Title of Invention	AN ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE CONFIGURED WITH PRE-DETERMINED OPERATING PARAMETERS AND A METHOD FOR CONFIGURATION OF THE ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE
Abstract	The invention relates amongst other things to a parameterisation device (50) for generating parameterisation signals (SP) fixing operating parameters for electrical devices (10,15,20,25,30,35) of an electrical arrangement. The aim of the invention is to provide a parameterisation device with a particularly good operator friendliness and which particularly permits a subsequent alteration of operating parameters for electrical devices which takes little time and is hence particularly economical. Said aim is achieved, wherein the parameterization device is provided with device-specific parameters (S10,S15,S20,S25,S30,S35), individually provided for each device of the arrangement and device-group specific parameters (A,B), identically provided for a given of devices (200,210) which are differently processed, wherein after changing a stored device-group specific parameter for one of the devices(10,25) of the relevant group, the changed parameter is copied to the stored parameter sets for the remaining devices of said group on a manual operation input or automatically.

Title of Invention

AN ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE CONFIGURED WITH PRE-DETERMINED OPERATING PARAMETERS AND A METHOD FOR CONFIGURATION OF THE ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE

Abstract

The invention relates amongst other things to a parameterisation device (50) for generating parameterisation signals (SP) fixing operating parameters for electrical devices (10,15,20,25,30,35) of an electrical arrangement. The aim of the invention is to provide a parameterisation device with a particularly good operator friendliness and which particularly permits a subsequent alteration of operating parameters for electrical devices which takes little time and is hence particularly economical. Said aim is achieved, wherein the parameterization device is provided with device-specific parameters (S10,S15,S20,S25,S30,S35), individually provided for each device of the arrangement and device-group specific parameters (A,B), identically provided for a given of devices (200,210) which are differently processed, wherein after changing a stored device-group specific parameter for one of the devices(10,25) of the relevant group, the changed parameter is copied to the stored parameter sets for the remaining devices of said group on a manual operation input or automatically.

