JP3363056B2 - Programmable display - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has a display function for displaying an operating state of a control target for each device constituting a plant of a chemical factory or a production line of a machine factory and the like. The present invention relates to a programmable display device having a control function of controlling the operation of a controlled object according to a command.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a system for displaying an operating state of a controlled object and controlling the controlled object, as shown in FIG. 11, a programmable display device (5) mainly having a display function and a control function are mainly provided. There is known a system in which a programmable controller (6) having the above is connected to each other by a communication cable (50). The programmable display device (5) is composed of a display unit (51) composed of a liquid crystal display or the like, a data input touch panel (52) attached to the screen of the display unit (51), a microcomputer or the like. It has a control circuit (53) and a memory (54) for display control. Meanwhile, programmable controller
(6) is generally a programmable logic controller
(PLC) or sequencer, which is composed of a microcomputer or the like, and is a programmable display device (5)
Control circuit (61) connected with the communication cable (50)
And an I / O unit (63) having an input / output control memory (62) and an input / output terminal.
The controlled object (28) is connected to the input / output terminal of 3). Programmable controller (hereinafter referred to as PLC) (6) control circuit (6
1) operates according to a control program created in advance using, for example, a ladder language, and exhibits a predetermined control function.

Data input by operating the touch panel (52) of the programmable display device (5) is supplied to the PLC (6) via the communication cable (50), and in response thereto, the control circuit of the PLC (6). (61) creates control data, and the control data is output to the controlled object (28) via the I / O unit (63). As a result, the operation of the controlled object (28) is controlled. In addition, the status data obtained from the controlled object (28) is transmitted through the PLC (6) to the programmable display device.
It is input to the control circuit (53) of (5), and the control circuit responds
(53) creates display control data, and the display control data is supplied to the display (51). As a result, the operating state of the controlled object (28) is displayed on the display (51).

By the way, the control program to be set in the PLC (6) is created by connecting a programming device (7) such as a programming console or a ladder editor tool as shown by a chain line in FIG. This was done by keying in 7). That is, when a ladder diagram representing a sequence control for realizing a desired control operation is drawn by a key input operation of the programming device (7) and then a drawing end operation is performed, the ladder diagram is converted into a machine language control program. Converted and then downloaded to PLC (6), ROM in the device
Will be registered in.

FIG. 6 shows a plurality of ladder symbols (71a) (71b) (71).
It shows an example of a ladder diagram (72) composed of c),
When creating such a ladder diagram, one ladder symbol is selected from a plurality of preset ladder symbols (71) as shown in FIG. 5, and the key operation for designating the position is repeated. .

[0006]

However, in the preparation of the ladder diagram using the conventional programming device (7), not only the programming device (7) needs to be connected, but also the key according to a predetermined rule. There is a problem that it is difficult for an unfamiliar operator to operate because it is necessary to operate. An object of the present invention is to provide a programmable display device that does not require connection of a special programming device and can easily create a ladder diagram.

[0007]

A programmable display device according to the present invention includes a display means for displaying a grid screen for handwriting a desired ladder diagram on the screen of the output means, and a grid by operating the input means. Drawing means for drawing the ladder symbol by hand for a specific grid area on the screen, and selection means for selecting any grid area on the grid screen,
A ladder diagram composed of a plurality of ladder symbols drawn on the lattice screen and identification means for performing a predetermined image recognition process on the handwritten ladder symbol drawn for the selected lattice area to identify the ladder symbol. And a setting means for supplying the converted control program to the PLC and setting it in the memory in the PLC, based on the identification result of the ladder symbol. There is.

Here, the identification means is, for example, a ladder symbol storage means in which a plurality of predetermined ladder symbols are stored as image data, a ladder symbol drawn by handwriting, and each ladder symbol stored in the ladder symbol storage means. Determination means for determining match / mismatch between the two by pattern matching.

A PLC is connected to an external input / output terminal as an external device via a communication cable (external PLC).
C) Alternatively, an input / output control means for controlling the input / output of data to / from the controlled object is provided in the apparatus, and the input / output control means inputs / outputs data to / from the controlled object. Connected to output means (internal PL
C).

