subset of the stored data in dependence on compliance with at least one Target value of at least one data element. This makes it possible to concentrate the analysis of the behavior of the plant with regard to individual data elements on those data elements which do not deviate from a nominal value.

Advantageously, the data output takes place on a human-machine interface.

It is particularly advantageous if the data output comprises a two-dimensional and / or a three-dimensional graphic visualization of the condition of the installation or a part of the installation. This visualization makes it easier to understand the output data, making it easier to analyze the behavior of the system.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that data relating to these states is output on a data output device during the time sequence of real states of the system or of an installation part, and that the data output sequence is reproduced on the same data output device. This has the advantage that a data output device, which is already available for real-time monitoring of the system, can also be used in order to be able to reproduce a data output sequence on this data output device. This data output device can thus optionally display data on the current state of the system or data of the data output sequence. It is also possible for a data output sequence to be "displayed" at short notice in currently output data so that an observer of the output data can promptly analyze, for example, immediately after occurrence of a malfunction, which states of the technical system could have led to this malfunction.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, during the temporal sequence of real states of the plant or of a part of the plant, these data relate to data on a data output device and the data output sequence is played back on a different data output device. This has the advantage that data relating to the current state of the installation can be output continuously and that the reproduction of the data output sequence thereof is undisturbed and can be repeated as often as desired. Various data output devices can also be arranged in spatial proximity with one another outputting data on one of the data output devices relating to a temporal sequence of current states of the plant or a plant part, and data of the data output sequence being displayed on another data output device. This allows a comparative analysis of current data on the one hand and virtual data or the past of real data on the other hand.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a state sequence of the plant or a part of the plant descriptive data are stored by means of a recording device, and at least a subset of the stored data is sent to a remote from the recording device playback device. This makes it possible to perform an analysis of the behavior of the plant in a remote location of the plant. This allows for easy recourse to specialists specialized in the analysis of the plant, for example the manufacturer of the plant or a part of the plant. The data can be transmitted via wired networks or wirelessly.

The invention further relates to a device for monitoring a technical system.

The invention has the further object of providing a device with which the analysis of the behavior of the system is facilitated.

This object is achieved in a device for monitoring a technical system in that the device is a receiving device for Storing data describing a state sequence of the plant or a part of the plant and a display device for generating a data output sequence representing the state sequence of the plant or the plant part due to at least a subset of the stored data.

The advantages of the device according to the invention have already been explained above with reference to the method according to the invention.

Particular embodiments of the device according to the invention are the subject of the dependent claims 30 to 62, the advantages of which have already been explained in part in connection with the special embodiments of the method according to the invention. Therefore, only those embodiments of the device according to the invention will be discussed below, the advantages of which have not already been explained above.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the device comprises at least one data source for providing at least one data element describing a state of the system or of the system component. The at least one data element can be stored with the aid of the recording device.

In an advantageous manner, the device comprises at least one sensor device for detecting at least one data element describing a state of the system or of the system component. It is possible that the sensor device only records data elements to be stored. It is also possible for the sensor device to detect at least one data element that is used for storage and that is additionally provided for real-time monitoring of the installation. According to one embodiment of the invention, the state of an automatically operable system or an automatically operable system component can be detected by means of at least one sensor device. Such a plant or such a plant part can also be referred to as an "automation device".

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the state of a manually operable system or a manually operable system component can be detected by means of at least one sensor device. This has the advantage that, as part of an analysis of the behavior of the system, it is also possible to analyze whether human error has led to a malfunction.

It is particularly advantageous if the device comprises at least one interface to at least one external data manager with which at least one data element describing a state of the system or of the system component can be provided. The external data manager is used here as a data source.

Furthermore, it is preferred if the device according to the invention comprises a recording-playback database in which the data describing the state sequence of the system or of an installation part is stored. On the one hand, the recording / playback database serves to store data describing the status sequence of the system or of a part of the installation and, on the other hand, to provide this data for generating the data output sequence.

