JP2010238230A - Parallel input supporting method of circuit element in ladder schematic programming device of plc - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable even an operator unfamiliar to operation to easily insert a desired circuit element in a gap between existing circuits in a parallel connection mode even in a display state in which a series of circuit lines is closely arranged. <P>SOLUTION: Only when cursor movement to one circuit constituting a ladder circuit diagram from the other circuit is determined, a blank line is automatically inserted to the lower adjacent circuit line of the one circuit line on condition that the lower adjacent circuit line is not a blank line. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a parallel input support method for circuit elements (for example, a contact, b contact, coil, etc.) in a ladder circuit schematic programming device suitable for application to a PLC program development support device.

  In a program development support device of a programmable controller (hereinafter referred to as “PLC”), when a circuit element is newly inserted in a parallel connection mode into a created ladder circuit diagram, first, the circuit element in the ladder circuit diagram is Insert a blank line in the circuit line that includes the position to be inserted, and then move the cursor to the position immediately below the counterpart circuit element that is to be connected in parallel in the blank line, and then the target circuit element. A series of operation procedures such as performing an input operation corresponding to is adopted (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 7 shows a screen explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an operation procedure in parallel input of circuit elements in such a conventional apparatus (for example, a PLC program development support apparatus). As will be described later with reference to FIG. 1, this type of device is configured by installing dedicated software in a personal computer having an image display device, an external storage device such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a hard disk drive, and a CPU. It is common to be done.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, three lines of ladder circuit diagrams are displayed on the screen of a predetermined display, and the rectangular cursor C is the position of the a contact 0.00 in the uppermost circuit line. It is assumed that the same a contact 0.01 is inserted into the next (directly below) circuit row so as to be in parallel with the a contact 0.00.

  In the figure, 0.00 and 0.01 are operand addresses, indicating the 00th bit of the 0th channel and the 01st bit of the 0th channel.

  In this case, first, as shown in FIG. 5B, the cursor C is moved by a predetermined key operation (for example, pressing the “End key” and then pressing the “Right arrow key”) on a keyboard (not shown). Move to the end of the circuit row (or to the right side of the coil).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5C, a blank row LB is inserted into the next circuit row by a predetermined key operation ("Enter key" is pressed). At this time, the cursor C automatically moves to the left end position of the blank line LB.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4D, by inputting an OR instruction, the a contact 0.01 is input in a parallel connection manner at the position of the cursor C (just below the target a contact 0.00). can do.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, when one circuit element (a contact 0.0n + 1) is connected in parallel to a multi-parallel circuit in which one circuit is composed of a plurality of circuit rows, For example, after the cursor key is repeatedly operated to move the cursor C located in the first circuit row to the cursor C ′ located in the nth circuit row, the bottom row of the circuit (a contact point in FIG. After the cursor is moved to the right end of the nth circuit row including 0.0n), a predetermined key operation ("Enter key" is pressed) causes the next circuit row (n + 1th circuit) as shown in FIG. A blank row LB is inserted into the circuit row). Thereafter, as in the previous case, by inputting an OR instruction, the a contact 0.0n + 1 can be input in a parallel connection mode at the cursor position (directly below the target a contact 0.0n).

JP 2006-092062 A

  However, in such an operation procedure in the case of parallel input of circuit elements, as shown in FIG. 7A or FIG. 8A, a display state in which a series of circuit rows are densely packed. 7 (c) or 8 (b), an operation necessary for transition to a display state in which a blank row LB is inserted in a circuit row below the lowest circuit row of one circuit. Since it is difficult to intuitively understand the procedure, an operator who is unfamiliar with moving the cursor C downward to the lower line from the display state of FIG. 7A or FIG. If you try to insert it forcibly (in this case, the input contacts a will not be connected in parallel), or you can leave blank by pressing the “Enter key” from the display state shown in FIG. 7A or 8B. Trying to insert only the line (in this case too, the input a contact It has been pointed out that a parallel element may not be properly inserted into the circuit line next to the lowest circuit line of one circuit due to an erroneous operation such as "cannot be connected in parallel." .

