JP2000122776A - Method for displaying trend graph - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately and mutually compare many pen charts without requiring labor and to accurately execute the comparing operation among plural pen charts in the case of displaying a data group such as process data whose values are time-wisely changed as a trend graph. SOLUTION: When a pen chart 54b to be compared with a reference pen chart 54a is selected, both the pen charts 54a, 54b are connected, the coordinate axes of both the pen charts 54a, 54b are automatically allowed to coincide with each other and displayed in a superposed state. When the coordinate axes of the reference pen chart 54a are changed, the selectively connected pen chart 54b also is automatically changed to the changed coordinate axes.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for displaying a trend graph, and more particularly to a method for comparing and displaying a plurality of pen charts.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this kind of comparison generally involves visually recognizing the relationship between pen charts while manually changing the size or display position on a screen of a plurality of pen charts to be compared. Met.

[0003]

However, in the above-described method, when one pen chart is compared with another pen chart, an operation for exactly matching the display position and size is required. The larger the number, the more time is required for the work. Further, if the reference pen chart is changed, there are many inconveniences, such as the necessity of starting over from the beginning.

The present invention solves such inconveniences all at once. When a pen chart to be compared with a reference pen chart is selected, the coordinate axes of the two are matched and automatically superimposed and displayed. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of displaying a trend graph in which a large number of pen charts can be accurately compared without trouble.

Further, according to the present invention, when the coordinate axis of the pen chart as a reference is changed, the selected pen chart is automatically changed in accordance with the changed coordinate axis, so that the comparison operation between a plurality of pen charts is improved. An object of the present invention is to provide a display method that can be performed accurately.

[0006]

According to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a data group which stores a physical value which changes with the passage of time and which is sampled at predetermined time intervals and converted into a digital value is stored. For example, it is a method of displaying a trend graph 50 on a display screen 32 of a data processing device such as the program type display device 26.

Further, for example, the process data storage means 21
A plurality of data groups having different measurement conditions are provided, and a series of pen charts 54 formed from each data group can be individually selected. For example, as shown in FIG. It is characterized in that the coordinate axis is automatically superimposed and displayed in a state where the coordinate axis coincides with the coordinate axis of the reference pen chart 54a.

When the coordinate axes of the reference pen chart 54a are changed as shown in FIG. 9, the position and size of the selected pen chart 54b are automatically changed corresponding to the changed coordinate axes.

As shown in FIG. 10, the data groups having different measurement conditions are displayed on independent windows 48a and 48b as a trend graph 50 corresponding to a graph axis corresponding to each measurement condition. It is possible to move between the windows 48a and 48b in units of a series of pen charts 54 by a selection operation on the display screen 32, and to automatically correct the display conditions according to the coordinate axes of the movement destination. It is possible.

As shown in FIG. 1, the data processing device is connected to a predetermined external device 10 via a communication path 12 and communicates with the state data storage means 17 via the communication path 12 on the side of the external device 10. Data communication means 14 for enabling the transfer of data to and from the user; event data storage means 16 for storing a plurality of processing instruction words including reference information for specifying the operation content to be processed; Control means 18 for decoding the provided processing instruction word and performing a control operation corresponding to information referred to by each processing instruction word;
The display device 20 includes a display device 20 that performs a predetermined display operation in conjunction with a signal input from the control device 18. The programmable display device 26 includes a display device 20 that collects and displays data corresponding to the control state of the external device 10. Preferably it is possible.

[0011]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a pen chart to be compared with a reference pen chart is selected, the coordinate axes of the two are made coincident and automatically superimposed and displayed. Charts can be compared accurately without any hassle.

