JP2008077147A - Display unit for monitor control - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a programmable display unit extremely valid for monitoring or operating a device installed in a job site. <P>SOLUTION: This display unit 2 for performing the picture display of an operation picture for performing the circumstance display or user operation of a device to be controlled by a PLC 3 with graphic elements is configured to display a virtual keyboard 27 having the same key array as that of a hardware keyboard 26 in the picture, and to execute definition so that the same operation event as that of each of the key button objects of a virtual keyboard 27 and each of the key buttons of a hardware keyboard 26 can be generated, and to, when the virtual keyboard 27 is operated, issue the same operation event as that of the hardware keyboard 26 corresponding to this. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a monitor / control display. In particular, the present invention relates to a display device for monitoring and control capable of displaying a virtual keyboard on a display screen using a graphical user interface separately from a hardware keyboard separated from the display device.

  As an HMI of a control system, a programmable display that can be used as a monitor / control display is widely used. The programmable display communicates with a programmable logic controller (PLC) that controls the device to display / control the state of the device. Depending on the operation or operation when displaying the state of the device on the screen The operation at the time of controlling the state of the device is specified based on the screen data that is created in the control host computer and then installed in the programmable display.

  The programmable display uses a touch panel as an input device, and the operator grasps the state of the device to be controlled based on the display of the programmable display and operates the touch panel to the programmable display. A control instruction to the device is input.

  The touch panel is a pointing device and cannot directly input letters and numbers. Therefore, for example, when inputting numbers or characters, such as when entering parameters, the programmable display displays a keyboard (virtual keyboard) on the screen and which key on the virtual keyboard is the input position. Depending on whether or not the user is pointing, a character or number that the user has instructed to input is identified (see Patent Document 1).

  In such a control system, the programmable display can be provided with device display functions such as operation panels, switches, and indicator lights in factory facilities, and for management such as device operating status and work instructions. It has a function as a terminal for inputting set values for various monitors and devices.

  In such a programmable display, in order to facilitate the creation of a display screen with the increase in functionality, the screen design software is changed from the MS-DOS version to the Windows (registered trademark) version, and the screen creation function itself is also provided. Evolving, the keyboard can be easily created simply by dragging and dropping standard parts that have been prepared in advance, and the operability for the user is greatly improved.

  However, conventionally, in the case of a programmable display that displays a virtual keyboard on the display screen, a hardware keyboard is not required, so it is not planned that a hardware keyboard is connected to the programmable display. Since keyboard operation events and hardware keyboard operation events are not associated with each other, it is difficult to use, and when a hardware keyboard is planned to be connected, a virtual keyboard is not required. Just dragging and dropping from the standard part, it was difficult to use because there was no correspondence of the operation event.

In particular, when a programmable display is combined with a PLC and incorporated in a control panel on site, a user working on site may display a virtual keyboard as a hardware keyboard or connect a hardware keyboard depending on the installation environment. In addition to being convenient if possible, in this case, for example, when the same character key or numeric key is operated, it is convenient if the operation event corresponds, and it is easy to use.
JP 2002-244798 A

  Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is that both the hardware keyboard and the virtual keyboard can be selectively used on the programmable display, and the operation events are associated with each other, so that it is easy to use. It is to provide a programmable display that is extremely useful when installed and monitoring and operating the device.

  The display for monitoring control according to the present invention is a display for monitoring control used for status display of a monitoring control target or a user operation, in which key button objects are arranged in the same key arrangement as a hardware keyboard on the screen of the display. The same operation event generation definition as each key button in the hardware keyboard is attached to each key button object in this virtual keyboard, and the same operation as the corresponding hardware keyboard is performed when operating the virtual keyboard. It is characterized by issuing an event.

  According to the present invention, the same operation event is generated when the arbitrary key button object of the virtual keyboard is touch-operated on the display screen and when the key button corresponding to the arbitrary key button object of the hardware keyboard is operated. Since it can be issued, it becomes easy to use the monitor for monitoring control. In other words, when a monitor control display is combined with a control device such as a PLC and incorporated in a control panel on site, a user working on site operates a virtual keyboard or a hardware keyboard depending on the installation environment. In this case, for example, the same operation event can be generated by operating the key buttons at the same arrangement position, and the necessary operation can be performed. It is easy and extremely convenient.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a monitoring control display that is extremely useful when monitoring and operating a device installed in a field.

