Abstract:
In a temperature controller system, a plurality of temperature controllers that adjust a temperature of a control object are to be connected to a programmable logic controller. One of the temperature controllers includes a PLC communicating portion which exchanges data with the programmable logic controller through a dedicated cable, a serial communication portion which exchanges data with the temperature controllers that are connected in a downstream side, through serial communication cable, and a communication and conversion CPU which controls the data exchange performed between the PLC communicating portion and the programmable logic controller, and which controls a serial communication performed by the serial communication portion.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to a temperature controller system including a plurality of temperature controllers which are to be connected to a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller). 
       RELATED ART 
       [0002]    Recently, the PLC communication has been widely used. The PLC communication means communication such as CC-link, PROFIBUS, or DeviceNet in which the specification is made public. A request for enabling a temperature controller to be connected to such a PLC is increasing day by day. 
         [0003]    In order to connect a temperature controller to a PLC, however, a dedicated component is usually required, and hence this causes the production cost of the temperature controller itself to be increased. Furthermore, the method of setting the memory map of a memory which is used in communication using a temperature controller is complicated. Therefore, it is requested to provide a temperature controller which can be easily used by the user. The following is known as a literature of the related art of connecting such a temperature controller through a network. 
         [0004]    [Patent Reference 1] JP-A-2003-140739 
         [0005]    Hereinafter, a related-art temperature controller system will be described with reference to  FIG. 8 . Referring to the figure, a configurator is installed in a personal computer (hereinafter, abbreviated to “PC”)  10 . A configurator is software for registering slave apparatuses (in this example, temperature controllers  30 ,  40 ,  50 ) which are low-level devices in the PLC communication, into a PLC  20  which functions as a master of the PLC communication. The PLC  20  is connected to the PC  10  through a communication line L 1  by means of the PLC communication or dedicated communication. 
         [0006]    The temperature controllers  30 ,  40 ,  50  are in a slave relationship to the PLC  20  which is the master, and connected to the PLC  20  through a dedicated cable L 2  by means of the PLC communication. The temperature controllers  30 ,  40 ,  50  incorporate electric data sheets (hereinafter, referred to as “EDS files”)  31 ,  41 ,  51 , respectively. 
         [0007]    For example, the EDS file  31  is an electronic file in which information of a slave apparatus (the temperature controller  30 ) is stored. As in the table which is shown in  FIG. 9 , and in which “Standard of PLC communication” and “Name of Electric Data Sheet” are contrasted with each other, such an electronic file is called “GSD file” in “PROFIBUS”, “CSP file” in “CC-link”, and “EDS file” in “DeviceNet”. 
         [0008]    Specifically, an electronic file (in this case, “EDS file”) in which information of slave apparatuses (the temperature controllers  30 ,  40 ,  50 ) is stored contains:
   (1) the size of a memory space installed in the master (PLC  20 ) occupied by the slave apparatuses (essential information);   (2) parameter information such as the names of the slave apparatuses arranged in the memory space occupied by the slave apparatuses (optional information);   (3) communication rates supported by the slave apparatuses; etc.
 
The optional information is used for enhancing the convenience of the user.
   