Full Text	Description Configuration appliance and method for configuration of electrical appliances The invention relates to a configuration appliance for production of configuration signals, which define appliance- specific operating parameters, for one or more electrical appliances in an. electrical arrangement. In the following text, the expression "configuration" means that predetermined operating parameters are entered in electrical appliances, with the operating parameters defining the method of operation and the functional scope of the appliances; the operating parameters are entered with the aid of configuration signals, which are used to transmit the operating parameters to the appliances. Nowadays, commercial planning and configuration aids are available for the planning and configuration of electrical arrangements, for example complex electrical installations, such as electrical station control systems, and for the configuration of individual appliances in electrical arrangements such as those, for example protective appliances. One known configuration aid (also referred to in the specialist world as a "configuration tool") is formed, for example, by the DIGSI configuration program for Siemens AG; after installation on a data processing system, the DIGSI configuration program forms a configuration appliance. In the case of this already known configuration tool, the respective operating parameters must be predetermined individually for each appliance in the electrical arrangement. If it is found after successfully entering the operating parameters -- for example during commissioning - or the test phase of the electrical arrangement, that, individual operating parameters have been chosen badly or incorrectly, then these operating parameters must be corrected "manually" for each of the affected appliances, using the configuration tool. US6618630 (Bl) teaches an user interface in a process control network having a controller communicatively coupled to a plurality of field devices, a process control configuration database, and a workstation having a display, a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the controller. The user interface comprises a process control configuration system that enables a user to manipulate and view a process control solution for use in the process control network, a field device management system that enables a user to communicate with one of the field devices and an interface that passes data between the process control configuration system and the field device management system to enable simultaneous use of the process control configuration system and the field device management system. The invention is based on the object of specifying a configuration appliance which is particularly user-friendly and in particular allows retrospective modification of the operating parameters of electrical appliances, in a manner that takes up little time and is therefore particularly cost- effective. According to the invention, this object is achieved by a configuration appliance having the features as claimed in claim 1. On the basis of a configuration appliance of the type mentioned initially, the invention accordingly provides that the configuration appliance deals differently with appliance- specific parameters which are individually associated with each appliance in the arrangement, and appliance-group-specific parameters which are associated identically with each predetermined group of appliances, in that, after a change to a stored appliance-group-specific parameter for one of the appliances in the respective group, it copies the changed parameters to the stored parameter sets of the other appliances in this group - in response to a manual control input, or automatically. An appliance group may be formed by a subgroup of the appliances in the arrangement, or else by all the appliances in the arrangement. One major advantage of the configuration appliance according to the invention is that the user need make only a single parameter change input in order to change appliance-group- specific parameters; this is because, when a change command occurs for one of the appliances in the group, the changed appliance-group-specific parameter is changed - either in response to a manual command or automatically - not only in the respective appliance for which the change is carried out but also for all the other appliances in this group which use or process this parameter in an identical manner. The configuration appliance according 10 the invention therefore means that there is no need to charge an appliance-group- specific parameter repeatedly or even for all the appliances in the respective appliance group. instead of this, all that is necessary is to define; once which parameters are intended to be identical in which appliances; any change to a parameter value for one appliance is then transferred to all the appliances in the respective group, automatically or in response to a manual command. The association between appliance and appliances groups, and the definition of which parameters for each appliance are appliance-group-specific parameters are preferably defined in advance by means of a configuration module, which is provided for this purpose, for the configuration appliance. The operating parameters can be entered in the configuration appliance particularly quickly when, when an appliance-group- specific parameter is entered for the first time for one of the appliances, the configuration appliance copies this parameter at this stage to the data records of the other appliances in the respective appliance group. In this case, just a single input is in each case required for each appliance-group- specific parameter for each group. The appliance-group-specific parameters can be automatically copied particularly easily by in each case defining one of the advances in the group as the "parameter master" for each appliance group. When the parameter for this "chosen" appliance in the appilance group is changed in this case, this parameter is automatically matched in the other appliances in the respective appliance group. A corresponding situation occurs when a parameter value for an appliance-group-specific parameter is entered for the first time for the "chosen" appliance; in this case, this parameter value is automatically transferred to the other appliances in the appliance group. Alternatively, "parameter copying" can also be initiated automatically when an appliance-group-specific parameter is entered for the first time or is changed for any given appliance in the appliance group. In this case, each appliance in the appliance group effectively act.s as the "parameter master". By way of example, the following parameters may be used as appliance-group-specific parameters: control language, power supply system frequency, malfunction recording settings (for example fault records), time synchronization settings, jumper settings (for example for control signals as a reaction to incoming messages) and settings for overcurrent time protection or for switch failure prelection. Appliances for outgoer panels, appliances for couplings and appliances for feeds to appliance groups are preferably combined since they are normally intended to have identical appliance-group-specific parameters. In order to simplify parameter group formation and copying of parameter values, it is considered to be advantageous for the parameters to have a standard parameter structure; by way of example, IEC Standard 618 50 forms a particularly suitable parameter structure: In order to al low simple management of the operating parameters, it is considered to be advantageous for the memory device to store a tag for each operating parameter, indicating whether the respective operating parameter, is an appliance- specific parameter or an