JP2731245B2 - Graphic display device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a device for displaying images such as figures, graphs, numbers, and characters on a screen of an image display device such as a CRT and a plasma display, and particularly to an external device. The present invention relates to a graphic display device capable of displaying a predetermined character string on a screen according to data sent from a circuit.

(Prior art) Conventionally, online connection to the host computer,
For example, there has been proposed a display terminal for monitoring the operation state of a plant including tanks, pipes, valves, and the like, and the progress of a process in a machine factory (for example, see Japanese Patent Publication No. 52-6130).

In this case, monitoring data from an instrumentation system such as a tank level meter and a limit switch for detecting opening and closing of a valve is once sent to a host computer. The host computer processes the monitoring data according to a preset procedure, creates a control command for changing an image, and sends the control command to the image display device.

As a result, the image drawn on the image display device is changed according to the change in the monitoring data.

When the monitoring data indicates that an abnormal situation has occurred, the host computer creates a control command for displaying a warning message indicating the situation on a screen according to a preset procedure, and displays the control command in an image. Send to display device.

(Problem to be Solved) The conventional image display device merely has a function of changing the screen display in accordance with the control command from the host computer, and the control command needs to be created by the user on the host computer. . Therefore, the user has to be proficient in creating a complicated control command, and the burden on the user has been great.

Also, the warning message to be displayed when an abnormal situation is found by monitoring data may include a long message that cannot be displayed at the corner of the screen. The display is temporarily interrupted and switched to a display screen for a warning message, and a long warning message can be displayed using the entire screen. Therefore, there is a problem that the base screen disappears during the display period of the warning message, and other monitoring data cannot be displayed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a host computer having a simple function of simply creating and transmitting binary data representing a situation when a warning message is displayed on the screen when an abnormal situation occurs. 2 sent from
An object of the present invention is to provide a graphic display device capable of automatically displaying a warning message on a screen according to value data (state information MD).

Another object of the present invention is to display a warning message on a screen, shift the display position of each character of the warning message one direction at a time within a predetermined area of the screen, and shift the display position of each character in the area. A new character is sent to the end while erasing the first character, and the entire warning text is displayed on the screen (hereinafter referred to as flow display). An object of the present invention is to provide a graphic display device capable of displaying a long warning sentence that cannot be displayed on a computer.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The graphic display device according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a) generates a character string based on received data, and displays an image capable of flowing and displaying the character string. A display unit (64); b) state information storage means (61) in which the state information MD sent from the host computer is to be stored as an array of binary data; c) a series of character strings to be displayed on the screen Display processing word W including display data D representing the character string and address data AD representing the storage position in the state information storage means of the state information indicating whether the character string should be displayed on the screen.
Is a data storage means (6) stored for each character string; and d) state information designated by the address data AD from the state information storage means by decoding the display change processing word W in the data storage means. System control means (63) for reading out the MD and sending display data D included in the display change processing word W to the image display unit when the status information MD indicates display of a character string. Is done.

(Operation) In the data storage means (6), a display change processing word W is registered in advance for each character string to be displayed. The procedure for registering the display change processing word W in the data storage means (6) can be easily performed in an interactive manner as described later.

The state information MD sent from the external circuit is sequentially written to a predetermined address of the state information storage means (61), and the value of the state information MD in the storage means changes with time.

The system control means (63) sequentially reads the display change processing words W stored in the data storage means (6), decodes the read display change processing words, and executes the following procedure.

Based on the address data AD included in the display change processing word W, the state information MD corresponding to the address data is read from the state information storage means, and the value of the state information MD (“0”
Or, according to “1”), it is determined whether or not to display the character string.

When displaying a character string, the display data D included in the display change processing word W is read and sent to the image display unit (64).

As a result, the image display unit (64) generates a series of character strings based on the received display data D, and displays them in a predetermined area on the base screen. This display operation is continued as long as the state information instructs the display of the character string, and thereafter, when the value of the state information is inverted, the flow display of the character string is stopped.

The system control means repeatedly reads the state information MD set in the state information storage means, constantly monitors the value of the state information, and when there is a change in the state information MD of any address, the data storage means , A display change processing word W including the address data AD indicating the storage position of the changed state information is called, and by decoding this, the same character string display operation as described above can be performed.

