JP3371341B2 - Programmable controller and communication device provided in this programmable controller - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a programmable controller, and more particularly, to a programmable controller and a programmable controller capable of operating the contents stored in a storage device of a programmable controller main body by a workstation or the like via a communication line.
The present invention relates to a communication device included in a roller.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a programmable controller for controlling production equipment or automatic equipment is provided with 1) a user program, 2) a storage device for storing setting information of connected equipment, and the like. Used in. 3) Plan data 4) Result data and the like are stored, and 5) Tool information and the like used in the production facility are also stored.

As described above, the information stored in the storage device of the programmable controller is diverse.

A programmable controller using a file-oriented storage device has also been proposed, which uses a memory card or the like as the storage device.

[0005]

By the way, when the information stored in the memory device of the programmable controller is diverse, it is important to manage the data stored in the memory device of the programmable controller. Therefore, an optimal method for facilitating the management of the data stored in the storage device of the programmable controller is desired.

As a method for facilitating the management of such a wide variety of data, a so-called file device has been conventionally known, but there is a problem in adopting the conventional file device method as it is to a programmable controller. Yes, it is not adopted at present.

That is, considering a configuration in which the programmable controller is connected to a communication line such as a network and the stored contents of the storage device of the programmable controller are operated from the line side, a complicated program must be constructed according to its application.

Further, in this case, when a plurality of users try to operate the memory device of the programmable controller at the same time, the data in the memory device of the programmable controller may be destroyed, and a user who does not have the operation authority mistakenly operates the data. There is a risk of rewriting and reading.

In view of this, the present invention provides a programmable controller and a programmable controller which can easily operate a storage device via a communication line and which can be operated only by a user having operation authority.
To provide the communication device equipped with the controller.
aimed to.

[0010]

To achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a storage means for storing various data.
Programmable controller body and the above programmer
Memory of the above-mentioned storage means
Data to and from the operating means for operating the contents via the communication line
Communication means for controlling data communication, the communication means having virtual directory means for making the file information of the storage means of the programmable controller main body look like a virtual directory structure on the communication line. According to the operation instruction based on the virtual directory structure, the storage content of the storage means is operated by accessing the file stored in the storage means. Further, the present invention provides a communication device for controlling data communication between a programmable controller body having a storage means for storing various data and an operating means for outputting an operation instruction to the programmable controller body. Virtual directory means for making the file information of the storage means appear as a virtual directory structure on the communication line, file access means for accessing the file of the storage means, and a key uniquely set for each user received from the operation means. Access determining means for determining whether or not the file in the storage means may be accessed based on the information, and the file in the storage means by the access determining means based on the key information received from the operating means. Only when it is determined that you can access , Characterized in that access files in the storage unit of the programmable controller main body.

The present invention also stores various data.
A programmable controller body having a storage means,
Connected to the programmable controller body, above
An operator who operates the stored contents of the storage means via a communication line
Communication means for controlling data communication with the stage ,
The operating means is the programmable controller body
When operating the stored contents of the storage means,
Equipped with key information transmission means for transmitting information on the communication line
For example, the communication means, said by the key information transmission means
Only if the key information sent on the communication line is correct
The programmable controller body by the operation means
Accepting means for accepting the operation of the stored contents of the storage means
When the operation receiving means receives an operation, the storage means of the programmable controller main body is accessed according to the command and the file name received from the communication line. In addition, the present invention, various
Programmable controller having storage means for storing data
The controller body and the programmable controller body
Is connected to the storage contents of the storage means via a communication line.
Communication for controlling data communication with operating means
And the communication means is programmable.
The contents stored in the storage means of the controller body are being operated
The operation flag area that stores the operation flag indicating
Only when the work flag is off,
Contents stored in the storage means of the programmable controller body
Is equipped with an operation permission means for permitting the operation of
If the operation is allowed, the frame received from the above communication line
According to the command and file name
Characterized by accessing the storage means of the trawler body
It

[0012]

In the present invention, the programmable controller
The virtual address space of the body's memory is set on the communication line.
The virtual directory is used as the operation method.
Programmable controller by accessing the column
Operate the contents stored in the storage means of the main body.

Here, the operating means is the programmer.
Bullet controller main body storage means
Rewrite data.

Further , the operating means is the programmable
Predetermined file data stored in the memory of the controller
Read out.

[0015]

[0016]

[0017]

[0018]

[0019]

[0020]

[0021]

[0022]

[0023]

[0024]

[0025]

[0026]

[0027]

[0028]

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

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a programmable controller according to the present invention. In Figure 1, the programmable controller is provided with a programmable controller main body 1, and a communication device 2 configured
Is made. This programmable controller has no communication
The line 3 is connected, and the communication line 3 has an external storage device 4A.
The workstation (operating means) 4 provided is connected
There is.

Here, the programmable controller body 1 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 1A composed of a microprocessor, a storage device 1B for storing file information, operation flags, user programs, etc. A program console 1C for creating a user program and setting various information in the programmable controller body 1 and the communication device 2 and the like, and a display 1D are provided.

The communication device 2 is composed of a microprocessor, analyzes the operation command and data transmitted from the workstation 4, and requests the programmable controller body 1 to operate the storage device 1B (central processing unit ( CPU) 2A, storage device 2B for storing login name, password, etc., interface 2C
And a display unit 2E and a communication interface circuit 2D. The communication device 2 is connected to the programmable controller main body 1 via an interface 2C, and the communication device 2 is connected via a communication interface circuit 2D. Connected to the communication line 3.

The communication line 3 is connected to the communication device 2 and the workstation 4 via the communication interface circuit 2D.

The workstation 4 is connected to the communication line 3 and the external storage device 4A.

FIG. 2 shows a storage area structure of the storage device 1B built in the programmable controller main body 1. The storage device 1B has management information for handling data contents from a certain address as a file name. Have

That is, in this storage device 1B,
As shown in FIG. 2, the file name "DATA1", "D
A start address and an end address are stored respectively corresponding to ATA2 ", ... For example, for the file name" DATA1 ", the start address is $ 00000 and the end address is $ 00FF.
F is set, and for the file name "DATA2",
The address $ 01000 is set as the start address and the address $ 019FF is set as the end address.
096 bytes are located.

By the way, in this embodiment, the memory device 1B built in the programmable controller main body 1 is
Is handled as a file structure having a virtual directory structure in the communication device 2 by remote control from the workstation 4.

FIG. 3 shows a file structure having this virtual directory structure. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the mounting status of the storage device 1B of the programmable controller main body 1 is positioned as a directory, and the address $ 0 corresponding to the file name "DATA1" is set.
The data stored in 0000 to $ 00FFF is positioned as the file 12, and the data stored in the addresses $ 01000 to $ 019FF corresponding to the file name “DATA2” is positioned as the file 13, and each file is located in the subdirectory 11 and the root. Directory 1
It is related to 0.

Here, in this embodiment, the workstation 4 refers to the file structure having the virtual directory structure as shown in FIG. 3 and operates the storage contents of the storage device 1B of the programmable controller body 1 by remote control. To do.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

4 and 5 are flow charts showing an outline of the system program in the communication device 2.

In FIG. 4, first, it is checked whether or not the data is received from the communication line 3 (step 100), and if it is judged that the data is received from the communication line 3 here,
Next, this data is the programmable controller body 1
It is checked whether or not the operation is an operation request for the storage device 1B (step 101).

Here, if the received data is for requesting the operation of the storage device 1B of the programmable controller body 1, the communication line 3 is opened (step 102).

It should be noted that it is determined in step 100 that the data is not received from the communication line 3 and that the data received in step 101 is not a request for the operation of the storage device 1B of the programmable controller main body 1. If so, perform other processing (step 11
0), and returns to step 100.

When the communication line 3 is opened in step 102, it is next checked whether or not the storage device 1B of the programmable controller body 1 is being operated (step 10).
3). If the storage device 1B of the programmable controller body 1 is being operated, the communication line 3 opened in step 102 is closed (step 10
9) and returns to step 100.

If it is determined in step 103 that the storage device 1B of the programmable controller body 1 is not being operated, the LED (display 2E) is turned on (step 1
04), displaying that the storage device 1B of the programmable controller main body 1 is in operation.

Here, when the LED (display 2E) is turned on, the user visually confirms the access status of the storage device 1B of the programmable controller main body 1, that is, that the storage device 1B of the programmable controller main body 1 is in operation. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the risk of inadvertently turning off the power.

Next, the programmable controller body 1
The operation flag of the storage device 1B is turned on (step 10
5) It enables exclusive control with the user program of the programmable controller main body 1.

Next, whether or not the login name and password entered from the communication line 3 side are correct, that is, the login name and password entered from the communication line 3 side are stored in the storage device 2B built in the communication device 2 It is checked whether the login name and password stored in advance match or not (step 106).

If it is determined that the login name and password input from the communication line 3 are incorrect, the operation flag of the storage device 1B turned on in step 105 is turned off (step 107), and in step 104. The turned-on LED (display unit 2E) is turned off (step 108), the communication line 3 opened in step 102 is closed (step 109), and the process returns to step 100.

When it is determined in step 106 that the login name and password input from the communication line 3 side are correct, the process proceeds to step 200 in FIG. 5 and the command from the communication line 3 is received.

First, it is checked whether or not the command received from the communication line 3 is an instruction to close the communication line 3 (step 201). Here, the command received from the communication line 3 is Close (cl
ose) is instructed, the process directly proceeds to step 107, the operation flag of the storage device 1B turned on in step 105 is turned off, and the LED (display unit 2E) turned on in step 104 is turned off. (Step 10
8) Further, the communication line 3 opened in step 102 is closed (step 109), and the process returns to step 100.

If the command received from the communication line 3 does not instruct to close the communication line 3 in step 201, then it is determined whether the command received from the communication line 3 is the information separating code (is). It is checked (step 202), and if it is the information separation code (is), the storage device 1 is stored in the PC body (programmable controller body 1).
Request transmission of all file names of B (step 20
3) When the file name is received from the PC body (step 204), the received file name is set as a virtual directory.
Then, it is transmitted to the WS (workstation 4) by associating with (step 205) and returns to step 200. By this
Of the workstation 4 that sent the command
The data of the programmable controller you want to operate
Files are associated in a virtual directory,
You will be able to specify the file name accurately.

If it is determined in step 202 that the command received from the communication line 3 is not the information separating code (is), then the command received from the communication line 3 is written in the storage device 1B of the programmable controller body 1. It is checked whether or not it is an input command (put) (step 206).

Here, if it is determined that the command received from the communication line 3 is the write command (put) of the storage device 1B of the programmable controller main body 1, WS
The file name is received from the (workstation 4) (step 207), and the file name is followed by the data transmitted from the WS (workstation 4) divided into data sizes that can be transmitted in one communication ( Step two
08), based on the file name received in step 207, the received data is transmitted to the PC main body (programmable controller main body 1).

Next, it is checked whether or not the file is the end (EOF) (step 210). If it is not the end of the file (EOF), the process returns to step 208 and the processes of step 208, step 209 and step 210 are repeated.

If it is determined in step 210 that the file has ended (EOF), the process returns to step 200.

The above operation will be further described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 shows the case where the data a having the file name a is received from the communication line 3, and the file name a and its data a are received from the WS (workstation 4).
Is transmitted as data a1, data a2, data a3, and data a4 divided into data sizes that can be transmitted in one communication.

In the communication device 2, first, a file write command is transmitted from the file name a and the data a1 to the programmable controller body 1 in the creation mode.

In the programmable controller body 1,
From the file name a, the start address of the storage device 1B in which the data of this file name a is stored is calculated, and the data a1 is stored in the storage device 1B.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the start address $ 00000 of the file name "DATA1" is checked,
The data a1 of 1024 bytes is stored in the storage device 1B from address $ 0000 to address $ 003FF.

Next, only the data a2 is sent from the workstation 4. The communication device 2 transmits a file write command from the previous file name a and data a2 to the programmable controller body 1 in the additional mode.

In the programmable controller body 1,
The data a2 is stored in the address of the storage device 1B to which an offset including the start address of the file name a and the data size up to that point is added.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, an address $ is obtained by adding the data size 1024 bytes of the data a1 to the start address $ 00000 of the file name "DATA1".
00400 is obtained and 1024 bytes of data a2 are transferred from the memory device 1B from the address $ 00400 to the address $ 007.
Store by FF.

Thus, the communication control unit 2 repeats the above operation until the data sent from the workstation 4 is completed, that is, until the data a4 is received.

On the other hand, in step 206, the command received from the communication line 3 is the programmable controller body 1
If it is determined that the command is not a write command (put) for the storage device 1B, then whether the command received from the communication line 3 is a read command (get) from the storage device 1B of the programmable controller body 1 is determined. Examine (Step 21
1).

Here, if it is determined that the command received from the communication line 3 is a read command (get) from the storage device 1B of the programmable controller body 1, W
A file name is received from S (workstation 4) (step 212), data is requested to the PC body (programmable controller body 1) based on this file name (step 213), and the PC body (programmable controller body 1) is requested. When data is received from (step 2
14) Then, the received data is transmitted to WS (workstation 4) (step 215).

Next, it is checked whether the file is the end of file (EOF) (step 216). If the file is not the end of file (EOF), the process returns to step 213 and the processes of step 213, step 214, step 215 and step 216 are repeated. .

If it is determined in step 216 that the file has ended (EOF), the process returns to step 200.

The above operation will be further described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7 shows a case where the data b of the file name b is transmitted to the communication line 3, and the file name b is transmitted from the WS (workstation 4). The communication device 2 transmits a file read command from the file name b to the programmable controller main body 1. In the programmable controller main body 1, first, the storage device 1
The content of the data b is read from B by dividing it into data sizes that can be transmitted in one communication.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the programmable controller main body 1 starts from the file name b to the start address of the storage device 1B in which the data of this file name b is stored, that is, the file name "DATA2.""Start address $ 01000 is calculated and this address $
The data b1 of a fixed size, that is, 1024 bytes, is read from 01000 and sent to the communication device 2. Communication device 2
Sends this data b1 to WS (workstation 4).

