JP2015079469A - Programmable controller system, programmable display thereof, support apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform setting change of a communication parameter in a programmable display side without recalculating sum check data.SOLUTION: A communication parameter change unit 111 is a function unit for allowing a user and the like to arbitrarily change a setting content of a communication parameter using setting range information, and stores a changed version of the communication parameter separately from the communication parameter included in screen data. In a programmable display 110, a communication program of a communication driver executes communication processing with a connection device 100 connected to the programmable display using one of the changed version of the communication parameter and the communication parameter included in the screen data.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for changing communication settings with a connected device in a programmable display.

  Programmable displays are generally connected to various connected devices such as the PLC main unit and temperature control device, etc., for numerical display and lamp items to display the status of these connected devices, and for users to give arbitrary instructions Displays an image of items such as switches. An item is also called a screen component or the like. Usually, images of a plurality of screen components (items) are displayed on the screen of the programmable display (referred to as an operation display screen).

  Data for displaying such an operation display screen (referred to as screen data) is arbitrarily created by a developer or the like in advance in a support device (drawing editor device) and downloaded from the support device to a programmable display. Has been.

  The screen data includes, for each item, data such as an image of the item (switch image or lamp image), display position coordinates, and an address (assigned memory address) of a predetermined area of the external memory described later. It is. In addition, some programs may be included.

  On the support device (drawing editor device) or the like, a screen (referred to as a screen creation support screen) for allowing the user to create the desired operation display screen (screen data thereof) is displayed. On this screen creation support screen, the user makes settings / inputs related to the above items (such as character strings used in nameplates such as switches and lamps), or character strings such as arbitrary words and sentences. To enter text.

  In addition, the display control which concerns on the said operation display screen in a programmable display is implement | achieved by performing a predetermined process regularly, for example for every said item. Predetermined processing refers to, for example, reading storage data in a predetermined storage area (that is, storage data in a predetermined allocation memory area) of a predetermined memory device (referred to as an external memory) in a predetermined connected device related to the item. It is processing to issue. Furthermore, a process for determining / displaying the display content of an item based on the stored data (display content refresh process) or the like. Note that the process of reading the stored data in the predetermined allocated memory area) is generally a process of accessing the external memory, and therefore may be referred to as an external memory access process.

The connected device updates the stored data in a predetermined area of the external memory as needed (for example, the temperature measurement value is updated as needed in the temperature control device).
Here, as described above, the programmable display device has a communication I / F driver corresponding to the connected device connected to the own device for the process of reading the data stored in the external memory of the connected device. Need to be. In this regard, for example, in Patent Document 1, various types of communication I / F drivers corresponding to various types of connected devices are prepared in advance on the support device side, and the above-described plurality of types of communication I / Fs can be used for any programmable display. A method of transferring a communication I / F driver corresponding to a connected device connected to the display from the driver is disclosed.

  Further, the support device further allows the user to arbitrarily set communication parameters relating to communication between the programmable display and the connected device, and includes the communication parameters in the screen data and transfers the communication parameters to the programmable display. To remember.

  For example, the communication parameters are, for example, a communication method (serial communication, Ethernet, USB communication, etc.), the number of retries, a timeout time, etc. Further, when the communication method is serial communication, the baud rate, data length, stop bit, etc. It is.

  On the programmable display side, the communication I / F driver transferred and held as described above communicates with the connected device connected to the own device using the communication parameter included in the screen data. It will be.

  As described above, the communication I / F driver varies depending on the connected device connected to each programmable display as described above, so that each corresponding to all the connected devices in the programmable display in advance to cope with this. Although a method of holding communication parameters and the like is conceivable, this method requires a large amount of resources for the programmable display.

Japanese Patent No. 3356530

  Here, as described above, after the screen data (including communication parameters) and the communication I / F driver are transferred and stored from the support device to any programmable display, the contents of the communication parameters are changed. Sometimes it was necessary. In this case, as described above, since the support device has a function for editing the contents of the communication parameter, after changing the content of the communication parameter on the support device side, the screen data including the communication parameter of the changed version is again displayed. It was necessary to download and store it on the programmable display side.

  However, work (communication setting work) for transferring screen data (including communication parameters) and communication I / F drivers from an assisting device as described above to an arbitrary programmable display and storing it is, for example, This is done before shipment of the programmable display. In many cases, it is necessary to change the contents of the communication parameters after installation on the user side after shipment. For this reason, when the programmable display is already attached to a device such as an operation panel and shipped to a distant end user, the change is not easy.

  In addition, in the function for arbitrarily setting the communication parameter in the conventional support device, any value can be set in order to have versatility, and a value that does not exist depending on the connected device can be set. . For this reason, there was a problem that communication was not possible even if the communication I / F driver tried to communicate with the connected device using such communication parameters on the programmable display side.

  Further, the screen data has sum check data (check sum) for each function, and there is also sum check data for the entire screen data. For this reason, when the communication parameter setting contents included in the screen data are changed as described above, it is necessary to recalculate the communication setting sum check data and recalculate the sum check data of the entire screen data.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a programmable controller system capable of changing the setting of communication parameters on the programmable display side and not recalculating the sum check data by not changing the communication parameters of the screen data, and the programmable display thereof Etc. is to provide.

  The programmable controller system of the present invention is a programmable controller system having a programmable display device that is connected to an arbitrary connected device and performs display based on screen data and a communication result of the connected device, and a support device. It has a configuration.