The present invention further improves the comparison operation between a plurality of pen charts by changing the coordinate axis of the pen chart serving as a reference and automatically changing the selected pen chart to match the changed coordinate axis. Can be done accurately.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A PLC provided with a method for displaying a trend graph according to the present invention exclusively for process control of a target system 22, as shown in FIG.
The operation of the display 24 will be described in detail based on an example implemented on a programmable display device 26 used as a display panel. However, a general-purpose O / O device using a dedicated device or a general-purpose personal computer device specialized in collecting process data and displaying a trend graph based on the data is used.
The configuration of the device that implements the display method, such as that configured by an application program running on S, is not limited. Further, the configuration of the program type display device itself is also an example, and it is needless to say that the configuration can be appropriately changed and implemented.

The programmable display device 26 includes a PLC 24
In addition, it is integrated into an operation console or the like of the target system 22 or is independently provided, and is used as an operation and display panel for the target system 22. Various types of processing instruction words described later are used. A setting or control operation is performed.

PLC for controlling the target system 22
A circuit 24 is provided as a unit for each necessary function such as a CPU unit and a memory unit, and the functions achieved as a whole in the PLC 24 by connecting each unit in parallel so as to be able to increase or decrease as necessary. The configuration is substantially the same as that of the related art that can be changed.

The storage location of various information input / output to / from the target system 22 is controlled by passive components such as level gauges and limit switches provided on the target system 22 to be controlled or displayed, or relays and motors. A word device is specified for word data whose input / output data is numerical values, and a bit device is specified for bit data such as motor on / off information. In addition, by setting a device-specific device name such as “D100” in advance for each device, necessary data is stored in the memory unit so that the storage location can be specified by designating the device name. .

Therefore, only by specifying a device name to access an arbitrary word device or bit device in the memory unit from inside or outside of the PLC 24 and without knowing the actual address in the PLC 24,
The corresponding position of the target system 22 is controlled or various process data relating to the operation state thereof can be individually taken out.

The programmable display device 26 has substantially the same configuration as the personal computer device, and includes a display control circuit 28 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the front surface of the display screen 32 of the display 30 is covered with a transparent touch panel 34 in close contact with the touch panel 34.
6, the coordinates are analyzed, and various manual operations can be performed by a fingertip at the time of a test, at the time of initial setting before the operation of the entire system is started, or during the operation.

Here, in the programmable display device 26, as shown in FIG. 3, a base screen 38 such as a nameplate which does not require a change in display contents, and a switch for changing the shape, blinking or changing the color on the base screen 38. A functional part graphic 40 such as a graphic is designated and stored with one file number F for each required display unit.

On the other hand, the processing instruction word W illustrated in FIG. 4A stored in advance in the event data memory 42 is read out intermittently every minute time, and the event name N of each processing instruction word W is read.
Are sequentially executed by referring to the data taken out from the PLC 24 via the communication controller 44 into the state data memory 46, thereby changing the contents of the bit device or the word device of the PLC 24. In response to this, a display operation is performed in which the value of display data such as the shape of various types of graphics such as the functional component graphic 40, graphs, or numerical values changes.

That is, the basic structure of the processing instruction word W is as follows.
It consists of a file number F of the base screen 38 on which the display control operation is to be executed, an event name N for specifying the operation content to be executed on the base screen 38, and one or a plurality of data referred to for each execution event. Reference information r is provided as one set.

For example, the processing instruction word WG shown in FIG.
Opens a window 48 on the base screen 38 as shown in FIG. 3, and enables the trend graph 50 to be displayed in the window 48. The file number F1 of the base screen 38 and the display of the trend graph 50 are specified. For example, G
, The display coordinate range D1 of the graph, the device name D2 for specifying the storage location of the data to be displayed in the graph, and whether the device is a bit device consisting of on / off information or a word device such as a temperature change. , A graph information D4 for specifying the line type and color of the displayed graph, and a time interval D5 for sampling data as reference information r.

Here, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, during the process control of a plant provided as the target system 22, the PLC 24 monitors the on / off timing of the level gauge 53, the liquid temperature gauge 74 and the pump 76 in the tank 51. In the case where it is carried out, the trend graph 5
0, one processing instruction word WG is set for each of the three contents whose process data is to be monitored, as shown in FIG.