Advantageously, the device according to the invention comprises at least one control unit for controlling the recording device and / or the display device. The at least one control unit enables the selection of various functions discussed below. It is advantageous if the at least one control unit comprises a storage control element by means of which a storage of the data describing a state sequence of the installation or a part of the installation can be controlled. With the aid of the storage control element, the device according to the invention can be put into a picking operation in which data describing a state sequence of the plant or a plant part is stored. These data are then available to generate the data output sequence.

It is also favorable if the at least one control unit comprises a playback control element by means of which the generation of the data output sequence can be controlled. The playback control makes it possible to put the device according to the invention in a playback mode in which the data output sequence is generated.

Furthermore, it is preferred if the at least one control unit comprises a shutdown control element by means of which a storage of the data describing a state sequence of the installation or of an installation part and / or the generation of the data output sequence can be switched off. The shut-off control serves to terminate the above-described recording operation and / or the above-described reproducing operation of the apparatus.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the at least one control unit comprises an interrupt control element by means of which a storage of the data describing a state sequence of the system or of an installation part and / or the generation of the data output sequence can be interrupted. With the aid of the interruption control element, it is possible to interrupt a recording operation described above and / or a reproduction operation described above and then to continue it again. Furthermore, it is preferred if the at least one control unit comprises a spring-back control element by means of which a previous state of the installation or a part of the installation can be controlled. The fallback control provides quick and easy access to a previous state.

It is also expedient if the at least one control unit comprises a projection control element, by means of which a later state of the system or of an installation part can be controlled. With the help of the "Vorsprung" control, fast and easy access to a later state is possible.

It is particularly preferred if the at least one control unit comprises a speed setting control, by means of which a speed with which the data output sequence is output is adjustable. As already described above, this speed can be adjustable so that a playback takes place in real-time speed, in slow motion or in fast motion.

Advantageously, the device comprises at least one data manager for managing the data describing a state sequence of the plant or a part of the plant, and / or for managing the stored data. Optionally, the data manager can implement further functions, for example, the data mentioned can also be processed with the aid of the data manager and / or provided for further processing. In particular, the data manager can be connected to a data network to receive data or to pass data. The data manager can be implemented as hardware or as software that runs on a data processing system or distributed over several data processing systems.

Advantageously, the at least one data manager is directly or indirectly connected to the recording device and / or the playback device. It is also possible that the at least one data manager in one the said facilities is integrated and / or that at least one of said facilities is integrated into the at least one data manager.

It is further preferred if the at least one data manager is connected directly or indirectly to at least one data source for providing at least one data element describing a state of the plant or of the plant part. In this way, data elements provided with the aid of the data source can be processed in a timely manner and, in particular, stored with the aid of the recording device.

In an advantageous manner, at least one interface is provided for connecting the at least one data manager and the at least one data source. This interface can also be referred to as an "adaptation module". Advantageously, the interface is standardized and meets, for example, the OPC standard ("Openness, Productivity, Collaboration"). This standard is particularly suitable for data exchange between devices from different manufacturers and is used in particular for programmable logic controllers.

Preferably, data provided by the at least one data manager and / or the stored data can be processed and / or processed by at least one data source. As a result, adjustments and / or changes to be stored or stored data and / or their names can be made using the data manager.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the device comprises at least one data consumer connected directly or indirectly to the at least one data manager. This can output, for example, current states of the system and / or data of the data output sequence. It is also favorable if the device comprises at least one data processing unit directly or indirectly connected to the at least one data manager. The at least one data processing unit can be implemented as hardware or as software that runs on a data processing system or distributed over several data processing systems. A data processing unit may also be referred to as a "service". With such a "service" certain tasks can be fulfilled, such as the task of generating certain messages. Data used in connection with the operation of these services can be stored in a plant database. This system database can also be accessed by the data consumers described above. The attachment database may be provided separately from the capture-playback database described above. It is also possible to provide a shared memory for the attachment database and the record-playback database.

