JPS62266604A - Remote programming console device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To efficiently correct programs for programmable controllers (PC) from a remote place by providing a master device with a unit part equipped with a programmable controller function and permitting the unit part to directly access program memories in the PCs through the communication circuits between the master device and the PCs. CONSTITUTION:The man-machine interface 121 switches the unit part 12 in the master device 11 to a program mode. Thus each PC13 is set to an operating condition for program correcting. After a device number switching key 33 specifies the target PC, various instructions required for program correction are keyed in through an instruction key 34 and an operation key 35. A command issuing part 122 makes these instructions into commands, converts them into data packets added with destination addresses and transmits said packets. Each PC13 fetches the commands through a communication interface 44, and if said commands are for the PC13 concerned, it transmits the commands to a main frame 132. A CPU48 in the main frame accesses a memory part 49 according to the commands.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention is a programmable controller programming device, particularly a remote programming device that allows a plurality of programmable controllers to be controlled by one programming console. -Relating to console devices.

(Prior Art) A programmable controller (hereinafter abbreviated as PC) generally consists of a PC main body and a link unit attached to the PC main body, and a CPLJ provided on the PC main body.
(Central processing unit) sequentially controls the controlled AM device according to the program stored in the memory unit,
It is well known that data exchange (communication) processing is performed with a higher-level computer (high-level device) via the link unit.

In addition, a plurality of such PCs are prepared, and these plurality of PCs are connected to a host device (for example, F A (Factory Automation
atic? ) is connected to other devices such as computers) via communication lines.

However, these multiple PCs are generally used by being built into the bottom of a line machine or inside a control panel.

On the other hand, partial modification of the program of each PC is performed by connecting a programming console (hereinafter referred to as a pro-controller) as a man-machine interface to the PC itself and operating the pro-controller. .

The program controller is a known device that has various functions such as all clearing, reading, writing, inserting, and deleting of PC programs.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) By the way, as mentioned above, the lower part of the machine on the line and the control mI
! ! If you are using a built-in PC, that PC
If a program controller is directly connected to the computer and a program of the PC concerned is to be partially modified using the program controller, it is extremely difficult to operate the program controller from the standpoint of space.

Therefore, in order to make the operation of the program controller easier by locating it at a location away from the PC, as shown in FIG. , a set of auxiliary equipment consisting of a pro-con cable 3 connected to the base unit 2 and a pro-con adapter 4 provided at the free end of the cable 3 is required. Moreover, one pro-computer 1 can be used to connect multiple PCs (PC main body 5a and link unit 5b).
consisting of) 5,5. ... 5, the program controller adapter 4 of the - set of auxiliary devices 2 to 4 to which the program controller 1 is attached is connected to each PC 5,
Respective PC connectors 5c, 5 provided in 5,...5
c, . . . 5C, which causes the troublesome problem of having to be used by replacing it as appropriate.

Therefore, using the link unit 5b of each PC 5, each PC 5 is , 5, . . . 5 to exhibit the same functions as the professional computer, the above-mentioned problems can be solved to a certain extent, but the following new problems will arise.

That is, the link unit 5b of the PC 5 only exchanges data (communications) with the host device 6, as described above.
Directly access the program memory area of PC5,
It does not have the ability to instantly modify parts of the program.

In other words, when it is necessary to partially modify a program, such as when debugging a program or when a process changes in a certain line, the program on the PC 5 is once called into the host computer 6 and then modified. However, after that, it is necessary to go through the troublesome steps of downloading the modified program to the PC5 again. A problem arises in that it cannot be executed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and includes providing a unit section with a program control function in a device (host device) having a function of performing communication processing with multiple PCs.
Existing communication port I in the unit (1 unit) (without installing a new communication line between the unit and the PC)
The program memory area of the memory section of each of multiple PCs can be directly accessed through the
Remote programming that allows partial modification of C programs to be executed easily and quickly by remote control.
The purpose is to provide a console device.

(Means for Solving the Problems) A technical means of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is to have a device having a function of performing communication processing with a plurality of PCs access the memory section of each of the PCs. It is equipped with a unit section equipped with a professional controller**.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a hierarchical FA (Fac) to which the device of the present invention is applied.
1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a system.

In FIG. 1, 11 is a device (such as an FA computer) equipped with the function of communicating with multiple PCs (
A unit section 12 having a block controller function for accessing the memory section of each of the PCs is disposed in this host device 11.

This unit section 12 includes a man-machine interface 121 and a command issuing section 122, and this command issuing section 122 is electrically connected to the communication interface 111 provided in the host device 11.

An example of the operation surface serving as the man-machine interface 121 is shown in FIG. In the figure, 31 is a display (L
CD), 32 is a mode changeover switch for operation, monitor, program, etc., 33 is a machine number changeover key for appropriately switching between multiple PCs, and 34 is a command key for inputting commands for partial modification of programs in the PC. , 35 are operation keys (including numeric keys) for monitoring current values, clearing all programs in the PC, or writing, inserting, deleting, etc., and by operating these as appropriate, the program controller function can be activated.

The host device 11 shown in FIG. 1 includes a plurality of PCl3
．． 13. ... are connected hierarchically via the communication line 14, forming a hierarchical FA system.

Each of the above PCl3.13. . . . is a link unit 131 that serves as an interface with the host device 11, and a PC that is connected to this link unit 131 and sequentially controls the controlled W device (not shown) according to a predetermined program (user program). It has a main body 132.

The link unit 131 includes a CPU (processing device such as a microprocessor), a system memory (the CPU
A command/command system comprising a program that regulates the basic operations of U) and a work memory (memory such as RAM used by the CPLJ as a work area), etc.
The analyzer section 41, the drive selector switch (always on type) for own IN (PC) 42, the I10 channel 43 equipped with the input/output channel terminals of this switch 42, and the host device 11 via the communication port 11114. A communication interface 44 that controls the exchange of communication information, and a PC main body 13
It has an interface 45 etc. that controls the exchange of communication information with the PC main body 132, and executes communication-related processing of the PC main body 132, and also receives commands (in the PC) from the host device 11 via the communication line 14. When a control command (control command that gives an operation instruction for executing a partial modification of a program) is supplied, it is taken in through the communication interface 44 and the command analyzer section 41 analyzes the command. ing.

The PC body 132 has an interface 46 that controls the exchange of communication information with the link unit 131, and a controlled
An I10 controller 47 equipped with a plurality of input/output channel terminals connected to equipment A (not shown), and information on each of the controlled Akebono units via this controller 47,
A CPU 48 that sends signals to the controlled device to perform sequence control, and a plurality of memories each storing a user program, system program, internal data, etc. to prevent the CPLJ 48 from controlling the controlled device in sequence. The link unit 131 has a memory section 49 consisting of a RAM (RAM), etc.
The CPU 48 can directly access the memory section 49 according to commands analyzed by the command analyzer section 41 of the CPU 48.

Note that the host device 11 and the plurality of CPs 13, 13 . ...(Link unit 131 and PC
The specific structural parts other than the above-mentioned structure (consisting of the main body 132) are similar to known ones.
Since it has a function, a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted here for the purpose of clarifying the explanation of the present invention.

Next, the operation of partially modifying a program in a PC based on the present invention in the system configured as described above will be explained.

First, the mode changeover switch 32 of the man-machine interface 121 of the unit section 12 provided in the host device 11, that is, the operation surface (see FIG. 2) is switched to the program mode. As a result, each PCl3, 13, . . . is set to a program modification operation mode.

Next, after instructing the machine number of the PC on which the program is to be modified using the machine number switching key 33, various commands necessary for program modification are inputted via the command key 34 and/or the operation key 35.

The various commands input from the man-machine interface 121 (operation surface) in this way are sent to the command issuing unit 122.
The data is converted into a command and converted into a data block (communication packet) with a destination address that is transmitted between the machines.

The communication packet is transmitted from the command issuing unit 122 to the communication interface 111 of the host device 11, and from the interface 111 to the link unit 131 of each PCl 3, 13, . . . via the existing communication line 14.

Each PCl3,13. The link unit 131 of...
The communication packet is taken in through the communication interface 44 and sent to the own No. 8! The command analyzer unit 41 analyzes the command to determine whether it is a command for (PC) or not.

As a result of the analysis, when the CPU of the link unit 41 determines that the command is directed to its own PC, the CPU transmits the analyzed command information to the PC main body 132 via the interfaces 45 and 46.

Then, the CPtJ 48 of the PC main body 132 directly accesses the program (user program) memory area of the memory unit 49 inside the PC main body 132 according to the command information, and executes partial modification (change, insertion, deletion, etc.) of the predetermined program. .

When the 10-gram partial correction is completed, the CPU 48 transmits information indicating the completion to the existing communication line 14 from the communication interface 44 via each interface 46, 45.
Send to.

The termination information on the communication line 14 is taken in by the communication interface 111 of the higher-level device 11, and transmitted to the man-machine interface 121 of the unit section 12 equipped with a program control function. This means that the partial modification of the program has been completed.

In addition, after the program modification is completed, the above-mentioned man-machine
Switch the mode changeover switch 32 of the interface 121 (operation surface) to monitor mode, and then press the operation key 35.
The current value can be monitored by pressing one of the monitor keys.

In addition, when partially modifying a program, the command keys 34 and /
Alternatively, various information entered via the operation keys 35 can be displayed on the display 31 for confirmation.

In this way, one unit section 12 equipped with a program controller function provided in the host device 11 can communicate with multiple PCl3.13 units via the existing communication port 1114 without installing a new communication line. The program memory areas of the memory unit 49 can be directly accessed.

After completing the desired program modification, the man-machine interface 121 of the unit section 12
Mode selector switch 32 on (operation surface) (see Figure 2)
Switch to operation mode and cancel the program modification mode.

After switching to the operation mode, each of the plurality of PCl3゜13,...
starts a conventionally known communication process with the host device 11.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the detailed description above, the present invention provides a unit section equipped with a program controller function in a device M (upper device) having a function of performing communication processing with a plurality of PCs, Since this unit allows direct access to the program memory area of each PC via the existing communication line installed between the host device and each PC, the connection between the unit and each PC is This has the outstanding effect of allowing partial modification of programs on each PC to be easily, quickly, and highly efficiently executed by remote control without installing a new communication line between them.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a hierarchical FA system to which the device of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the operation surface serving as the man-machine interface of the device of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic front view and a block diagram showing an example of how a conventional processor is used. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11... Host device, 12... Unit section with programming console function, 13... Programmable controller (PC), 131... Link unit, 132... PC main body, 14... communication line. Patent Applicant Den Tateishi Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney Tetsuji Iwana (and 1 other person) 1:j=-70Gufmafuru・]:J Troller (PC) 1
4-i Information Line Diagram 3 Procedures Manual (self-produced) 7 June 28, 1986,...
, Relationship with the case of the person making the amendment Patent applicant
Representative Takao Tateishi 4, Agent 5, Date of amendment order Voluntary 6, Subject of amendment, Contents of amendment (1) The scope of claims is amended as shown in the attached sheet. (2) "Man-man" in the first line of page 3 of the specification is corrected to "man-machine." (3) “Procon Abda 4” on page 4, line 6.
Delete. (4) r (RAM) Jr on page 9, line 18 (
RAM and ROM) Correct as J. (5) Change ``Shimoshi deru'' on page 14, line 12 of the same page to ``
"I did it," he corrected. (1) A device having the function of performing communication processing with multiple programmable controllers is provided with a unit section equipped with a programming console function for accessing the memory section of each programmable controller, and the unit section A remote programming console device that controls each of the programmable controllers through a communication circuit. console device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A device having a function of performing communication processing with a plurality of programmable controllers is provided with a unit section having a programming console function for accessing the memory section of each of the programmable controllers, the unit A remote programming console device characterized in that the programmable controller is configured to partially modify a program in each of the programmable controllers via an existing communication circuit.