JP2010211672A - Network system, programmable display device and memory access method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a programmable display device or the like for accessing a different programmable display device on a line or an external apparatus connected thereto in the same way as an access to an external apparatus connected to the above programmable display device. <P>SOLUTION: A first programmable display device connects to a second programmable display device as one of first controllers, and transmits a transfer table storing periodical data read/write between a second internal memory provided in the second programmable display device and an external apparatus memory provided in a second controller, to the second programmable display device. The second programmable display device periodically reads/writes data between the external apparatus memory and the second internal memory according to the transmitted transfer table. The first programmable display device reads/writes data between the second internal memory and a first internal memory for storing the data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a programmable display device capable of accessing a memory of another programmable display device in a network system including a plurality of control devices and a plurality of programmable display devices, and a memory access method between these programmable display devices.

  Conventionally, a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) that performs sequence control of an actuator, an inverter, or a temperature controller that is a control target in a factory or the like is connected to a programmable display device that displays an operation state of the PLC. Yes. Usually, this programmable display device has a configuration capable of connecting a plurality of PLCs.

  The programmable display device includes a display screen capable of graphic display and a touch panel superimposed on the display screen, and reads the data content read from each PLC while executing the sequence control of the control target by each PLC. While displaying, the setting input of the data which should be written in each PLC is received.

  The display content of the display screen and the operation position on the touch panel are associated in advance by the program, and the operation content set by the program by touching the touch panel at the display position of the switch, button, etc. displayed on the display screen. The instruction data according to is transmitted to each PLC.

  The display screen of the programmable display device is created by an operator or the like on a general-purpose computer such as a personal computer, for example, and the created screen data is transferred to the programmable display device. As the screen data, for example, various items (objects) such as switches, various parts, lamps, meters, graphs, and the like are arranged at arbitrary positions to be created as one screen.

  When accessing such an external device such as a PLC, such a programmable display device communicates with the external device via serial / Ethernet (registered trademark), and sets the external device as described above.

  In addition to the serial / Ethernet (registered trademark) communication, the programmable display device, as an extended communication, displays programmable access to other programmable display devices and external devices connected to the other programmable display devices. This is realized by a macro using Ethernet (registered trademark) communication between devices.

  In a control system in which a plurality of display devices are connected to each other via Ethernet (registered trademark), when a specific display device is to be accessed, a list of the connected display devices (names) is displayed. A technique that operates with respect to a designated display device is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-301025 A

  However, in the prior art, when a programmable display device accesses an external device connected to another programmable display device, the external device having the same attribute as the external device connected to the accessed programmable display device (same Model) must also be connected to the accessing programmable display device. This is because the accessing programmable display device confirms the connection with the external device.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the problems of the prior art.
In FIG. 10, the request source programmable display device 100 and the request destination programmable display device 200 are connected to each other via Ethernet (registered trademark). The request destination programmable display device 200 connects an external device 210 that is a PLC that performs sequence control such as an actuator, an inverter, or a temperature controller, and accesses the external device 210 according to preset screen data. Display status.

  When the request source programmable display device 100 accesses the external device 210 via the request destination programmable display device 200, it is necessary to connect the external device 110 of the same model as the external device 210 to the request source programmable display device 100.

As described above, the conventional technique has a problem in that it has to be connected to a programmable display device on the side of accessing an external device that is not necessary, which results in unnecessary cost.
In addition, there is a problem in that it is necessary to register information on external devices that do not need to be connected as screen data, and complicated setting work is required.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and is connected to another programmable display device on the Ethernet (registered trademark) line or an external device connected to the programmable display device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a programmable display device that can be accessed in the same manner as an access to an external device, a network system constituted by these programmable display devices, and a memory access method in the programmable display device.