In the above programmable display device, P
When the control program of the LC is edited, the operation mode of the programmable display device is switched from the normal operation control mode to the edit mode by operating the input means, for example. In the operation control mode, the programmable display device of the present invention operates in accordance with a predetermined control program in a state in which the programmable display device is connected to the control target through the PLC, like the conventional programmable display device, and the operating state of the control target. Is displayed on the output means as an image, and the operation of the controlled object is controlled according to the operation of the input means.

On the other hand, in the edit mode, a grid screen is displayed on the screen of the output means. Therefore, the operator selects one grid area in the grid screen in order to draw a desired ladder diagram on the grid screen, and draws one ladder symbol by hand by operating the input means for the grid area. . Then, a ladder diagram representing a series of control programs can be drawn by sequentially performing selection and drawing processing for all necessary lattice areas.

The ladder symbol drawn by hand for each lattice area is identified as a circuit symbol by a well-known method such as pattern matching. Then, based on the identification result, the ladder diagram including a plurality of ladder symbols drawn on the lattice screen is converted into a control program.
This conversion can be automatically performed by a predetermined procedure. Finally, the converted control program is PLC
Is set to the memory in the PLC.

In the concrete configuration, further, based on the identification result of the handwritten ladder symbol drawn for one lattice region, the ladder symbol is re-created for the lattice region in accordance with the pattern registered in advance. It has a redrawing means for drawing. According to this specific configuration, the ladder symbol drawn by handwriting is redrawn in an accurate shape according to a predetermined pattern registered in advance, so that the finally obtained ladder diagram is easy to see.

In another specific configuration, the display means displays a window for drawing the ladder symbol by hand on the screen of the output means. According to the specific configuration,
By displaying a window of an appropriate size for drawing the ladder symbol by handwriting, the drawing work becomes easier, and when redrawing the ladder symbol in one grid area of the grid screen after that, an appropriate size is displayed. It is possible to display the entire area of the ladder diagram or a wider area on one screen by reducing the size to.

[0015]

According to the programmable display device of the present invention, the input means can be used for drawing the ladder diagram and the output means can be used for displaying the ladder diagram, and it is not necessary to connect a special programming device. . Further, since the ladder diagram can be created and edited by handwriting, the operation is easy even for an unfamiliar operator.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. The programmable display device according to the present invention, as shown in FIG.
The display (18) includes various displays (18) such as RT, EL, plasma or liquid crystal, and a touch panel (15) for data input is attached to the screen of the display (18). or,
An input / output unit (21), which will be described later, is integrally attached to the back side of the main body of the programmable display device (1).

As shown in FIG. 1, the programmable display device (1) includes a CPU (11) and a ROM (1) via a bus line.
2), RAM (13), touch panel controller (14), graphic controller (16) and communication controller (19) are connected, touch panel controller (14) has touch panel (15), graphic controller (16) has video A RAM (17) and a display (18) are connected. ROM
(12) stores a main program for image display and device control similar to the conventional programmable display device, a conversion program to be described later, graphic data of a base screen to be displayed on the display (18), and the like. . CP
The U (11) executes arithmetic processing according to the main program in the ROM (12). The calculation result is once stored in the RAM (13), then expanded on the video RAM (17) by the graphic controller (16), and an image is displayed on the display (18) according to the data in the video RAM (17). Is displayed.

Further, the CPU (11) is provided with a ladder controller (2 which exhibits the input / output control function of the conventional PLC.
0) is connected to an input / output unit (21) that exhibits the data input / output function of the conventional PLC. A control target (27) is connected to the input / output unit (21).
As a result, after the state of the controlled object (27) is taken into the predetermined input data storage area in the RAM (13), the output data obtained by performing the predetermined arithmetic processing on the input data is
It is stored in a predetermined output data storage area in the RAM (13). Therefore, the programmable display device (1) is provided with RA for the control target (27) connected to the input / output unit (21).
By accessing M (13), the operation state can be grasped or the operation can be controlled.

On the other hand, the PLC (2) is composed of a CPU unit (22), a memory unit (23), a computer link unit (24), an output unit (25) and an input unit (26), as is well known. The communication controller (19) of the programmable display device (1) is connected to the unit (24).
In addition, the output unit (25) and the input unit (26) are controlled
(28) is connected.