  In addition, in the conventional operation procedure for parallel input of circuit elements, the cursor is shifted to the right of the row for each input operation of parallel elements (for example, a contact or b contact). In order to repeat the input of the parallel elements one after another, the input operation of the blank row LB must be repeated each time, and the parallel element cannot be input efficiently. There was also a point.

  The present invention has been made by paying attention to the above-mentioned problems, and the object of the present invention is to provide a gap between existing circuits even if a series of circuit rows are closely displayed. And providing a parallel input support method for circuit elements in a PLC ladder diagrammatic programming device that allows even an operator unfamiliar with the operation to easily insert desired circuit elements in a parallel connection mode. It is in.

  Other objects and operational effects of the present invention will be easily understood by those skilled in the art by referring to the following description of the specification.

  The technical problem described above can be solved by a parallel input support method for circuit elements in a PLC ladder diagram programming device having the following configuration.

  In this method, when the lower adjacent circuit row of one of the one or more circuits constituting the ladder circuit diagram displayed on the screen is a blank row, the circuit elements included in the one circuit In the state where the cursor is positioned in the blank line immediately below the reference circuit element to be a parallel connection partner, the input operation corresponding to the desired circuit element is performed, so that the desired circuit element is changed to the reference circuit. This is a method for supporting parallel input of circuit elements in a PLC ladder circuit schematic programming device that allows input in parallel connection with elements.

  Then, this method is used only when it is determined that there has been a cursor movement from another circuit to one circuit constituting the ladder circuit diagram (i.e., one circuit below). A blank line is automatically inserted into the lower adjacent circuit line on the condition that the circuit line next to the lowermost circuit line is not a blank line.

  According to such a configuration, among one or more circuit rows constituting the ladder circuit diagram displayed on the screen, a circuit (specific circuit row) including circuit elements to be in parallel relation is included. If the cursor is moved, a blank line is automatically inserted in the lower adjacent circuit line of the circuit, so that arbitrary circuit elements (for example, a contact, b contact, coil, etc.) are included in the specific circuit. If the operator intends to input in association with a specific circuit element, even if the operator is unfamiliar with the operation, the operator can easily insert the circuit element in a parallel connection mode, and the cursor operation time increases. There is also an advantage that the inconvenience described above does not occur.

  In a preferred embodiment of the above method, when a circuit element is input to the blank line after the blank line is automatically inserted, a lower adjacent line of the circuit line to which the circuit element is further input is displayed. The method may further include a step of automatically inserting a blank line into the lower adjacent circuit line on condition that the line is not a blank line.

  According to such a configuration, each time a circuit element is input in a parallel connection mode, a blank row is automatically inserted into the lower adjacent circuit row. By repeating, it is possible to input easily.

  In a preferred embodiment of the above method, after the blank line is automatically inserted, an operation of moving the cursor to another circuit is performed without inputting a parallel element in the blank line. In some cases, the method may further include a step of automatically deleting the automatically inserted blank line.

  According to such a configuration, while moving the cursor from top to bottom, each time it passes through each circuit, a blank line is left automatically inserted in the lower adjacent circuit line of the passing line, There is an advantage that the inconvenience of unnecessarily lengthening the entire program does not occur.

  When viewed from another aspect, the above technical problem can be solved by a parallel input support device for circuit elements in a PLC ladder diagram programming device having the following configuration.

  The device includes circuit elements included in one circuit when a lower adjacent row of one circuit among one or more circuit rows constituting a ladder circuit diagram displayed on a screen is a blank row. In the state where the cursor is positioned in the blank line immediately below the reference circuit element to be a parallel connection partner, the input operation corresponding to the desired circuit element is performed, so that the desired circuit element is changed to the reference circuit. This is a device for supporting parallel input of the circuit elements in a PLC ladder circuit schematic programming apparatus that allows input in parallel connection with elements.

  Then, only when it is determined that there is a cursor movement from another circuit to one circuit constituting the ladder circuit diagram, this apparatus determines that the lower adjacent circuit row of the one circuit is not a blank row. As a condition, there is provided means for automatically inserting a blank line in the lower adjacent circuit line.