The support device has the following configurations.
Screen data creation support means for arbitrarily creating the screen data including communication parameters relating to communication with the connected device;
Communication driver storage means for storing a communication driver comprising a communication program with the connection device and setting range information related to the communication parameter according to the connection device in accordance with each connection device;
Transfer means for transferring and storing the screen data to the programmable display and transferring any communication driver among the communication drivers corresponding to the connected devices to the programmable display.

The programmable display has the following configurations.
A means for arbitrarily changing the setting contents of the communication parameter using the setting range information, the communication parameter changing means for storing the changed version of the communication parameter separately from the communication parameter included in the screen data;
The communication program of the stored communication driver uses the communication parameter of the modified version and the communication parameter included in the screen data to perform communication processing with the connected device connected to the own device Execute.

  According to the programmable controller system of the present invention, the programmable display device, etc., the communication parameter setting can be changed on the programmable display side, and the communication parameter of the screen data is not changed, so that the sum check data is not recalculated. It will end.

It is a schematic block diagram of the whole system containing the programmable display of this example. It is a hardware structural example of the programmable display of this example. It is a software block diagram of this system. It is a specific example of a communication parameter. It is a specific example of communication setting range data. (A) is an example of a communication setting menu screen, and (b) is an example of a priority setting screen. It is a process flowchart figure (the 1) which concerns on a communication setting change operation | work. It is a process flowchart figure (2) concerning communication setting change work. It is a functional block diagram of the programmable controller system of this example.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the entire system including the programmable display 1 of this example.
The configuration shown in FIG. 1 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, the configuration in which the programmable display device 1 is not necessarily connected to the drawing editor device 5 via the communication line 3 is not necessarily required during operation. However, when screen data or a communication I / F driver is transferred from the drawing editor device 5 to an arbitrary programmable display device 1, the programmable display device 1 needs to be connected to the drawing editor device 5 via the communication line 3. There is.

  The drawing editor device 5 has the function of the existing support device described in the background art, and develops data and the like (screen data and the like) for displaying the operation display screen on the programmable display 1. It has a function to assist a person etc. to create arbitrarily. Furthermore, it has a function for assisting a developer or the like to arbitrarily set the communication parameters included in the screen data. However, the drawing editor device 5 of the present example has functions to be described later in addition to the functions of these existing support devices. Details will be described later.

  Here, for example, when the software / firmware is installed in the programmable display 1 after the manufacture of the hardware of the programmable display 1 is completed on the manufacturer side, the drawing editor device 5 is connected to the programmable display 1. To do.

  Then, on the drawing editor device 5, for example, arbitrary screen data corresponding to the connected programmable display 1 is arbitrarily created by a developer or the like. At that time, the communication parameters are arbitrarily set according to the connected programmable display 1. Further, for example, a communication I / F driver corresponding to the connection device 4 connected to the connected programmable display 1 may be selected.

  Then, the drawing editor device 5 downloads and stores the created screen data (including communication parameters) and the selected communication I / F driver in the connected programmable display 1.

  Here, the drawing editor device 5 may store a communication program (communication I / F driver) corresponding to various connected devices 4 in advance. As a specific example, the drawing editor device 5 may store 100 types or more of communication programs in advance. Among them, a developer or the like selects a communication program corresponding to the connection device 4 scheduled to be connected to the programmable display 1 and downloads it to the programmable display 1 (for this, as described above, For example, it is disclosed by patent document 1.).

  Conventionally, the programmable display 1 storing the screen data and communication program downloaded from the drawing editor device 5 is installed at the shipping destination, connected to the connection device 4 and started to operate. At the shipping destination, one or more types of connection devices 4 are connected to the programmable display device 1.

Then, as described in the above problem, there is a case where it is desired to change the communication parameter after the operation is started, for example, due to some problem.
As described above, the conventional method for dealing with such a case is as follows. The communication parameter is changed on the drawing editor device 5 side, and the screen data including the communication parameter of the changed version is passed to the programmable display 1 to display the screen. Data will be updated. However, particularly when the shipping destination is a remote place, it takes time and effort. In addition, since this changes a part of the screen data, it is necessary to recalculate the sum check data as described above.

  On the contrary. In this method, the communication parameter can be changed in the programmable display 1 (in other words, in the shipping destination). This is particularly effective in preventing the occurrence of setting mistakes. Further, since the communication parameter itself in the screen data is not changed, there is an effect that it is not necessary to recalculate the sum check data. Details will be described later.

  Moreover, since the connection apparatus 4 connected to each programmable display 1 is various as above-mentioned, in order to be able to respond | correspond to which connection apparatus 4 is connected, according to all the types of connection apparatuses 4. It is conceivable to store the communication I / F driver in the programmable display 1 in advance. However, as described above, since there are many types of connection devices 4, it is difficult to store all communication I / F drivers corresponding to all the connection devices in the programmable display 1 in advance. In other words, the programmable display device 1 is generally inferior in hardware performance to a personal computer or the like. Therefore, in reality, it is possible to store all communication I / F drivers corresponding to all connected devices in the drawing editor device 5 such as a personal computer, but to store all in the programmable display 1. Was difficult.

  From this, for example, like the method of the above-mentioned patent document 1, a communication I / F driver corresponding to the connected device 4 connected to the display device 1 is applied to the target programmable display device 1 from the drawing editor device 5. It is desirable to download.

  From the above, the programmable controller system shown in FIG. 1 is basically regarded as having the various connection devices 4 and the programmable display device 1 connected to the various connection devices 4 via the communication line 6. Also good. The various connection devices 4 are, for example, various PLC main bodies and the temperature control device. Further, the programmable display device 1 may be configured to be connected to the drawing editor device 5 via the communication line 3 (however, as described above, the drawing editor device 5 does not exist in the operation site). There is also.)