By the way, the main program stored in the ROM (12) of the programmable display device (1) uses the "tag function" developed by the applicant, such as graphics drawn on the screen and The image display changing operation is executed according to the input data based on the "tag" given to each numerical image (for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-68395,
JP-A-5-303477, JP-A-6-214535
No. 6-162155, etc.).

That is, in the programmable display device (1), a plurality of base screens (40) whose display contents need not be changed as shown in FIG. 10 (a) and switches and lamps as shown in FIG. 10 (b). A plurality of image blocks (41) and (42) whose display needs to be changed are registered in the memory in advance together with file numbers as graphic data. In the programmable display device (1), the ROM (1) has a number of processing instruction words W corresponding to the number of events to be executed on each base screen (40).
2) Stored in. The basic configuration of the processing instruction word W is, as shown in FIG. 8, a base screen (4
The file number F of 0), the event name T for specifying the operation content to be executed on the base screen, and the reference information I consisting of one or a plurality of data referred to for each execution event as a set. It is a thing.

On the other hand, the memory unit (23) in the PLC (2)
Is set so that the word device can specify the storage location by addressing the word device for the word data whose input / output data is a numeric value, and the bit device for the bit data whose on / off state is. As a result, it is possible to control the corresponding device to be controlled or individually retrieve the information regarding the operating state thereof by merely accessing an arbitrary word device or bit device in the PLC (2).

Of the status information indicated by the bit device or word device formed in the memory unit (23) in the PLC (2), the necessary information is timely programmable display device.
While reading into the memory on the side of (1), the process instruction word W stored in the ROM (12) in the programmable display device (1) is repeatedly read out, and the content specified by the event name T of each process instruction word W is read. By performing the operation while referring to the state information on the PLC (2) side, a display operation that changes according to the change in the contents of the bit device or word device on the PLC (2) side is performed.

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 10, the base screen (40) of FIG.
The image block (41) of the switch and the image block (42) of the lamp, which are stored as the file number F in the same figure (b), are combined and displayed as shown in the same figure (c), and are displayed above. The display color of each image block on the composite screen (43) is PLC
It will be changed according to the value of the bit device on the (12) side.

Specifically, the processing instruction word for the display change operation is the file number of the base screen, the event name that specifies the calling of the image block, the file number that specifies the calling image block, and is referred to when the image block is displayed. P
Address of the bit device on the LC (2) side, information specifying the display color when the bit device is "1" or "0",
It is composed of coordinate data and the like on the screen for displaying the image block.

On the other hand, the processing instruction word for controlling the controlled object outputs the control data to the PLC (2) side in conjunction with the pressing operation on the touch panel (15), and the PLC
The control target (28) connected to (2) can be controlled by the file number of the base screen and the touch panel (1
5) Event name that identifies the operation, input coordinate range on the display (18) that enables the input operation from the touch panel (15), PLC (2) that should write data in conjunction with the operation of the touch panel (15) It is composed of the address of the device on the side.

FIG. 9 shows the operation of the programmable display device (1) when controlling the controlled object by operating the touch panel. First, in step S20, an online state in which data communication is performed with the input / output unit side to control the controlled object, or an offline state in which only the programmable display device is operated to perform various setting processing, diagnostic processing, etc. Is selected, and if offline, predetermined various processes are executed in step S21.

If online, the process proceeds to step S22 to determine whether or not the touch panel has been operated. If NO, the data communication process is executed at step S24. That is, the PLC quoted in the processing instruction word set in the memory of the programmable display device.
Side state information is extracted to the programmable display device side, and from the information contained in the processing instruction word related to the currently displayed base screen among the processing instruction words stored in the memory, the word device of the PLC. And the address of the bit device is extracted, the memory of the PLC is directly accessed, and the state information data addressed is recorded.
It will be deployed in Ri .

If YES is determined in step S22, the process proceeds to step S23, a predetermined arithmetic process is executed based on the data input by the touch panel, and then the data communication process of step S24 is executed. Then, in step S25, the display process of each event is executed, and the display operation based on the state information extracted by the communication process among the process instruction words stored in the memory is performed. A programmable display device (1) for controlling a control target (28) connected to the input / output unit (21) shown in FIG.
The operation of is basically the same, and the input / output unit (21)
And the ladder controller (20) enables the above PLC.
The same operation as (2) is executed.