 
         [0012]    The EDS file  31  and the like are made public by the manufacturer of the slave apparatus (the temperature controller  30 ) in the format which is defined in the standard of the PLC communication. Alternatively, they may be attached to the slave apparatus to be used, or made public on the Internet to be used. 
         [0013]    In addition, there is a case where software for producing the EDS file  31  is provided to the user by the manufacturer of the slave apparatus (the temperature controller  30 ), and the user who is provided with the software uses it by a method in which the EDS file  31  is produced in accordance with the request of the user oneself. 
         [0014]    The thus produced EDS file  31  is once stored on a recording medium such as a CD-R, and then subjected by the user to be read into the PC  10 . Thereafter, the EDS file  31  is registered by the user into the PLC  20  which is the master, through the communication line L 1 , and the arrangement of the memory map for performing the PLC communication with the slave apparatuses (the temperature controllers  30 ,  40 ,  50 ) is set in the PLC  20 . 
         [0015]    With respect to the temperature controllers  40 ,  50  connected to the system, similarly, the EDS files  41 ,  51  are produced, and registered into the PLC  20  which is the master, and the memory map in the PLC  20  is set for communication. 
         [0016]    As described above, in the case where plural temperature controllers  30 ,  40 ,  50  exist as shown in  FIG. 8 , the EDS files  31 ,  41 ,  51  are produced respectively for the temperature controllers  30 ,  40 ,  50 , stored on a recording medium, read into the PC  10 , and then set from the PC  10  into the PLC  20  through the communication line L 1 . 
         [0017]    In the case where the plural temperature controllers  30 ,  40 ,  50  are connected to the one PLC  20  by means of the PLC communication, however, the user must perform the procedures of: respectively producing the EDS files  31 ,  41 ,  51  for the plural temperature controllers  30 ,  40 ,  50  while considering the parameters which are to be handled in the PLC communication; storing the EDS files  31 ,  41 ,  51  on a recording medium to be read into the PC  10 ; and registering the parameters of the temperature controllers  30 ,  40 ,  50  into the PLC  20  by using a configurator. 
         [0018]    Therefore, the user must be familiar with the above-described parameters of temperature controllers, and further there is a problem in that, in the case where a plurality of temperature controllers are used, the work of registering the EDS file is performed for each of the temperature controllers, and hence very cumbersome. 
         [0019]    Next, the configuration of the temperature controller  30  will be described with reference to  FIG. 10 . In order to perform the PLC communication between the PLC  20  and the temperature controller  30  and the like, the dedicated cable L 2  is required for the connections therebetween. The temperature controller  30  is configured by a dedicated connector  32  to which the dedicated cable L 2  is to be connected; a PLC communication circuit  33  which enables the temperature controller to perform the PLC communication; and a temperature controller circuit  34  having a function of a usual temperature controller. 
         [0020]    In the case where the related-art temperature controller  30  is to be connected to the PLC  20 , therefore, components dedicated to the temperature controller, i.e., components such as the dedicated connector  32  and the PLC communication circuit  33  are necessary. 
         [0021]    In the case where the plural temperature controllers  30 ,  40 ,  50  are to be connected to one PLC  20  through the dedicated cable L 2 , however, the user must register the parameters of the respective temperature controllers  30 ,  40 ,  50  into the PLC  20  by using the configurator of the PC, for each of the temperature controllers  30 ,  40 ,  50 . 
         [0022]    Therefore, the registering work must be performed a number of times which is equal to that of the temperature controllers, and hence is cumbersome. The dedicated components are required for each of the temperature controllers, and therefore there arises a problem in that the production cost is increased. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0023]    Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a temperature controller system in which the setting work is simplified in a temperature controller system in the case where a plurality of temperature controllers are efficiently connected to a PLC. 
         [0024]    Further, exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a temperature controller system in which, when a plurality of temperature controllers are to be connected to a PLC, the connections can be realized by an economical configuration. 
         [0025]    The exemplary embodiments of the present invention are configured in the following manners.
   (1) A temperature controller system comprising:   
 
         [0027]    a plurality of temperature controllers that adjust a temperature of a control object; and 
         [0028]    a programmable logic controller to which the plurality of temperature controllers are connected, 
         [0029]    wherein one of the temperature controllers includes
       a PLC communicating portion which exchanges data with the programmable logic controller by a PLC communication,   a serial communication portion which exchanges data with another one of the temperature controllers that is connected in a downstream side, by a serial communication, and   a communication and conversion CPU which controls the data exchange performed between the PLC communicating portion and the programmable logic controller, and which controls serial communication performed by the serial communication portion.       (2) In a temperature controller system of ( 1 ), the one of temperature controllers is connected to the another one of temperature controllers that is in the downstream side, through a serial communication cable, and   
 
         [0034]    wherein the serial communication portion includes
       a communication control element which is a master of the serial communication performed with respect to the another one of temperature controllers that is connected in the downstream side, and
 
an RS-485 circuit which exchanges data with the another one of temperature controllers that is connected in the downstream side, through the serial communication cable.
       (3) In a temperature controller system of (1), the one of temperature controllers is connected to the programmable logic controller through a dedicated cable, and   
 
         [0037]    wherein the PLC communicating portion includes
       a PLC communication terminal to which the dedicated cable is connected, and
 
a PLC communication circuit which exchanges data with the programmable logic controller through the PLC communication terminal.
       (4) In a temperature controller system of (2), the another one of temperature controllers that is connected in the downstream side includes an RS-485 circuit which is connected to the serial communication cable.   
 
