JP3358123B2 - Controller input / output simulation method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for simulating input / output of a controller controlled by a control program running on a computer equipped with a multitask operation system. During the execution of the input / output simulation program to be executed, the input / output simulation of the controller is realized by stopping the operation of the timer used in the above control program, thereby realizing the input / output simulation unaffected by the execution of the input / output simulation program. Method and apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an external input / output circuit (I / O) is connected to a computer on which a multitask operation system (multitask OS) is mounted, and a control program operated on the computer via the I / O. 2. Description of the Related Art A controller configured to control an object to be controlled is known.

In such a controller, when performing an input / output simulation (I / O simulation) of the controller, the I / O simulation is performed together with the control program on a computer equipped with the multitasking OS. Input / output (I / O) simulation program is also operated on the same computer.

[0004]

By the way, in such a configuration, the control program and the I / O
Since the simulation program runs on the same central processing unit (CPU) of the computer, the CPU time that can be used by the control program is reduced as compared with the state where only the control program is executed, and the operation time is accordingly reduced. Will be slow.

For example, an external input / output circuit (I / O)
When only the control program is executed by connecting to the controller, the controller can be controlled at a cycle of 10 ms. However, the control program and the I / O are connected without actually connecting an external input / output circuit (I / O). When an I / O simulation is performed by executing a simulation program, the controller may be controlled only at a cycle of 20 ms.

Therefore, during the I / O simulation operation,
The Oite, said although the controller has operated successfully, actually when connecting an external input-output circuit (I / O) to operate the controller, the problem that it may not be properly controlled not match the timing generator did.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an input / output simulation method and apparatus for a controller capable of accurately performing input / output simulation without being affected by execution of an input / output simulation program. I do.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, according to an aspect of this invention provides a controller for multi-task operation system is controlled by the operation control program on a central arithmetic and control unit of a computer mounted, the Same central processing control of computer
The input / output simulation program runs on the device
A input and output simulation method for inputting and outputting simulated by the timer control during the control program
When operating as the controller, the control
The timer used in the program is
Time is measured by using a de hardware timer, the input and output stains
When operating as a
Stop the operation of the hardware timer used in the
Timer control separate from the hardware timer program
Access to the software program .

Here, the control program and the input / output simulation program can be alternately switched on each cycle of the computer and executed serially.

[0010] In this case, the input and output simulation program, Taimako that controls the timer of the control program
And the first and last access of each cycle of the input output simulation program against controller, the timer control
Over La is based on access from the input and output simulation program to recognize the execution time of each cycle of the input and output simulation program, the control program is the tie
When the controller is accessed, the control program can be notified by subtracting the execution time of each cycle of the recognized input / output simulation program from the timer time of the control program.

[0011] The present invention also relates to a computer having a multitask operation system.
In the controller of the control program on the control device is controlled by operating the same of the computer
I / O simulation program on the central processing unit
There a input-output simulated device which inputs and outputs simulated by operating, as well as the execution of the control program on the computer, the execution of the input and output simulation program for performing input and output simulating the controller An execution control means for controlling, and a hardware tag used in the control program during execution of the input / output simulation program by the execution control means.
Stop the timer operation and set the timer in the above control program.
And a timer controller for controlling the

Here, the execution control means can be constituted so that the control program and the input / output simulation program are alternately switched on each cycle of the computer and serially executed.

Here, the control program is executed based on a count time of a timer referred to by the controller,
The timer controller may be configured to stop the operation of the hardware timer during execution of the input / output simulation program.

Further, the input and output simulation program, and the first and last access of each cycle of the input output simulation program with respect to the timer controller, the timer controller, access from the input and output simulation program Recognize the execution time of each cycle of the input / output simulation program on the basis of the above, and when accessing from the control program, subtract the execution time of each cycle of the recognized input / output simulation program from the timer time of the timer. It can be configured to notify the control program.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of a controller input / output simulation method and apparatus according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a multitask OS.
Shows a control program of a controller (not shown) that operates on a computer on which the multi-task OS is installed. Reference numeral 20 similarly executes an I / O simulation of the control program 10 of the controller that operates on a computer on which the multitask OS is installed. An I / O simulation program (I / O simulator) is shown.

Here, the control program 10 has a timer 10a for measuring time, and is configured to control the controller based on the time measured by the timer.

The timer 10a of the control program 10
Measures the time using a timer in the computer hardware. For example, this control program 10
The time is measured by calling an API (application program interface) of WindowsNT.

Reference numeral 30 denotes an execution control unit which controls execution when the control program 10 and the I / O simulator 20 are operated on the same computer.

That is, when the control program 10 and the I / O simulator 20 are operated on the same computer to perform an I / O simulation of this controller, the operation cycle of the Then, the control program 10 and the I / O simulator 20 are alternately switched under the control of the execution control unit 30 to operate serially.

Reference numeral 40 denotes a timer controller for operating the control program 10 and the I / O simulator 20 on the same computer and controlling the timer 10a of the control program 10 when performing an I / O simulation of the controller. is there.

By operating the control program 10 and the I / O simulator 20 on the same computer,
When performing the I / O simulation of the controller, as described above, the control program 10 and the I / O simulator 20 are alternately switched under the control of the execution control unit 30 to operate serially.