The present invention employs the following configuration in order to solve the above problems.
That is, according to one aspect of the present invention, the network system of the present invention is connected to a first control device that controls a control target, and includes a screen component for inputting an instruction to the first control device and the first control device. A first programmable display device capable of displaying the state of one control device, and a second control device for controlling a controlled object in the same manner as the first programmable display device; It is a network system in which a screen component for inputting an instruction to the control device and a second programmable display device capable of displaying the state of the second control device are connected. In such a network system, the first programmable display device stores the data and the control device connection means for connecting the second programmable display device as one of the first control devices. A first internal memory, a first data read / write means for executing data read / write between the second internal memory of the second programmable display device and the first internal memory, and the second First transfer table storage means for storing a transfer table defining data read / write periodically executed between an internal memory and an external device memory of the second control device; and the first transfer table storage means Transfer table transmitting means for transmitting the transfer table stored in the second programmable display device to the second program display device. Bull display device, a forwarding table receiving means for receiving the transfer table transmitted from the forwarding table transmitting means,
And a second data read / write unit that periodically reads and writes data between the external device memory and the second internal memory according to the transfer table received by the transfer table receiving unit. .

  Moreover, according to one aspect of the present invention, the programmable display device of the present invention includes each component requirement included in the first programmable display device as described above and each component requirement included in the second programmable display device as described above. It is characterized by providing.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the memory access method of the present invention is connected to a first control device that controls a control target, and includes a screen component for inputting an instruction to the first control device, and the screen component. A first programmable display device capable of displaying the state of the first control device, and a second control device for controlling a control object, similarly to the first programmable display device, the second control device A memory access method executed in a network system in which a screen component for inputting an instruction to the control device and a second programmable display device capable of displaying the state of the second control device are connected. . The first programmable display device connects the second programmable display device as one of the first control devices, and the second internal memory of the second programmable display device and the second A transfer table that defines data reading and writing periodically executed between external device memories of the control device is transmitted to the second programmable display device, and the second programmable display device is configured to transmit the first programmable display device. Receiving the transfer table transmitted from the display device, periodically reading and writing data between the external device memory and the second internal memory according to the received transfer table, and the first programmable display device Executes reading / writing of data between the second internal memory and the first internal memory for storing data. And wherein the door.

  The present invention relates to another programmable display device on an Ethernet (registered trademark) line or an external device connected to the programmable display device without incurring unnecessary costs and performing complicated setting work. As a result, it is possible to access in the same manner as an access to an external device connected to itself.

It is a figure which shows the connection condition of the programmable display apparatus to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the connection condition of the programmable display apparatus which connected another programmable display apparatus as an external apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating the mechanism for operating the programmable display apparatus to which this invention is applied. It is a figure for demonstrating the mechanism for operating the programmable display apparatus which connected another programmable display apparatus as an external apparatus. It is a figure which shows the item of the communication setting data which the drawing software 4 to which this invention is applied produces. It is a figure which shows the communication setting data of the programmable display apparatus as an external apparatus, and its internal memory. It is a figure for demonstrating reading / writing of the information to the internal memory by the programmable display apparatus as an external apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating reading / writing of the information to the external apparatus memory by the programmable display apparatus as an external apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating the flow of the reading / writing of the information to the external apparatus memory by the programmable display apparatus as an external apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating the subject of a prior art.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a connection status of a programmable display device to which the present invention is applied.
In FIG. 1, a first programmable display device 1A or a second programmable display device 1B and a plurality of PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers) 3 are connected via a communication line 2A. The first programmable display device 1A or the second programmable display device 1B is connected to a PC (Personal Computer) 5 via a communication line 2B.

  The first programmable display device 1A or the second programmable display device 1B includes a display screen capable of graphic display, and displays the operation state of each PLC 3. Further, the first programmable display device 1A or the second programmable display device 1B includes a touch panel superimposed on the display screen, and the data content read from each PLC 3 while executing the sequence control of the control target by each PLC 3. Is displayed, and setting input of data to be written in each PLC 3 is accepted.

