JP3479222B2 - Display screen creation support device for a programmable display device - 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 display device connected to an external device such as a pullable programmable logic controller (hereinafter abbreviated as "PLC") and displaying a data processing state in the external device. The present invention relates to a display screen creation support device used in.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a display device of this type refers to an address for identifying a control device used on the PLC side and performs a display operation corresponding to a change in data stored at the address. Therefore, when designing the display screen, an operation of selecting an address to be referred to is essential. Therefore, conventionally, it has been general that the addresses of the devices used on the PLC side are listed up and the address is set in the processing instruction word while referring to the list.

On the other hand, the use of addresses on the PLC side is performed by adding and allocating necessary addresses each time a device to be controlled is generated, and therefore it is required to control by one PLC. Now that the contents have become complicated, the shortage of addresses that can be used to control them has become a problem.

To address the above-mentioned problems, in the past, by consolidating addresses such that only one bit is used in one word and consolidating them in one place, the number of consecutive empty addresses is increased, and the new address is designated. Correspondingly, it is generally practiced to reconstruct the display screen.

[0005]

However, the number of display screens created in one project increases as the content to be controlled becomes more complicated, and the number of processing instruction words set on the display screen also increases. As a result of the increase, it is almost impossible to change the address manually.

[0006] Therefore, conventionally, it has been performed that the addresses on the PLC side are rearranged to newly generate the system, and then a new display screen is made to correspond to the changed address. It is preferable to use the display screen created in the above in order to reduce the software creation cost.

As a result of consideration by the present inventor in response to such a request, the addresses referred to by all the processing instruction words used in one project are listed up, and the addresses are related to the PLC side. It was found that the relationship between the used address and the unused address can be clearly grasped by displaying the reference position graphically and the batch conversion of the reference address can be easily performed.

The present invention has been made on the basis of such knowledge, and while displaying the memory range on the PLC side that can be referenced from the outside, it is possible to visually display the range that is actually referenced. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a display screen creation support device in which a vacant address can be easily grasped.

Further, according to the present invention, the reference address position can be changed during the display of the memory range, and the address already set in correspondence with the changed address can be automatically changed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a display screen creation support device that can easily create a display screen while preventing a mistake in change.

[0010]

A display screen creation support device according to the present invention is connected to an external device 10 as shown in FIG.
A programmable display device 13 that reads and writes arbitrary data specified by an address on the memory 11 of 0 by using, for example, control means, and enables display corresponding to the data read on the memory 9 on the display screen 12. Is used for.

A first figure capable of distinguishing in a bit unit while specifying a position in the entire memory range MD in the external device 10 which is accessible from the outside by a predetermined address display. While the memory range display 15 by 14 is performed, the address position md on the external device 10 side referred to on the display screen 12 can be displayed on the memory range display 15 while being specified by the second graphic 16. Is characterized by.

As the external device 10 described above, a P as shown in FIG.
When LC is used and each external device 10 has a unique address display, while each display screen 12 specifies the address referred to on the screen by the above-mentioned unique address display, The second graphic 16 can be moved to an arbitrary position on the memory range display 15 where the first graphic 14 is displayed, and the corresponding address referred to on the display screen 12 is the second graphic. Figure 1
It is preferable that the address of the destination is automatically replaced with the movement of 6.

The display size in the memory range display 15 described above can be arbitrarily changed in word units, bit units, etc., and the address movement using the second graphic 16 described above is referred from the display screen 12 side. It can be configured so that a predetermined data size specified by an address is used as a unit.

Each of the above-mentioned display screens 12 is provided with one or a plurality of processing instruction words illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 having contents to be processed and a unique address referred to at the time of processing. The display screen 12 and the processing instruction word to which the address is referenced are configured as shown in FIG. 9B, while configuring the plurality of display screens as one set for each address referenced from all the display screens. It can also be displayed in a table format such as.

In this case, one of the graphic format address display and the table format address display described above should be configured such that when one of them changes its content, the other performs the display update processing based on the changed content. Is preferred.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention, the memory range of the external device 10 such as the PLC which can be referred to from the outside is displayed by using the first graphic 14, while the display device 13 is actually referred to. By making it possible to visually display the address range in which the second graphic 16 is used,
The free address part in all the addresses can be easily grasped.

Further, in the memory range display 15, the second
It is possible to change the reference address position by moving the figure 16 and to automatically change all the corresponding addresses that have already been set corresponding to the changed address, thereby changing the address. It is possible to reduce the time required to create the display screen while preventing mistakes.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION As shown in FIG. 2, the present invention uses a PLC 17 provided as an external device, and a target system 1 such as a belt conveyor type automatic assembly machine.
8 is capable of sequence control and will be described based on an example implemented in a program-type display device 13 used as a control panel for the PLC, but the present invention is not limited to this and is used as an external device to which the display device 13 is connected. Even when the personal computer device or various personal computer applied devices are used, the same operation can be performed.