In the programmable display device (1) of the present invention, in addition to the control operation mode based on the above-mentioned "tag function", a control program to be executed by the PLC (2) or the ladder controller (20) is handwritten in a ladder. It is possible to set an edit mode that can be automatically created based on the figure. Here, the ROM of the programmable display device (1)
In (12), the ladder diagram created by the operator is
A conversion program for converting into a control program in machine language that can be executed by (2) or the ladder controller (20) is stored.

2 and 3 show the operation of the programmable display device (1) according to the present invention. First, in step S1 of FIG. 2, a normal online process for controlling the controlled object (27) directly connected to the programmable display device (1) or the controlled object (28) connected via the PLC (2). Is executed, and then, in step S2, it is determined whether or not the offline operation is performed.

When the offline operation is determined in step S2, the process proceeds to step S3, and it is determined whether or not the ladder mode for editing the ladder diagram or changing the device value is designated. If the result is NO, the process proceeds to step S13 and normal offline processing is executed. On the other hand, if YES is determined in step S3, the control program stored in the target PLC for which the ladder diagram is to be edited is read out, converted into the ladder diagram, and then the ladder diagram is displayed on the display. indicate. When a new ladder diagram is created, the ladder diagram display procedure is omitted. After that, in step S5, it is determined whether or not the edit mode is designated. If the determination is yes, the process waits for the input of the handwritten ladder symbol in step S6.
The process moves to the ladder diagram editing and conversion process.

In editing and converting the ladder diagram,
As shown in FIG. 3, first, in step S71, a lattice screen is displayed on the screen of the display. Here, when a ladder diagram is edited, a grid image is displayed overlaid on the ladder diagram that is already displayed, and when a new ladder diagram is created, a grid screen consisting of only the grid image as shown in FIG. 4A. (3) will be displayed. Next, in step S72, it is determined whether or not one lattice area is touched. Where 1
When one grid area to which one ladder symbol is assigned is touch-operated, the touched grid area on the grid screen (3) as shown in FIG. 4B can be distinguished from other grid areas in step S73. At the same time as switching to the display, a window (32) for drawing the ladder symbol by hand is opened, and an OK key (33) is displayed in the window (32).

Then, the user operates the touch panel with a touch pen or the like to select one desired ladder symbol (34) and the ladder symbol (34) in the ladder symbol drawing window (32) as shown in FIG. 4 (c). Draw the address (35) to which should be assigned. Handwritten ladder symbol (34) and address (35) drawn
Are loaded into the RAM (13) in step S74 of FIG. Succeedingly, in a step S75, O shown in FIG.
When the K key (33) is touched and the OK key (33) is touched, the image recognition process for the drawn handwritten ladder symbol and address character is performed in step S76 of FIG. Run to identify ladder symbols and address characters. Here, as a method of image recognition, for example, well-known pattern matching can be adopted.

Then, in step S77, based on the identified ladder symbol and address character, the grid area (31) that has been touch-operated as shown in FIG. 4 ( d ) contains a predetermined ladder symbol and address character. Pattern Image Block (36)
Is displayed. In editing the ladder diagram, the image block including the ladder symbol and the address character displayed in the original lattice area (31) is erased, and then the new image block (36) is displayed. Then, in step S78 of FIG.
Then, it is judged whether or not the handwriting input of the ladder symbol and the image recognition have been completed for all the necessary lattice areas, and in the case of No, the procedure returns to step S72 and the same procedure is repeated. On the other hand, if YES in step S78, the process proceeds to step S79 to execute a predetermined conversion program to convert the ladder diagram into a machine language control program, and the control program is converted into the original PLC or Write back to the ladder controller.

If NO in step S5 of FIG. 2, the current value of the device to be controlled is displayed in step S8, and the input of handwritten characters is awaited in step S9. If there is a character input, the process proceeds to step S10 and the handwritten input character is converted into numerical data. Then, in step S11, the converted numerical data is compared with the current value of the device to determine whether or not the current value of the device has been changed. When there is no change in the current value of the device, the process returns to step S9, and when there is a change, the process proceeds to step S12 to write the numerical data into the device.