Advantageously, by means of the at least one data manager, a data flow can be produced from a data source to a data consumer without the intermediary of the recording device and / or the playback device. This has the advantage that the at least one data manager can also be used to output currently provided data relating to the current state of the plant or a part of the plant.

It is preferred if the at least one data manager comprises a recording switching device for establishing or interrupting a data flow between a data source and the recording device. In this way, a recording operation of the device can be controlled in a simple manner.

Furthermore, it is preferred if the at least one data manager has a playback switching device for establishing or interrupting a data flow between the playback device and a data consumer includes. In this way, the playback operation of the device can be controlled in a simple manner.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the at least one data manager comprises a data consumer switching device for establishing or interrupting a data flow between a data source and a data consumer. This makes it possible to interrupt a data flow between a data source and a data consumer, for example in order to operate the device in a playback mode and, after the completion of the playback operation, to return the device to its original state in which currently provided data can be output.

The invention further relates to the use of a device described above for carrying out a method described above.

The invention is also suitable for common use with equipment monitoring products such as Siemens WinCC, Wonderware Intouch, Copa-Data Zenon, Rockwell RSView or Intellution iFix.

Further features and advantages of the invention are the subject of the following description and the drawings of preferred embodiments.

In the drawings show:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention for monitoring a technical system during a recording operation.

FIG. 2 shows the device according to FIG. 1 during a playback operation; FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention during a recording operation;

FIG. 4 shows the device according to FIG. 3 during a playback operation; FIG.

5 shows a selection field provided by means of a data manager of one of the devices;

Fig. 6 is a schematic view of a control unit for controlling one of the devices; and

7 is a schematic representation of the operation of the device of FIG. 1.

Identical or functionally equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals in all figures.

A first embodiment of a device for monitoring a technical installation is denoted as a whole by 100 and shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The device 100 is used to monitor a technical system, which is designated as a whole by 102.

The technical system 102 comprises a plurality of system components, which are shown schematically in FIG. 1 and designated 104, 106 and 108. The technical system 102 may be, for example, a transport system for transporting vehicle bodies or body parts. The plant parts 104 to 108 may, for example, each comprise manually or automatically operable locking devices, which can be brought into engagement with the body parts. The plant parts 104 to 108 are connected via respective assigned data lines 110, 112, 114 with interfaces 116 and 118. The interfaces 116, 118 are also referred to as "adaptation modules". With the aid of the interfaces 116, 118, a data-technical connection between the plant parts 104 to 108 to be monitored of the plant 102 and a data manager designated overall by 120 can be established. The data manager 120 manages data provided by means of the plant parts 104 to 108. The plant parts 104 to 108 serve as data source for the data manager 120.

The data manager 120 is connected to a recording device 122 and to a playback device 124, which may be combined to form a combined recording and playback device. The recording device 122 and the reproduction device 124 are connected via a data line 126 to a recording reproduction database 128.

The data manager 120 has a recording switching device 130 and a data consumer switching device 132. The data manager 120 further includes a playback switch 134.

The data manager 120 further comprises a data processing unit 136.

The data manager 120 is connected to further data processing units 144, 146 and 148 via a data network indicated as a whole by 138, which has data lines 140 and 142.

The apparatus 100 further comprises a plant database 150, which is connected to the data processing units 144 to 148 via the data network 138. The device 100 further comprises a data consumer designated overall by 152 in the form of a data output device 154 designed as a human-machine interface, which outputs data in alphanumeric and / or graphic and / or acoustic form.

The device 100 works as follows:

During the recording operation of the device 100 shown in FIG. 1, data is generated with the aid of the system parts 104 to 108 of the system 102, with which a state sequence of the system 102 and the system components 104 to 108 can be written. These data are transmitted to the recording-reproduction database 128 at successive times via the data manager 120, the recording device 122 and the data line 126 and stored there. This data flow is made possible by a corresponding switching position of the recording switching device 130.