In the PLC 17, a circuit is unitized for each required individual function such as the CPU unit 19 and the memory unit 20. By appropriately adding each unit via a bus line, the PLC as a whole can be provided. The configuration is substantially the same as the conventional one, which can increase or decrease the function to be achieved.

In this embodiment, a CPU unit 19 for controlling the PLC 17 as a whole, an input unit 21 for directly receiving a detection signal sent from the target system 18, and a target system 18 are provided. Output unit 2 capable of outputting a predetermined control signal
2, a memory unit 20 for storing various data, and a computer link unit 23 for enabling predetermined data communication with the programmable display device 13 as a basic unit. The change state is monitored, and when a data change such as a new data input is recognized, necessary arithmetic processing is performed and then the corresponding address on the memory unit 20 is accessed to rewrite the content or directed to the output unit 22. To send data.

In addition, the storage location of the status data directly input / output to / from the target system 18 or used for its control is such that a passive device such as a level meter or a limit switch provided on the target system 18 to be controlled or displayed. A word device is provided for the word data such as numerical values which are secured on the memory unit 20 for each component, active component such as relay or motor, or data setting component such as counter or printer. However, for bit data such as on / off information, the bit device
For example, "X0000" specified in advance by each PLC manufacturer
The storage location can be specified in the memory unit 20 by designating a device name or address such as.

Therefore, only by specifying and accessing an arbitrary device name in the memory unit 20 from inside or outside the PLC 17, the corresponding position of the target system 18 can be controlled or the information regarding the operating state can be individually retrieved.

The programmable display device 13 includes a PLC 17
Together with this, it is integrated into an operation console or the like of the target system 18 or is independently provided and used as a control panel for the target system 18.

The external shape of the display device 13 is, as shown in FIG. 3, a screen 26 in which a predetermined display device such as a liquid crystal display plate is used as the display 25 on the front side of a main body case 24 having a substantially rectangular shape. And place
A touch panel 27 is arranged in close contact with the screen 26, while a display control circuit 28 is housed inside the main body case 24.

The basic structure of the display control circuit 28 is substantially the same as that of a general-purpose personal computer device, and various memories such as a CPU 30, a ROM 31 and a RAM 32, or a graphic controller 33 are connected via a bus line 29. While the CPU 30 performs a predetermined arithmetic operation according to the system program stored in the ROM 31, R
The various calculation results appropriately stored in the AM 32 are developed as a bit image by the graphic controller 33 using various display data stored in advance in the memory, and the display of the content corresponding to the content is displayed on the display 2.
5 on the screen 26.

Furthermore, a dedicated communication line in serial or parallel state with the computer link unit 23 on the PLC 17 side or other data communication means via the communication controller 34 operating by a dedicated protocol specialized for the PLC 17 to be connected. It is connected through 35.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the state data md to be referred to on the programmable display device 13 side is extracted from all the state data MD held by the PLC 17 and stored in the RAM.
By setting the data storage location in the state data memory 36 on 32 and allowing the PLC 17 and the programmable display device 13 to exchange data with each other, the PLC 17 and the programmable display device 13 are minimized. State data MD with almost the same contents with a limited time delay
・ Md is held together.

Here, in the programmable display device 13, a static figure 3 such as a nameplate which does not require a change in display content is displayed.
7, or the display screen 12 configured by providing one or a plurality of component figures 38 such as a switch shape for changing the shape, blinking or changing the color on the base screen is a unit screen. Further, a display screen group consisting of a plurality of unit screens is provided as one project in one programmable display device 13, and the unit screens are switched by designating a different file number F for each unit screen. The display screen 12 displaying the necessary operation contents can be obtained only by itself.

Furthermore, when one unit screen is selected, the processing instruction word W related to the selected unit screen as illustrated in FIG. 5 is stored in the event data memory 40. A state in which the processing instruction word W is read out intermittently at every minute time, and the operation having the content specified by the event name N of each processing instruction word W is extracted from the PLC 17 side into the state data memory 36 on the display device 13 side. By sequentially executing the operation while referring to the data md, a display operation is performed on the display screen 12 in which the component graphic 38 and the display data are changed in response to a change in the contents of the bit device or the word device on the PLC 17 side.

That is, the basic structure of the processing instruction word W is substantially the same. An event name N for specifying the action content to be performed and reference information r consisting of one or a plurality of data referred to for each execution event are provided as one set.