  In a preferred embodiment of the above-described apparatus, when a circuit element is input to the blank line after the blank line is automatically inserted, the lower adjacent line of the circuit line to which the circuit element is further input There may be further provided means for automatically inserting a blank line on the condition that is not a blank line.

  In a preferred embodiment of the above-described apparatus, after the blank line is automatically inserted, an operation for moving the cursor to another circuit is performed without inputting a circuit element in the blank line. In some cases, it may further include means for automatically deleting the automatically inserted blank line.

  According to the configuration of each device described above, the same effects as those of the above-described method are expected.

  When viewed from another aspect, the above technical problem can also be solved by a computer program for realizing a parallel input support device for circuit elements in a PLC ladder diagram programming device having the following configuration. .

  This program executes input means capable of inputting instruction words and operands, a display capable of displaying characters and images, a storage unit in which a work area used for calculation is defined, and various programs. A computer having at least a computing unit for the above, when the lower adjacent circuit row of one of the one or more circuits constituting the ladder circuit diagram displayed on the screen is a blank row, the 1 The input operation corresponding to the desired circuit element is performed in a state where the cursor is positioned on the blank line immediately below the reference circuit element to be a parallel connection partner among the circuit elements included in the circuit of In a ladder circuit schematic programming device of PLC, which can input the circuit element of the circuit element in parallel with the reference circuit element, an apparatus for supporting parallel input of the circuit element Is a computer program to function with.

  The computer program confirms that the lower adjacent circuit row of the one circuit is not a blank row only when it is determined that the cursor has moved from the other circuit to the one circuit constituting the ladder circuit diagram. As a condition, the method includes a step of automatically inserting a blank line in the lower adjacent circuit line.

  As a preferred embodiment of the above-described computer program, when a circuit element is input to the blank line after the blank line is automatically inserted, a lower adjacent line of the circuit line to which the circuit element is further input It may further include a step of automatically inserting a blank line into the lower adjacent circuit line on the condition that is not a blank line.

  In a preferred embodiment of the above-described computer program, after the blank line is automatically inserted, an operation of moving the cursor to another circuit without inputting a circuit element in the blank line is performed. When performed, the method may further include a step of automatically deleting the automatically inserted blank line.

  According to the configuration of each computer program described above, the same effect as that of the above-described method is expected.

  According to the present invention, from one or more circuits constituting the ladder circuit diagram displayed on the screen to a circuit (specific circuit) including a circuit element to be in a parallel relationship from another circuit If the cursor is moved, a blank line is automatically inserted in the lower adjacent circuit row of the specific circuit, so that any circuit element (for example, a contact, b contact, coil, etc.) can be assigned to the specific circuit. If an operator intends to input in association with a specific circuit element included, even if a series of circuit rows are closely displayed, the desired circuit element is manipulated in the gap between the existing circuits. Even an operator unfamiliar with can be easily inserted in a parallel connection mode.

It is a hardware block diagram of the apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a software block diagram (the 1) of the apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a software block diagram (the 2) of the apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is screen explanatory drawing (the 1) which shows the insertion procedure of the parallel element in this invention apparatus. It is screen explanatory drawing (the 2) which shows the insertion procedure of the parallel element in this invention apparatus. It is screen explanatory drawing (the 3) which shows the insertion procedure of the parallel element in this invention apparatus. It is screen explanatory drawing (the 1) which shows the insertion procedure of the parallel element in a conventional apparatus. It is screen explanatory drawing (the 2) which shows the insertion procedure of the parallel element in a conventional apparatus.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a circuit element parallel input support method, apparatus, and computer program in a PLC ladder circuit schematic programming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  The method, apparatus, and program according to the present invention can be incorporated into a program development support apparatus in which dedicated software is installed in a personal computer, for example. FIG. 1 shows a general hardware configuration diagram of a personal computer functioning as such a program development support apparatus.

  As shown in the figure, this personal computer (PC) 10 displays a keyboard 11 that functions as an input means capable of inputting command words, operands, and enter commands, a pointing device 12 such as a mouse, and characters and images. A possible display 13, a storage unit (memory) 14 in which a work area used for calculation is defined, a calculation unit (CPU) 15 for executing various programs, a hard disk drive, An external storage device such as a CD drive is included.