That is, for the three devices on which the trend graph 50 is to be displayed, the processing instruction words WG1 to WG3 whose display coordinate range D1 is matched are stored in the event data memory 4.
Store it in 2. On the other hand, at the address A in the state data memory 46, the tank level is word data, at the address B, the liquid temperature is word data, and at the address C, the on / off state of the pump 76 is a bit device. Update processing is performed with a slight time delay due to data transfer.

Then, from each processing instruction word WG1-WG3,
By specifying the corresponding devices A to C by using the device names of the display data, the data values are read from the state data memory 46 at a predetermined sampling time interval D5, and the windows set on the display screen 32 are set. Within 48, a trend graph 50 composed of a plurality of pen charts 54 is displayed.

The present invention has the above-mentioned structure, and further comprises, using a preset condition as a trigger, automatically collecting data generated within a predetermined period before and after the condition occurs, and comparing and displaying the collected data. The feature is in the configuration that enables it.

One or a plurality of types of processing instruction words WS for data collection are displayed in one window 48 set on the base screen 38 with the processing instruction word WG as described above. 4C, it is possible to collect the process data at the same time. In addition to the file number F1 of the base screen 38 and the event name N2 starting with, for example, "S" for specifying the collection of the process data, as shown in FIG. Further, a data acquisition coordinate range D6 to be collected, a data collection start condition D7, and a data collection time range D8 are provided as reference information r.

Here, the data collection start condition D7 is as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, instead of saving all data relating to the trend graph 50 continuously displayed on the window 48, it is confirmed that a preset condition D7 is satisfied as shown in FIG. After that, ts
By selectively storing data generated in the first half period and the second half period, only data having a value to be stored can be collected.

That is, when the processing instruction word WS is set, the data storage area 52 having a size capable of temporarily storing at least the data of the first half period is stored in the RAM as shown in FIG.
Is set on a high-speed memory such as. Specifically, the data storage area 52 has substantially the same function as the shift register, and as shown in FIG. 7A, a storage capacity corresponding to the data collection time range D8 is secured, While the system is in operation, the current data is sequentially written into the data storage area 52, while the old data is overwritten and erased by new data that is fetched one after another, so that the data for the preset data collection time range is constantly updated. It is maintained in the storage area 52.

Even after the trigger condition is satisfied in such a state, when the writing of the current data is completed while the data is further shifted by the second half period of the collection time range, FIG.
As shown in (b), all data in the data storage area 52 is specified and copied into a data storage memory such as the hard disk 78, thereby completing one data collection.

The data collection start condition D7 can be arbitrarily set as long as the time can be uniquely specified, such as when the value of a predetermined word device exceeds a set value or when a bit device is turned on or off. Can be set. Also, the number of times of collection can be arbitrarily set.

In this embodiment, the data collection start condition D7 is matched with the display condition of the error message on the programmable display device 26, so that the automatic data collection before and after the occurrence of the error is performed. It is composed.

Further, the data before and after the occurrence of the error automatically collected as described above can be stored between the individual data in the data group obtained during one data collection period, while the program type display device 26 is off-line, or The cause of the error can be visually recognized on the trend graph 50 by making it possible to compare and display the data with a reference data group or a data group having similar contents collected in the past.

That is, when the data to be displayed is selected after the program type display device 26 is set to the off-line state and the comparison display mode of the trend graph 50 is selected, one window 48 as shown in FIG. A data group collected by the operation is displayed as a trend graph 50 including a plurality of pen charts 54.

Here, the window 48 is divided into, for example, three windows, and a trend graph display column 56 and a pen chart operation column 64 for enabling operation of each pen chart 54 constituting the trend graph 50 are provided. An additional information display field 68 for displaying additional information relating to the displayed trend graph 50 is set.

The trend graph display column 56 has a common time axis 58 specifying the date and time at the bottom thereof, and displays a plurality of pen data by displaying each data constituting a set of data group as a line graph. Chart 54
Are displayed side by side in the vertical direction with their time axes 58 matched.