appliance-group-specific parameter. In the case of an appliance-group-specif ic parameter, information about which appliances belong to which appliance group and therefore make use of the respective parameter identically is preferably additionally stored. For simple management of the parameters, it is considered to be advantageous for the memory device to store appliance-specific parameters and appliance-group-specific parameters in separate memory areas. For example, the memory device can be provided with a parameter area for appliance-specific parameters and a parameter area for appliance-group-specific parameters respectively. for each parameter set for each appliance. The invention also relates to a method for production of configuration signals which define appliance-specific operating parameters tor olectrical appliances in an electrical arrangement, in which operating parameters which are desired at the user end are entered into a memory, and those configuration signals which correspond to the operating parameters stored in the memory device are in each case produced for each appliance selected at the user end. In order to make a method such as this particularly user- friendly and to allow the operating parameters to be changed retrospectively with little time penalty, the invention proposes that app] iance-specific parameters which are specific for each appliance in the arrangement and appliance-group- specific parameters which arc intended to be identical for a predetermined group of appliances are dealt with differently in that, after a change to a stored appliance-group-specific parameter for one of the appliances, the changed parameter is copied to the stored parameter sets of the other appliances in the respective group. With regard to the advantages of the method according to the invention, reference is made to the above statements relating to the configuration appliance according to the invention. The invention can be used, for example, for station control systems which are equipped with a plurality of field appliances, for example protective appliances. By way of example, in a situation such as this, the configuration appliance according to the invention is connected to at least one of the fields or protective appliances, uses its signal production device to produce the configuration signals, and feeds them to the field or protective appliance. The invention will be explained in the following text with reference to one exemplary embodiment. In the figures: Figure 1 shows one exemplary embodiment of a station control system according to the invention having a plurality of protective appliances and having a configuration appliance according to the invention connected to it, Figure 2 shows one exemplary embodiment of the specific design of the configuration appliance shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 shows an example of a flowchart illustrating how data records are entered in the configuration appliance shown in Figure 2, and Figure 4 shows an example of a flowchart illustrating a change to a data record in the configuration appliance as shown in Figure 2. Figure 1 shows six protective appliances 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 which belong to a station control system 40 which is not illustrated in any more detail in Figure 1. The six protective appliances 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 are connected to a configuration appliance 50 by means of an external data bus 45. The configuration appliance 50 is used to produce configuration signals SP and to transmit these for configuration purposes to the six protective appliances 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35. The specific functions of the protective appliances 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 are defined and set by the configuration signals SP. Figure 2 shows an example of the design of the configuration appliance 50 shown in Figure 1. As can be seen, the configuration appliance 50 has an input device 100 which is connected to an input. E110 of a processing device 110. The processing device 110 is connected via a data connection D110 to an internal data bus 120, which is connected to a memory device 130. The processing device 110 is also connected by means of an output A110a and by means of a further output A110b to an output device 140 and to a signal production device 150. An output A150 of the signal production device 150 forms the output A50 of the configuration appliance 50, which is connected to the external data bus 45 as shown in Figure 1. The method of operation of the arrangement shown in Figure 1 and the method of operation of the configuration appliance 50 shown in Figure 2. will be explained in detail in the following text with reference to Figure 3: After setting up a memory area M10, M15, M20, M25, M30 and M35 for each of the six protective appliances 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 in the memory device 130, the configuration appliance 50 is first of all used to define which parameters of the six protective appliances are appliance-specific parameters and which are appliance-group-specific parameters. Appliance- specific parameters are understood to be those which are individually associated with each protective appliance; appliance-group-specific parameters are those which are in each case identically associated with a predetermined group of appliances. By way of example, the following text is based on the assumption that the three protective appliances 10, 15 and 20 are intended to be allocated the parameters A1 to An, in each case with the same parameter values. The parameters A1 to An therefore form appliance-group-specific parameters, and a first matching parameter set element A; in this context, the protective appliances 10, l5 and 20 form a first appliance group 2 00 with matching parameters. In a corresponding manner, the three protective appliances 25, 30 and 35 form a second appliance group 210; in this second appliance group 210, the parameters B1 to Bm are identical, and form a second parameter set clement B. Furthermore, there may also DO other appliance-group-specific parameters which form further parameter set elements for further appliance groups; by way of example, a third appliance group could be formed by the protective appliances 10, 20 and 30, in which different parameters C1 to Cq with identical parameter values are intended to be configured. However, this is not illustrated in any more detail in Figure 3, for clarity reasons; by way of example, Figure 3 shows just two parameter set elements A anci B, which belong to the two groups 200 and 210. By way of example, the following explanations therefore relate to the two appliance groups 200 and 210. By way of example?, the appliance-specific parameters for each of the protective appliances are first of all defined in a first configuration step I; the reference symbols S10, S15, S20, S25, S30 and S35 in Figure 3 denote the data records with the appliance-specific parameters. The appliance-group-specific parameters are entered in a second configuration step 11. For this purpose, the first parameter set element A with the appliance-group-specific parameters A1 to An is stored in the protective appliance 10; this is indicated by the reference symbol A in Figure 3. The second parameter set element B with the appliance-group-specific parameters H1 to Bn i s stored i n a corresponding manner in the protective appliance 25; this is indicated by the reference symbol B in Figure 3. The appliance-group-specific parameters Al to An and B1 to Bm are then copied to the appliances in the respective appliance group 2 00 or 210 in the course of a copying step III, in response to a manual input or automatically, that is to say without any need to enter the parameter set elements A or B again. The