  Reference numeral 16 denotes a communication interface for performing communication (downloading, uploading, monitoring, etc. of a ladder program) with a PLC (not shown).

  FIG. 2 shows a software configuration diagram (part 1) of the apparatus according to the present invention. The flowchart shown in the figure schematically shows a computer program for realizing the apparatus according to the present invention by a computer. At the same time, this computer program constitutes a part of the entire computer program for causing the personal computer (PC) 10 shown in FIG. 1 to function as a program development support apparatus.

  When performing ladder schematic programming using the program development support device, the operator can use a keyboard or a mouse to execute instructions and operands while the ladder circuit diagram is displayed on the display screen. Repeat the operation to enter.

  During such a programming operation, if a cursor movement operation from the top to the bottom (for example, pressing of the down arrow key) is performed on the screen on which the ladder circuit diagram is displayed (see FIG. 4A) (stepping down) 101) Corresponding to this, the cursor is moved to one circuit by approaching from above (step 102). Here, the “circuit” is composed of one circuit row or a plurality of circuit rows connected in parallel.

  Then, with respect to the circuit where the cursor is located, it is determined whether or not there is a blank line in the lower adjacent circuit line of the circuit (that is, the next line after the bottom line) (step 103). Here, if it is determined that there is a blank line in the lower adjacent circuit line (YES in step 103), no processing is performed, whereas it is determined that there is no blank line in the lower adjacent circuit line. If it is (step 103 NO), a blank line is automatically inserted into the lower adjacent circuit line (step 104) (see FIG. 4B).

  If a blank line is inserted in the lower adjacent circuit line in this way, the operator performs a known command input operation corresponding to the parallel connection circuit element (step 105) in the same manner as in the prior art, so that the desired circuit line is obtained. Arbitrary circuit elements can be inputted in parallel with respect to the circuit elements existing in (see FIG. 4C).

  Also, when a parallel connection circuit element is input to a blank line in this way, is there a blank line in the lower adjacent circuit line of the circuit line to which the parallel connection circuit element is input (inserted) again? A determination of whether or not is made (step 103). If there is no blank line in the lower adjacent circuit line (step 103 NO), a blank line is further inserted in the lower adjacent circuit line (step 104) (see FIG. 5D).

  Therefore, even when many circuit elements are connected in parallel to each other, the cursor is simply approached from the top to the bottom, and the circuit element input processing to the blank line provided in the lower adjacent circuit line Any number of parallel circuits can be easily programmed simply by repeating the above.

  On the other hand, after a blank line is inserted in this way (step 104), if a cursor movement operation to another circuit line is performed without inserting a parallel connection circuit element in the blank line (step 106), Blank lines that have been inserted but not connected in parallel are automatically deleted (step 107) (see FIGS. 5E and 5F).

  Therefore, when the cursor is moved from top to bottom on the ladder diagram circuit and simply passed over each circuit row, the blank lines inserted one after another disappear in sequence, so normal top to bottom When the cursor is moved, the program capacity is not increased unnecessarily by inserting a blank line. Similarly, even when the cursor is moved from the bottom to the top on the ladder diagram circuit, no blank line is inserted in this case, so that a similar increase in program capacity can be avoided.

  Note that the instruction input operation of the parallel connection circuit element in step 105 is the same as the conventional one and will not be described in detail.

  Next, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show screen explanatory diagrams showing a procedure for inserting parallel elements by an operator in the apparatus of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 4 (a), a ladder circuit having three circuit rows including a first row L1, a second row L2, and a third row L3 (in other words, one circuit row is connected to each other). It is assumed that the three circuit rows are closely adjacent to each other as shown in the conventional example (see FIG. 7A). To do.

  In such a ladder circuit, it is assumed that the a contact 0.01 is to be inserted in parallel with the a contact 0.00 existing in the first row L1 immediately below the a contact 0.00.