  Hereinafter, a monitoring control display according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Referring to FIG. 1, 1 is a control host computer (external PC), 2 is a programmable display as a monitor / control display, 3 is a programmable logic controller (PLC), and 4 is a target system (multiple devices). is there. A control system for controlling the target system 4 installed in the factory by the external PC 1, the programmable display 2, and the PLC 3 is constructed.

  The external PC 1 includes a CPU, a memory, an external storage device, a display device, an input device, a communication control unit, and the like, like a general general-purpose personal computer. The external PC 1 performs data communication processing with the programmable display 2 via the network 5 in order to perform communication with the programmable display 2 and transfers a user screen to the programmable display 2 or is programmable. Necessary processing can be performed by collecting input data and output data of the PLC 3 distributed from the display 2.

  The programmable display 2 includes communication control units 21 a and 21 b with the external PC 1 and PLC 3, a memory 22, a touch panel device 23, a display device 24, and the like, and a CPU 25 that controls the operation of each unit of the programmable display 2. You are doing. The programmable display device 2 can cause the display device 24 to draw a user screen using the memory 22 based on the user screen created by the external PC 1. On the user screen, the HMI component moves according to the operation of the external input / output device, and the operation status of the target system 4 is visualized. Reference numeral 26 denotes a mechanical keyboard (hardware keyboard).

  Referring to FIG. 2, touch panel device 23 includes a touch panel 23a and a touch panel controller 23b. The touch panel 23a is formed by arranging a large number of electrode wirings in a crossing manner between transparent laminated panels, and by applying pressure (touching) from the top of the laminated panel with a pen tip or a fingertip, The electrode wiring and the horizontal electrode wiring are in contact with each other. The touch panel controller 23b specifies the coordinate value of the touch position from the combination of contact wiring numbers of the touch panel 23a, and transmits the coordinate value to the CPU 25.

  The display device 24 includes a liquid crystal display panel 24a and a display panel controller 24b. The liquid crystal display panel 24a has an area that is the same as or slightly smaller than the effective touch area of the touch panel, and has a pixel configuration in which a large number of liquid crystal pixels are arranged in a vertical and horizontal matrix. The display panel controller 24b controls display of screen data on the liquid crystal display panel 24a.

  The memory 22 can store, write, and read necessary programs and screen data as a programmable display, and data and programs related to display and operation of the virtual keyboard are stored in the liquid crystal display screen 24a. Yes.

  The CPU 25 uses the touch panel controller 23b, the display controller 24b, the hardware keyboard 26, and the memory 22 to display the virtual keyboard 27, to generate an operation event based on the operation of the virtual keyboard, and the correspondence between the hardware keyboard 26 and the virtual keyboard 27. Controls the occurrence of operation events.

  The memory 22 stores screen data of the virtual keyboard 27.

  The virtual keyboard 27 has the same key arrangement as the hardware keyboard 26 such as key buttons for inputting characters such as alphanumeric characters, English symbols, hiragana keys, and katakana keys, and “ENTER” key buttons.

  The virtual keyboard 27 is configured by combining a plurality of key button objects (virtual key buttons). Virtual key buttons and hardware key buttons are defined in the event generation definition table 28 as shown in FIG.

  The touch coordinate columns (x1, y1), (x2, y2),... (Xm, xn) are coordinate values at positions where the touch operation is performed on the touch panel 23a, and “k1,” “k2,”. “Km” corresponds to the virtual key button located at the coordinate value, and “J1” “J2”... “Jm” in the column of the hardware keyboard 26 corresponds to the virtual key buttons “K1” “K2”. Corresponding to the hardware key buttons of the hardware keyboard 26, which issue the same operation events “IV1”, “IV2”... “IVm”. Here, “k1” and “J1”, “k2” and “J2”,... “Km” and “Jm” are key button objects and key buttons that exist at the same key layout position and are expressed by the same characters. .