For example, the processing instruction word WT shown in FIG.
In conjunction with the pressing instruction operation on the touch panel 27, the bit device set at a predetermined address position in the state data memory 36 can be inverted. That is, the file number F1 of the unit screen and the touch panel 2
Event name N starting with "T" that specifies operation 7
1. The input coordinate range X / Y that enables the input operation from the touch panel 27, and the address A unique to each PLC 17 in which data is to be rewritten in conjunction with the push operation of the touch panel 27.

Further, the processing instruction word WL shown in FIG.
In cooperation with the operation of the touch panel 27 described above, a predetermined graphic can be displayed at a corresponding position on the base screen. That is, the file number F1 of the base screen,
For example, the event name N2 starting from "L" for specifying the display of the part graphic 38, the display coordinate range XY of the part graphic 38, the file number F2 for specifying the part graphic 38 to be called, and the PLC 17 for referring to the part graphic 38 at the time of display. It is composed of a unique address A.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4A, the coordinate range X / Y
And the processing address words WL1 and WT1 in which the reference address A is matched with each other are set in the event data memory 40. Further, when the bit device at the address A of the state data memory 36 is "0", if it is made to correspond to the OFF state of the switch in advance, the PLC 17 turns off the actual switch contact to be controlled. . At the same time, the part graphic 38 corresponding to the off state of the switch
The data FL1 of 1 is read from the graphic memory 41, expanded into the designated coordinate range XY on the corresponding base screen, and displayed.

When the display position of the switch-shaped part graphic 38 on the touch panel 27 is pressed, the processing instruction word WT for the touch panel is searched and the touch panel 27 is searched.
The presence or absence of a processing instruction word WT having, as coordinate information, a range including the corresponding coordinates is determined from the instruction coordinates made via.

For example, when one point in the coordinate range X / Y is pressed, the processing instruction word WT1 constructed as described above.
4B, the data value at the corresponding address A is inverted from "0" to "1", and P
The control for turning on the corresponding switch contact is performed via the LC 17. At the same time, the processing instruction word WL1 determines that the reference address A has changed to "1", and the graphic data FL2 corresponding to the ON state of the switch is read from the graphic memory 41 and the corresponding coordinate range XY is set. Thus, the switch-shaped component graphic 38 displayed on the base screen is also changed from the off state to the on state.

The present invention resides in the display device 13 having the above-mentioned configuration, and is characterized by the display screen creation support device 42 used for the display control operation. It should be noted that the display screen creation support device 42 may be provided with a device dedicated to the device as in the present embodiment and configured so that necessary data can be downloaded via the I / O controller 43. When the device 13 is off-line, the operation of creating the display screen 12 can be performed using the display screen creation support software. Furthermore, an example in which the display screen 12 is created using a processing instruction word is shown below, but the present invention is not limited to this.
It is needless to say that substantially the same can be done when the display screen is created by an arbitrary method such as using a general-purpose programming language such as C language or BASIC, or other dedicated program.

Display screen creation support device 4 for implementing the present invention
As shown in FIG. 6, 2 is one or a plurality of unit screen files 44 used in the programmable display device 13 described above.
And a project file 46 consisting of a related graphic file 45 for calling and displaying from each unit screen
A general-purpose personal computer that uses a pointing device such as a mouse as an instruction input means on the display 25 is used to create various functions illustrated in FIG. 7 by using a predetermined program. I am trying to make it happen.

That is, a display section 47 for processing various display operations required on the screen of the display, a creation section 48 for drawing figures such as circles and straight lines, and an arrangement section 49 for arranging functional parts such as switches and lamps. And a setting unit 50 for the base screen of various processing instruction words, and a drawing screen arranged as an object on one base screen, functional parts, and each data included in the processing instruction words are arranged as a unit screen. It is composed of a unit screen composition unit 51 for composition, a data storage unit 52 for storing various created data, and an address data management unit 53 referenced from each unit screen.

The drawing figure creating section 48 paints an arbitrary drawing figure on the base screen by painting a line drawing mainly composed of straight lines or curves or the inside thereof with a predetermined color or pattern, as in the conventional drawing apparatus. I am able to create.

The functional component arranging unit 49 stores a large number of data groups for general-purpose functional components such as switches and lamps in advance by using drawing figures and processing directives, and extracts the functional components as necessary. It is arranged at an arbitrary position on the base screen and can be arbitrarily set while confirming its size on the created screen.

The processing instruction word setting unit 50 can individually set the processing instruction words of the required functions from the processing instruction word group prepared by the system on the base screen, so that the processing instruction word setting unit 50 can be used as a component as described above. This is a new function that is not generalized and can be arbitrarily configured.