         [0040]    The invention achieves the following effects. The plural temperature controllers can be handled as one controller, and hence the burden of the configuration work can be reduced. The dedicated cable is connected to only one of the temperature controllers, and the other connections are realized by using an economical RS-485 line. Therefore, the production cost can be reduced. 
         [0041]    Furthermore, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are configured in the following manners.
   (5) A temperature controller system comprising:   
 
         [0043]    a plurality of temperature controllers; and 
         [0044]    a programmable logic controller to which the plurality of temperature controllers are connected, 
         [0045]    wherein one of the temperature controllers which is used as a master includes
       a file producing portion which, based on a standard set list that is obtained by means of communication from another one of the temperature controllers which is used as a slave, produces an electronic file storing information of the slave temperature controller, and
 
a file recording portion which records the electronic file.
       (6) In a temperature controller system of (5), the master temperature controller and the slave temperature controller communicate with each other by means of serial multidrop communication.   (7) In a temperature controller system of (6), the serial multidrop communication is RS-485 communication.   (8) In a temperature controller system of (5), the programmable logic controller and the master temperature controller are connected to each other by means of PLC communication, and the electronic file is an EDS file.   (5) In a temperature controller system of any one of (5) to (8), the electronic file is transmitted to a personal computer by means of LL communication.   
 
         [0051]    The invention achieves the following effects. An EDS file is produced on the basis of the standard set lists read out from the respective temperature controllers. Therefore, the plural temperature controllers can be handled as one controller, and hence the burden of the configuration work can be reduced. 
         [0052]    Even when the user is not familiar with parameters of the temperature controllers, the master temperature controller reads out a recommended data group of the slave temperature controllers. Therefore, one EDS file can be sufficiently used, and the handling is facilitated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0053]      FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a manner of using a temperature controller system of a first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0054]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of the temperature controller system of the first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0055]      FIG. 3  is a view showing a data flow in the temperature controller system of the first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0056]      FIG. 4  is a diagram showing a manner of using a temperature controller system of a second embodiment of the invention; 
           [0057]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of the temperature controller system of the second embodiment of the invention; 
           [0058]      FIG. 6  is view showing an example of contents of an EDS file; 
           [0059]      FIG. 7  is a view showing a data flow in the temperature controller system of the second embodiment of the invention; 
           [0060]      FIG. 8  is a diagram showing a manner of using temperature controllers in the related art; 
           [0061]      FIG. 9  is a view showing a correspondence table of the standard of the PLC communication and electric data sheets; and 
           [0062]      FIG. 10  is a diagram of a temperature controller of the related art. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0063]    Hereinafter, a manner of using a temperature controller system of a first embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 1 . A PLC  20  is configured in a similar manner as the PLC  20  of  FIG. 8 , and hence its description is omitted. A temperature controller A  130  has the PLC communicating function and a communication protocol converting function. The temperature controller A  130  is a master of the RS-485 communication (serial communication), and exchanges data with temperature controllers B  140 ,  150 , . . . which are slaves. 
         [0064]    The temperature controllers B  140 ,  150  have the RS-485 communicating function, and include a list of data groups which are handled in the PLC communication. The contents of the list are determined on the basis of the type of the temperature controllers B  140 ,  150  and the method of using them. The list contains also parameters which are frequently read and written during operation, such as a measure value (PV), and a set value (SP). 
         [0065]    Next, the configuration and operation of the temperature controller A  130  will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of the temperature controller A  130  which is used in the temperature controller system of the invention. The temperature controller A  130  can be roughly divided into: an option board  200  having the PLC communicating function, and a function of collecting information of a temperature controller B group (which is connected to the downstream side of the communication of the temperature controller A  130 ); and a temperature controller block  300  having a function of a usual temperature controller. 
         [0067]    First, the configuration of the option board  200  will be described. A PLC communication terminal  210  is connected to a dedicated cable L 3 . A PLC communication circuit  220  communicates with the PLC  20  on the high-level side through the PLC communication terminal  210 . The PLC communication terminal  210  and the PLC communication circuit  220  constitute a PLC communicating portion  215  which functions as a slave of the PLC communication with respect to the PLC  20 . 
         [0068]    A communication and conversion CPU  230  controls the PLC communication circuit  220  to perform the PLC communication with the PLC  20  on the high-level side. A data portion  231  is a block into which data are written from the PLC  20  through the PLC communicating portion  215 . 
         [0069]    A UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter)  240  is a communication control element which is a master of the RS-485 communication. For example, the communication address is set to “0”. 
         [0070]    A UART  250  is a master of the RS-485 communication with respect to the temperature controller B group. For example, communication addresses of “1” to “32” are used. 
         [0071]    The UART  250  converts data of peripheral devices (in this case, the temperature controller B group) to those in a format which can be handled by another apparatus (the PLC  20 ). An RS-485 circuit  260  is a circuit which communicates with the temperature controller B group through an RS-485 cable L 4 . The UART  250  and the RS-485 circuit  260  constitute a serial (RS-485) communicating portion  255 . 
         [0072]    The function of the temperature controller A  130  will be described. A temperature controller CPU  270  disposed in the temperature controller block  300  controls a temperature controller circuit  280 , and also controls the RS-485 communication through a UART  271 . The UART  271  is a slave of the RS-485 communication, and operates under the control of the temperature controller CPU  270 . The temperature controller circuit  280  has a function of a usual temperature controller, and is configured, for example, by an A/D converter circuit, a D/A converter circuit, a contact input/output circuit, etc. 
         [0073]    Next, the configuration of the temperature controller B  140  will be described. An RS-485 circuit  310  performs the RS-485 communication with respect to the RS-485 circuit  260  through the RS-485 cable L 4 . A temperature controller CPU  320  controls a temperature controller circuit  330 , and also controls the RS-485 communication through a UART  321 . 
         [0074]    The UART  321  is a slave of the RS-485 communication, and operates under the control of the temperature controller CPU  320 . The temperature controller circuit  330  has a function of a usual temperature controller, and is configured, for example, by an A/D converter circuit, a D/A converter circuit, a contact input/output circuit, etc. 
         [0075]    Next, the data flow in the temperature controller A  130  will be described with reference to  FIG. 3 . As a usual operation, first, an operation of transferring new data which are read out from the temperature controller B group and the temperature controller block  300 , to the PLC  20  through the dedicated cable L 3  by using a read command is repeated. By contrast, an operation of writing data into the temperature controller B group is performed only when necessary. 
         [0076]    Hereinafter, the operations will be described specifically. When the power is turned on, the communication and conversion CPU  230  refers to a read command definition table  233  to produce a read command set (step A 1 ). 
         [0077]    The RS-485 circuit  260  transmits a read command to the temperature controller B group in accordance with instructions from the communication and conversion CPU  230  (step A 2 ), and also outputs a read command to the temperature controller block  300  through the UART  240 . 
         [0078]    A response output from the temperature controller B  140  is first received by the RS-485 circuit  260  (step B 1 ). The communication and conversion CPU  230  fetches data from the received response (step B 2 ). The fetched data are stored in a buffer or like storage portion which is incorporated in the RS-485 circuit  260 . As a usual operation, these operations are repeated. 
         [0079]    In the temperature controller A  130 , by contrast, when a write instruction is given from the PLC  20  to the data portion  231 , the write instruction is detected in step Cl, a write command is produced in step C 2  while referring to a write command definition table  232 , and the RS-485 circuit  260  outputs the write command in accordance with instructions from the communication and conversion CPU  230  (step A 2 ). 
         [0080]    This operation is passively performed only when a write instruction is issued from the PLC  20  to the data portion  231  as described above. 
         [0081]    In step D 1 , the transmitting and receiving functions of the PLC communication passively operate in accordance with instructions from the PLC  20 . Namely, when the read instruction is given from the PLC  20 , data which are read out from the temperature controllers A  130 , B 140  are returned to the PLC  20 , and, when the write instruction is given, the contents of the data portion  231  are updated. 
         [0082]    As described above, the temperature controller A  130  obtains data from the temperature controller B  140 . Therefore, the plural temperature controllers can be handled as one controller, and hence the burden of the configuration work can be reduced. With respect to the wiring, a dedicated cable is connected only to the temperature controller A  130 , and the other temperature controllers use only an RS-485 line which is economical, and which performs the serial communication. Therefore, the production cost can be reduced. 
         [0083]    Next, a manner of using a temperature controller system of a second embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  is a diagram showing the concept of the whole temperature controller system of the invention. In the figure, the PC  10 , the PLC  20 , and the communication line L 1  are identical with those shown in  FIG. 8 , and hence their detailed description is omitted. 
         [0084]    Referring to the figure, a temperature controller A  1130  has a usual temperature adjusting function, and also has the PLC communicating function and a communication protocol converting function. The temperature controller A  1130  is connected to the PLC  20  through the dedicated cable L 3  for the PLC communication, and includes a function of the serial multidrop communication (RS-485) to function as a master of communication, so that the temperature controller obtains data from the temperature controllers B  1140 ,  1150  which are slaves. 
         [0085]    Furthermore, the temperature controller A  1130  is characterized in that EDS files corresponding to the temperature controllers B  1140 ,  1150  are produced for communication. 
         [0086]    Also the temperature controllers B  1140 ,  1150  which function as slaves of the temperature controller A  1130  have a function of the serial multidrop communication (RS-485), and respectively include basic and standard data group lists (including “standard set list” which will be described later) which is used in the PLC communication. 
         [0087]    The contents of the data group lists are determined on the basis of the type of the temperature controllers B  1140 ,  1150  and the method of using them. The lists contain also parameters which are frequently read and written during operation, such as a measure value (PV), and a set value (SP). 
         [0088]    The standard set list is a part of the above-described data group list. In the standard set list, various parameters such as specific control and operation parameters which are set in the respective temperature controllers B  1140 ,  1150  are set in a list form. The standard set list is set by the manufacturer of a temperature controller. 
         [0089]    The temperature controller A  1130  reads out the standard set lists which are set in all of the connected temperature controllers B  1140 ,  1150  through the above-described RS-485 communication cable L 4 . The temperature controller A  1130  refers to the standard set lists which are read out from the temperature controllers B  1140 ,  1150  and the set list which is possessed by the controller A  1130  itself, internally configures a memory map which is to be used in the PLC communication, produces only one EDS file  1131  which overall controls the temperature controllers B  1140 ,  1150 , and records the EDS file  1131  in the controller A  1130 . 
         [0090]    The recorded EDS file  1131  is recorded and stored on a recording medium such as a CD-R by the temperature controller A  1130 . The recording medium is caused by the user to be read by the PC  10 , and the EDS file  1131  is registered into the PC  10 . 
         [0091]    By an operation of the user, then, the EDS file  1131  which overall controls the temperature controllers B  1140 ,  1150  is set into the PLC  20  through the communication line L 1  by means of the PLC communication or dedicated communication. Therefore, communication with the temperature controller A  1130  and the temperature controllers B  1140 ,  1150  can be performed from the PLC  20 . 
         [0092]    Next, the configuration and operation of the temperature controller A  1130  will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 5 . 
         [0093]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of the temperature controller A  1130  in the invention. The temperature controller A  1130  can be roughly divided into: an option board  1200  having the PLC communicating function, and a function of collecting information of the temperature controllers B  1140 ,  1150 ; and a temperature controller block  1300  having a function of a usual temperature controller. 
         [0094]    The configuration of the option board  1200  will be described. A PLC communication terminal  1210  is connected to a dedicated cable L 3  for the PLC communication. A PLC communication circuit  1220  communicates with the PLC  20  shown in  FIG. 4  through the PLC communication terminal  1210 . The PLC communication terminal  1210  and the PLC communication circuit  1220  constitute a PLC communicating portion  1215  which functions as a slave of the PLC communication while the PLC  20  functions as a master. 
         [0095]    A communication and conversion CPU  1230  controls the PLC communication circuit  1220  to perform the PLC communication with the PLC  20  shown in  FIG. 4 , and produces an EDS file by using the function of an EDS file producing portion  1232 . An EDS file recording portion  1231  records an EDS file which is produced by the communication and conversion CPU  1230  as described above. The EDS file producing portion  1232  produces an EDS file such as shown in  FIG. 6  from the standard set list on the basis of the control of the communication and conversion CPU  1230 . 
         [0096]    The EDS file  1131  shown in  FIG. 6  will be described. Unlike the related art, the single EDS file  1131  stores information of the all temperature controllers. 
         [0097]    For example, it is assumed that the word size of the temperature controller A  1130  of  FIG. 4  is “3”, that of the temperature controller B  1140  is “4”, and that of the temperature controller B  1150  is “4”. The word size which is essential information is “3”+“4”+“4”=“11”. As optional information, information based on the standard set lists of the temperature controller A  1130  and the temperature controllers B  1140 ,  1150  is stored in a number which is equal to the number of the word sizes. 
         [0098]    In the EDS file  1131 , information of three words of the measure value PV, the set value SP, and the output OUT is stored with respect to the temperature controller A  1130 , that of four words of the measure value PV, the set value SP, the output OUT, and an alarm is stored with respect to the temperature controller B  1140 , and that of four words of the measure value PV, the set value SP, the output OUT, and auto AUTO is stored with respect to the temperature controller B  1150 . 
         [0099]    A communication control element UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter)  1240  is a master of the RS-485 communication (serial multidrop communication). For example, the communication address is set to “0”. 
         [0100]    Furthermore, a communication control element UART  1250  is disposed. The UART  1250  is a master of the RS-485 communication. For example, communication addresses of “1” to “32” are used. The UART  1250  converts data of peripheral devices (in this case, the temperature controllers B  1140 ,  1150  and the like) to those in a format which can be handled by another apparatus (the PLC  20 ). 
         [0101]    A communication circuit (RS-485 circuit)  1260  is a circuit which communicates with the temperature controllers B  1140 ,  1150  through a communication cable (RS-485 cable) L 4 , and includes a buffer which temporarily stores the standard set lists that are read out from the temperature controllers B  1140 ,  1150 . The UART  1250  and the RS-485 circuit  1260  constitute an RS-485 communicating portion  1255 . 
         [0102]    Next, the temperature controller block  1300  will be described. A temperature controller CPU  1270  controls a temperature controller circuit  1280  for controlling the temperature, and also controls the RS-485 communication through a UART  1271 . The UART  1271  is a slave of the RS-485 communication, and operates under the control of the temperature controller CPU  1270 . The temperature controller circuit  1280  has a function of a usual temperature controller, and is configured, for example, by an A/D converter circuit, a D/A converter circuit, a contact input/output circuit, etc. 
         [0103]    Then, the configuration of the temperature controller B  1140  will be exemplarily described. An RS-485 circuit  1310  performs the RS-485 communication with respect to the RS-485 circuit  1260  on the side of the temperature controller A  1130 , through the RS-485 cable L 4 . 
         [0104]    A temperature controller CPU  1320  controls a temperature controller circuit  1330 , and also controls the RS-485 communication through a UART  1321 . The UART  1321  is a slave of the RS-485 communication, and operates under the control of the temperature controller CPU  1320 . The temperature controller circuit  1330  has a function of a usual temperature controller, and is configured, for example, by an A/D converter circuit, a D/A converter circuit, a contact input/output circuit, etc. 
         [0105]    Next, a method of producing the EDS file  1131  corresponding to the temperature controller B  1140  by the temperature controller A  1130  will be described with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
         [0106]    First, the communication and conversion CPU  1230  of the temperature controller A  1130  instructs the RS-485 communicating portion  1255  to output a standard set list read command to the temperature controller B  1140  (step A 1 ). 
         [0107]    The temperature controller B  1140  which receives the instruction outputs a response including a previously stored standard set list from the RS-485 circuit  1310  on the basis of instructions of the internal CPU  1320 . 
         [0108]    The response is received by the RS-485 circuit  1260  of the temperature controller A  1130  through the cable L 4  (step B 1 ). The communication and conversion CPU  1230  fetches data from the received response (step B 2 ). The fetched data are temporarily stored in a buffer of the RS-485 circuit  1260  as the standard set list corresponding to the temperature controller B  1140 . 
         [0109]    From the standard set list stored in the buffer of the RS-485 circuit  1260 , using the EDS file producing portion  1232 , the communication and conversion CPU  1230  produces the EDS file  1131  which stores the memory map that is used in the PLC communication, as shown in  FIG. 6 , and records the file into the EDS file recording portion  1231  (step B 3 ). 
         [0110]    Also with respect to the temperature controller B  1150 , by operations similar to those described above, the standard set list corresponding to the temperature controller B  1150  is read out, and reflected into the EDS file  1131 . 
         [0111]    The EDS file  1131  which is stored in the EDS file recording portion  1231  as described above may be recorded into an SD card which is not shown, and then transferred to the PC  10 . In another method, an LL (Light Loader) communication cable is connected, and the file may be transferred to the PC  10  through the cable. 
         [0112]    As described above, the EDS file  1131  is produced on the basis of the standard set lists read out from the respective temperature controllers. Therefore, the plural temperature controllers can be handled as one controller, and hence the burden of the configuration work can be reduced. 
         [0113]    Even when the user is not familiar with the parameters of the temperature controllers, the temperature controller A  1130  reads out the recommended data group of the temperature controllers B  1140 ,  1150 , and then produces an EDS file. Therefore, one EDS file can be sufficiently used, and the handling is facilitated. 
         [0114]    Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to specific embodiments, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications are possible without departing the spirit and scope of the invention.