JP5296501B2 - Programmable controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To give visual information on a signal state for a terminal. <P>SOLUTION: The programmable controller has a front panel 3, where light emitted from a light-emitting diode 23a for signal transmission can be visually recognized externally, so that the light-emitting diode 23a is used for transmitting signals and displaying operation states. In this case, a light emission window allowing the light emitted from the light-emitting diode to pass is provided a position corresponding to the terminal on the apparatus panel. Preferably, a part of the emission light can be emitted to the outside from the light emission window, and a part of the other emission light can be emitted toward a light-receiving diode inside the apparatus panel. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  In the present invention, terminals connected by external wiring are arranged on an equipment panel, and the electrical signal is converted into an optical signal between both light emitting and receiving diodes in relation to input / output of the electrical signal to the terminal. More particularly, the present invention relates to a technique for improving the visibility of the signal input / output status at the terminal.

  A programmable controller is used as a control device for factory automation (FA) installed in a production factory or the like. This programmable controller includes a building block type composed of a plurality of modules. As the plurality of modules, there are a power supply module, a CPU module, an input module, an output module, a communication module, and the like. The CPU module includes a CPU, an I / O memory, a program memory, and the like, and this CPU performs an IN refresh process for fetching a signal input from the input module into the I / O memory, and stores the sequence program in the program memory. Performs an operation based on the result, writes the result of the operation to the I / O memory and sends it to the output module, performs an OUT refresh process, and then transmits / receives data to / from another PLC on the communication network via the communication module. A series of processing for performing peripheral processing such as data transmission / reception to / from an external personal computer or the like via a communication port provided in is cyclically repeated (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  An input device such as a sensor is connected to the input module, and an external device such as an actuator is connected to the output module. An input device such as a sensor senses the state of the control device and inputs the information to the input module, and an external device such as an actuator drives the control device in response to an output from the output module.

  The input module and output module in the above programmable controller are provided with connection terminals for connecting external devices such as user-side sensors and actuators to these operation power supplies on the device panel. The specifications of these connection terminals include various specifications of DC output, DC input, AC output, and AC input, and it is common to use modules corresponding to each.

  For example, in the input module, as the connection terminal, there are a power supply common terminal and one or more input terminals to which the input device is connected. Each input terminal is connected to the input device, and these input devices are the power supply common terminals. It is connected to the power source connected to the power source, and the power source is supplied individually. In the output module, the connection terminal includes a power supply common terminal and one or a plurality of output terminals to which the output device is connected. When an output device is connected to each output terminal, the output device is connected to the power source. It is connected to a power source connected to a common terminal, and the power source is supplied individually.

In the above modules, the signal input / output state is unknown to the user only from the appearance of these terminals. Therefore, the applicant of the present application, in Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-338692 (filed on Dec. 28, 2007), emits light in a specific emission color in the vicinity of a terminal in response to signal application to the terminal, and inputs and outputs signals. We have proposed a technology that allows the user to visually recognize the input and output of signals to the terminals by arranging light-emitting diodes that display the status. However, in the programmable controller according to the present application, a signal is transmitted by a photocoupler separately from the display element. This photocoupler can convert an electric signal into an optical signal (light-emitting light from the light-emitting diode) with a light-emitting diode, receive the optical signal with a light-receiving element, convert it again into an electric signal with this light-receiving element, and output it. However, photocouplers are generally complex electronic structures and expensive electronic components.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-259079

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned background art, and provides a programmable controller that uses a light-emitting diode for visually checking the input / output state of a signal to a terminal and also used for the light-emitting diode in the photocoupler. It is.

  The programmable controller according to the first aspect of the present invention is a programmable controller in which a light emitting diode and a light receiving diode that transmit signals by receiving one light emission and the other receiving light are arranged inside the device panel, and the light emitted from the light emitting diode is externally supplied to the device panel. The light-emitting diode is used for signal transmission while being used for displaying an operating state.

  According to the present invention, in the same manner as a photocoupler, a light-emitting diode and a light-receiving diode are transmitted by electrically isolating the signal between the two diodes in relation to signal input to a terminal on the device panel and signal output from the terminal. Since the light emitted from the light emitting diode can be visually recognized from the outside, the user can easily check the input / output of the signal.

  In this case, a light emitting window that allows the light emitted from the light emitting diode to pass therethrough is provided in relation to the position of the terminal on the device panel. It is preferable that the part can emit light toward the light receiving diode inside the device panel.

  In particular, it is preferable to arrange the light emitting window in the vicinity of the terminal.

  The light-receiving diode is preferably covered with an extraneous light-receiving prevention cover. When the light receiving diode is covered with the extraneous light reception prevention cover, it is possible to suppress the reception of extraneous light other than the light emitted from the light emitting diode, and to perform signal transmission with high reliability.

  Moreover, it is preferable to arrange | position the optical member which forms the optical transmission path which transmits the emitted light from a light emitting diode to a light receiving diode inside the said cover. Examples of the optical member include an optical fiber, an optical prism, and an optical lens.

  Moreover, it is preferable to provide an optical filter that selectively passes only light having the wavelength of light emitted from the light emitting diode, between the two diodes, instead of the external light receiving prevention cover.

  Note that each terminal may be individually or grouped, and a light emitting diode that emits light with an emission color corresponding to each divided terminal may be disposed. When the terminal is divided into the input terminal and the output terminal, the user can further determine which terminal the signal is input / output by causing the light emitted from the light emitting diode to emit light in blue at the input terminal, for example, in red at the output terminal. It can be easily confirmed.

  Further, at least two light emitting diodes having different emission colors may be arranged in the vicinity of the same terminal. Even in the same terminal, in some cases, it becomes an input terminal and also an output terminal. The usage status of the terminal can be confirmed.

  According to the present invention, the signal can be transmitted by both the light emitting and receiving diodes, and the user visually confirms the signal input / output related to the terminal by emitting light emitted from the light emitting diode for signal transmission from the light emitting window. it can.

  Hereinafter, a programmable controller according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The programmable controller of the embodiment can be applied to both a building block type and an integral type. In the embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the building block type and the integrated type will be described without distinction.

  The programmable controller of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a front view of a front panel of a programmable controller according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a connection state between a connection terminal unit provided on the front panel of the programmable controller of FIG. 1, a power source, and an input device. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an input circuit. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an output circuit. FIG. 5 is a front view of a front panel of a programmable controller showing a display example as an operation display element by a light emitting diode for signal transmission, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an arrangement example of both light emitting and receiving diodes, and FIG. 7 is a light emitting of the light emitting diode. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the optical filter which selectively passes light.

  Referring to FIG. 1, a programmable controller 1 includes a connection terminal portion 5 for external wiring on a front panel 3 that is a device panel. The connection terminal portion 5 includes upper and lower two power supply terminals (common terminals) 7 and 9, a predetermined number, in this example, four input terminals 11 and four output terminals 13.

  Referring to FIG. 2, DC power supplies 15 and 17 are connected to power supply terminals 7 and 9 on the user side. The input terminal 11 is connected to an input device 19 such as a sensor (shown in a contact shape for simplicity of illustration) on the user side. The output terminal 13 is connected to an output device 21 such as an actuator (shown in block form for simplicity of illustration) on the user side.

  Between the power supply terminal 7 and the input terminal 11, the DC power supply 15 and each input device 19 are commonly connected in series. Between the power supply terminal 9 and the output terminal 13, the DC power supply 17 and each output device 21 are commonly connected in series.

  The input terminals 11 and the output terminals 13 are arranged in one row on the front panel 3, but may be arranged in a plurality of rows. The input terminal 11 and the output terminal 13 are dedicated to input and output, respectively.

  In the above configuration, a glass display window 41 is provided in the vicinity of each input terminal 11, and a light-emitting diode 23 a for signal transmission is disposed in the front panel 3 so as to face the display window 41. Yes. The light emitting diode 23a is operated in response to a signal input to the input terminal 11 to transmit a signal, and emits light of, for example, green as a specific color. For convenience of illustration, the light emitting diode 23a is indicated by a dashed line surrounding the display window 41, but the entire display window 41 appears to emit light in the light emitting state.

  Similarly, display windows 41 are also provided in the vicinity of the output terminals 13, and light emitting diodes 25 a for signal transmission are disposed in the front panel 3 so as to face the display windows 41. The light emitting diode 25a is operated in response to a signal output to the output terminal 13 to transmit a signal, and emits light in, for example, red as another specific color. For convenience of illustration, the light emitting diode 25a is indicated by a broken line with respect to the display window 41, but the entire display window 41 appears to emit light in the light emitting state.

  Referring to FIG. 3, input circuit 27 includes a light emitting diode 23 a, a light receiving diode 23 b, and an internal circuit 31. The light emitting diode 23 a is connected between the power supply terminal 7 and the input terminal 11. The light receiving diode 23 b is connected to the internal circuit 31.

  When the input device 19 is turned on, the light emitting diode 23a is driven by the current from the DC power source 15 to emit green light, and the light receiving diode 23b generates photovoltaic power by the light emitted from the light emitting diode 23a. An input signal is transmitted. Thus, the light emitting diode 23a is used as a light transmitting diode for signal transmission.

  Then, by enabling the user to visually recognize the green light emitted from the light emitting diode 23a, the user can confirm that the input device 19 has been operated and a signal has been input into the programmable controller 1. Thereby, the light emitting diode 23a is used as a light emitting diode capable of displaying the operating state.

  Note that a plurality of light emitting diodes 23a may be connected in series to increase the intensity of emitted light, or a large number of light receiving diodes 23b may be connected to increase the light receiving power, or the internal circuit 31 may amplify the photovoltaic power. Means may be configured.

Referring to FIG. 4, output circuit 33 includes light emitting diode 25 a, light receiving diode 25 b, drive circuit 37, and internal circuit 39 for displaying an output operation and for signal transmission. When an output signal is output from the internal circuit 39, the light emitting diode 25a emits light, and the light receiving diode 25b receives the emitted light. The light receiving diode 25b generates a photoelectromotive force due to the light reception, and the driving circuit 37 is turned on by the electromotive force, whereby the DC power supply 17 is applied to the output device 21 and the output device 21 is driven. In this case, the light emission color of the light emitting diode 25a is red. Note that a plurality of light emitting diodes 25a may be connected in series to increase the intensity of emitted light, or a large number of light receiving diodes 25b may be connected to increase the light receiving power, or the photovoltaic power may be amplified inside the drive circuit 37. Amplifying means may be configured.

  Then, when the user visually recognizes the red light emitted from the light emitting diode 25a, the user can confirm that the output device 21 is operated and a signal is output from the programmable controller 1.

  FIG. 5 shows a state in which the light emitting diodes 23a and 25a for input operation display and output operation display arranged near the input terminal 11 and the output terminal 13 emit light on the front panel 3 of the programmable controller 1, respectively. . The light emitting diode 23a on the input operation display side is non-operating and white when it is not emitting light, and the light emission diode 25a on the output operation display side is non-operating and does not emit light, while the input operation display indicates green light emission in black for convenience of illustration. In the output operation display, red light emission is similarly hatched for convenience of illustration.

  With reference to FIG. 6, the arrangement | positioning relationship of the light emitting diode 23a and the light receiving diode 23b in the input side is demonstrated. 6A to 6D show examples of the cross-sectional configuration along the line AA in FIG. Although the illustration of the arrangement relationship between the light emitting diode 25a and the light receiving diode 25b on the output side is omitted, they can be arranged in the same manner as in FIG. The light emitting diode 23a and the light receiving diode 23b are shown by circuit symbols for convenience of illustration.

  In FIG. 6A, the light emitting diode 23 a and the light receiving diode 23 b are disposed opposite to each other inside the display window 41 formed in the vicinity of the terminal 11 of the front panel 3. A part of the light emitted from the light emitting diode 23a is emitted from the display window 41 to the outside of the front panel 3, and the other part is emitted toward the light receiving diode 23b. Thus, the user can confirm that the input operation has been performed with the light emitted from the light emitting diode 23a emitted from the display window 41, and the light receiving diode 23b operates with the light emitted from the light emitting diode 23a. Operation is performed. In this case, the light receiving diode 23b generates a photoelectromotive force by receiving the emitted light.

  FIG. 6B shows a configuration in which the periphery of the light receiving diode 23b is covered with a cap-shaped extraneous light reception preventing cover 43. A window 43a through which light emitted from the light emitting diode 23a can pass is formed in a part of the extraneous light reception prevention cover 43, and a part of the emitted light from the light emitting diode 23a is received through the window 43a. It enters the prevention cover 43 and is received by the light receiving diode 23b. The extraneous light reception prevention cover 43 is made of a material that does not allow light to pass except for the window 43a.

  In FIG. 6C, the light emitting diode 23 a and the light receiving diode 23 b are opposed along the inside of the front panel 3. The periphery of the light receiving diode 23b is covered with a cylindrical external light receiving prevention cover 43.

  In FIG. 6D, the optical fiber 45 is disposed inside the cylindrical external light receiving prevention cover 43. This is because the light emitted from the light emitting diode 23a is effectively received by the light receiving diode 23b. Instead of the optical fiber 45, an optical prism or an optical lens may be arranged. In this way, the optical transmission path for transmitting the light emitted from the light emitting diode 23a to the light receiving diode 43b can be constituted by the optical member such as the optical fiber 45 inside the extraneous light reception preventing cover 43.

  Instead of the extraneous light receiving prevention cover 43, as shown in FIG. 7, an optical filter 47 that can selectively pass only the light emitted from the light emitting diode 23a is provided inside the front panel 3 with the light emitting diode 23a and the light receiving diode 23b. You may arrange | position between. A part of the emitted light of the light emitting diode 23a is emitted to the outside through the display window 41, while the other part of the emitted light passes through the optical filter 47 and is received by the light receiving diode 23b. In this case, the optical filter 47 can selectively pass the green light emitted from the light emitting diode 23a. Even if the green component of the extraneous light entering the front panel 3 from the glass window 41 can pass through the optical filter 47, the intensity of the emitted light is reduced so that the light receiving diode 23b does not malfunction. It may be attenuated smaller than the strength.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the terminals 11 and 13 are arranged on the front panel 3, and the light emitting diodes 23a and 25a emit light in response to a signal input to the input terminal 11 or a signal output from the output terminal 13. By driving and transmitting signals by receiving light emitted from the light-emitting diodes 23a and 25a by the light-receiving diodes 23b and 25b, near the 11 and 13 terminals on the front panel 3 and the light-emitting diodes 23a and 25a. Since the light emitting diodes 23b and 25b are arranged at positions where the light emitting diodes 23a and 25a receive the light emitted from the light emitting diodes 23a and 25a, the light emitting diodes 23a and 25b are disposed in the front panel 3 so that the signals are input and output at the terminals 11 and 13. Thus, the signal can be electrically insulated by both diodes and transmitted, and the light emitting diode 23 Since emitted light 25a can be viewed from the outside user can easily check that the signal input and output is found in the terminal 11 and 13.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a front panel of a programmable controller according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a connection state between a connection terminal unit provided on the front panel of the programmable controller of FIG. 1, a power source, and an input device. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an input circuit. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an output circuit. FIG. 5 is a front view of the front panel of the programmable controller showing a display example of the operation display element. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement example of the light emitting diode and the light receiving diode inside the front panel. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example in which an optical filter that can selectively pass only light emitted from a light emitting diode is arranged inside the front panel.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Programmable controller 3 Front panel 5 Connection terminal part 7,9 Power supply terminal 11 Input terminal 13 Output terminal 15,17 Power supply 19 Input equipment 21 Output equipment 23a Light emitting diode for input operation display 23b Light receiving diode 25a Light emitting diode for output operation display 25b Light receiving diode

Claims (5)

In a programmable controller in which both light emission and light receiving diodes are arranged to transmit signals by receiving one light emission and the other receiving light inside the device panel,
A light emitting window that allows the light emitted from the light emitting diode to pass therethrough is provided in relation to the position of the terminal on the device panel, and a part of the light emitted can be emitted to the outside from the light emitting window, and the other part is a device. By being able to emit light toward the light receiving diode inside the panel, the light emitting diode is used for signal transmission while being used for signal transmission,
A programmable controller , wherein the periphery of the light receiving diode in the device panel is covered with an external light reception prevention cover for preventing the reception of external light other than the light emitted from the light emitting diode . The programmable controller according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting diode and the light receiving diode are disposed to face each other along the inside of the device panel. The programmable controller of claim 2, wherein the light emitted from the light emitting diode in the interior of the external light receiving prevent cover was placed an optical member forming a light transmission path for transmitting to said receiving diode, that. In a programmable controller in which both light emission and light receiving diodes are arranged to transmit signals by receiving one light emission and the other receiving light inside the device panel,
A light emitting window that allows the light emitted from the light emitting diode to pass therethrough is provided in relation to the position of the terminal on the device panel, and a part of the light emitted can be emitted to the outside from the light emitting window, and the other part is a device. By being able to emit light toward the light receiving diode inside the panel, the light emitting diode is used for signal transmission while being used for signal transmission,
The light emitting diode and the light receiving diode are arranged to face each other along the inside of the device panel,
Above instrument panel, between said two diodes, is provided an optical filter which only the selected passage of light having a wavelength of the emitted light of the light emitting diode, wherein a to pulp logs llama logic controllers that. 5. The programmable controller according to claim 1 , wherein the light emitting window is disposed in a vicinity of the terminal.

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