Each PLC 3 performs sequence control of an actuator, an inverter, or a temperature controller that is a control target in a factory or the like.
The PC 5 is provided with drawing software 4 for creating screen data and the like for displaying the operation state of each PLC 3 and the data content read from each PLC 3 and receiving setting input of data to be written to each PLC 3. .

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a connection state of a programmable display device in which another programmable display device is connected as an external device.
In FIG. 2, the first programmable display device 1 </ b> A connects the second programmable display device 1 </ b> B as one of external devices via a communication line 17 such as Ethernet (registered trademark). The second programmable display device 1B connected to the first programmable display device 1A is connected to a PLC that is an external device via the communication line 2A.

  Thereby, 1 A of 1st programmable display apparatuses handle the 2nd programmable display apparatus 1B similarly to PLC3 which is an external apparatus. Further, the first programmable display device 1A handles the memory of the PLC 3 connected to the second programmable display device 1B in the same manner as the memory of the second programmable display device 1B.

  That is, when the first programmable display device 1A accesses the memory (internal memory) of the second programmable display device 1B, the first programmable display device 1A communicates with the second programmable display device 1B through a communication line. A “request command” for requesting reading / writing of information (data) is transmitted via 17.

  The second programmable display device 1B that has received this “request command” reads / writes information from / to the designated internal memory according to the contents of the “request command”, and displays the execution result of the “request command”. It returns to the 1st programmable display apparatus 1A which is a request origin.

Then, the first programmable display device 1A that has received the execution result reflects the execution result in the target memory.
Further, when the first programmable display device 1A wants to access the memory (external device memory) of the PLC 3 connected to the second programmable display device 1B, the first programmable display device 1A is directly connected to the first programmable display device 1A. Since the second programmable display device 1B, the first programmable display device 1A cannot handle the memory of the PLC 3 with the above-described “request command”.

  In order for the first programmable display device 1A to access the memory of the PLC 3 connected to the second programmable display device 1B, in the second programmable display device 1B, information (data) in the internal memory is stored in the external device memory. Or writing information (data) of the external device memory to the internal memory must be executed periodically. Reading and writing of information that is periodically executed in the second programmable display device 1B is realized by using a “transfer table”.

  Specifically, the data of the “transfer table” is filed in CSV (Comma Separated Values) format by the drawing software 4 of the PC 5 connected to the first programmable display device 1A, and the flash memory type memory card CF ( The data is stored in the Compact Flash card 28. Then, the first programmable display device 1A reads the CSV file stored in the CF card 28 in advance and transmits it to the second programmable display device 1B using FTP (File Transfer Protocol) or the like. deep. The second programmable display device 1B that has received the “transfer table” converted into the CSV file stores it in the CF card 29 that is an accessible flash memory type memory card.

Then, the second programmable display device 1B executes the operation of the “transfer table” according to the setting of the CSV file stored in the CF card 29.
Thus, the first programmable display device 1A accesses the memory of the PLC 3 connected to the second programmable display device 1B without performing the troublesome task of setting the “transfer table” in the second programmable display device 1B. can do.

  That is, the first programmable display device 1A does not use a macro as in the prior art, just by creating screen data and creating a “transfer table” in CSV format on the first programmable display device 1A side. Information can be read from and written to the internal memory of the second programmable display device 1B and the memory of the PLC 3 connected to the second programmable display device 1B.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a mechanism for operating a programmable display device to which the present invention is applied.
In FIG. 3, the first programmable display device 1 </ b> A or the second programmable display device 1 </ b> B includes a main body program 6 </ b> A or 6 </ b> B and a communication program 7 </ b> A or 7 </ b> B, and the PC 5 includes the drawing software 4.

  The drawing software 4 provided in the PC 5 displays the operation state of each PLC 3 and the data content read from each PLC 3, screen data for accepting setting input of data to be written to each PLC 3, and each PLC 3 The system configuration information 8 including the communication setting data is created, and the created system configuration information 8 is transmitted to the first programmable display device 1A or the second programmable display device 1B via the communication line 2B.

  The main body program 6A or 6B included in the first programmable display device 1A or the second programmable display device 1B stores the system configuration information 8 transmitted from the PC 5 in a memory (not shown). Based on the communication settings, communication is performed via each PLC 3 and the communication line 2A.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a mechanism for operating a programmable display device in which another programmable display device is connected as an external device, and FIG. 5 is a communication setting created by the drawing software 4 to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating communication setting data between a programmable display device as an external device and its internal memory.

  In FIG. 4, the PC 5 connected to the first programmable display device 1A uses the drawing software 4 to display the operating state of the second programmable display device 1B and the data content read from the second programmable display device 1B. System configuration information 8 including screen data for accepting a setting input of data to be written to the internal memory 13B of the second programmable display device 1B and communication setting data with the second programmable display device 1B Create

  Further, the drawing software 4 is a system that uses the second programmable display device 1B as an external device in order to access the second programmable display device 1B and to access the PLC 3 connected to the second programmable display device 1B. Set in the communication setting data in the configuration information 8. Specifically, items of communication setting data shown in FIG. 5, “connection destination programmable display device: IP address”, “connection destination programmable display device: port No”, “own station programmable display device: port No”, “ For example, as shown in FIG. 6, “communication timeout time”, “model code of external device of connection destination programmable display device, PLC No”, and “connection format of connection destination programmable display device with external device” "Display device: IP address" is "10.91.131.185", "Destination programmable display device: Port No" is "2500", "Own station programmable display device: Port No" is "2500", "Communication timeout" “Time” is “500 × 10 (milliseconds)”, “Model number of external device of connected programmable display device” De, PLCNo "is" M, Inc. AnA series, PLC1 "and" connection type of an external device to connect to the programmable display device "is" 1: Set 1 ".

  Accordingly, the first programmable display device 1A can access the internal memory 13B of the second programmable display device 1B and the external device memory 14 built in the PLC 3 connected to the second programmable display device 1B. Thus, reading and writing of information can be executed.

  Then, the drawing software 4 transmits the created system configuration information 8 to the first programmable display device 1A via the communication line 2B. Then, the main body program 6 </ b> A included in the first programmable display device 1 </ b> A stores the system configuration information 8 transmitted from the PC 5 in a memory (not shown), and based on the communication settings in the system configuration information 8, The programmable display device 1 </ b> B is communicated with the communication line 17.

Here, referring to FIG. 7 in addition to FIG. 4, the reading / writing of information with respect to the internal memory 13B by the second programmable display device 1B will be described.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining reading / writing of information from / to an internal memory by a programmable display device as an external device.

  When the first programmable display device 1A accesses each memory set by the screen data in the system configuration information 8, the first programmable display device 1A sets the second programmable display device 1B set by the communication setting data in the system configuration information 8 The first communication request 19 is transmitted as a “communication command between programmable display devices” via the communication line 17.

Receiving this “communication command between programmable display devices”, the second programmable display device 1B accesses the internal memory 13B and executes reading and writing of information stored in the internal memory 13B. When the reading and writing of information with respect to the internal memory 13B is completed within a predetermined time (a first timeout time described later), the main body program 6B of the second programmable display device 1B is set to the first programmable display device 1A. A response 20 of the first communication request is transmitted (returned) in the form of “communication command between programmable display devices” via the communication line 17.

  Then, the first programmable display device 1A uses the result of the response 20 of the received first communication request as the memory contents of the second programmable display device 1B as one of the external devices set in the screen data. Store in the internal memory 13A.

  As described above, since the communication target of the first programmable display device 1A is the second programmable display device 1B, communication is performed using a communication command dedicated to the programmable display devices. The information necessary for the first programmable display device 1A to access the memory of the second programmable display device 1B is “access operation”, “multiple block read”, “memory read”, “memory write”, “bit write”, “calendar” For example, “Read”, “Calendar Write”, “Memory Model”, “Memory Type”, “Memory Address”, “Bit No”, etc. Then, the first programmable display device 1A that is the request source transmits a communication command including these pieces of information to the second programmable display device 1B that is the request destination, and the request destination that has received this is the first request destination. The two programmable display devices 1B refer to these pieces of information and access a specified memory (reading and writing of information (data)).

  Next, referring to FIG. 8 in addition to FIG. 4, the reading and writing of information with respect to the external device memory 14 built in the PLC 3 connected to the second programmable display device 1B by the second programmable display device 1B will be described.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining reading / writing of information from / to an external device memory by a programmable display device as an external device.
The first programmable display device 1A cannot directly access the memory of the PLC 3 connected to the second programmable display device 1B. Therefore, the second programmable display device 1B periodically reads and writes the external device memory 16 storing the contents of the external device memory 14 of the PLC 3 connected to the second programmable display device 1B to the internal memory 13B. deep. The transfer table 15 is used for this mechanism.

  The transfer table 15 uses the drawing software 4 and does not change the screen data on the second programmable display device 1B side, and the like, as a transfer table 15 for the second programmable display device 1B. Created in file format. The created transfer table 15 is stored in the CF card 28 (see FIG. 2) on the first programmable display device 1A side.

  The transfer table 15 is transferred via the communication line 17 to the CF card 29 of the second programmable display device 1B by FTP or the like. Then, the second programmable display device 1B periodically reads / writes data from / into the designated internal memory 13B based on the transfer table 15 in the CF card 29.

  In this way, by reading and writing the internal memory 13B of the second programmable display device 1B from the first programmable display device 1A side, the second programmable display is indirectly made from the first programmable display device 1A side. Reading and writing of the external device memory 14 of the PLC 3 connected to the device 1B is executed.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a flow of reading / writing information from / to an external device memory by a programmable display device as an external device.
In FIG. 9, the first connection communication 23 is executed between the first programmable display device 1A and the second programmable display device 1B, and the second connection communication 24 is connected to the second programmable display device 1B. It is executed between PLC3. The first connection communication 23 and the second connection communication 24 are executed asynchronously. The second connection communication 24 is executed based on the transfer table 15.

  In the first connection communication 23, the first programmable display device 1 </ b> A transmits the first communication request 19 to the second programmable display device 1 </ b> B, and the first programmable display device 1 </ b> A from the second programmable display device 1 </ b> B. This is a communication process in which the first programmable display device 1A reads and writes the internal memory 13B of the second programmable display device 1B until the response 20 of the first communication request is received. Further, in the second connection communication 24, the second programmable display device 1B transmits the second communication request 21 to the PLC 3, and the second programmable display device 1B receives the response 22 of the second communication request from the PLC 3. This is a communication process for periodically reading and writing the external device memory 14 using the internal memory 13B of the second programmable display device 1B until reception.

  Here, the first time-out period is determined by the first programmable display device 1A from the time when the first programmable display device 1A transmits the first communication request 19 to the second programmable display device 1B. The time until the reception of the response 20 of the first communication request from the programmable display device 1B is not allowed (not the time until the response 20 of the first communication request is received). The second time-out period 19 is the time when the second programmable display device 1B transmits a second communication request 21 to the PLC 3, and the second programmable display device 1B responds to the second communication request from the PLC 3. This is the time until when it is not allowed to wait for the reception of 22 (not the time until the response 22 of the second communication request is received).

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the above-described embodiment of the present invention is a function of the first programmable display device 1A or the second programmable display device 1B. It can be realized by hardware or firmware or software on a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) board or CPU board.

  Further, the first programmable display device 1A or the second programmable display device 1B to which the present invention is applied is not limited to the above-described embodiment as long as the function is executed, and is a single device. However, it goes without saying that the system may be a system composed of a plurality of devices, an integrated device, or a system in which processing is performed via a network such as a LAN or WAN.

  It can also be realized by a system including a CPU, a ROM or RAM memory connected to a bus, an input device, an output device, an external recording device, a medium driving device, and a network connection device. That is, a ROM or RAM memory, an external recording device, or a portable recording medium in which a software program for realizing the system of the above-described embodiment is recorded is used as the first programmable display device 1A or the second programmable display device 1B. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by the computer of the first programmable display device 1A or the second programmable display device 1B reading and executing the program.

  In this case, the program itself read from the portable recording medium or the like realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the portable recording medium or the like on which the program is recorded constitutes the present invention.

Examples of portable recording media for supplying the program include flexible disks, hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, and DVD-ROs.
M, DVD-RAM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM card, various recording media recorded via network connection devices (in other words, communication lines) such as e-mail and personal computer communication can be used. .

  The computer (information processing apparatus) executes the program read out on the memory, thereby realizing the functions of the above-described embodiment, and an OS running on the computer based on the instructions of the program. Performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are also realized by the processing.

  Furthermore, a program read from a portable recording medium or a program (data) provided by a program (data) provider is stored in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. After being written, the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are also realized by the processing. obtain.

  That is, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and can take various configurations or shapes without departing from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1A 1st programmable display apparatus 1B 2nd programmable display apparatus 2A, 3B Communication line 3 PLC (Programmable Logic Controller: Programmable (logic) controller)
4 drawing software 5 PC (Personal Computer)
6A, 6B Main body program 7A, 7B Second communication program 8 System configuration information 13A, 13B Internal memory 14 External device memory 15 Transfer table 16 External device memory 17 Communication line 19 First communication request 20 First communication request response 21 Second communication request 22 Response of second communication request 23 First connection communication 24 Second connection communication 28 CF (Compact Flash) card 29 CF (Compact Flash) card 100 Request source programmable display device 110 External device 200 Request Programmable display device 210 External device

Claims (3)

A first programmable display that is connected to a first control device that controls an object to be controlled and is capable of displaying a screen component for inputting an instruction to the first control device and a state of the first control device. Device and a second control device connected to a second control device for controlling a controlled object, and the second control device for inputting an instruction to the second control device, similar to the first programmable display device In a network system connected to a second programmable display device capable of displaying the state of
The first programmable display device is:
Control device connection means for connecting the second programmable display device as one of the first control devices;
A first internal memory for storing data;
First data read / write means for executing data read / write between the second internal memory of the second programmable display device and the first internal memory;
First transfer table storage means for storing a transfer table that defines data read / write periodically executed between the second internal memory and the external device memory of the second control device;
Transfer table transmission means for transmitting the transfer table stored in the first transfer table storage means to the second programmable display device;
With
The second programmable display device is:
Transfer table receiving means for receiving the transfer table transmitted from the transfer table transmitting means;
Second data read / write means for periodically reading and writing data between the external device memory and the second internal memory according to the transfer table received by the transfer table receiving means;
A network system characterized by comprising:   A programmable display device comprising the respective constituent requirements of the first programmable display device and the second programmable display device according to claim 1. A first programmable display that is connected to a first control device that controls an object to be controlled and is capable of displaying a screen component for inputting an instruction to the first control device and a state of the first control device. Device and a second control device connected to a second control device for controlling a controlled object, and the second control device for inputting an instruction to the second control device, similar to the first programmable display device A memory access method executed in a network system connected to a second programmable display device capable of displaying the status of
The first programmable display device is
Connecting the second programmable display device as one of the first control devices;
The second programmable display device includes a transfer table that defines data read / write periodically executed between the second internal memory of the second programmable display device and the external device memory of the second control device. To
The second programmable display device is
Receiving a transfer table transmitted from the first programmable display device;
Periodically reading and writing data between the external device memory and the second internal memory according to the received transfer table;
The first programmable display device is
Reading and writing data between the second internal memory and the first internal memory for storing data;
And a memory access method.

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