The WS (workstation 4) stores the received data b1 in the external storage device 4A.

Next, the communication device 2 uses the previous file name b
And a file read command to which the previously read position information is added is transmitted to the programmable controller body 1.

In the programmable controller body 1,
Address $ which is the start address $ 01000 by the file name b plus the data size 1024 bytes of data b1
The data b2 is read from 01400, and this data b2
To the communication device 2. The communication device 2 sends this data b2 to W
S (workstation 4).

The WS (workstation 4) stores the received data b2 in the external storage device 4A.

The above operation is repeated until the programmable controller main body 1 notifies the end of the file, that is, until the data b3 is transmitted.

When it is determined in step 211 that the command received from the communication line 3 is not the read command (get) from the storage device 1B of the programmable controller body 1, other processing is executed (step 217). , And then returns to step 200.

[0079]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Address of storage means of programmable controller body
The space is made to appear as a virtual directory means on the communication line,
Operation means to access virtual directory means
More programmable controller memory storage means
It is configured to operate the content, and further, the operation of the stored content is accepted only when the key information input by the user is correct, and the operation of the stored content becomes possible only when the storage content of the storage means is not being operated. With this configuration, the following effects are achieved.

1) The operation of the storage device via the communication line becomes easy. 2) Data destruction due to simultaneous operations by multiple users can be prevented. 3) Exclusive control can be performed on the same data area. 4) The storage device can be operated while maintaining a safe operation sequence under the control of the automatic device, and the operability is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a programmable controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a storage device built in the programmable controller main body shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a file structure having a virtual directory structure in this embodiment.

4 is a flowchart showing an outline of a system program of the communication device shown in FIG.

5 is a flowchart showing an outline of a system program of the communication device shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation when data a having a file name a is received from a communication line.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an operation when data b having a file name b is transmitted to a communication line 3.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Programmable controller body (PC body) 1A Central processing unit (CPU) 1B storage device 1C program console 1D display (LED) 2 communication devices 2A Central processing unit (CPU) 2B storage device 2C interface 2E display 2D communication interface circuit 3 communication lines 4 workstations (WS) 4A external storage device

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-62-266604 (JP, A) JP-A-4-362746 (JP, A) JP-A-4-186447 (JP, A) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G05B 19/04-19/05

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1.Equipped with storage means for storing various data
Programmable controller body, Connected to the programmable controller body, above
An operator who operates the stored contents of the storage means via a communication line
Communication means for controlling data communication with the stage, Equipped with, The communication means is The storage unit file of the programmable controller main body
File information on the above communication line in the virtual directory structure
It has a virtual directory means to play
RanoBased on the above virtual directory structureFollow the operating instructions
Access files stored in the above storage means
By doing so, the stored contents of the storage means can be operated.
And programmable controller. 2. A communication device for controlling data communication between a programmable controller body provided with a storage means for storing various data and an operating means for outputting an operation instruction to the programmable controller body. Virtual directory means for making the file information of the storage means look like a virtual directory structure on the communication line, file access means for accessing the files of the storage means, and key information uniquely set for each user received from the operation means. Based on the key information received from the operating means, the access determining means determines whether or not the file in the storing means can be accessed based on the key information received from the operating means. Only when it is determined that you can access Communication apparatus characterized by accessing files of a programmable controller main body of the storage means. 3.Equipped with storage means for storing various data
Programmable controller body, Connected to the programmable controller body, above
An operator who operates the stored contents of the storage means via a communication line
Communication means for controlling data communication with the stage, Equipped with
ThenThe operating means is the programmable controller body
When operating the stored contents of the storage means,
Equipped with key information transmission means for transmitting information on the communication line
e, The communication means isThe communication by the key information transmitting means
Only if the key information sent on the line is correct
Description of the programmable controller main body by the operation means
Equipped with operation accepting means for accepting the operation of the stored contents of the memory
Well, when the operation receiving means receives the operation,Communication above
Follow the command and file name received from the line.
Access to the storage means of the programmable controller body
A programmable controller characterized by the following features. 4.Equipped with storage means for storing various data
Programmable controller body, Connected to the programmable controller body, above
An operator who operates the stored contents of the storage means via a communication line
Communication means for controlling data communication with the stage, Equipped with, The communication means is the programmable controller body
An operation flag indicating that the stored contents of the storage means of
The operation flag in the operation flag area that stores the lag is off
Only in this case, the programmable controller
Permits operation of stored contents of storage means of controller
If the operation permission means is provided and the operation permission means permits the operation,
Command and file received from the above communication line.
The programmable controller main unit described above according to the module name.
Access storage Characterized by Programmable
controller.