(Effect of the Invention) In the graphic display device according to the present invention, the flow display of the character string can be started or interrupted according to the binary data (state information MD) sent from the host computer. Therefore, the host computer can be provided with a simple function of simply arranging the monitoring data sent from the instrumentation system in the binary state information MD and outputting it. Not required. Therefore, the burden on the user is significantly reduced as compared with the related art.

Also, since the character strings are displayed in a flow on a predetermined area of the screen, even when the length of the strings exceeds the width of the screen, or when the number of character strings to be displayed simultaneously is plural,
All character strings can be displayed without switching the base screen.

(Example) The example is intended to illustrate the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the invention described in the claims or reducing the scope thereof.

Hereinafter, an example of an image display control device embodying the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Although the present device also has a function as a conventional general graphic display device, illustration and description of these well-known configurations will be omitted.

The image display control device (1) is connected to the host computer (2) online as shown in FIG. 2, and has a communication controller (13) for receiving data from the host computer (2) and a keyboard (12). I / O controller (14), CPU (15), and ROM (4) in which system programs (FIGS. 9 to 13) described later are registered, and various RAMs (41) described later. ) (42) (43) (4
4) a register (3) for controlling data read timing by the communication controller (13), and a graphic controller (5) for controlling a drawing operation of the display (11).

Of the four RAMs, the status information RAM (41) corresponds to the status information storage means, the event RAM (42) corresponds to the data storage means, respectively, and the system program stored in the ROM (4) is It corresponds to the system control means. The operation of these RAMs will be described later.

The video RAM (44) is used to develop the data of the graphic RAM (43) into a screen image when the graphic controller (5) controls the drawing operation of the display (11).

The graphic controller (5) is provided as described below.
It has a function to decode the JIS code sent from the event RAM (42) in response to a command from the CPU (15), create a warning sentence, and display it on the bottom of the base screen of the display (11).

On the other hand, the host computer (2) is a general digital computer or a programmable controller or the like, and has an input circuit (21) for receiving monitoring data from the instrumentation system and a memory for storing the received monitoring data in accordance with a predetermined procedure. And an output circuit (23) for reading data from the processing circuit (22) and sending the data together with the strobe signal SR and the start signal ST to the image display control device (1). I have it.

FIG. 3 shows the correspondence between the address space of the state information storage memory (24) provided in the host computer and the address space of the state information RAM (41) of the image display control device. Also, as shown in the figure, an 8-bit storage section composed of the 0th bit to the 7th bit is provided only for required addresses (addresses 0 to N).

The monitoring data supplied to the host computer (2) is converted into binary data of "0" and "1" (state information MD) by a procedure preset in the processing circuit (22).
From the 0th bit at the 0th address to the first bit at the 0th address,..., The 0th bit at the 1st address,.

When one cycle of monitoring data from the instrumentation system is stored in the memory (24) of the processing circuit, the data in the memory (24) is transmitted to the image display control device (1) by the operation of the output circuit (23). Then, it is stored in the state information RAM (41) via the communication controller (13). At this time, the data stored in the memory (24) of the host computer is moved to the storage location indicated by the same address and bit in the status information RAM (41) of the image display control device, so that the contents of both memories are the same. , Read and write operations are controlled.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the display change processing word W stored in the event RAM (42). First, the configuration of the display change processing word W for changing the display color of the valve will be specifically described based on FIGS. 5 to 7.

The base screen of FIG. 5 is composed of three display blocks showing a tank (7), a pipe (71) and a valve (72). The tank (7) and the pipe (71) are created as fixed images on the display (11) as shown in FIG. 6, and the graphic data is stored in the graphic RAM (43) in the file number F.
1 (for example, number 1). Also, the valve (7
As shown in FIG. 7, 2) is created as a separate image block that can be called relatively to the fixed image, and the file number F2 (for example, 700) is stored in the graphic RAM (43).
Registered with.

When the display change processing word W is registered in the event RAM (42) of FIG. 4, the apparatus is set to the drawing mode, and the registration procedure shown in FIG. 13 is performed by operating the keyboard (12).

By setting the file number F1 of the fixed image (here, No. 1) as a key, the file number is stored at the address 0 of the event RAM (42) shown in FIG.

Next, the address A1 in the status information RAM (41) in which the status information (for example, "1") for calling the fixed image in FIG. 6 should be stored.
And the bit address B1 (for example, A1 = 0, B1 = 0), these data are stored in the first and second addresses of the event RAM (42), respectively.

Further, the bits of the status information stored in the address A1 and the bit address B1 of the status information RAM (41) are ON ("1") or OF.
F (“0”) O indicating when the fixed image is called
N / OFF data S (for example, “1”) is set. The data is stored at the third address of the event RAM (42).

Next, the type of image block (event) to be changed in display, that is, whether a mark such as a valve is displayed, a library having a more complicated configuration than the mark, a time display, or the like is distinguished. (For example, "1" in the case of displaying a mark). The data is the event RAM (42)
Is stored at the fourth address.

At the position near the valve (72) as shown in FIG.
To display the event name TN, enter the display start position of the event name on the screen, and then key in "Valve". These data are stored at addresses 5 and 6 of the event RAM (42).

Next, the address A2 and the bit address B2 (for example, A2 = 0, B2 = 1) in the status information RAM (41) in which the status information for changing the display color of the image block of the valve in FIG. By setting these data, the event RAM (42)
Are stored at addresses 7 and 8, respectively.

Furthermore, the registration file number F2 of the valve image block
By setting a key (here 700) as a key, the file number is stored in the ninth address of the event RAM (42).

Then, the status information of the address A2 and the bit address B2 is
When ON (“1”) and OFF (“0”), key-in ON / OFF color information ZD indicating which color each mark (bulb) is applied to. For example, a red designated key is operated when ON, and a green designated key is operated when OFF. The ON / OFF information ZD is the event RA
Stored at the 10th address of M (42).

Finally, coordinate data HD (X and Y shown in FIG. 5) indicating the display position of the mark (valve) on the screen is input. The coordinate data is stored at the eleventh address of the event RAM (42).

Next, the configuration of a display change processing word W for displaying a warning sentence in a flowing manner will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, the display change processing word W for displaying the warning sentence is sequentially written in a storage area set in advance in the event RAM (42). The display change processing word W is, for example, the event AM
As shown in 101 address to address # 111 (42), the file number Fi as the index, the display data D ₁ to D ₆ showing the such warning sentences previously created "tank level drop" in a series of JIS code And a warning call address Ai and a warning call bit Bi, which are address data AD indicating a storage position of the state information corresponding to the warning statement in the state information RAM (41).
And display form information Ei for indicating a display form such as point display or inverted character display, and information Gi representing the character size on the screen when displaying the warning text.

When registering a warning sentence, as shown in FIG. 9, a warning sentence is first created on the screen by using a word processor function, and then the above-mentioned call address Ai and call bit Bi corresponding to the warning sentence are key-in. Finally, by keying in the display form and the character size, the registration of the display change processing word is completed.

The registration of the event RAM (42) is completed by repeating the above-described procedure for creating and registering the display change processing word W for all events and warnings to be displayed.

It should be noted that the above procedure can be easily performed in the drawing mode by interactively displaying the display (11) and operating the keys of the user.

Next, the operation in the operation mode in which the image display control device (1) is connected to the host computer (2) will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12.

When the apparatus is turned on, it is first determined whether or not the apparatus is online with the host computer as shown in FIG. 10. When the apparatus is ON, the above-described drawing mode is set.

If YES, that is, if the state information MD has been written to the state information RAM by data communication from the host computer to the image display control device, the event RAM (4
The contents of the plurality of display change processing words W stored in 2) are read out in order, and a warning process and a display operation described later are repeatedly executed.

In the display operation as shown in FIG. 12, first, based on the screen call address A1 and the screen call bit B1 included in the read display change processing word W, the state information RAM (41) is displayed.
The value of the state information MD stored at the address (A1, B1) is read, and the read value is compared with the value of the screen call ON / OFF data S included in the display change processing word. If they do not match, it is determined that the host computer (2) has not instructed a display change, and the process returns to the data communication process.

When the state information MD matches the ON / OFF data S, a fixed image is called from the graphic RAM (43) based on the file number F1 included in the display change processing word W.

Next, the mode is branched according to the type of the event included in the display change processing word W, and the process proceeds for each mode.
For example, in the case of displaying a mark (valve), based on the event name start position and the event name TN included in the display change processing word,
In the screen position specified by the event name start position, the event name TN
(“Bulb”).

Thereafter, based on the event display call address A2 and the event display call bit B2 included in the display change processing word W,
Status information data from address (A2, B2) in status information RAM (41)
The MD is read, and it is determined whether the value of the read data MD is “0N” or “OFF”.