During the recording of the data describing the state sequence of the system 102 and the system components 104 to 108 and their storage in the recording-playback database 128, the data consumer switching device 132 can assume a switching position in which the data mentioned are not limited to the recording-playback system. By way of these data processing units, data provided by the data manager 120 may be filtered, for example, so that services associated with the data processing units 144-148 may be satisfied. Such a service can be, for example, a message service whose task it is to output a message in the case of certain states of the system 102 or of a system component 104 to 108, for example if a desired value is exceeded.

Each of the computing devices 144-148 may access the asset database 150 via the network 138 so that various services may access a common collection of data. The data processed by means of the data manager 120 or its data processing unit 136 or the data processing units 144 to 148 are supplied to the data output device 154 via the data network 138. The data output device 154, during the recording operation of the device 100 shown in FIG. 1, displays data in sequential order corresponding to a respective current state of the system 102 and of the system components 104 to 108. The device 100 thus enables a real-time monitoring of the system 102 and at the same time the storage of data, with which in their entirety a state sequence of the system 102 can be described.

The apparatus 100 may also be operated in a playback mode shown in FIG. For the initiation of the playback operation, the data consumer switching device 132 is brought into a switching position in which a direct data flow from the system parts 104 to 108 is blocked to the data output device 154. The playback switching device 134 is brought into a switching position in which a data flow between the recording playback database 128 and the data output device 154 is established. This data flow takes place via the data line 126, the reproduction device 124, the data manager 120 and the data network 138. In this case, the data stored in the recording / playback database 128 are used to generate a data output sequence and to reproduce it with the aid of the data output device 154. The data output sequence represents a previously stored state sequence of the system 102 and the system components 104 to 108 as a chronological sequence of alphanumeric and / or graphical and / or acoustic signals.

During the playback operation of the device 100, the recording switching device 130 may assume a switching position that prevents a data flow into the recording-playback database 128, so that during the playback operation of the device 100, no data is stored, the current conditions of the system 102 relate. However, during the playback operation of the device 100, the recording switching device 130 can also assume a switching position which-as described above for the recording operation of the device 100-allows a data flow into the recording-playback database 128, so that also during the playback operation Device 100 current states of the system 102 related data in the recording-playback database 128 are stored.

The device 100 enables both the output of data relating to a current state of a device 102 and an output of data of a data output sequence representing a previously stored state sequence of the device 102.

A second embodiment of a device for monitoring a technical system is designated overall by 200 and shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The device 200 differs from the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that it comprises a data consumer 152 in the form of a human-machine interface data output device 155, with which only data of a data output sequence is output. With the aid of the data output device 155, therefore, no current states of a technical installation to be monitored are displayed.

The device 200 relates data describing a state sequence of a system to be monitored, not shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, via an interface 156, which can be connected to an external data manager (not shown) of the system to be monitored. Via the interface 156 and a data line 114 as well as via the recording device 122 and the data line 126, data can be supplied to a recording / playback database 128. The device 200 further comprises a sensor device 158, which is connected to the receiving device 122 via a data line 110. The sensor device 158 detects the state of an (not shown) automatically operable plant part.

The device 200 further comprises a further sensor device 160, which is connected to the receiving device 122 via a data line 112. The sensor device 160 detects the state of a manually operable plant part.

Furthermore, the apparatus 200 has a data output device 155 which exclusively reproduces data of a data output sequence.

The device 200 works as follows:

During the recording operation of the device 200 shown in FIG. 3, data supplied via the sensor devices 158 and 160 and via the interface 156 can be transmitted via the recording device 122 and the data line 126 into the recording-reproduction database 128 and stored there. This storage takes place at regular time intervals, so that the stored data overall describe a state sequence of a technical system.

During the recording operation of the device 200, the data output device 155 is inactive.