  In such a case, in the apparatus of the present invention, the cursor C is moved up from the a contact 0.00 while moving the cursor C from the top to the bottom with respect to the first row L1 including the a contact 0.00. Put. In FIG. 4B, the cursor C is placed on the a contact 0.00.

  Then, in accordance with the cursor movement operation, a blank row LB is inserted between the first row L1 and the second row L2, and the second row L2 and the third row L3 are each shifted downward by one row. The

  In this state, as shown in FIG. 4 (c), the operator moves the cursor C to a space immediately below the a contact 0.00 of the first row L1, and thereafter, in the same manner as before, a A command input operation corresponding to the parallel input of the contacts 0.01 is performed.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 5D, another a contact 0.01 is inserted in parallel with each other just below the a contact 0.00 in the first row L1. In this state, a blank line LB is newly inserted in the lower adjacent line of the new insertion line Lx. Therefore, even when the number of parallel circuits is increased, such as 2 parallels, 3 parallels, 4 parallels, etc., only the necessary number of circuits are paralleled by simply repeating the operations of FIG. 4C and FIG. The circuit can be increased.

  On the other hand, in the state shown in FIG. 4C, if the cursor C is moved downward without inputting parallel elements, as shown in FIG. The inserted blank line LB is automatically deleted. In the state of FIG. 5 (e), when the lever C is further moved downward, the state shown in FIG. 5 (f) is obtained, and the original state in which the three circuit rows are closely adjacent is restored. Therefore, the blank lines LB generated in response to the cursor approach operation described above are left behind one after another, and there is no inconvenience that the circuit capacity is increased.

  It should be noted that as an operation necessary for moving the cursor from the top to the bottom, a repeated pressing operation of the “down arrow key” normally provided on the keyboard may be employed.

  Next, FIG. 6 shows a screen explanatory diagram (No. 3) showing a procedure for inserting parallel elements in the device of the present invention. In this example, the first circuit has n circuit rows. For example, the first circuit row includes the a contact 0.00, the second circuit row includes the a contact 0.01,..., The nth circuit row includes the a contact 0.0n.

  In this case, when the cursor C arrives at the first circuit from above as shown in FIG. 9A, the bottom of the circuit is displayed as shown in FIG. Since the blank line LB is automatically inserted into the (n + 1) th circuit line, which is the side circuit line, if the cursor C is combined with this blank line and a similar parallel element input operation is performed, in particular, for blank insertion. It is possible to easily input parallel elements without performing the above operation.

  Next, FIG. 3 shows a software configuration diagram (part 2) of the apparatus according to the present invention. In this example, a blank line is automatically inserted by a cursor operation from the bottom to the top on the screen.

  That is, when a cursor movement operation from the top to the bottom is performed (step 201), the cursor is moved to the upper adjacent circuit line (step 202), and then the lower adjacent line of the circuit where the cursor exists is displayed. A blank line LB is inserted (step 203). Thereafter, processing similar to that described in FIG. 2 is performed.

  In this example, the blank line is inserted in the same manner, but the cursor position moves to the upper line of the blank line. That is, when the cursor is moved from the bottom to the top, the blank line is inserted after the cursor position is moved to the lowermost line of the upper circuit. As a result, when the cursor is moved from the lower side to the upper side, since the cursor does not move to the inserted blank line, the scroll efficiency is not lowered as compared with the conventional case. The main purpose of scrolling from the bottom to the top is to find the target circuit, while scrolling from the top to the bottom is the purpose of editing the circuit in addition to finding the circuit. In this case, it is necessary to insert an OR instruction, and therefore it is necessary to move the cursor to a blank line.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for simplification of an input operation for inserting circuit elements in a parallel manner in a ladder diagram when performing ladder diagram programming in a PLC program development support apparatus.