Finally, in step S14, it is determined whether or not the control operation by the programmable display device is started based on the created and edited control program.
If NO, the process returns to step S3, and if YES, the process returns to step S1 to execute a normal online process.

According to the programmable display device, a control program for the PLC (2) is newly created or edited by using the touch panel (15) and the display (18) which are components of the programmable display device (1). Since it can be performed, it is not necessary to connect a programming device as in the prior art, and maintenance of the control program can be easily performed with a simple configuration. In particular, an internal PLC consisting of the input / output unit (21) and the ladder controller (20)
The control program for the function can be created and edited at high speed by communication via the bus inside the programmable display device (1).

The configuration of each part of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims. For example, when the control program is edited, it is possible to give the editing right only to a specific operator by requiring the operator to input the password. Also, when editing work is done,
If the configuration in which the login information such as the name of the editor and the editing time is stored in the memory in the programmable display device (1), the responsibility of editing can be clarified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a programmable display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the first half operation of the ladder diagram edit mode in the programmable display device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the latter half of the above.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a screen display when a ladder symbol is drawn by hand on a lattice screen.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a plurality of ladder symbols.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a ladder diagram.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the external appearance of the programmable display device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a data format of a processing instruction word.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a control procedure based on the operation of the operation panel.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a base screen (a), an image block (b), and a composite screen (c).

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional programmable display device and PLC.

[Explanation of symbols]

(1) Programmable display device (15) Touch panel (18) Display (21) I / O unit (20) Ladder controller (2) PLC (27) Control target (28) Control target (71) Ladder symbol (72) Ladder diagram

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-8-263245 (JP, A) JP-A-62-26583 (JP, A) JP-A-48-26446 (JP, A) JP-A-5- 313708 (JP, A) Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 9-34985 (JP, A) Actual Development No. 2-27203 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G05B 19 / 04-19 / 05 G05B 19/408

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1.Operates according to a predetermined control program
It is possible to connect a programmable controller
Connected to the controlled object via the programmable controller
Output means for displaying the operating state of the controlled object
And an input means for inputting a command to the controlled object
In a programmable display device including Draw the desired ladder diagram by hand on the screen of the output means
Display means for displaying a grid screen for By operating the input means, you can select a specific grid area on the grid screen.
Hand drawn to draw the ladder symbol as a target
Dan, Selecting means for selecting an arbitrary lattice area on the lattice screen, Handwritten lines drawn for the selected grid area.
A predetermined image recognition process is applied to the
An identification means for identifying the symbol A ladder consisting of multiple ladder symbols drawn on a grid screen
Figure the corresponding control based on the identification result of the ladder symbol.
For your programConvert and supply to programmable controller
Information processing meansProfessional characterized by having and
Programmable display device. 2.Output for displaying the operating status of the controlled object
Input for inputting force means and commands for the controlled object
Controlling a programmable display device comprising:
It is possible to connect the target and control the operation of the target
And Data input / output for inputting / outputting data to / from controlled objects
Means and Data to and from the controlled object according to a predetermined control program
Input / output control means for controlling input / output of Draw the desired ladder diagram by hand on the screen of the output means
Display means for displaying a grid screen for By operating the input means, you can select a specific grid area on the grid screen.
Hand drawn to draw the ladder symbol as a target
Dan, Selecting means for selecting an arbitrary lattice area on the lattice screen, Handwritten lines drawn for the selected grid area.
About the symbol A certain image recognition process to
An identification means for identifying the symbol A ladder consisting of multiple ladder symbols drawn on a grid screen
Figure the corresponding control based on the identification result of the ladder symbol.
Converted into a control program and supplied to the input / output control means
Information processing means A program characterized by including and
Mable display device. 3. The drawing is performed for one lattice area.
Based on the identification result of the handwritten ladder symbol,
According to the pattern registered in advance for the lattice area
A method comprising redrawing means for redrawing a ladder symbol.
The programmable display device according to claim 1 or 2 . 4. The display means is a ladder on the screen of the output means.
A contract to display a window for drawing a symbol by hand.
The programmable display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 .