During the reproducing operation of the apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 4, data stored in the recording-reproduction database 128 are transmitted to the data manager 120 by means of the reproducing apparatus 124. For this purpose, the reproduction switching device 134 is brought into a corresponding switching position. The transmitted to the data manager 120 Data is processed by the data processing unit 136 of the data manager 120, and the processed data is passed to the data output device 155 via the data network 138. This outputs a data output sequence representing a previously stored state sequence of the equipment to be monitored.

The device 200 makes it possible to perform an analysis of the behavior of a technical installation without disturbing an output of data concerning a current state of the installation. This allows a particularly detailed and detailed analysis of the behavior of a plant.

The data manager 120 of the apparatus 100 or the apparatus 200 enables comfortable control of the above-described recording operation and the above-described playback operation. To facilitate this control, it is possible for the data manager 120 to provide a selection box, labeled 162, shown in FIG. The selection field 162 may be, for example, a virtual output field displayed on one of the data output devices 154, 155.

The selection field 162 comprises a selection list 164 with individual list entries 166, 168 and 170. Each of these list entries is assigned a selection element 172, 174, 176 in each case. For example, the list entry 170 "Recorder Module" is associated with the selection element 176, which is arranged directly next to the list entry 170.

The selection field 162 can be masked out with the aid of a deactivation element 178 arranged at the upper right edge of the selection field 172, for example in order to be able to display data relating to a current state of the installation 102 with the aid of the data output device 154 of the device 100. Upon actuation of the selection element 176, a control unit shown in FIG. 6 and designated by 182 is activated. The control unit 182 is used for comfortable and easy control of the recording device 122 and the reproduction device 124.

Control unit 182 includes a control area, generally designated 184, having a plurality of real or virtual controls. Real controls can be designed, for example, as buttons; Virtual controls may include graphical representations of real controls on a data output device 154, 155.

The control area 184 includes an upper row control panel 186 and a lower row control panel 188. Between the control panels 186 and 188, a line-shaped display panel 190 is arranged.

The upper control panel 186 includes a storage control 192 ("pick-up key") coupled to the pick-and-place switch 130, which can be used to place the apparatus 100 or apparatus 200 in a pick-and-place operation.

The upper control panel 186 further includes a playback control 194 ("play button") which is coupled to the playback switch 134 and by means of which the apparatus 100 or 200 may be placed in playback mode.

The upper control panel 186 further includes a shut-off control 196 ("stop button") with which a recording operation or a playback operation can be turned off. In addition, the upper control panel 186 includes an interrupt control 198 ("pause key") for interrupting a recording operation or interrupting a playback operation. Finally, the upper control panel 186 has a left-rearward jump control 202 ("rewind button") and a right outside spring control element 204 ("fast-forward button"). With the help of the jump back control element 202, an earlier time or a prior state of the state sequence of the system 102 can be selected. With the aid of the projection control element 204, a later point in time or a later state of a state sequence of the system 102 can be selected. Depending on the selected time of the state sequence or the selected state of the state sequence, those data output data are selected with which the data output sequence output on the data output device 154, 155 starts.

During the protrusion or springback, the data output sequence can be reproduced at an increased speed in right chronological order.

The lower control panel 188 of the control unit 182 has a speed setting control 206 configured as a slider. The control element 206 can be displaced along a control link 208, in the direction of a left hand arranged marking element 210, which symbolizes a lower playback speed, or in the direction of a right hand arranged marking element 212, which symbolizes a higher playback speed. With the aid of the control element 206, the speed with which the data output sequence is reproduced on the data output device 154 or 155 can be set.

The display 190 integrated in the control unit 182 is used to represent a time 214. The time 214 may relate to a current time or a time that is in the past and is assigned to a state of the stored state sequence just reproduced. This facilitates finding a particular state of the state sequence. FIG. 7 shows a timeline 216 representing a real time axis. Along the time stream 216 four times, namely t ₀ , ti, t ₂ , t _{3 are} marked. At a time ti occurs in a system 102, an event 218, which leads to a fault 220 at a later time t ₂ .

With the aid of a device 100 described above, it is possible to provide the data relating to a current state of the system 102 to a data manager 120 and via a data network 138 to a data output device 154. For the application example shown in FIG. 7, it should be assumed that the system 102 is a rotary conveyor system with a plurality of locking devices. A single state of the plant 102 is characterized by a total of 300 data elements. The values of all data items 1 to 300 are stored at regular intervals in the recording-playback database 128. With the aid of the data output device 154, during a period between t ₀ and t ₂ , during a real-time observation of the system 102, only a subset of these data elements are output, namely the respective current values of the data elements 1 to 100.

The event designated at 218 at time ti relates to the state of a locking device of the system 102. The state of this locking device can be described with the data elements 200 to 300. For example, the locking device 218 does not completely close at the time ti, so that a body part of a body to be transported by means of the installation 102 is not secured by the locking device. In the example chosen, this leads to the fact that at a later time, namely t ₂ , the unsecured body part moves in an inadmissible position and is damaged.

At a later point in time, for example at the time t ₃ , the data manager 120 and with the aid of the control unit 182 can chronologically access the data stored in the recording / playback database 128 be accessed. In this case, it is also possible to access those data elements 101 to 300 and in particular the data elements 200 to 300, which have not yet been output with the aid of the data output device 154. Thus, a sequence of states of the plant 102 in a period between t ₀ and t ₂ at a time t _{3 can} be reproduced as a data output sequence on the data output device 154 to find the cause of the fault 220, ie the event 218.

A change between different subsets of data to be output is possible at any time during the output of the data output sequence.

Claims

A method for monitoring a technical installation (102), in which data describing a state sequence of the installation (102) or an installation part (104, 106, 108) is stored and in which a data output sequence is generated on the basis of at least a subset of the stored data, which represents the state sequence of the installation (102) or of the installation part (104, 106, 108).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the state sequence is a time sequence of real states of the plant (102) or the plant part (104, 106, 108).

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the state sequence is a temporal sequence of virtual states of the plant (102) or of the plant part (104, 106, 108).

4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the data describing a state sequence of the system (102) or a system component (104, 106, 108) contains a plurality of data groups, each data group containing the state of the system (102) or of the plant part (104, 106, 108) represents a point in time assigned to this data group.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the data groups are stored in constant time intervals.

6. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the data groups are stored in variable time intervals.

7. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that a time interval for the storage of successive data groups is set.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a speed at which the data output sequence is output, is equal to the speed of the reproduced state sequence.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a speed at which the data output sequence is output, is lower than the speed of the reproduced state sequence.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a speed at which the data output sequence is output, is higher than the speed of the reproduced state sequence.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a speed at which the data output sequence is output, is set.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a temporal order of the data outputs of the data output sequence is equal to a temporal order of the states of the state sequence.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a temporal order of the data outputs of the data output sequence corresponds to a reverse temporal order of the states of the state sequence.

14. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the data output sequence begins with the data corresponding to an arbitrarily selected start time of the state sequence.

15. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the data output sequence ends with the data corresponding to an arbitrarily selected stop time of the state sequence.

16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the data output sequence begins with the data corresponding to an arbitrarily selected start state of the state sequence.

17. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the data output sequence ends with the data corresponding to an arbitrarily selected stop state of the state sequence.

18. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that for generating the data output sequence, a subset of the stored data is selected.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that the selected subset during the temporal sequence of real states of the plant (102) or a plant part (104, 106, 108) already output data.

20. The method according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the selected subset during the temporal sequence of real states of the plant (102) or a plant part (104, 106, 108) comprises not yet output data.

21. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 20, characterized in that the selection of the subset of the stored data takes place in dependence on at least one selection condition.

22. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 21, characterized in that the selection of a subset of the stored data in response to a deviation from at least one setpoint of at least one data element takes place.

23. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 22, characterized in that the selection of a subset of the stored data as a function of compliance with at least one desired value of at least one data element takes place.

24. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that the data output takes place on a human-machine interface.

25. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 24, characterized in that the data output comprises a two-dimensional and / or a three-dimensional graphic visualization of the state of the plant (102) or a plant part (104, 106, 108).

26. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 25, characterized in that during the temporal sequence of real states of the plant (102) or a plant part (104, 106, 108) data relating to these states are output to a data output device (154) and that the data output sequence is reproduced on the same data output device (154).

27. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 25, characterized in that during the temporal sequence of real states of the plant (102) or a part of the plant (104, 106, 108) data relating to these states are output to a data output device and that the data output sequence another data output device (155) is reproduced.

28. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the data describing a state sequence of the system (102) or of an installation part (104, 106, 108) is stored by means of a recording device (122), and that at least a subset of the stored data is sent to a playback device (124) remote from the recording device (122).

29. Device (100, 200) for monitoring a technical system (102), with a recording device (122) for storing data describing a state sequence of the system (102) or a system component (104, 106, 108) and with a display device ( 124) for generating a data output sequence representing the state sequence of the installation (102) or of the installation part (104, 106, 108) on the basis of at least one subset of the stored data.

30. Device (100, 200) according to claim 29, characterized in that the state sequence is a temporal sequence of real states of the plant (102) or of the plant part (104, 106, 108).

31. Device (100, 200) according to claim 29, characterized in that the state sequence is a temporal sequence of virtual states of the installation (102) or of the installation part (104, 106, 108).

32. Device (100, 200) according to any one of claims 29 to 31, characterized by at least one data source for providing at least one a state of the system (102) or the plant part (104, 106, 108) descriptive data element.

33. Device (200) according to any one of claims 29 to 32, characterized by at least one sensor device (158, 160) for detecting at least one a state of the system (102) or the plant part (104, 106, 108) descriptive data element.

34. Device (200) according to claim 33, characterized in that by means of at least one sensor device (158) the state of an automatically operable plant (102) or an automatically operable plant part (104, 106, 108) can be detected.

35. Device (200) according to claim 33 or 34, characterized in that by means of at least one sensor device (160), the state of a manually operable system (102) or a manually operable system part (104, 106, 108) can be detected.

36. Device (200) according to one of claims 29 to 35, characterized by at least one interface (156) to at least one external data manager (120), with which at least one of a state of the plant (102) or the plant part (104, 106, 108) descriptive data element is provided.

37. Apparatus (100, 200) according to any one of claims 29 to 36, characterized by a recording-playback database (128), in which the data, the state sequence of the plant (102) or a plant part (104, 106, 108 ), are stored.

38. Device (100, 200) according to any one of claims 29 to 37, characterized by at least one control unit (182) for controlling the receiving device (122) and / or the display device (124).

39. Device (100, 200) according to claim 38, characterized in that the at least one control unit (182) comprises a storage control element (192) by means of which a storage of the one state sequence of the installation (102) or of an installation part ( 104, 106, 108) descriptive data is controllable.

40. Device (100, 200) according to claim 38 or 39, characterized in that the at least one control unit (182) comprises a playback control element (194) by means of which the generation of the data output sequence is controllable.

41. Device (100, 200) according to one of claims 38 to 40, characterized in that the at least one control unit (182) comprises a shutdown control element (196), by means of which a storage of a state sequence of the system (102) or a Part of the plant (104, 106, 108) descriptive data and / or the generation of the data output sequence is switched off.

42. Device (100, 200) according to one of claims 38 to 41, characterized in that the at least one control unit (182) comprises an interruption control element (198), by means of which a storage of a state sequence of the system (102) or a Plant part (104, 106, 108) descriptive data and / or the generation of the data output sequence is interruptible.

43. Device (100, 200) according to one of claims 38 to 42, characterized in that the at least one control unit (182) comprises a spring-back control element (202), by means of which a previous state of the installation (102) or of an installation part ( 104, 106, 108) can be controlled.

44. Device (100, 200) according to one of claims 38 to 43, characterized in that the at least one control unit (182) comprises a projection control element (204), by means of which a later state of the installation (102) or of an installation part ( 104, 106, 108) can be controlled.

45. Device (100, 200) according to one of claims 38 to 44, characterized in that the at least one control unit (182) comprises a speed setting control element (206) by means of which a speed with which the data output sequence is output is adjustable ,

46. Device (100, 200) according to one of claims 29 to 45, characterized by at least one data manager (120) for managing the data, which describe a state sequence of the system (102) or of a system component (104, 106, 108), and / or to manage the stored data.

47. Device (100, 200) according to claim 46, characterized in that the at least one data manager (120) is connected directly or indirectly to the recording device (122) and / or the playback device (124).

48. Device (100, 200) according to claim 46 or 47, characterized in that the at least one data manager (120) directly or indirectly with at least one data source for providing at least one state of the plant (102) or the plant part (104, 106 , 108) descriptive data element is connected.

49. Device (100, 200) according to claim 48, characterized by at least one interface (116, 118) for connecting the at least one data manager (120) and the at least one data source.

50. Device (100, 200) according to one of claims 46 to 49, characterized in that by means of the at least one data manager (120) provided by at least one data source data and / or the stored data can be processed and / or processed.

51. Device (100, 200) according to one of claims 46 to 50, characterized by at least one data consumer (152) directly or indirectly connected to the at least one data manager (120).

52. Device (100, 200) according to one of claims 46 to 51, characterized by at least one data processing unit (144, 146, 148) directly or indirectly connected to the at least one data manager (120).

53. Device (100, 200) according to any one of claims 46 to 52, characterized in that by means of the at least one data manager (120) a data flow from a data source to a data consumer (152) without interposition of the receiving device (122) and / or the Reproducing device (124) can be produced.

54. Device (100, 200) according to one of claims 46 to 53, characterized in that the at least one data manager (120) comprises a recording switching device (130) for establishing or interrupting a data flow between a data source and the recording device (122) ,

55. Device (100, 200) according to one of claims 46 to 54, characterized in that the at least one data manager (120) has a reproduction switching device (134) for establishing or interrupting a data flow between the reproduction device (124) and a data consumer ( 152).

56. Device (100, 200) according to one of claims 46 to 55, characterized in that the at least one data manager (120) comprises a data consumer switching device (132) for establishing or interrupting a data flow between a data source and a data consumer (152) ,

57. Device (100, 200) according to any one of claims 29 to 56, characterized by a man-machine interface for reproducing the data output sequence.

58. Device (100, 200) according to one of claims 29 to 57, characterized by a data output device (154, 155) for two-dimensional and / or three-dimensional graphic visualization of the state of the installation (102) or of an installation part (104, 106, 108). ,

59. Apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 29 to 58, characterized by a data output device (154) which is capable of both during the temporal sequence of real states of the plant (102) or a plant part (104, 106, 108). to represent data relating to these states as well as to reproduce the data output sequence.

60. Device (100) according to claim 59, characterized in that the data output device (154) has an interface for accessing the real states of the system (102) or of a system component (104, 106, 108) relating to data and an interface for accessing the stored, the state sequence of the system (102) or a plant part (104, 106, 108) descriptive data.

61. Apparatus (200) according to any one of claims 29 to 60, characterized by a data output device (155) which is intended exclusively for reproducing the data output sequence.

62. Device (100, 200) according to one of claims 29 to 61, characterized in that the display device (122) and the receiving device (124) are arranged away from each other and that the playback device (122) and the receiving device (124) via a Data transmission device can be connected to one another.

63. Use of a device (100, 200) according to any one of claims 29 to 62 for carrying out a method according to one of claims 1 to 28.