If the determination result is “ON”, the display change processing word W
Image blocks (valves) registered in the graphic RAM (43) based on the registration file number F2 included in the
Is read, and further at the screen position specified by the coordinate data HD included in the display change processing word W,
The image block (bulb) is displayed in the color (red) when the ON / OFF color information is "OH". If the determination result is “OFF”, the registration file number F2 included in the display change processing word W
The graphic data of the image block (valve) registered in the graphic RAM (43) is read out based on the above, and the ON / OFF color is displayed at the screen position specified by the coordinate data HD included in the display change processing word W. The image block (bulb) is displayed in the color (green) when the information is “OFF”.

Thereafter, the process returns to the data communication process, and continues the display change based on the next display change processing word W.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the event RAM contains a file of the display change processing word W for instructing a warning display,
The warning process shown in the figure is executed. That is, the state information MD of the bit position is read from the state information RAM based on the call address Ai and the call bit Bi included in the display change processing word with reference to the designated content of the display change processing word W, and the value is read. When it is ON ("1"), a warning message display operation described later is executed, and when it is OFF ("0"), the warning message is deleted from the screen.

Is In the warning display operation, the file number Fi included in the display change process words of FIG. 4, the display data D ₁ to D _6, the display form information Ei, and character size information Gi is read. Then, the moving pitch of the warning message on the screen is set from the character size information. The display data is sent to the display (11) as an image signal corresponding to the display form information and the like.

By the above procedure, the screen of the display (11) changes every moment according to the status information sent from the host computer (2).

In this state, an abnormality occurs in the operation state of the plant,
For example, when monitoring data indicating an abnormal decrease in tank level or the like is input to the host computer and status information instructing display of a warning sentence is received by the image display control device, the above-described warning process is executed, and the eighth process is performed. As shown in FIGS. (A), (b) and (c), a warning message “Low tank level”
Are displayed from the right side to the left side of the screen according to the character size and the moving pitch and moving speed. A specific processing procedure for displaying the flow can be easily set by a known technique.

The warning message flow display is continued until the status information indicating the warning message display is turned off.

When a plurality of pieces of status information instructing the display of a warning message in the status information RAM are simultaneously turned on and a plurality of warning messages are to be displayed at the same time, according to a preset priority order, for example, in order of file number. These warning messages are displayed one after another.

In the image display control device (1), the host computer (2) converts the monitoring data from the instrumentation system into status information and stores it in the memory (24) shown in FIG. However, most of the programs use monitoring data as status information in memory (24)
Is a process of moving to a predetermined address, so that it is extremely easy to create a program.

Also, since the contents of the warning message and the display form on the screen can be set freely, the specifications can be flexibly changed individually for various instrumentation systems such as plants and factories to be monitored. It is possible to respond.

The drawings and description of the above embodiments are intended to illustrate the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the invention described in the claims or reducing the scope thereof.

Further, the configuration of each part of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a graphic display device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of an image display control device and a host computer, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a correspondence relationship between a memory and a state information RAM, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a display change processing word stored in an event RAM, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a base screen, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a fixed image portion constituting the screen, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an image block to be changed in display, FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a warning sentence is displayed in a flow, and FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation in an operation mode, FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an alarm processing operation of FIG. 10, and FIG. 12 is a display operation of FIG. Float representing FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a registration procedure for changing an image block in the drawing mode. (1) Image display control device (2) Host computer (11) Display MD State information W Display processing word

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A graphic display capable of displaying, on a part of a screen, a series of characters such as a series of characters and symbols representing predetermined contents based on state information MD transmitted as binary data from an external circuit. A) generating a character string based on the received data, and sequentially displaying all characters from the head to the end on the screen while moving the character string in a column direction in a predetermined area in the screen. An image display unit (64) capable of performing the operation; b) state information storage means (61) in which the state information MD is to be stored as an array of binary data; and c) a series of character strings to be displayed on the screen. A display change including display data D and address data AD indicating a storage position in the state information storage means of state information indicating whether the character string should be displayed on the screen. Processing word W
Is a data storage means (6) stored for each character string; and d) state information designated by the address data AD from the state information storage means by decoding the display change processing word W in the data storage means. A system control means (63) for reading out the MD and transmitting display data D included in the display change processing word W to the image display unit when the state information MD indicates display of a character string. Graphic display device.