  The programmable display 1 is provided with a plurality of communication interfaces 2 (communication ports), and is connected to various connection devices 4 and the drawing editor device 5 by the communication line 3 / communication line 6 connected to each communication interface 2. ing.

  The drawing editor device 5 has an existing function for supporting a developer or the like to arbitrarily create data or the like (screen data) for displaying the operation display screen on the programmable display 1. As is conventional, for example, various item images are prepared in advance, and the user repeats the operation of selecting a desired item image and placing it at a desired position to create the screen data. Furthermore, a desired allocation memory address (allocation memory area) and the like are set for each item. Further, the user is allowed to arbitrarily set communication parameters.

Then, the screen data including the communication parameters is downloaded from the drawing editor device 5 to the programmable display device 1.
The programmable display 1 displays the said operation display screen based on screen data like the past. Then, the display content refreshing process is performed, for example, periodically during display. For this purpose, the allocated memory area related to each item on the operation display screen is accessed, the stored data is acquired, and the operation display screen having contents corresponding to the acquired data is displayed.

  In order to acquire such data, it is necessary to communicate with the connection device 4, and conventionally, the communication I / F driver has communicated with the connection device 4 using the communication parameter of the screen data. . However, in this method, the communication I / F driver performs communication with the connection device 4 using “changed communication parameter” (communication parameter 25 described later) different from the communication parameter of the screen data. There is also. Details will be described later.

  The drawing editor device 5 is realized by, for example, a general general-purpose computer (such as a personal computer). Therefore, although not shown in the drawings, it has a configuration of a general personal computer or the like. That is, for example, it has an arithmetic processor such as a CPU, a storage device such as a memory and a hard disk, an operation unit such as a keyboard and a mouse, a display unit such as a display, a communication function unit, and the like.

  A predetermined application program is stored in the storage device in advance, and various functions of the drawing editor device 5 are realized by the arithmetic processor executing the application program.

The programmable display 1 may also have a general hardware configuration. Therefore, a brief description will be given below with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration example of the programmable display device 1 of this example.

  The programmable display 1 has a function of displaying each screen (operation display screen) based on the above-described screen data and the like in substantially the same manner as the above-described conventional example. The display process of the operation display screen includes the display content refresh process described above. That is, the external memory access process corresponding to each item on the screen is also included.

The illustrated programmable display 1 includes a display operation control device 10, a touch panel 18, a display 19, the communication interface 2, and the like.
The display operation control device 10 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12 (flash memory or the like), a RAM 13, a communication controller 14, a graphic controller 15, a touch panel controller 16, and the like, which are connected to a bus 17.

  The CPU 11 is a central processing unit (arithmetic processor) that controls the entire display operation control device 10. The CPU 11 executes various application processes (particularly, processes of flowcharts described later) of the programmable display 1 by executing an application program (for example, a main body program 21 described later) stored in advance in the ROM 12.

  The ROM 12 stores screen data (screen data 22 to be described later) described in the background art. As described above, the screen data 22 includes various data relating to each item such as a switch and a lamp arranged on the operation display screen (data such as images, display position coordinates and size, and the above-mentioned allocated memory address) and communication. Parameters.

  By the processing of the CPU 11, for example, display target data based on the screen data 22 or the acquired data obtained by accessing the external memory is developed (drawn) on the RAM 13 (or a video RAM (not shown)), for example. Details will be described later. Based on this drawing, the graphic controller 15 displays the above-described operation display screen on the display 19. The display 19 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel, and a touch panel 18 is provided so as to overlap the liquid crystal panel.

  The detection result of the pressing operation (touch) position on the touch panel 18 by an operator or the like is taken into the CPU 11 or the like via the touch panel controller 16 and analyzed. For example, analysis is performed based on the display position coordinates and size data of each item. For example, when an operator or the like touches the display position of the switch image, the CPU 11 or the like analyzes that an operation on the switch has been performed.

  Further, the communication controller 14 performs communication (data transmission / reception and the like) with the connection device 4 and the drawing editor device 5 such as a PLC main body (not shown), a temperature control device, and the like via the communication interface 2. Communication with the connection device 4 is performed by the communication I / F driver using communication parameters. However, in this method, the communication parameters included in the screen data are not always used. Details will be described later.

FIG. 3 shows a software configuration diagram of the system.
In the programmable display 1, various programs / data such as a main body program 21, screen data 22, and communication program 23 are stored in, for example, the ROM 12 (flash memory or the like). The CPU 11 reads / executes / references these programs / data, etc., thereby performing display control of each operation display screen for the programmable display.

  This operation display screen includes the above-described numerical display, image display of various items such as lamps, switches, and the like. The display content of each item is, for example, a predetermined storage area (allocation memory area) of an external memory device of each connected device 4 It is updated from time to time to reflect the data (acquired data) acquired from.

  That is, the CPU 11 performs display control of the operation display screen based on the main body program 21, the screen data 22, and the acquired data. At that time, the display content of each item (each screen component) on the operation display screen reflects the content of the acquired data (numerical display such as temperature, lighting / extinguishing of the lamp, etc.). Note that this is an existing function and will not be described in further detail.

  The screen data 22 is, for example, a screen data file 32 arbitrarily created in advance on the drawing editor device 5 side, downloaded to the programmable display device 1 and stored. That is, the screen data 22 and the screen data file 32 may be regarded as substantially the same. Note that, for example, the screen data file 32 may be described as the screen data 22 without being particularly distinguished from each other.

  The screen data file 32 includes a communication parameter 32a, and thus the screen data 22 includes a communication parameter 22a. This is a prior art and has already been described, and the communication parameter 22a is used for the communication processing with the connection device 4 by the communication program 23. However, in the present method, the communication parameter 25 shown in the figure may be used for communication processing with the connection device 4 by the communication program 23 without being limited thereto. Although this will be described in detail later, the communication parameter 25 is arbitrarily created on the programmable display 1 side, and is, for example, a modified version of the communication parameter 22a.

  Further, the communication program 23 is a program in which, for example, a communication program file 33 previously stored on the drawing editor device 5 side is downloaded and stored in the programmable display device 1. Here, there are usually a large number of communication program files 33, which may be called a communication program group. Among the many communication program files 33 (communication program group), the communication program file 33 corresponding to the connection device 4 connected to the programmable display 1 is downloaded to the programmable display 1 as the communication program 23. Stored.

  The communication program file 33 and the communication program 23 correspond to the conventional communication I / F driver. However, in the present example, as shown in the figure, each communication program file 33 to which the corresponding communication setting range data 34 is added is referred to as a communication I / F driver 35. When an arbitrary communication I / F driver 35 is downloaded to the programmable display 1, the communication program file 33 is stored as the communication program 23 as described above, and the communication setting range data 34 is the communication setting shown in the figure. Stored as range data 24. Of course, the CPU 11 and the like execute the communication program 23 to realize communication processing with the connected device 4.

  Here, the communication program files 33 (various communication program groups) are created in advance corresponding to the communication protocols of the various connection devices 4. The communication program file 33 corresponding to the connection device 4 (its communication protocol or the like) connected to the downloadable programmable display 1 in the various communication program groups corresponds to the communication setting range data 34 as described above. At the same time, it is downloaded to the programmable display 1. The communication program file 33 is stored as the communication program 23, and the communication setting range data 34 is stored as the communication setting range data 24.

  The communication program 23 of the programmable display device 1 is a program for communicating with the connection device 4 via the communication line 6. Usually, each connected device 4 has a unique communication protocol (communication rule) for each model and performs communication between the programmable display 1 and the connected device 4 in accordance with this communication rule. Therefore, the communication program needs to be developed for each model of each connected device 4. There are various manufacturers / models of the connection device 4 such as the PLC main body, and each manufacturer / model has its own communication program. Depending on the manufacturer / model of the connection device 4, there are many communication programs depending on the manufacturer / model. The types are created and stored in the drawing editor device 5 as the above-described many communication program files 33 (communication program group).

  The various communication program files 33 corresponding to the various connected devices 4 described above are stored in the drawing editor device 5 and a part of them is downloaded to the programmable display device 1 as an existing technology. (For example, patent document 1 etc.).

  However, in this method, as shown in the figure, communication setting range data 34 is assigned to each of various communication program files 33. As described above, the communication program file 33 corresponds to the communication I / F driver. Here, the communication program file 33 to which the communication setting range data 34 is assigned is referred to as a communication I / F driver 35. Shall.

  The communication setting range data 34 (24) will be described later with reference to a specific example in FIG. 5, but generally, items and numerical ranges that can be set for each of the communication I / F drivers described above are pre-developer, etc. Is arbitrarily set by. Here, since each communication program file 33 is a communication program created corresponding to each connected device 4 (for each manufacturer / model), the creator or the like can specify the specifications of the connected device to be a communication partner. Will be known. Thus, the creator or the like can create the communication setting range data 34 for each connected device.

  Then, the communication I / F driver 35 corresponding to the connected device 4 connected to the display 1 is downloaded from the communication I / F driver 35 to the programmable display 1 of an arbitrary download destination. Thus, on the programmable display 1 side, the communication program file 33 of the downloaded communication I / F driver 35 is stored as the communication program 23 as described above, and the communication setting range data 34 is stored in the communication setting range data shown in the figure. Store as 24.

  In addition to the existing functions, the main body program 21 further has a function for arbitrarily setting / changing communication parameters. For example, a communication setting menu screen shown in FIG. 6A to be described later is displayed on the display 19 so that the user can make a desired setting. However, this does not change the communication parameter 22a included in the screen data 22. For example, based on the communication parameter 22a, a user can arbitrarily create a modified version of a communication parameter obtained by changing a part of the communication parameter 22a, and store the communication parameter 25 as illustrated. Further, the communication parameter 25 created and stored may be further changed as desired.

  The main body program 21 also has a function of preventing inappropriate setting based on the communication setting range data 34 when the modified version of the communication parameter is created. Further, it has a function of arbitrarily setting which one of the communication parameter 22a and the communication parameter 25 is used. The communication program 23 communicates with the connected device 4 using either the communication parameter 22a or the communication parameter 25 according to the setting content. Details will be described later.

  Communication between the programmable display 1 and the drawing editor device 5 is performed by, for example, the main body program 21 and the drawing editor 31 (a communication function is incorporated in the drawing editor 31). This is not particularly relevant and will not be shown or described.

  As described above, the drawing editor 31 and the communication program files 33 group (a plurality of communication programs developed for each model) are stored in advance in an HD (hard disk) (not shown) in the drawing editor device 5. Yes. Then, when the user selects / designates an arbitrary connected device 4 using the drawing editor 31, the drawing editor device 5 transfers the communication I / F driver 35 corresponding to the selected connected device 4 to the programmable display 1 ( to download. On the programmable display 1 side, the communication I / F driver 35 is separated and stored as the communication program 23 and the communication setting range data 34.