  When the virtual key button “km” of the virtual keyboard is touch-operated as an operation event issuing means, the CPU 25 obtains the coordinate value of the touch operation position from the touch panel controller 23b, and refers to the operation event generation definition table 28. The operation event “IVm” is issued. On the other hand, when the hardware key button “Jm” on the hardware keyboard 26 is touch-operated, the CPU 25 refers to the event generation definition table and issues an operation event “IVm” to the application software 29. The application software 29 receives this operation event, performs processing corresponding to the received operation event, and displays the screen on the display screen 24a.

  In the above case, the CPU 25 inspects the touch coordinates at the position where the touch operation is performed on the touch panel 23a, determines whether or not the key button object exists at the position of the inspected coordinate value, and the key button object exists. , Get the number, character and symbol set in the text property of the key button object, and perform the necessary event issuing process.

  As described above, in the embodiment, the same event can be issued to the application software 29 in the key operation at the corresponding position in both the virtual keyboard 27 and the hardware keyboard 26.

  In the embodiment, since the same event can be issued by operating the same corresponding key button on the virtual keyboard 27 and the hardware keyboard 26 displayed on the display panel 24a, the programmable display device 2 is easy to use. That is, when the programmable display 2 is combined with the PLC 3 and incorporated in the control panel at the site, the user working at the site operates the virtual keyboard 27 or the hardware keyboard 26 depending on the installation environment. For example, necessary operations can be performed by operating the same character key or numeric key, which is very convenient.

  FIG. 4A shows a virtual keyboard 27 and FIG. 4B shows a partial plan view of the hardware keyboard 26. The key button arrangement data of the virtual keyboard 27 shown in FIG. 4A includes the background object of the key button arrangement shown by hatching in the drawing and the skeleton data of each key button object. A skeleton is a skeleton of events, properties, and methods in object-oriented programming. The numbers, characters, and symbols described in the key button object are the contents of the text property of the key button object. Further, when a key button object is touch-operated through the touch panel, numbers, characters, and symbols described in the key button object are displayed in reverse video. The virtual keyboard 27 in FIG. 4A and the hardware keyboard 26 in FIG. 4B have the same key layout. The key array is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a QWERTY array, an AZERTY array, and a QWERTZ array. Depending on the type of key arrangement of the hardware keyboard 26 connected to the programmable display 2, the key arrangement data and the key arrangement program can be stored in the memory 22 so that the virtual keyboard 27 has the same key arrangement.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a control system incorporating a programmable display according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the main part of the programmable display. FIG. 3 shows an event generation definition table. FIG. 4A is a virtual keyboard, and FIG. 4B is a partial plan view of a hardware keyboard.

Explanation of symbols

1 Host computer for control 2 Programmable display 3 PLC
23 Touch Panel Device 23a Touch Panel 23b Touch Panel Controller 24 Display Device 23a Display Panel 23b Display Controller 25 CPU
26 Hardware Keyboard 27 Virtual Keyboard 28 Operation Event Generation Definition Table 29 Application Software

Claims (2)

  In the monitor control display used for status display of monitor control target and user operation, a virtual keyboard in which key button objects are arranged in the same key arrangement as the hardware keyboard can be selected and displayed on the screen of the display. Define that each key button object in the virtual keyboard generates the same operation event as each key button in the hardware keyboard, and issues the same operation event as the corresponding hardware keyboard when operating the virtual keyboard. Characteristic monitoring and control display.   In a monitoring control display used for monitoring control target status display and user operation, a display panel that displays a virtual keyboard, and a touch panel that is mounted on the display panel and detects coordinate values designated at the operation position of the virtual keyboard; , An operation event generation definition table in which the coordinate value, a virtual key button of a virtual keyboard, a hardware key button of a hardware keyboard, and an operation event are associated with each other, and the operation event generation definition table when the keyboard is operated And an event issuing means for issuing an operation event with reference to the display for monitoring control.

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