That is, when one cycle of the operation of the control program 10 is completed, one cycle of the operation of the I / O simulator 20 is executed, and this operation is repeated.

In this case, the control program 10
The timer 10a of the control program 10 is controlled by calling the API (application program interface) of the timer controller 40 instead of calling the API of WindowsNT described above.

The I / O simulator 20 accesses the timer controller 40 at the beginning and end of each operation cycle. The timer controller 40 recognizes the operation time of each cycle of the I / O simulator 20 by being accessed from the I / O simulator 20.

When the API of the timer controller 40 is accessed from the control program 10, the timer controller 40
A time obtained by subtracting the operation time of each cycle of the I / O simulator 20 recognized by the access from the I / O simulator 20 from the measurement time of 0a, that is, the elapsed time, is returned to the timer 10a of the control program 10.

According to such a configuration, apparently I / O
During the operation of the O simulator 20, the timer 10a of the control program 10 is stopped, and the control program 1
0, the timer 10a does not elapse during the operation of the I / O simulator 20, so that the operation of the I / O simulator 20 is not affected.
Is not operating, that is, the I / O simulation can be performed in the same state as when the external input / output circuit (I / O) is actually connected and the controller is operated.

FIG. 2 shows the operation state of the timer 10a of the control program 10 during the execution of the I / O simulation by the I / O simulator 20.

As is clear from FIG. 2, when the I / O simulator 20 is stopped, the timer 10a of the control program 10 performs a timer operation, measures the elapsed time, and during the operation of the I / O simulator 20, Means that the timer 10a of the control program 10 stops its timer operation and stops measuring the elapsed time.

According to such a configuration, the timer 10a of the control program 10 performs the timer operation by the timer 10a only when the control program 10 is operating.
The elapsed time due to the operation of the simulator 20 is ignored, so that when the I / O simulator 20 is not operating, that is, when the external input / output circuit (I / O) is actually connected and the controller is operated. In the same state, I / O
A simulation can be performed, which
The correct I / O without being affected by the operation of the I / O simulator 20
Execution of O simulation can be realized.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The input / output simulation program for simulating the input / output of the controller is executed together with the control program for controlling the controller on a computer equipped with a multitask operation system, and is used in the control program while the input / output simulation program is being executed. Since the operation of the timer is stopped, the elapsed time due to the execution of the input / output simulation program is ignored for the control program, and the state is the same as when the external input / output circuit was actually connected to operate the controller. Thus, it is possible to achieve an accurate I / O simulation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of a controller input / output simulation method and apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an I / O by the I / O simulator shown in FIG.
The figure which showed the operation state of the timer of the control program during simulation execution.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 control program 10a timer 20 I / O simulator (I / O simulation program) 30 execution control unit 40 timer controller

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A multi-task operation system
Onboard computerCentral processing control unitControl on
ProgramWorksControlled by
LaThe same central processing control unit of the computer
The input / output simulation program runs on the
Therefore, I / O simulation is performed.I / O simulation
MethodAnd Timer control in the above control program, When operating as the controller, the control program
The timer used in the RAM is
Time using a hardware timer, When operating as the above input / output simulation,
Operation of the hardware timer used in the control program
And stop the hardware timer program.
Access the timer controller program Specially
The method of simulating the input and output of the controller. 2. An input / output simulation of a controller according to claim 1, wherein said control program and said input / output simulation program are serially executed on said computer while being alternately switched in each cycle. Method. 3. An input / output simulation program, comprising: a timer control for controlling a timer of the control program.
And the first and last access of each cycle of the input output simulation program against over La, the timer controller, the execution time of each cycle of the input and output simulation program based on the access from the input and output simulation program When the control program accesses the timer controller, the control time is calculated by subtracting the execution time of each cycle of the recognized input / output simulation program from the timer time of the control program. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the program is notified. 4. The multitask operation system
Onboard computerCentral processing control unitControl on
ProgramWorksControlled by
LaThe same central processing control unit of the computer
The input / output simulation program runs on the
Therefore, I / O simulation is performed.I / O simulation
apparatusAnd  Execute the control program on the computer
Simulate input / output simulation of the above controller
Control the execution of the input / output simulation program.
Line control means, and the input / output simulation program by the execution control means
Used in the above control program during execution of the ramHardware
Air timerStop the operation ofIn the above control program
Timer controller that controls the timerAnd an input / output stain of the controller, comprising:
Device. 5. The controller according to claim 4, wherein said execution control means serially executes said control program and said input / output simulation program by switching them alternately on each cycle of said computer. I / O simulator. Wherein said control program performs based on the counting time of the timer the controller references, the timer controller, during the execution of the input and output simulation program the hard
6. The controller input / output simulation device according to claim 5, wherein the operation of the hardware timer is stopped. 7. The input and output simulation program, and the first and last access of each cycle of the input output simulation program with respect to the timer controller, the timer controller, access from the input and output simulation program Recognize the execution time of each cycle of the input / output simulation program on the basis of the above, and when accessing from the control program, subtract the execution time of each cycle of the recognized input / output simulation program from the timer time of the timer. The controller input / output simulator according to claim 5, wherein the controller program is notified.