10 Personal computer (PC)
11 Keyboard 12 Pointing Device 13 Display 14 Memory 15 CPU
16 COM port serial communication part L1 1st line (1st circuit line)
L2 second row (second circuit row)
L3 3rd row (3rd circuit row)
LB Blank line C Cursor

Claims (9)

When the lower adjacent row of one circuit row among one or more circuits constituting the ladder circuit diagram displayed on the screen is a blank row, the circuit elements included in the one circuit are arranged in parallel. The desired circuit element is connected in parallel with the reference circuit element by performing an input operation corresponding to the desired circuit element in a state where the cursor is positioned on the blank line immediately below the reference circuit element to be connected. A method for supporting parallel input of the circuit elements in a ladder circuit schematic programming device of a PLC that can be input in an aspect, comprising:
Only when it is determined that there is a cursor movement from another circuit to one circuit constituting the ladder circuit diagram, the lower adjacent circuit row of the one circuit row is not a blank row, and the lower A parallel input support method for circuit elements in a ladder circuit schematic programming device of PLC, comprising the step of automatically inserting a blank line into a side adjacent circuit line.   After a blank line is automatically inserted, when a circuit element is input to the blank line, the lower adjacent line of the circuit line to which the circuit element is input is not a blank line. 2. The method for supporting parallel input of circuit elements in a PLC ladder circuit schematic programming device according to claim 1, further comprising the step of automatically inserting a blank line into a side adjacent circuit line.   After automatic insertion of the blank line, when an operation for moving the cursor to another circuit is performed without inputting a parallel element in the blank line, the automatically inserted blank line is 3. The parallel input support method for circuit elements in the PLC ladder circuit schematic programming device according to claim 1, further comprising a step of automatically deleting. When the lower adjacent row of one circuit among one or more circuit rows constituting the ladder circuit diagram displayed on the screen is a blank row, the circuit elements included in the one circuit are arranged in parallel. The desired circuit element is connected in parallel with the reference circuit element by performing an input operation corresponding to the desired circuit element in a state where the cursor is positioned on the blank line immediately below the reference circuit element to be connected. A ladder circuit schematic programming device for a PLC that allows input in an aspect, the device for supporting parallel input of the circuit elements,
Only when it is determined that there is a cursor movement from another circuit to one circuit that constitutes the ladder circuit diagram, the lower side of the one circuit line is not blank. A parallel input support device for circuit elements in a ladder circuit schematic programming device for PLC, comprising means for automatically inserting a blank row into an adjacent circuit row.   When a circuit element is input to the blank line after the automatic insertion of the blank line, a blank line is provided on the condition that the lower adjacent line of the circuit line to which the circuit element is further input is not a blank line. 5. The parallel input assisting device for circuit elements in the PLC ladder circuit schematic programming device according to claim 4, further comprising means for automatically inserting.   After automatic insertion of the blank line, when an operation for moving the cursor to another circuit is performed without inputting a circuit element to the blank line, the automatically inserted blank line is 6. The parallel input support device for circuit elements in the PLC ladder circuit schematic programming device according to claim 4, further comprising means for automatically deleting. Input means capable of inputting command words and operands, a display capable of displaying characters and images, a storage unit in which a work area used for calculation is defined, and a calculation unit for executing various programs A computer having at least
When the lower adjacent row of one circuit among one or more circuit rows constituting the ladder circuit diagram displayed on the screen is a blank row, the circuit elements included in the one circuit are arranged in parallel. The desired circuit element is connected in parallel with the reference circuit element by performing an input operation corresponding to the desired circuit element in a state where the cursor is positioned on the blank line immediately below the reference circuit element to be connected. A computer program for causing a ladder circuit schematic programming device of a PLC that can be input in an aspect to function as a device for supporting parallel input of the circuit elements,
Only when it is determined that there is a cursor movement from another circuit to one circuit that constitutes the ladder circuit diagram, the lower side of the one circuit line is not blank. A computer program comprising a step of automatically inserting a blank line into an adjacent circuit line.   After a blank line is automatically inserted, when a circuit element is input to the blank line, the lower adjacent line of the circuit line to which the circuit element is input is not a blank line. The computer program further comprising the step of automatically inserting a blank line into the side adjacent circuit line.   After an automatic insertion of the blank line, when an operation for moving the cursor to another circuit line is performed without inputting a circuit element in the blank line, the automatically inserted blank line A computer program characterized by further comprising the step of automatically deleting.

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