  Note that the drawing editor device 5 is, for example, a personal computer or the like, and has a general-purpose computer configuration (CPU, storage unit (hard disk, memory, etc.), communication unit, operation unit (mouse, etc.), display) although not particularly shown. Have. The processing function of the drawing editor 31 is realized when the CPU executes an application program stored in advance in the storage unit. Most of the processing functions of the drawing editor 31 may be substantially the same as the conventional one, and the difference is that the communication setting range data 34 is related. That is, the drawing editor device 5 has not only the existing function but also the new function. These existing functions and new functions are realized when the CPU (not shown) or the like executes an application program stored in advance in a storage unit (not shown).

FIG. 4 shows a specific example of the communication parameter 22a (25). FIG. 5 shows a specific example of the communication setting range data 24.
The example of the communication parameter 22a (25) illustrated in FIG. 4 includes a setting item name 61, data content 62, and the like.

  In the illustrated specific example, the data item name 61 is a connection model 71, a connection destination port 72, a serial communication setting 73, an Ethernet communication setting 74, a retry count 75, a transmission delay time 76, a timeout time 77, a return time 78, and a communication error. Processing 79, code 80, character processing 81, and the like. These setting item names 61 are determined in advance. When the user or the like inputs desired data corresponding to each setting item name 61, the input data is stored in the data content 62, and thus the communication parameter 22a. (25) will be created.

  In the figure, the data content 62 shows an example of the data stored in the data content 62 and an example of the type of data. However, there may be a description of the setting item name 61. Examples of data and data types stored in the data content 62 include, for example, the illustrated serial port, Ethernet port, USB port, and the like for the connection destination port 72.

  Here, in this method, the user cannot freely store desired data in the data content 62 but is restricted by the communication setting range data 24. As an example, for example, the physical port for connecting the connection device 4 among various physical ports (serial port, Ethernet port, USB port, etc.) of the programmable display 1 is set in the connection destination port 72. Naturally, if the communication method of the connected device 4 to be connected is Ethernet (registered trademark), the “Ethernet port” must be set.

  On the other hand, for example, in the case of the communication setting range data 24 corresponding to the connection device 4 whose communication method is Ethernet (registered trademark), the setting range information 92 of the connection destination port 84 to be described later is “Ethernet port” only. (As such, it is assumed that the developer or the like has created the communication setting range data 24 in advance). Therefore, the option presented in the list box / pull-down menu at the time of user setting, which will be described later, is “Ethernet port” only, so “Ethernet port” is always registered in the connection destination port 72. There is no setting error.

  Other examples of the setting item names 61 are not described step by step. For example, the serial communication setting 73 is a setting unique to serial communication, and is therefore set only when the connection destination port 72 is “serial communication”. is there. The data content 62 related to the serial communication setting 73 is, for example, the illustrated baud rate, data length, stop bit, parity, signal level, etc., and any numerical value or the like within the limits of the communication setting range data 24 described above. Will be set.

The example of the communication setting range data 24 shown in FIG. 5 includes a setting item name 91, setting range information 92, a data example 93, and the like.
The setting item name 91 basically corresponds to the setting item name 61. In the illustrated example, the model code 83, the connection destination port 84, the connection type 85, the timeout time 86,..., The character processing 88, etc. However, not limited to these examples, there may be the number of retries, a transmission delay time, and the like according to the example of FIG. These setting item names 91 are determined in advance, and the communication setting range data 24 is created by setting the setting range information 92 corresponding to each setting item name 91 by a developer or the like. The setting content of the setting range information 92 is not determined by the developer or the like, but is determined according to the corresponding connected device 4. That is, as described above, the communication setting range data 24 is created according to each connected device 4. Therefore, for example, in the case of the communication setting range data 24 corresponding to the connected device 4 whose communication method is Ethernet (registered trademark), the setting content of the setting range information 92 of the connection destination port 84 is only “Ethernet port”. .

  Here, as described above, the main body program 21 displays, for example, the communication setting menu screen 40 shown in FIG. 6A to allow the user to change the communication parameters. However, as described above, the communication parameter 22a of the screen data 22 is left as it is, and the modified communication parameter is stored separately as the communication parameter 25 shown in FIG. Then, the main body program 21 displays a priority setting screen 50 shown in FIG. 6B, for example, and allows the user to arbitrarily select which of the communication parameter 22a and the communication parameter 25 is used. Accordingly, the communication program 23 executes communication processing with the connected device 4 using the selected one.

Hereinafter, FIGS. 6A and 6B will be described.
When the user performs some predetermined operation on the programmable display 1, the main body program 21 displays a communication setting menu screen 40 shown in FIG. 6A, for example. The communication setting menu screen 40 displays various items of communication settings (setting items) and a data selection field (such as a list box / pull-down menu) or a data input field corresponding to the various setting items. For example, only items existing in the communication parameter 22a (25) or only items existing in the communication setting range data 24 are displayed. As an example, for example, all the setting item names 91 in FIG. 5 are displayed on the communication setting menu screen 40.

Further, regarding the setting item for which the data selection column is displayed, the data content 92 corresponding to the setting item is displayed as a list in the data selection column (list box or the like) as an option.
In the example of the communication setting menu screen 40 shown in FIG. 6A, a connection type 41, a signal level 42, a baud rate 43, a timeout 44, a retry count 45, and the like are displayed as setting item names. For the connection format 41, signal level 42, and baud rate 43, a data selection column is displayed. Among them, options (4800, 9600, 19200, 38400) are displayed in a list box or the like for the baud rate 43. Shows the state. Note that these examples of setting item names and options do not correspond to the contents of the data item names 91 and the data contents 92 of the example shown in FIG.

  A data input field is displayed for the timeout 44 and the number of retries 45, and the figure shows a state in which arbitrary data has been input. Then, the main body program 21 checks whether or not the input value is appropriate based on the data content 92 corresponding to the setting item name. As a result, inappropriate numerical values can be prevented from being input. For example, in the example of FIG. 5, the data content 92 relating to “time-out time” has a lower limit (minimum; 0) and an upper limit (maximum; 65535). From this, it is determined that the numerical value entered in the data entry field related to timeout 44 is appropriate if it is within the range from the lower limit value to the upper limit value (within the range of 0 to 65535). If it is determined as a numerical value, for example, an error display is performed to prompt re-input.

  In each data selection column and each data input column, the setting contents of the communication parameter 22a or the current communication parameter 25 may be displayed in the initial state. If the communication parameter 25 does not exist yet, the setting content of the communication parameter 22a is displayed. In this case, the communication parameter 25 is created according to the setting content on the communication setting menu screen 40. On the other hand, when the communication parameter 25 already exists, the current setting contents of the communication parameter 25 are displayed. In this case, the communication parameter 25 is updated according to the setting content on the communication setting menu screen 40.

  After the user performs a desired selection, input of a numerical value, etc. in each data selection field or each data input field, the communication parameter 25 is created / updated by pressing the “apply” button 47 shown in the figure. The That is, the setting content (data content 62) of the communication parameter 25 is the content selected / input by the user on the communication setting menu screen 40. When the “Apply” button 47 is pressed, it is checked whether or not the input value is appropriate. If the input value is inappropriate, the communication parameter 25 may not be created / updated. . Of course, even when the “cancel” button 46 shown in the figure is pressed, the communication parameter 25 is not created / updated. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this example, and it is possible to check whether or not the input value is appropriate every time arbitrary data is input to the data input field of an arbitrary setting item.

  Further, the main body program 21 displays a priority setting screen 50 shown in FIG. 6B, for example, and allows the user to arbitrarily select which of the communication parameter 22a and the communication parameter 25 is used. In the illustrated example, two selection buttons of “screen data” 51 and “main body” 52 are displayed. The selection result is reflected in mode information (not shown) stored in a memory or the like in the programmable display 1. That is, when “screen data” 51 is selected, the mode information is “screen data”. When “main body” 52 is selected, the mode information is “main body”. The mode information is assumed to be “screen data” by default.

  The communication program 23 performs communication processing with the connected device 4 with reference to the mode information. That is, when the mode information is “screen data”, the communication program 23 uses the communication parameter 22 a of the screen data 22 to perform communication processing with the connected device 4. On the other hand, when the mode information is “main body”, the communication program 23 performs communication processing with the connection device 4 using the communication parameter 25.

  As already described, the above setting on the communication setting menu screen 40 does not rewrite the communication parameter 22a itself in the screen data 22, but is separately stored in, for example, a non-volatile memory in the programmable display 1. The communication parameter 25 is created / updated. Then, by causing the user to select on the priority setting screen 50, communication with the connection device 4 is performed based on either the communication parameter 22a or the communication parameter 25.

7 and 8 show processing flowcharts of the main body program 21 relating to the communication setting change work on the communication setting menu screen 40. FIG.
In FIG. 7, when display of the communication setting menu screen 40 is instructed by a predetermined user operation (step S1, YES), first, the communication parameter 22a included in the screen data 22 is acquired (step S2).

  Next, referring to the mode information, it recognizes whether it is “screen data” or “main body”, and if it is “main body” (step S3, YES), the communication parameter 25 is acquired (step S3). In step S4), each setting item name 61 and data content 62 of the communication parameter 25 are displayed on the communication setting menu screen 40 (step S6). At this time, regarding the setting items to be selected from the options displayed in the list box or the like, the setting range information 92 (data example 93) is set as the options related to the setting items with reference to the communication setting range data 24 ( Step S5). As a result, the initial state of the communication setting menu screen 40 is displayed.

  If the mode information is “screen data” (step S3, NO), the communication parameter 22a acquired in step S2 is used to set the setting item name 61 and the data content 62 to the communication setting menu screen. 40 is displayed (step S6). At this time, as in the case of the “main body”, options are set based on the communication setting range data 24 (step S5).

The data content 62 need not necessarily be displayed.
In addition, even if the mode information is “main body”, if the communication parameter 25 is not yet present, it is displayed on the communication setting menu screen 40 using the communication parameter 22a acquired in step S2.

  In addition, when a new screen data file 32 is sent from the drawing editor device 5, the mode information may be automatically changed to “screen data”, and the communication parameter 25 is deleted. You may make it do. Note that this assumes that the existing screen data 22 is deleted and the received screen data file 32 is stored as new screen data 22. Basically, the communication parameter 32 a of the new screen data file 32 is considered to be different from the communication parameter 22 a of the existing screen data 22. In addition, this may be that only the communication parameters are different, or the screen data itself and the communication parameters may be different. In any case, it is desirable to use the communication parameter 22a of the screen data 22 at first. Further, it is desirable that the communication parameter 25 is newly created based on the communication parameter 22a of the new screen data 22, if necessary.

  The communication parameter 25 does not exist when the communication parameter change operation has never been performed. When the communication parameter changing operation is performed for the first time, the communication parameter 25a is generated without changing the communication parameter 22a itself. After that, every time the communication parameter is changed, the communication parameter 25 is changed without changing the communication parameter 22a itself.

  The illustrated memory unit may be regarded as the ROM 12 shown in FIG. 2, and the non-volatile memory unit may be regarded as the RAM 13 shown in FIG. 2 (in this case, NVRAM or the like), but is not limited to this example. .

  When the initial state of the communication setting menu screen 40 is displayed as described above, the user performs input / change work of desired communication settings on the screen 40 thereafter. The process at this time is shown in FIG. However, regarding the setting items to be selected from the choices, only the appropriate choices are displayed in the list box or the like by the above processing and are selected from the list box. Therefore, there is no particular problem, and this processing is not shown in FIG. And

  For setting items that allow the user to freely enter desired numerical values, etc., instead of the setting items to be selected from the above options, the user inputs desired data (especially numerical values) in the text box (edit box), etc. Then, by referring to the communication setting range data 24 (setting range information 92 corresponding to the setting item name to be input), it is determined whether or not the input value is within a settable range (step S11). S12).

  If it is determined that the input value is not within the settable range (step S12, NO), this input is not accepted. Accordingly, for example, an input error message may be displayed to prompt the user to input again. In this case, since the “apply” button 47 described later is not validated, even if the user operates the “apply” button 47, the setting contents of the communication parameter are changed by the input value. There is no.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the input value is within the settable range (step S12, YES), the “cancel” button 46 and the “apply” button 47 are validated (step S13). If the user operates the “apply” button 47 in this state (step S14, YES), the communication parameter 25 is created (or updated) based on the input value (step S15).

  On the other hand, if the user operates the “cancel” button 46 (step S14, NO), the input value is not reflected in the communication parameter 25, and the numerical value displayed in the text box or the like is the state before the change or the initial value. Return to the state or the like (step S16).

  In this way, even if the user inputs an inappropriate numerical value or the like, the determination in step S12 is NO, so that the input value is not reflected in the communication parameter and incorrect communication setting is performed. Can be prevented.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of the programmable controller system of this example.
The programmable controller system of this example includes a programmable display 110 that is connected to an arbitrary connected device 100 and performs display based on screen data and a communication result with the connected device 100, and a support device 120. Each processing function unit is included.

  The support device 120 may correspond to the drawing editor device 5, the programmable display device 110 may correspond to the programmable display device 1, and the connection device 100 may correspond to the connection device 4.

The support device 120 includes a screen data creation support unit 121, a communication driver storage unit 122, and a transfer unit 123.
The screen data creation support unit 121 causes a user or the like to arbitrarily create screen data including communication parameters related to communication with the connected device 100.

  The communication driver storage unit 122 stores a communication driver including a communication program with the connection device 100 and setting range information related to communication parameters according to the connection device 100 according to each connection device 100.

  The transfer unit 123 transfers and stores the screen data to the programmable display 110, and transfers and stores any communication driver among the communication drivers corresponding to each connected device 100 to the programmable display 110. .

  The programmable display 110 is a functional unit that allows the user or the like to arbitrarily change the communication parameter setting contents using the setting range information, and the communication parameter included in the screen data is a changed version of the communication parameter. A communication parameter changing unit 111 is separately stored.

  In the programmable display 110, the communication program stored in the communication driver is connected to the own device using either the modified communication parameter or the communication parameter included in the screen data. Communication processing with the device 100 is executed.

  Here, for example, the setting range information includes options that can be set for each setting item or numerical values that can be set. Then, for example, the communication parameter changing unit 111 displays and selects the option, or controls to not accept the input when the numerical value arbitrarily input is not within the settable numerical range. Is.

  The programmable display 110 may further include, for example, a designation unit 112 that arbitrarily designates one of the modified communication parameter and the communication parameter included in the screen data. And the communication program of a communication driver performs a communication process with the connection apparatus 100 connected to the own apparatus using the communication parameter designated by this designation | designated part 112, for example.

  Further, as a specific example, the communication parameter includes one or more of a communication method, the number of retries, and a timeout time. In addition, as a specific example, the setting range information is information in which serial communication, Ethernet, and USB communication are registered for the communication method. Accordingly, in the case of this specific example, the communication parameter changing unit 111 performs display / input control so that the serial communication, the Ethernet, and the USB communication are displayed as options with respect to the communication method and any one is selected. It will be a thing.

  As described above, in the programmable controller system (the drawing editor device 5 and the programmable display device 1) of the present example, first, on the drawing editor device 5 side, the communication I / F drivers with the respective connected devices 4 are each in advance. Communication setting range data 34 in which items, options, settable ranges, and the like that can be set for communication with the connected device 4 are included.

  Then, for each programmable display device 1, a communication I / F driver corresponding to the connection device 4 connected to the display device 1 is distributed and stored. Moreover, the programmable display 1 is provided with a function (such as displaying the communication setting menu screen 40) that allows the user to arbitrarily change the communication parameter.

  Thereby, although the setting content of a communication parameter can be changed in the programmable display 1 side, the situation where an inappropriate setting change is performed can be prevented by using the said communication setting range data 34 in that case. That is, for example, only items that can be set are displayed, and settings outside the settable range cannot be selected or input. Also, by selecting or inputting from the settable items and ranges in the target connected device, the man-hours for changing the communication settings can be reduced.

  Further, by holding the changed communication setting (changed communication setting) separately from the screen data communication setting 22a (original communication setting), the performance is worse than the original communication setting state as a result of the change by the user. If this happens, it can be easily restored. Further, the setting check is not saved as screen data (the original communication setting 22a is overwritten with the changed communication setting), so that the sum check recalculation is not performed. Only necessary parameters can be replaced (the driver decides which one to use according to priority) for communication.

  Or it is a case where online update of screen data is performed, and it is conceivable to perform screen data matching confirmation. That is, with the drawing editor device 5 connected to the programmable display device 1, the screen data file 32 newly created on the drawing editor device 5 side is downloaded to the programmable display device 1 and stored as new screen data 22. The screen data may be updated online. Further, the new screen data file 32 may be an upgraded version created based on the existing screen data file 32. If the version of the existing screen data file 32 is the second version, the new screen data file 32 is the third version or the like.

  In such a case, the drawing editor device 5 may wish to download a new screen data file 32 after confirming that the existing screen data 22 on the programmable display 1 side is the second version. Further, as the confirmation process, there is a case where it is desired not to simply check the version information but to check that the existing screen data 22 on the programmable display 1 side and the existing screen data file 32 completely match.

  In such a case, even if the screen data itself matches, if the communication parameter 22a is changed, it will be erroneously determined as a mismatch. Even in such a case, the problem can be solved by not changing the communication parameter 22a itself as in this method.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Programmable display 2 Communication interface 3 Communication line 4 Connection apparatus 5 Drawing editor apparatus 10 Display operation control apparatus 11 CPU
12 ROM (flash memory, etc.)
13 RAM
14 Communication controller 15 Graphic controller 16 Touch panel controller 17 Bus 18 Touch panel 19 Display 21 Main body program 22 Screen data 22a Communication parameter 23 Communication program 24 Communication setting range data 25 Communication parameter 31 Drawing editor 32 Screen data file 32a Communication parameter 33 Communication program file 34 Communication setting range data 35 Communication I / F driver 40 Communication setting menu screen 41 Connection type 42 Signal level 43 Baud rate 44 Timeout 45 Retry count 46 “Cancel” button 47 “Apply” button 50 Priority setting screen 51 “Screen data”
52 “Body”
61 Setting item name 62 Data content 71 Connection model 72 Connection destination port 73 Serial communication setting 74 Ethernet communication setting 75 Retry count 76 Transmission delay time 77 Timeout time 78 Recovery time 79 Communication error processing 80 Code 81 Character processing 83 Model code 84 Connection destination Port 85 Connection type 86 Timeout time 88 Character processing 91 Setting item name 92 Setting range information 93 Data example

Claims (6)

In a programmable controller system having a programmable display connected to an arbitrary connected device and performing display based on screen data and a result of communication with the connected device, and a support device,
The support device includes:
Screen data creation support means for arbitrarily creating the screen data including communication parameters related to communication with the connected device;
A communication driver storage unit that stores a communication driver including a communication program with the connection device and setting range information related to the communication parameter according to the connection device according to each connection device;
Transfer means for transferring and storing the screen data to the programmable display and transferring any communication driver among the communication drivers corresponding to the connected devices to the programmable display. And
The programmable display is
Means for arbitrarily changing the setting contents of the communication parameters using the setting range information, comprising communication parameter changing means for storing the communication parameters of the modified version separately from the communication parameters included in the screen data;
The communication program of the stored communication driver uses the communication parameter of the modified version and the communication parameter included in the screen data to perform communication processing with the connected device connected to the own device. A programmable controller system characterized by executing. The setting range information includes options that can be set for each setting item or a numerical range that can be set.
2. The communication parameter changing unit according to claim 1, wherein the communication parameter changing unit does not accept the input when the option is displayed and selected, or when a numerical value arbitrarily input is not within the settable numerical value range. Programmable controller system. Further comprising designation means for arbitrarily designating either the communication parameter of the modified version or the communication parameter included in the screen data;
The communication program of the communication driver executes communication processing with the connected device connected to the own device using the communication parameter specified by the specifying means. Programmable controller system. The communication parameter includes one or more of a communication method, the number of retries, and a timeout time,
In the setting range information, serial communication, Ethernet, and USB communication are registered for the communication method.
The programmable parameter change unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the communication parameter changing unit displays the serial communication, the Ethernet, and the USB communication as options with respect to the communication method and selects any one of them. Controller system. A programmable display in a programmable controller system having a programmable display that is connected to an arbitrary connected device and performs display based on screen data and a communication result with the connected device, and a support device,
When the screen data including communication parameters related to communication with the connected device is transmitted from the support device, first storage control means for storing the screen data;
When a communication driver including a communication program with the connected device and setting range information related to the communication parameter according to the connected device is transmitted from the support device, the communication program and the setting range information are stored. Second storage control means;
Means for arbitrarily changing the setting content of the communication parameter using the setting range information, the communication parameter changing means for storing the communication parameter of the modified version separately from the communication parameter included in the screen data;
The communication program of the stored communication driver uses the communication parameter of the modified version and the communication parameter included in the screen data to perform communication processing with the connected device connected to the own device. A programmable display of a programmable controller system, wherein the programmable display is executed. The support device in a programmable controller system having a programmable display connected to an arbitrary connection device and performing display based on screen data and a communication result between the connection device and a support device,
Screen data creation support means for arbitrarily creating the screen data including communication parameters related to communication with the connected device;
A communication driver storage unit that stores a communication driver including a communication program with the connection device and setting range information related to the communication parameter according to the connection device according to each connection device;
Transfer means for transferring and storing the screen data to the programmable display and transferring any communication driver among the communication drivers corresponding to the connected devices to the programmable display. And
A programmable controller system support apparatus, wherein the programmable indicator causes the communication parameter to be arbitrarily changed based on the setting range information.