Furthermore, a trend 60 is provided with a cursor 60 which can be moved in the left and right directions in the trend graph display section 56 so that a reference date and time can be specified, and a horizontal scroll bar 62 is provided. A range beyond the range can be scrolled and displayed.

Next, the pen chart operation column 64 is provided with operation buttons 66 for each pen chart 54 constituting the trend graph 50. In the present embodiment, three pen charts 54a. Since the trend graph 50 is composed of 54b and 54c, three operation buttons 66
a, 66b and 66c are displayed.

The operation button 66 regulates the amplitude value of the pen chart 54 corresponding to its height to 0% to 100%, while the pen chart 54 in the trend graph display column 56 is arranged at its vertical position. Is configured to regulate the display position of. Therefore, the height and the vertical position of the operation button 66 can be arbitrarily changed, so that the size and display position of the corresponding pen chart 54 can be arbitrarily set and changed.

Next, an additional information display field 68 is for displaying various types of information, which are helpful in understanding the contents of each pen chart 54 displayed in the trend graph display field 56, as numerical values or characters. Thus, for example, one line of display field is assigned to one pen chart 54.

The additional information includes a pen chart 54
, The corresponding processing instruction name, the content displayed by the pen chart 54, the current value at which the cursor 60 is located, the average value and the maximum or minimum value of the entire chart, and the average change rate per unit time. As long as it is necessary to understand the contents of the chart 54, it is needless to say that the display contents can be appropriately changed and executed.

The present invention is further characterized in that it has a function of superimposing and displaying a plurality of pen charts 54 with their coordinate axes coincident with each other.

Here, when the pen chart superimposed display function is selected, the pen chart 54 serving as a reference is specified. Therefore, the 3 displayed in the pen chart operation column 64
When one of the operation buttons 66a, 66b, and 66c is selected, a reference mark 70 is displayed below the operation button 66a as shown in FIG. 8B, and the reference pen chart 54a is set. It is shown that it was done.

Next, it is required to select a pen chart 54 desired to be combined with the reference pen chart 54a. Therefore, when the pen chart 54b to be superimposed is selected by focusing on the operation button 66b, the selected operation button 66b matches the operation button 66a for specifying the reference pen chart 54a with 0% and 100% positions. In this state, the pen chart 54b is automatically changed in size and position, and a connection mark 72 indicating the connection state is displayed below the operation button 66b.

In such a connected state, the height and position of the reference operation button 66a are moved in conjunction with
The associated operation button 66b also has 0% and 10% thereof.
The 0% position is automatically changed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, all the pen charts 54a and
In the case of 4b and 54c, the display is changed in conjunction with the amplitude value and the display position while keeping the coordinate axes coincident.

Next, when the above-mentioned window 48 is set as a reference window 48a, another data group to be compared and displayed with the graph displayed in the window 48a is selected and the display is selected. Thus, on the display screen 32, for example, a comparison window 48b is opened below the reference window 48a, and the data group is displayed as a trend graph 50 in the same manner as in the reference window 48a.

In the trend graph 50 displayed in the two windows 48a and 48b, it is highly likely that not only the data collection time but also the data collection conditions such as the data sampling interval are different from each other. Then, when one or a plurality of pen charts 54d to be combined are selected in the comparison window 48b and then a graph combination is instructed, the display conditions of both are automatically matched, and FIG.
Is copied to the reference window 48a as shown in FIG.

The pen chart 54d copied in the reference window 48a is displayed based on the same display criteria as the pen chart 54 previously displayed in the reference window 48a. Thereafter, by combining with the reference pen chart 54a according to the above-described superimposition procedure, necessary superimposition display is performed.

It should be noted that, instead of or in addition to performing the above-described graph composition operation by menu selection or switch operation, a pointing device such as a mouse or an instruction operation on the touch panel 34 is used to display the display screen 3.
The graphs may be copied and combined by individually selecting the pen charts 54 to be combined on the screen 2 and performing a drag-and-drop operation.