copying process III is indicated by arrows 300. If, once the protective appliances have been configured, for example after a test phase IV has been carried out (see Figure 4), one or all of the appliance-group-specific parameters Al to An in the parameter set element A is intended to be changed, then there is no need to individually reconfigure all the protective appliances 10, 15, and 20; it is sufficient to change individual parameters, or all of the parameters, in the parameter set element A on the basis of the protective appliance 10, and to copy the changed parameters to the data records for the other protective appliances 15 and 20 (see the copying step V) . A corresponding situation applies to changes to the parameter set element B, which are carried out on the basis of the protective appliance 25 and can then be copied to the data records of the other protective appliances 30 and 35 in the second appliance group 210. The above explanations have been based on the assumption that the parameter set element A and any changes to the parameter set element A are entered with respect to the appliance 10, and that the resultant new parameter set element A is then copied to the data records of the other appliances 15 and 20 in the first appliance group 200. instead of this, a corresponding input of the parameter set element A or a change to the parameter set element A can also be carried out on the basis of another appliance 15 or 20 in the first appliance group 200 or else "abstractly" for the first, appliance group 200 as such. In a corresponding manner, the parameter set element B can be input and the parameter set element B can be changed on the basis of another appliance 30 or 35 in the second appliance group 210; the selection of the appliance 25 should also be regarded as an example, in this context. Alternatively, the parameter set element B can also bo entered or changed "abstractly" for the second appliance group 210 as such. List of reference symbols 10 Protective appliance 15 Protective-appliance 20 Protective appliance 25 Protective appliance 30 Protective appliance 35 Protective appliance 4 0 Station control system 45 External data bus 50 Configuration appliance 100 Input device 110 Processing device 120 Internal data bus 130 Memory device 14 0 Output device 150 Signal production device 200 First appliance group 210 Second appliance group S10 Appliance-specific data record S15 Appliance-specific data record S2 0 Appliance-specific data record S25 Appliance-specific data record S30 Appliance-specific data record S35 Appliance-specific data record A First appliance-group-specific parameter set element B Second appliance-group-specific parameter set element SP Configuration signals We Claim: 1. A configuration appliance (50) for production of configuration signals (SP) which define operating parameters for electrical appliances (10,15,20,25,30,35) in an electrical arrangement (40), - having an input device (100) into which operating parameters which are desired at the user end can be entered for each of the appliances, - having a memory device (130) in which the parameter sets are in each case stored for each appliance, and - having a signal production device (150) which in each case produces those configuration signals which correspond to the operating parameters stored in the memory device, for each appliance which is selected at the user end, wherein -the configuration appliance deals differently with appliance-specific parameters (S10,S15,S20,S25,S30,S35) which are individually associated with each appliance in the arrangement, and appliance-group-specific parameters (A,B) which are associated identically with each predetermined group of appliances (200,210), in that, after a change to a stored appliance-group-specific parameter for one of the appliances (10,25) in the respective group, it copies the changed parameters to the stored parameter sets of the other appliances in this group in response to a manual control input, or automatically. 2. The configuration appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when an appliance-group specific parameter is entered for the first time for one of the appliances, the configuration appliance copies this parameter at this stage to the data records of the other appliances in the respective appliance group. 3. The configuration appliance as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the memory device stores a tag for each operating parameter, indicating whether the respective operating parameter is an appliance-specific parameter or an appliance group-specific parameter. 4. The configuration appliance as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the memory device stores appliance-specific parameters and appliance-group-specific parameters in separate memory areas. 5. A method for production of configuration signals (SP) which define appliance-specific operating parameters for electrical appliances (10,15,20,25,30,35) in an electrical arrangement (40) in which - operating parameters which are desired at the user end are stored, and - those configuration signals which correspond to the stored operating parameters are in each case produced for each appliance selected at the user end, wherein - appliance-specific parameters (S10,S15,S20,S25,S30,S35) which are specific for each appliance in the arrangement and appliance- group-specific parameters (A,B)which are intended to be identical for a predetermined group (200, 210) of appliances are dealt with differently in that, after a change to a stored appliance-group- specific parameter for one of the appliances (10,25), the changed parameter is copied to the stored parameter sets of the other appliances in the respective group (200,210). 6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein when a parameter which is defined on an appliance-group-specific basis is entered for the first time, this parameter is automatically copied at this stage to the data records of the other appliances in this group. 7. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims 5 to 6, wherein a tag is provided for each operating parameter and indicates whether the respective operating parameter is an appliance-specific parameter or an appliance-group-specific parameter. 8. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims 5 to 7, wherein appliance-specific parameters and appliance-group-specific parameters are stored in separate memory areas. 9. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims 5 to 8, wherein field appliances, in particular protective appliances, in a station control system are configured. ABSTRACT TITLE: " An Electrical Appliance Configured with pre-determine operating parameters and a method for configuration of the electrical appliance" The invention relates amongst other things to a parameterisation device (50) for generating parameterisation signals (SP) fixing operating parameters for electrical devices (10,15,20,25,30,35) of an electrical arrangement. The aim of the invention is to provide a parameterisation device with a particularly good operator friendliness and which particularly permits a subsequent alteration of operating parameters for electrical devices which takes little time and is hence particularly economical. Said aim is achieved, wherein the parameterization device is provided with device-specific parameters (S10,S15,S20,S25,S30,S35), individually provided for each device of the arrangement and device-group specific parameters (A,B), identically provided for a given of devices (200,210) which are differently processed, wherein after changing a stored device-group specific parameter for one of the devices(10,25) of the relevant group, the changed parameter is copied to the stored parameter sets for the remaining devices of said group on a manual operation input or automatically.

Full Text

Description
Configuration appliance and method for configuration of
electrical appliances
The invention relates to a configuration appliance for
production of configuration signals, which define appliance-
specific operating parameters, for one or more electrical
appliances in an. electrical arrangement. In the following text,
the expression "configuration" means that predetermined
operating parameters are entered in electrical appliances, with
the operating parameters defining the method of operation and
the functional scope of the appliances; the operating
parameters are entered with the aid of configuration signals,
which are used to transmit the operating parameters to the
appliances.
Nowadays, commercial planning and configuration aids are
available for the planning and configuration of electrical
arrangements, for example complex electrical installations,
such as electrical station control systems, and for the
configuration of individual appliances in electrical
arrangements such as those, for example protective appliances.
One known configuration aid (also referred to in the specialist
world as a "configuration tool") is formed, for example, by the
DIGSI configuration program for Siemens AG; after installation
on a data processing system, the DIGSI configuration program
forms a configuration appliance.
In the case of this already known configuration tool, the
respective operating parameters must be predetermined
individually for each appliance in the electrical arrangement.
If it is found after successfully entering the operating
parameters -- for example during commissioning - or the test

phase of the electrical arrangement, that, individual operating
parameters have been chosen badly or incorrectly, then these
operating parameters must be corrected "manually" for each of
the affected appliances, using the configuration tool.
US6618630 (Bl) teaches an user interface in a process control network having a
controller communicatively coupled to a plurality of field devices, a process
control configuration database, and a workstation having a display, a processor
and a memory communicatively coupled to the controller. The user interface
comprises a process control configuration system that enables a user to
manipulate and view a process control solution for use in the process control
network, a field device management system that enables a user to communicate
with one of the field devices and an interface that passes data between the
process control configuration system and the field device management system to
enable simultaneous use of the process control configuration system and the
field device management system.

The invention is based on the object of specifying a
configuration appliance which is particularly user-friendly and in particular allows retrospective modification of the
operating parameters of electrical appliances, in a manner that
takes up little time and is therefore particularly cost-
effective.
According to the invention, this object is achieved by a
configuration appliance having the features as claimed in claim 1.
On the basis of a configuration appliance of the type mentioned
initially, the invention accordingly provides that the
configuration appliance deals differently with appliance-
specific parameters which are individually associated with each
appliance in the arrangement, and appliance-group-specific
parameters which are associated identically with each
predetermined group of appliances, in that, after a change to a
stored appliance-group-specific parameter for one of the
appliances in the respective group, it copies the changed
parameters to the stored parameter sets of the other appliances
in this group - in response to a manual control input, or
automatically. An appliance group may be formed by a subgroup
of the appliances in the arrangement, or else by all the
appliances in the arrangement.
One major advantage of the configuration appliance according to
the invention is that the user need make only a single
parameter change input in order to change appliance-group-
specific parameters; this is because, when a change command
occurs for one of the appliances in the group, the changed
appliance-group-specific parameter is changed - either in
response to a manual command or automatically - not only in the
respective appliance for which the change is carried out but
also for all the other appliances in this group which use or

process this parameter in an identical manner. The
configuration appliance according 10 the invention therefore
means that there is no need to charge an appliance-group-
specific

parameter repeatedly or even for all the appliances in the
respective appliance group. instead of this, all that is
necessary is to define; once which parameters are intended to be
identical in which appliances; any change to a parameter value
for one appliance is then transferred to all the appliances in
the respective group, automatically or in response to a manual
command.
The association between appliance and appliances groups, and
the definition of which parameters for each appliance are
appliance-group-specific parameters are preferably defined in
advance by means of a configuration module, which is provided
for this purpose, for the configuration appliance.
The operating parameters can be entered in the configuration
appliance particularly quickly when, when an appliance-group-
specific parameter is entered for the first time for one of the
appliances, the configuration appliance copies this parameter
at this stage to the data records of the other appliances in
the respective appliance group. In this case, just a single
input is in each case required for each appliance-group-
specific parameter for each group.
The appliance-group-specific parameters can be automatically
copied particularly easily by in each case defining one of the
advances in the group as the "parameter master" for each
appliance group. When the parameter for this "chosen" appliance
in the appilance group is changed in this case, this parameter
is automatically matched in the other appliances in the
respective appliance group. A corresponding situation occurs
when a parameter value for an appliance-group-specific
parameter is entered for the first time for the "chosen"
appliance; in this case, this parameter value is automatically
transferred to the other appliances in the appliance group.

Alternatively, "parameter copying" can also be initiated
automatically when an appliance-group-specific parameter is
entered for the first time or is changed for any given
appliance in

the appliance group. In this case, each appliance in the
appliance group effectively act.s as the "parameter master".
By way of example, the following parameters may be used as
appliance-group-specific parameters: control language, power
supply system frequency, malfunction recording settings (for
example fault records), time synchronization settings, jumper
settings (for example for control signals as a reaction to
incoming messages) and settings for overcurrent time protection
or for switch failure prelection. Appliances for outgoer
panels, appliances for couplings and appliances for feeds to
appliance groups are preferably combined since they are
normally intended to have identical appliance-group-specific
parameters.
In order to simplify parameter group formation and copying of
parameter values, it is considered to be advantageous for the
parameters to have a standard parameter structure; by way of
example, IEC Standard 618 50 forms a particularly suitable
parameter structure:
In order to al low simple management of the operating
parameters, it is considered to be advantageous for the memory
device to store a tag for each operating parameter, indicating
whether the respective operating parameter, is an appliance-
specific parameter or an appliance-group-specific parameter. In
the case of an appliance-group-specif ic parameter, information
about which appliances belong to which appliance group and
therefore make use of the respective parameter identically is
preferably additionally stored.
For simple management of the parameters, it is considered to be
advantageous for the memory device to store appliance-specific

parameters and appliance-group-specific parameters in separate
memory areas. For example, the memory device can be provided
with a parameter area for appliance-specific parameters and a
parameter area for appliance-group-specific parameters
respectively.

for each parameter set for each appliance.
The invention also relates to a method for production of
configuration signals which define appliance-specific operating
parameters tor olectrical appliances in an electrical
arrangement, in which operating parameters which are desired at
the user end are entered into a memory, and those configuration
signals which correspond to the operating parameters stored in
the memory device are in each case produced for each appliance
selected at the user end.
In order to make a method such as this particularly user-
friendly and to allow the operating parameters to be changed
retrospectively with little time penalty, the invention
proposes that app] iance-specific parameters which are specific
for each appliance in the arrangement and appliance-group-
specific parameters which arc intended to be identical for a
predetermined group of appliances are dealt with differently in
that, after a change to a stored appliance-group-specific
parameter for one of the appliances, the changed parameter is
copied to the stored parameter sets of the other appliances in
the respective group.
With regard to the advantages of the method according to the
invention, reference is made to the above statements relating
to the configuration appliance according to the invention.
The invention can be used, for example, for station control
systems which are equipped with a plurality of field
appliances, for example protective appliances. By way of
example, in a situation such as this, the configuration
appliance according to the invention is connected to at least
one of the fields or protective appliances, uses its signal
production device to produce the configuration signals, and
feeds them to the field or protective appliance.

The invention will be explained in the following text with
reference to one exemplary embodiment. In the figures:
Figure 1 shows one exemplary embodiment of a station control
system according to the invention having a plurality
of protective appliances and having a configuration
appliance according to the invention connected to it,
Figure 2 shows one exemplary embodiment of the specific design
of the configuration appliance shown in Figure 1,
Figure 3 shows an example of a flowchart illustrating how data
records are entered in the configuration appliance
shown in Figure 2, and
Figure 4 shows an example of a flowchart illustrating a change
to a data record in the configuration appliance as
shown in Figure 2.
Figure 1 shows six protective appliances 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and
35 which belong to a station control system 40 which is not
illustrated in any more detail in Figure 1. The six protective
appliances 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 are connected to a
configuration appliance 50 by means of an external data bus 45.
The configuration appliance 50 is used to produce configuration
signals SP and to transmit these for configuration purposes to
the six protective appliances 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35. The
specific functions of the protective appliances 10, 15, 20, 25,
30 and 35 are defined and set by the configuration signals SP.
Figure 2 shows an example of the design of the configuration
appliance 50 shown in Figure 1. As can be seen, the
configuration appliance 50 has an input device 100 which is
connected to an input. E110 of a processing device 110. The

processing device 110 is connected via a data connection D110
to an internal data bus 120, which is connected to a memory

device 130.
The processing device 110 is also connected by means of an
output A110a and by means of a further output A110b to an
output device 140 and to a signal production device 150. An
output A150 of the signal production device 150 forms the
output A50 of the configuration appliance 50, which is
connected to the external data bus 45 as shown in Figure 1.
The method of operation of the arrangement shown in Figure 1
and the method of operation of the configuration appliance 50
shown in Figure 2. will be explained in detail in the following
text with reference to Figure 3:
After setting up a memory area M10, M15, M20, M25, M30 and M35
for each of the six protective appliances 10, 15, 20, 25, 30
and 35 in the memory device 130, the configuration appliance 50
is first of all used to define which parameters of the six
protective appliances are appliance-specific parameters and
which are appliance-group-specific parameters. Appliance-
specific parameters are understood to be those which are
individually associated with each protective appliance;
appliance-group-specific parameters are those which are in each
case identically associated with a predetermined group of
appliances.
By way of example, the following text is based on the
assumption that the three protective appliances 10, 15 and 20
are intended to be allocated the parameters A1 to An, in each
case with the same parameter values. The parameters A1 to An
therefore form appliance-group-specific parameters, and a first
matching parameter set element A; in this context, the
protective appliances 10, l5 and 20 form a first appliance
group 2 00 with matching parameters.

In a corresponding manner, the three protective appliances 25,
30 and 35 form a second appliance group 210; in this second
appliance group 210, the parameters B1 to Bm are identical, and
form a second parameter set clement B.

Furthermore, there may also DO other appliance-group-specific
parameters which form further parameter set elements for
further appliance groups; by way of example, a third appliance
group could be formed by the protective appliances 10, 20 and
30, in which different parameters C1 to Cq with identical
parameter values are intended to be configured. However, this
is not illustrated in any more detail in Figure 3, for clarity
reasons; by way of example, Figure 3 shows just two parameter
set elements A anci B, which belong to the two groups 200 and
210. By way of example, the following explanations therefore
relate to the two appliance groups 200 and 210.
By way of example?, the appliance-specific parameters for each
of the protective appliances are first of all defined in a
first configuration step I; the reference symbols S10, S15,
S20, S25, S30 and S35 in Figure 3 denote the data records with
the appliance-specific parameters.
The appliance-group-specific parameters are entered in a second
configuration step 11. For this purpose, the first parameter
set element A with the appliance-group-specific parameters A1
to An is stored in the protective appliance 10; this is
indicated by the reference symbol A in Figure 3. The second
parameter set element B with the appliance-group-specific
parameters H1 to Bn i s stored i n a corresponding manner in the
protective appliance 25; this is indicated by the reference
symbol B in Figure 3.
The appliance-group-specific parameters Al to An and B1 to Bm
are then copied to the appliances in the respective appliance
group 2 00 or 210 in the course of a copying step III, in
response to a manual input or automatically, that is to say
without any need to enter the parameter set elements A or B
again. The copying process III is indicated by arrows 300.

If, once the protective appliances have been configured, for
example after a test phase IV has been carried out (see Figure
4), one or all of the appliance-group-specific parameters Al to
An in the parameter set element A is intended to be changed,
then there is no need to individually reconfigure all the
protective appliances 10, 15, and 20; it is sufficient to
change individual parameters, or all of the parameters, in the
parameter set element A on the basis of the protective
appliance 10, and to copy the changed parameters to the data
records for the other protective appliances 15 and 20 (see the
copying step V) . A corresponding situation applies to changes
to the parameter set element B, which are carried out on the
basis of the protective appliance 25 and can then be copied to
the data records of the other protective appliances 30 and 35
in the second appliance group 210.
The above explanations have been based on the assumption that
the parameter set element A and any changes to the parameter
set element A are entered with respect to the appliance 10, and
that the resultant new parameter set element A is then copied
to the data records of the other appliances 15 and 20 in the
first appliance group 200. instead of this, a corresponding
input of the parameter set element A or a change to the
parameter set element A can also be carried out on the basis of
another appliance 15 or 20 in the first appliance group 200 or
else "abstractly" for the first, appliance group 200 as such.
In a corresponding manner, the parameter set element B can be
input and the parameter set element B can be changed on the
basis of another appliance 30 or 35 in the second appliance
group 210; the selection of the appliance 25 should also be
regarded as an example, in this context. Alternatively, the
parameter set element B can also bo entered or changed
"abstractly" for the second appliance group 210 as such.