The unit screen compositing unit 51 collects the data in each element formed on the base screen as described above into one unit screen file 44, and also creates a plurality of unit screen files 44. The project files 46 as shown in FIG. 6 are configured as one.

An arbitrary storage device such as a hard disk device is used as the data storage unit 52, and stores the data configured by the unit screen synthesis unit 51 as described above, and
Various data are downloaded to the programmable display device 13 side as required.

The address data management unit 53 is for centrally managing all the address data referred to in one project file 46, and the details will be described later.

The display unit 47 has a file management screen 54 illustrated in FIG. 8 as a center, and a unit screen creation screen (not shown) or an address data management screen illustrated in FIG. 9 is selected by selecting from the management screen 54. It is possible to switch to 55 and display.

The file management screen 54 is provided with a tree display column 56 using, for example, the left half of the screen, and the project file 46 configured as described above and one or a plurality of units included in the project file 46. The screen file 44 is displayed in a tree shape corresponding to the calling relationship.

For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG.
There are two project files P1, P2, and P3. The project file P1 includes files related to the three unit screens B1 to B3, B1 is the main screen, and the screens B1 to B2 and B3 are individually. A relationship is shown in which the B2 screen is called and the B3 screen is called from the B2 screen.

On the other hand, a file data display field 57 is provided on the right side of the display screen, and the unit screen files 44 included in the project file 46 selected by clicking the project file symbol 58 in the tree display field 56 are listed. In the illustrated example, when the project file P1 is selected, the three unit screen files B1, B2, and B3 included in the project file P1 are displayed in a tabular format that can be displayed. ing.

Further, when address management is selected with one project file P1 selected, the address data management section 53 operates and the address management screen 55 shown in FIG. 9 opens.

Here, for the function achieved by the address data management unit 53, the positions of all addresses actually referred to in one selected project file are set to PLC1.
The first function to specify in relation to all addresses available on the 7 side and the second function to automatically change the corresponding address in the project file 46 in response to the address change made on the PLC 17 side. It consists of functions and.

By the way, the devices usable in each PLC 17 are, for example, "X0000 to X0" for data input.
7FF ”is used to output data,“ Y0000 to Y0
7FF ”is the data memory“ D0000-D10 ”.
The settable range of different device names is defined for each device type so that the address can be specified by the device name unique to the model such as "23".

Therefore, the above-mentioned first function is shown in FIG.
As described above, all addresses set in advance by the connected PLC 17 as devices that can be used on the memory unit 20, one for each type of device such as data input / output, internal relay or data memory, are strip-shaped. Is displayed as the memory range display 15.

The memory range display 15 shows, for example, 16 bit devices, which are the number of bits for one word in the horizontal direction, in the first figure 14, and the number of words for forming each functional device group. By making the numbers continuous in the vertical direction, each bit device can be specified by the first figure 14, and all addresses that the display device 13 can refer to are displayed.

The above-mentioned memory range display 15 for each device type can be individually displayed or hidden for each device type by selection in the selection field 59 provided on the same screen. Further, it is configured such that the whole can be displayed in a reduced size or a part thereof can be displayed in an enlarged scale as required. Conversely, project file 4
It is also possible to select display or non-display for each device referred to by a part of the unit screen file 44 included in 6 or display type such as base display and trend display.

Next, when selecting an address processing operation that specifies a specific project file 46, the addresses referenced in the corresponding project file are listed by using the device name, and for each address As shown in FIG. 9B, the numbers and object names of the unit screen files 44 whose addresses are referred to are displayed in a list form as a cross reference display screen 60.

At the same time, the addresses or device names listed as above indicate the corresponding address position in the memory range display 15 by the first figure 14 shown in FIG. By replacing it with the second figure 16 shown by subtracting, the status data md actually used in the corresponding project file 46 out of all the status data MD made available on the PLC 17 side.
The setting position of is displayed visually.

Here, the reference device position displayed by using the second graphic 16 is 1 bit for a bit device, and 1 or a plurality of words of preset data is 1 for a word device. It is displayed as a unit.

Further, the reference device display by the second graphic 16 uses, for example, a drag and drop from the current position in the memory range display 15 to an arbitrary position where the first graphic 14 is displayed by using a pointing device. The first graphic 14 is replaced by the second graphic 16 when it is made movable by an operation and the destination is determined. At this time, if the movement itself is inconvenient, such as the destination is a reserved area or the free space is smaller than the source, the movement is prohibited and
Issue an error message to alert the operator.

When the address is changed by moving the second figure 16, the address setting in all the object files that refer to the corresponding address is automatically changed. At the same time, the corresponding address display in the cross reference display screen 60 shown in FIG. 9B is also changed at the same time, and it is displayed that the address designation in each unit screen file is changed.

The above-mentioned first figure 14 and second figure
The graphic 16 can be any graphic display such as a graphic such as a quadrangle or a circle or a character such as an alphabet, as long as it can be illustrated by distinguishing a device composed of at least 1-bit data. Also the first figure 1
As a matter of course, any display method can be applied to the fourth figure 16 and the second figure 16 as long as they can be distinguished from each other, such as color-changing or blinking the same figure.

Furthermore, the contents and display method displayed on the cross-reference display screen 60 can be appropriately changed and implemented. Further, the contents of the address display can be changed by the keyboard, and the data processing operation substantially similar to that performed through the address data management screen can be performed. Of course, the display data can be sorted, or only the necessary data can be selectively displayed. It is also possible to print the list-displayed contents as they are, or to output the data as a CSV or text data to a predetermined file.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a basic configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a PLC and a programmable display device.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view illustrating the external shape of a programmable display device.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a control operation using a processing instruction word.

5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams showing a configuration of a processing instruction word used in the programmable display device, FIG. 5A is a basic configuration of the processing instruction word, and FIG. 5B is a data input process using a touch panel. The structure of the instruction word, (c) shows the structure of the processing instruction word for graphic display.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a file created in the display screen creation support device.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of functions achieved by the display screen creation support device.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a file management screen.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an address data management screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 External device 11 External device memory 12 Display screen 13 Programmable display 14 First figure 15 Memory range display 16 Second figure 17 PLC 18 Target system 20 memory units 25 display 27 touch panel 28 Display control circuit 32 RAM 33 graphic controller 36 State data memory 37 still figures 38 parts graphics 40 Event data memory 41 Graphic memory 42 Display screen creation support device 43 I / O controller 44 unit screen file 45 graphic file 46 Project File 47 Display unit of display screen creation support device 48 Drawing figure creation section 49 Functional component placement section 50 Processing instruction word setting section 51 Unit screen composition section 52 data storage unit 53 Address data management unit 54 File management screen 55 Address data management screen 56 Tree display column 57 File data display column 58 Project File Symbol 59 Selection screen 60 Cross-reference display screen

Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-8-328992 (JP, A) JP-A-8-55042 (JP, A) JP-A-64-81004 (JP, A) JP-A-10-105216 (JP , A) JP-A 5-46399 (JP, A) JP-A 8-297506 (JP, A) JP-A 60-65337 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB Name) G06F 3/00 G06F 3/14-3/153 G05B 19/05

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. An address connected to an external device (10), specified by an address on a memory (11) of the external device (10) and referred to on a display screen (12).
As well as read and write data to respond, in instrumentation <br/> location to create supporting a display screen for program type display device capable of display corresponding to the read data on the display screen (12), the external device the memory range on matching accessible the memory from the outside (10) in (11), while specifying a location in the whole of the memory (11) at a predetermined address display, a distinction in bits while performing the memory range display according to the first graphic available (14) (15), on the memory range display (15), said display screen (1
While identifying the referenced said external device (10) side of the address position on the 2) in a second graphic (16), figure-shaped
A display screen creation support device characterized by enabling display by a formula . Wherein said external device (10) from its outside
A memory range on the memory (11) that is accessible
A pro <br/> Guramaburu logic controller with its model-specific address displayed corresponding to enclose said display screen (12) Referenced Ru address on the <br/> unique address display in particular possible and then, further wherein the second graphic (16), the memory range display (1
Together with the first graphic (14) is movable to an arbitrary position displayed in 5) on, the corresponding addresses referenced on said display screen (12), the second graphic (16) The display screen creation support device according to claim 1, wherein the display screen creation support device is automatically replaced with the destination address as the user moves. Wherein movement of address with the second graphic (16) is applicable to be referred on the display screen (12)
3. The display screen creation support device according to claim 2, wherein the size is set as a unit of data set in advance corresponding to the address. Wherein said display screen (12), there is a the unique address and the processing instruction word having as reference information to refer content to be data processed and its process time with 1 or more, further together a plurality of display screens (12)
Associated Rutotomoni, the reference to the each unique address and the respective display screens (12) in mutually associated, and a display screen (12) and processing directives that address is referenced,
The display screen creation support device according to claim 3, which is displayed in a table format. 5. The display screen according to claim 4, wherein when the contents of one of the graphic form address display and the table form address display are changed, the other is subjected to display update processing based on the changed contents. Creation support device.