Window 4 that can be opened at the same time
The number 8 can be increased or decreased as needed. Further, instead of performing copy synthesis from one window to another window in units of one pen chart 54, a new window 48 dedicated to graph synthesis is opened. Alternatively, a plurality of pen charts 54 to be combined and displayed with respect to the window 48 may be specified and copied.

Further, by selecting a window 48b to be combined with the reference window 48a,
The time axis 58 of the combined window 48b is linked with the shift operation of the scroll bar 62 of the reference window 48a.
Can be linked and moved.

Further, when a plurality of sets of data groups are created and graph-combined under the above-mentioned fixed data-collection start conditions, the time points of occurrence of the data-collection start conditions are automatically matched at the time of composition. If graphs with different collection times can be displayed, accurate comparison operations can be performed.

Also, by performing arithmetic processing such as taking a difference between the graphs after the superimposed display, the result can be superimposed and displayed as a similar graph, so that the difference between the synthesized graphs is small. Also, the difference between the two can be clearly identified. Needless to say, the content of the arithmetic processing can be appropriately changed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which the present invention is applied to a program type display device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electric circuit in the programmable display device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a process of displaying a trend graph on a display screen.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a processing instruction word,
(A) shows a basic configuration of a processing instruction word, (b) shows a configuration of a processing instruction word for displaying a trend graph, and (c) shows a configuration of a processing instruction word for collecting process data.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a data collection state in a target system.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a collection range of process data.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a process of collecting process data.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a process of synthesizing collected data.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a size change state of a combined pen chart.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a process of opening a plurality of windows on a screen and performing data processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 External device 12 Communication path 14 Data communication means 16 Event data storage means 17 State data storage means 18 Control means 21 Process data storage means 20 Display means 22 Target system 24 PLC 26 Programmable display device (data processing device) 28 Display control circuit 30 display 32 display screen 34 touch panel 36 touch panel controller 38 base screen 40 functional object graphic 42 event data memory 44 communication controller 46 status data memory 48 window 50 trend graph 51 tank 52 data storage area 53 level meter 54 pen chart 56 trend graph Display field 58 Time axis 60 Cursor 62 Scroll bar 64 Pen chart operation field 66 Operation button 68 Additional information display field 70 Reference mark 72 Combination Over click 74 liquid temperature gauge 76 Pump 78 hard

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A data group stored while sampling physical values that change over time at predetermined time intervals and converting them into digital values is displayed as a trend graph on a display screen of a data processing device. A method comprising: providing a plurality of sets of data groups having different measurement conditions; allowing a series of pen charts formed from each data group to be individually selected; and selecting the pen chart based on the coordinate axes thereof. A trend graph display method, wherein the trend graph is automatically superimposed and displayed in a state of being coincident with a coordinate axis of a chart. 2. The display according to claim 2, wherein when the coordinate axes of the reference pen chart are changed, the position and size of the selected pen chart are automatically changed in accordance with the changed coordinate axes. Method. 3. The data group having different measurement conditions described above is:
It is displayed on an independent window as a trend graph that matches the graph axis corresponding to each measurement condition, and can be moved between each window by a selection operation on the display screen in units of a series of pen charts. 3. The display method according to claim 2, wherein the display condition is automatically corrected in accordance with the coordinate axis of the movement destination. 4. The data processing device is connected to a predetermined external device (10) via a communication path (12), and can exchange data with the external device (10) through the communication path (12). Data communication means (14)
And an event data storage means (16) capable of storing a plurality of processing instructions including reference information for specifying an operation content to be processed.
A control unit (18) for decoding a processing instruction word provided in the event data storage unit (16) and performing a control operation corresponding to information referred to by each processing instruction word; And a display means (20) for performing a predetermined display operation in conjunction with a signal input of the external device (10), which can collect and display data corresponding to the control state of the external device (10). 4. The display method according to claim 3, wherein: