JP2898398B2 - Programming device for programmable controller - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a programmable controller programming device, and in particular, to a programmable controller capable of creating a sequence program while creating and editing a ladder diagram on a display screen. Related to a programming device.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, a ladder program in which relay contacts are continuously connected should be stored in a programmable controller memory while interactively creating and editing it on a display screen such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or the like. 2. Description of the Related Art A programmable controller programming device that creates and edits a sequence program is known.

As such a conventional apparatus, there is an apparatus having a circuit input unit independent of a circuit display unit. After inputting a required symbol in the circuit input unit, the operator inputs a parameter to be assigned to the symbol, and transfers the symbol and the parameter as a pair of input items to the circuit display unit according to a specific key input instruction. . Then, the pair of input items is displayed at the position indicated by the input position cursor on the display screen, and the input position cursor advances to the next position. The display contents of the symbol and parameter at the position where the input position cursor is newly moved are reflected on the setting contents of the circuit input section, and the current setting contents of the display position can be recognized by the input section. That is, if a symbol and a parameter are already displayed at the position where the input position cursor is moved, the symbol and the parameter become the contents of the circuit input section, and if the symbol and the parameter are not displayed, the contents of the circuit input section are cleared. (Erased).

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional programming device, a symbol and its parameter have to be input as a pair of input items, and the symbol has to be input before the parameter. . For this reason, it is not possible to perform input in a free order, such as inputting one of a plurality of pairs of symbols and parameters collectively first and then inputting the other.

Also, when sequentially inputting new symbols and parameters, the contents of the circuit input section are cleared each time the input position cursor moves to a new position. Had to re-enter the symbol anew.

Further, when the circuit is erroneously input or corrected, the symbols and parameters are input again from the beginning. For example, when an erroneous key press occurs, it is necessary to delete symbols and parameters once and to re-enter them from the beginning.

As described above, in the conventional device, there is a problem in operability due to restrictions on key input, and it is necessary to re-input a portion that does not need to be changed at the time of input and correction, which increases the number of key inputs. However, there was a problem that programming efficiency was poor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to improve the operability by increasing the degree of freedom in inputting symbols and parameters, and to make it possible to easily modify an input circuit, thereby enabling efficient programming. And a programming device.

[Means for Solving the Problems] To achieve the above object, a programming device according to the present invention is a programming device for a programmable controller that creates a sequence program for a programmable controller by creating a ladder diagram on a display screen. Display means for displaying a ladder diagram including various circuit symbols and parameters assigned to each circuit symbol, symbol input means for inputting the circuit symbols, and parameter input means for inputting the parameters, wherein the symbol input means And one of the parameter input means is capable of performing an input operation independently of the other input operation.

In this programming device, preferably, the display screen displayed by the display means is divided into a circuit display area and a circuit input area, and the circuit input area has a symbol input area and a parameter input area. The symbol and the parameter respectively input by the parameter input means are displayed once in the symbol input area and the parameter input area, and are transferred to the circuit display area in accordance with an instruction of the operator and displayed.

Preferably, the display means displays a first cursor indicating an input position of a circuit symbol and a parameter in the circuit display area, and displays a second cursor indicating a character input position in the parameter input area. .

The symbol input means may be configured to select one circuit symbol from a plurality of types of circuit symbols registered in advance in accordance with an instruction from the operator. For example,
It is possible to adopt a configuration in which a plurality of types of circuit symbols registered in advance are sequentially cyclically selected for each instruction from the operator.

Preferably, the parameter input means is configured to freely move the second cursor in accordance with an instruction of an operator, and to be able to correct only a part of the input character string.

When the first cursor moves, if a circuit symbol already exists at the position, the circuit symbol is copied to the symbol input area. If no circuit symbol exists at the position, the symbol input area is displayed. It is preferable to further provide a means for maintaining the content as it is.

Similarly, when the first cursor is moved, if the parameter already exists at the position, the parameter is copied to the parameter input area. If the parameter does not exist at the position, the parameter input area is displayed. It is preferable to further provide a means for maintaining the content as it is.

According to another aspect, a programming device according to the present invention is a programming device for a programmable controller that creates a sequence program for a programmable controller by creating a ladder diagram on a display screen. Display means for displaying a ladder diagram consisting of parameters on the display screen, symbol input means for inputting the circuit symbol, parameter input means for inputting the parameter, and a second input means capable of both symbol input and parameter input. Operation mode control means for selectively providing three operation modes of a first mode, a second mode in which only symbol input is possible, and a third mode in which only parameter input is possible.

According to yet another aspect, a programming device according to the present invention is a programming device for a programmable controller that creates a sequence program for a programmable controller by creating a ladder diagram on a display screen. Ladder diagram storage means for storing various circuit symbols and parameters assigned to each circuit symbol, display means for displaying the circuit symbols and parameters stored in the ladder diagram storage means as a ladder diagram, and the circuit symbol Symbol input means for inputting the parameter, symbol temporary storage means for temporarily storing one circuit symbol input from the symbol input means, and parameter input means for inputting the parameter A parameter temporary storage unit for temporarily storing one parameter input from the parameter input unit, and the contents of the symbol temporary storage unit and the parameter temporary storage unit to the ladder diagram storage unit in accordance with an instruction of an operator. Transfer means.

[Operation] In the programming device according to the present invention, one of the symbol input means and the parameter input means can perform an input operation independently of the other input operation. That is, it is not necessary to sequentially input the symbols and the parameters corresponding to the symbols, and the parameters may be input after the symbols are collectively input first. Or vice versa.

In the case of a new input, the previous input contents remain in the symbol input area and the parameter input area without being cleared, and can be used for the next input.

At the time of circuit correction, when the input position cursor in the circuit display section is moved to the correction part, the symbol and parameter displayed in that part are copied to the symbol input area and parameter input area, so that a part of the symbol and parameter is changed. You can modify the circuit just by doing.

Therefore, the number of key inputs is greatly reduced, and the operability of the programming device is improved.

In addition, by providing three operation modes, erroneous operations can be prevented, and the number of key inputs can be further reduced.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, FIG. 4 shows an example of a hardware configuration of a programming device of the present invention and a programmable controller for loading a sequence program created by the programming device. In the figure, a programming device 40 surrounded by a chain line performs the operation of the present invention.

The programming device 40 includes a main memory 41 as an internal storage device for storing a control program and data for programming, a hard disk device (DISK) 42 and a floppy disk device (FDD) 43 as an external storage device, and a display device as a display device. It comprises a CRT 44, a keyboard (KB) 45 as an input device, a printer 46 as a printing device, a serial interface 47 for transmitting a created sequence program, and a central processing unit (CPU) 48 for controlling the entire programming device. On the other hand, the programmable controller 50 is an interface for receiving the sequence program transmitted from the programming device 40.
52, a memory 51 for storing the received sequence program, a CPU 54 for executing the sequence program, and an input / output device (I /
O) Consists of 53.

The CPU 48 controls screen display on the CRT 44, creates a ladder program by user key input from the keyboard 45, and stores the ladder program in the hard disk 42. When a series of programs is completed, CPU4
8 transfers the program to the programmable controller 50 via the serial interface 47.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a screen display of a programming device according to the present invention. The display screen 66 is divided into a circuit display area 10 and a circuit input area 16. Circuit input area 16
Has a symbol input area 11 and a parameter input area 12.

The symbol input area 11 and the parameter input area 12 have independent internal storage areas (described later) and key operations (described later), and can input symbols and parameters asynchronously. That is, either one can be input continuously or both can be input alternately. Even in the case of alternate input, any of the symbol and the parameter may be input first. A symbol can be input by pressing a plurality of specific keys corresponding to each symbol, or a plurality of symbols registered in advance can be sequentially input cyclically in response to pressing of a single key. In a specific example described later, the latter method is adopted. Input of parameters is performed using alphabetic keys and numeric keys.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of functions of the programming device according to the present invention.

In the figure, a symbol is registered in a symbol storage area 62 which is an internal storage area. In this example, every time the "F1" key is pressed, the symbol designated by the symbol pointer 63 is an internal storage area for symbol input. The symbol pointer is temporarily stored in the symbol input buffer area 61a, and the symbol pointer 63 is sequentially updated. This symbol is displayed in the symbol input area 11 on the display screen 66. The parameters are temporarily stored in a character input area 61b, which is an internal storage area for the parameters, by pressing an alphabet key and a numeric key. This parameter is displayed in the parameter input area 12 on the display screen 66. The parameter input cursor 14 is controlled by a character input position pointer 68.
The parameter input cursor 14 can be freely moved in the parameter input area 12 according to an instruction of the operator, and input errors can be easily corrected.

After inputting the symbol and the parameter, the input content is determined when the "return" key is pressed, and the symbol and the parameter are designated by the input position pointer 64 in the edit storage area 60 which is an internal storage area for circuit editing. Is stored in a predetermined position. In the present embodiment, the input position pointer 64 points to a storage area for the circuit symbol, and the storage area following this is the storage area for the corresponding parameter. According to the contents stored in the edit storage area 60, a circuit is displayed in the circuit display area 10 on the display screen 66. In this example, the determined symbols and parameters are displayed at the position of the input position cursor 13 in the circuit display area 10. After this display, the input position cursor 13 moves to the next input position. Also, after the input is determined, the symbol input area 11 and the parameter input area
12 retains its previous state, which can be used for the next input. The position of the input position cursor 13 is controlled by the display position pointer 65.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a screen when modifying a circuit that has already been created. When correcting an already created circuit, the input position cursor 13 is first moved to the position of the symbol to be corrected. At this time, the input position cursor
The symbol and the parameter displayed at the position 13 are stored in the symbol input buffer area 61a and the parameter input buffer area 61b, respectively, and displayed in the symbol input area 11 and the parameter input area 12, respectively. After changing / correcting at least one of the symbols and parameters displayed in the symbol input area 11 and the parameter input area 12, pressing the carriage return key causes the editing storage area 60
Can be changed, and the symbol and / or parameter at the position of the input position cursor 13 can be changed / corrected.
Also, at this time, the parameter input cursor 14 can be freely moved left and right by the dedicated movement key, and only the character to be changed can be corrected, so that the number of corrections can be reduced.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, three operation modes, ie, a symbol / parameter simultaneous input mode, a symbol input mode, and a parameter input mode, are prepared as circuit input modes.
Each time the “F2” key is pressed, the input mode changes from symbol / parameter simultaneous input mode → symbol input mode → parameter input mode → symbol / parameter simultaneous input mode.
And change repeatedly. The background color of the input unit that can be input changes for each mode to indicate which mode is being set. 4 and FIG.
The same configuration as shown in the figure can be used.

FIG. 3A shows an example of a screen in the symbol / parameter input mode (mode 1), and the input method is the same as in the first embodiment. That is, both the symbol and the parameter can be input, and when the “return” key is pressed, both the symbol and the parameter are stored at the designated position in the edit storage area 60. FIG. 7B shows an example of a screen in the symbol input mode (mode 2). In this mode,
After entering a symbol in symbol input area 11, click
By deciding with the key, only the symbol can be continuously input and changed. Parameter input buffer area 61
The content of b does not change even when the input position cursor 13 is moved, and is not transferred to the edit storage area 60 by pressing the “return” key. Therefore, the parameter is not displayed at the position indicated by the input position cursor 13 at the time of new input. In addition, there is no possibility that a parameter is erroneously changed when correcting a symbol. FIG. 13C is a screen example of the parameter input mode (mode 3). In this mode, after entering parameters in the parameter input area 12,
By confirming by pressing the key, only the parameters can be continuously input and corrected. In this case, the contents of the symbol input buffer area 61a do not change even when the input position cursor 13 is moved, and are not transferred to the edit storage area 60 when the "return" key is pressed. Therefore,
This eliminates the risk of changing symbols by mistake when modifying parameters.

Modes 2 and 3 allow a free input procedure such as inputting parameters after inputting all circuit patterns. Also, when it is desired to correct the symbols at a plurality of display positions with the same symbol, if the mode is set to mode 3 only while the input position cursor 13 is moved, the held contents of the symbol input buffer area 61a may change during the cursor movement. This eliminates the need for symbol re-input, and improves operability and processing efficiency. In particular, in the case of this example having no key for each symbol, a relatively large number of key operations are required for symbol selection, and this effect is large.

6 to 9 show a processing flow of the present embodiment described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 shows a main processing flow. When creating and editing a sequence program, first, an editing screen is displayed (601). When modifying the contents of the already created sequence program, the contents are read from the external storage device and displayed. Next, a desired input mode is selected from the three input modes (602). Subsequently, the selected input mode is determined (603, 604), and the processing shifts to the processing of the selected mode (605, 606 or 607). After the processing of each mode is completed, it is determined that the processing of FIG.
8) If not, return to step 603.

Hereinafter, a detailed processing flow of the processing 605 to 607 in each mode will be described.

FIG. 7 shows the processing flow of mode 1, and FIG. 7 (a) shows the main processing flow.

In FIG. 7A, first, the input position cursor 13 for mode 1 is moved (701). Next, a symbol input process (702) and a parameter input process (703) are performed, and thereafter, an input data setting process for mode 1 (704) is performed. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the drawing process is to be terminated (70
5) If not, it is checked whether or not the input mode has been changed (706). If there is no change, the process returns to step 701;

FIG. 7B shows a detailed processing flow of the input position cursor movement processing 701 in FIG. First, a movement key of the input position cursor 13 (not shown, for example, a key “→”,
It is checked whether there is an input of “←”) (710). If there is a movement key input, the input position pointer 64 is updated according to the input (712), and the display position pointer 65 is also updated (713). Therefore, it is checked whether or not a symbol has already been set at the position (714). If not, the process proceeds to step 716. If so, the symbol set at the position is copied to the symbol input buffer area 61a (715). . In the subsequent process 716, it is checked whether or not a parameter has already been set at the position. If there is no parameter setting, the process in FIG.

As described above, when the input position cursor 13 is moved, if a symbol or a parameter is already set at that position, the content is displayed in the circuit input area 16 on the display screen. The display of the input area 16 does not change. As a result, when the cursor is moved to a position where a symbol or the like is already set, there is no danger of erroneous correction due to erroneously pressing “return”. In addition, since the content currently displayed in the circuit input area 16 is retained for the unset position, the content can be used for a new input without performing a key input again.

FIG. 7C shows the symbol input processing 702 shown in FIG.
3 shows a detailed processing flow. This process is common to a symbol input process 801 of mode 2 described later. First,
The presence / absence of the input of the "F1" key is checked (720). If not, the processing in the figure is terminated. In the process 721, the symbol in the symbol storage area 62 indicated by the current symbol pointer 63 is copied to the symbol input buffer area 61a.
Thereafter, the symbol pointer 63 is updated (722).

FIG. 7D shows the parameter input processing 70 shown in FIG.
3 shows a detailed processing flow. This process is common to a mode 3 parameter input process 901 described later. "Insert"
The insertion mode of character input can be selected by pressing the key (730, 746). Although the movement keys of the character input cursor 14 are not shown, the movement keys “→” of the input position cursor 13,
Use a different key from "←". Parameter input cursor
The movement operation of 14 can be performed freely within the inputtable range without changing the contents of the parameter input buffer area 61b (731,
742-745). By operating the "reverse" key, it is also possible to sequentially delete the characters to the left of the cursor (732, 739 to 74).
1). Depending on whether or not the insertion mode has been selected, the characters can be input as they are, or the characters can be input while correcting (733 to 738).

FIG. 7E shows the input data setting processing 70 shown in FIG.
4 shows a detailed processing flow. This process corresponds to a process of transferring and copying the symbols and parameters held in the circuit input area 16 on the display screen to the circuit display area 10. First, the presence / absence of input of the "return" key is checked (750). If there is no input of the key, the drawing process is terminated.
Proceed to. In the process 751, if a symbol is displayed in the symbol input area 11 (that is, if a symbol is stored in the symbol storage area 61a), the symbol is moved to a position designated by the input position pointer 64 in the edit storage area 60. Store (752). As a result, the symbol is displayed at the position indicated by the display position pointer 65 in the circuit display area 60 (753). Similarly, for the parameters, the contents of the parameter input area 12 are displayed in the circuit display area (755, 7
56). Thereafter, the input position pointer 64 and the display position pointer 65 are updated to the next position (757, 758).

Next, the mode 2 processing flow of inputting only symbols will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8A shows the processing flow of the main processing in mode 2. First, an input position cursor movement process for mode 2 is performed (800), and after a symbol is input (801),
An input data setting process for mode 2 is performed (802). Subsequently, it is checked whether or not the processing in the drawing is to be ended (803). If not, it is checked whether or not the input mode has been changed (804).
If there is no change in the input mode, the process returns to the process 800, and if there is a change, the process in FIG.

FIG. 8B shows a detailed processing flow of the mode 2 input position cursor movement processing 800 in FIG. This drawing process is a part of the mode 1 input position cursor movement process shown in FIG. 7 (b), in which the processes 716 and 717 for copying the set parameters to the parameter input area 12 have been deleted.

FIG. 8C shows a detailed processing flow of the mode 2 input data setting processing 802 in FIG. This drawing process is a part of the process of FIG. 7 (e), and is the same except that processes 754 to 756 related to parameter setting are deleted.

Next, referring to FIG. 9, mode 3 in which only parameters are input
The processing flow will be described.

FIG. 9A shows the processing flow of the main processing in mode 3. First, an input position cursor movement process for mode 3 is performed (900), and then a parameter input process is performed (90).
1). Thereafter, an input data setting process for mode 3 is performed (902). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the drawing process is to be ended (see FIG. 9).
03) If there is no end, check if the input mode has been changed (904). If there is no change in the input mode, the process returns to the process 900, and if there is a change, the process in FIG.

FIG. 9B shows a detailed processing flow of the input position cursor movement processing 900 for mode 3 in FIG. 9A. This drawing process is a part of the mode 1 input position cursor moving process shown in FIG. 7B, and is the same except that processes 714 and 715 for copying a preset symbol to the symbol input area 11 have been deleted. is there.

FIG. 9C shows the detailed processing flow of the input data setting processing 902 for mode 2 in FIG. The drawing process is a part of the process of FIG.
It is the same except that 751 to 753 are deleted.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the above keys are merely examples,
Other keys may be used, or an input device other than a keyboard may be used.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, since the key input procedure is free, the user can input with any desired input means suitable for himself / herself.

Further, the previously input symbol and parameter remain in the symbol input area and parameter input area, respectively, and can be used for the next input. As a result, the number of key inputs is reduced, and the work of the user can be reduced.

When the input position cursor is moved to the corrected portion when the created circuit is partially corrected, the symbol and the parameter at that position are input and displayed in the symbol input area and the parameter input area, respectively. Therefore, the number of times of key input at the time of circuit portion correction can be reduced from one half to one tenth.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of an example of a CRT display screen at the time of circuit input in an embodiment of the programming device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of an example of a CRT display screen at the time of circuit correction, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of three operation modes in another embodiment of the device, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the programming device according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a block for explaining functions of the programming device according to the present invention. FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the main processing of the second embodiment, FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the processing of mode 1, FIG.
The figure is a flowchart of the mode 3 process. 10 ... circuit display area, 11 ... symbol input area, 12 ...
Parameter input area, 13 ... Input position cursor, 14 ...
Parameter input cursor, 16 ... Circuit input area, 60 ...
Edit storage area, 61a ... Symbol input buffer area, 61b
... Parameter input buffer area, 62 ... Symbol storage area, 63 ... Symbol pointer, 64 ... Input position pointer, 65 ... Display position pointer, 66 ... Display screen, 68 ...
Character input position pointer.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-59-125408 (JP, A) JP-A-2-5102 (JP, A) JP-A-62-15605 (JP, A) JP-A-59-125 218552 (JP, A) JP-A-59-229605 (JP, A) JP-A-61-32107 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Application No. 59-108940 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Application No. 64-13506 (JP, U) JP-A-3-107706 (JP, U) JP-A-4-4302 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G05B 19/05 G06F 9/06 530

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A programming device for a programmable controller for creating a sequence program for a programmable controller by creating a ladder diagram on a display screen, comprising: a symbol input buffer area for temporarily holding inputs of various circuit symbols constituting the ladder diagram; Storage means having a parameter input buffer area for temporarily holding the input of a parameter given to each circuit symbol, and an edit storage area to which the circuit symbols and parameters are transferred from both input buffer areas in accordance with an operator's instruction; Dividing the display screen into a circuit display area and an input display area, further dividing the input display area into a symbol input area and a parameter input area, and displaying the contents of the edit storage area as a ladder diagram in the circuit display area. Display means for displaying the contents of the symbol input buffer area and the parameter input buffer area in the symbol input area and the parameter input area, respectively, and the edit storage area from the symbol input buffer area and the parameter input buffer area. When transferring the circuit symbol and the parameter to the third operation mode, a first operation mode for transferring both the circuit symbol and the parameter, a second operation mode for transferring only the circuit symbol, and a third operation mode for transferring only the parameter Operating mode control means for selectively providing an operation mode; and a programming device for a programmable controller. 2. The display means displays a cursor instructing an input position of a circuit symbol and a parameter in the circuit display area, and when the cursor is moved by an operator's instruction, the circuit symbol already exists at the position. If so, the circuit symbol is copied to the symbol input buffer area,
2. The programming device for a programmable controller according to claim 1, further comprising means for maintaining the contents of the symbol input buffer area as it is when no circuit symbol exists at the position. 3. The display means displays a cursor instructing an input position of a circuit symbol and a parameter in the circuit display area, and when the cursor is moved by an operator's instruction, the parameter already exists at the position. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for copying the parameter into the parameter input buffer area if the parameter is present, and maintaining the contents of the parameter input buffer area as it is when no parameter exists at the position. Programmable controller programming equipment. 4. An input position pointer for indicating an input position of a circuit symbol and a parameter in the edit storage area, and a display position pointer for indicating a position of a cursor indicating the input position of the circuit symbol and the parameter in the circuit display area. 4. The programmable controller programming device according to claim 2, wherein when the cursor is moved by an operator, the display position pointer and the input position pointer are updated with the movement. 5. 5. The method according to claim 5, wherein:
The programmable controller according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising symbol input means for sequentially and cyclically selecting and inputting a plurality of types of circuit symbols registered in advance for each instruction by an operator. Programming device.