List of reference symbols
10 Protective appliance
15 Protective-appliance
20 Protective appliance
25 Protective appliance
30 Protective appliance
35 Protective appliance
4 0 Station control system
45 External data bus
50 Configuration appliance
100 Input device
110 Processing device
120 Internal data bus
130 Memory device
14 0 Output device
150 Signal production device
200 First appliance group
210 Second appliance group
S10 Appliance-specific data record
S15 Appliance-specific data record
S2 0 Appliance-specific data record
S25 Appliance-specific data record
S30 Appliance-specific data record
S35 Appliance-specific data record
A First appliance-group-specific parameter set element
B Second appliance-group-specific parameter set element
SP Configuration signals

We Claim:
1. A configuration appliance (50) for production of configuration signals (SP)
which define operating parameters for electrical appliances
(10,15,20,25,30,35) in an electrical arrangement (40),
- having an input device (100) into which operating parameters
which are desired at the user end can be entered for each of the
appliances,
- having a memory device (130) in which the parameter sets are in
each case stored for each appliance, and
- having a signal production device (150) which in each case
produces those configuration signals which correspond to the
operating parameters stored in the memory device, for each
appliance which is selected at the user end,
wherein
-the configuration appliance deals differently with appliance-specific parameters
(S10,S15,S20,S25,S30,S35) which are individually associated with each appliance
in the arrangement, and appliance-group-specific parameters (A,B) which are
associated identically with each predetermined group of appliances (200,210), in
that, after a change to a stored appliance-group-specific parameter for one of

the appliances (10,25) in the respective group, it copies the changed parameters
to the stored parameter sets of the other appliances in this group in response to
a manual control input, or automatically.
2. The configuration appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein,
when an appliance-group specific parameter is entered for the first time for
one of the appliances, the configuration appliance copies this parameter at
this stage to the data records of the other appliances in the respective
appliance group.
3. The configuration appliance as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the
memory device stores a tag for each operating parameter, indicating
whether the respective operating parameter is an appliance-specific
parameter or an appliance group-specific parameter.
4. The configuration appliance as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
wherein the memory device stores appliance-specific parameters and
appliance-group-specific parameters in separate memory areas.

5. A method for production of configuration signals (SP) which define
appliance-specific operating parameters for electrical appliances
(10,15,20,25,30,35) in an electrical arrangement (40) in which
- operating parameters which are desired at the user end are stored,
and
- those configuration signals which correspond to the stored
operating parameters are in each case produced for each appliance
selected at the user end,
wherein
- appliance-specific parameters (S10,S15,S20,S25,S30,S35) which
are specific for each appliance in the arrangement and appliance-
group-specific parameters (A,B)which are intended to be identical
for a predetermined group (200, 210) of appliances are dealt with
differently in that, after a change to a stored appliance-group-
specific parameter for one of the appliances (10,25), the changed
parameter is copied to the stored parameter sets of the other
appliances in the respective group (200,210).

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein when a parameter which is
defined on an appliance-group-specific basis is entered for the first time,
this parameter is automatically copied at this stage to the data records of
the other appliances in this group.
7. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims 5 to 6, wherein a
tag is provided for each operating parameter and indicates whether the
respective operating parameter is an appliance-specific parameter or an
appliance-group-specific parameter.
8. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims 5 to 7, wherein
appliance-specific parameters and appliance-group-specific parameters
are stored in separate memory areas.
9. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims 5 to 8, wherein
field appliances, in particular protective appliances, in a station control
system are configured.

ABSTRACT

TITLE: " An Electrical Appliance Configured with pre-determine operating
parameters and a method for configuration of the electrical appliance"
The invention relates amongst other things to a parameterisation device (50) for
generating parameterisation signals (SP) fixing operating parameters for
electrical devices (10,15,20,25,30,35) of an electrical arrangement. The aim of
the invention is to provide a parameterisation device with a particularly good
operator friendliness and which particularly permits a subsequent alteration of
operating parameters for electrical devices which takes little time and is hence
particularly economical. Said aim is achieved, wherein the parameterization
device is provided with device-specific parameters (S10,S15,S20,S25,S30,S35),
individually provided for each device of the arrangement and device-group
specific parameters (A,B), identically provided for a given of devices (200,210)
which are differently processed, wherein after changing a stored device-group
specific parameter for one of the devices(10,25) of the relevant group, the
changed parameter is copied to the stored parameter sets for the remaining
devices of said group on a manual operation input or automatically.

AN ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE CONFIGURED WITH PRE-DETERMINED OPERATING PARAMETERS AND A METHOD FOR CONFIGURATION OF THE ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE

Documents:

Inventors:

PCT Conventions: