JP5783992B2 - Screen data simulation system and simulation software for programmable display, programmable display - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a simulation system for screen data for a programmable display, simulation software, and a programmable display.

  The programmable display is an HMI (Human Machine Interface) equipped with a display screen, a touch input panel, a communication interface with an external control device (for example, a programmable controller), a memory for recording screen data and an OS, a CPU for control, etc. This is a display that can display the operating status of the external control device and input values to the external control device.

  The screen data for display on the programmable display is created by the user as a screen unique to the user using screen creation software for the programmable display. According to the screen creation software, for example, you can place objects such as arbitrary switches, lamps, meters, graphs, etc. on the screen at the position you want and make settings to change the display and operation of these objects, etc. Highly flexible screen creation is possible.

  The screen data for the programmable display created by the user is finally stored in the memory of the programmable display, and the operation desired by the user can be executed by the programmable display. Since there is a possibility that a setting error exists in the screen data created by the user, it is necessary to confirm in advance the operation based on the created screen data. There are two known operation confirmation methods: a method using a programmable display and a method using simulation software for programmable display screen data.

  In the operation confirmation method using a programmable display, after storing the screen data created by the screen creation software in the memory of the programmable display, the programmable display is connected to an external control device or the like. Operate the external control device to create a situation that can occur as a device, and check whether the object operates normally as designed.

  In the operation confirmation method using simulation software, screen data is not transferred to the programmable display main body, and whether or not the object operates normally as designed is confirmed by simulation on a computer.

  For example, Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose techniques for efficiently executing an operation check operation for an arbitrary ladder circuit block in a ladder program of a sequencer. As a prerequisite of these techniques, in the software for confirming the operation of the ladder circuit block, the ladder circuit block is displayed on the screen as a part of the ladder program. For this reason, it is possible to easily determine the name of the device necessary for executing the ladder circuit block to be checked for operation and the ON / OFF state of the device.

JP 2011-22838 A JP 2000-276212 A JP-A-5-282163

  Unlike the software for checking the operation of the ladder circuit block, the simulation software for the screen data for the programmable display has been developed mainly for faithfully reproducing the same display and operation as the main body of the programmable display.

  For example, if it is not possible to determine from the appearance of the display itself whether or not the operating condition of the switch arranged on the simulation screen is satisfied, work other than on the simulation screen is required for checking the operation of the switch. Necessary. In addition, even in simulation software for screen data for programmable display, it may take a lot of time and time to confirm the operation conditions necessary for the operation of the object that is the object of the operation confirmation. As described above, in the operation confirmation method using the conventional simulation software, it is sometimes difficult to confirm the operation quickly by simulation.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and is a programmable display screen data simulation system, simulation software, and programmable display that can improve the efficiency of work for confirming the operation of an object on a display screen. The purpose is to obtain.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention uses a screen data created for display on a display screen of a programmable display, and executes a simulation of display on the display screen. And a display unit that displays the result of the simulation by the simulation execution unit, the simulation execution unit in response to an input operation after designating any of the objects displayed on the display unit Then, the operation and display items set in the screen data for the designated object are displayed on the display unit as a context menu.

  According to the present invention, items set in an object are displayed as a context menu when the operation of the object is confirmed by simulation software. By referring to such a display, it is possible to eliminate the need for confirmation work including switching to another screen creation software or another program, or reworking work for confirming items for each object set in the screen data. Thereby, there is an effect that it is possible to improve the efficiency of the work for confirming the operation of the object on the screen.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a programmable display screen data simulation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a simulation screen when performing an operation check using the simulation system according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a simulation screen when confirming an operation using the simulation system according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a simulation screen at the time of operation confirmation using the simulation system according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a simulation screen when confirming an operation using the simulation system according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a partial configuration of a programmable display device having a function as a simulation system according to the embodiment.

  Embodiments of a screen display data simulation system, simulation software, and a programmable display according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

Embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a programmable display screen data simulation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The programmable display screen data simulation system includes, for example, a personal computer in which simulation software 10 is installed. The simulation software 10 includes a data storage unit 11 and a simulation execution unit 12.

  The simulation system includes an input unit 40 and a display unit 50. The input unit 40 is, for example, a mouse connected to a personal computer. The display unit 50 is, for example, a display connected to a personal computer.

  The user of the programmable display uses the screen creation software for the programmable display to create the user's own display on the display screen of the programmable display. The programmable display screen data 30 is data representing display contents on the display screen of the programmable display. The internal data 20 is data held by the external control device regarding the display of the operation status of the external control device. The data storage unit 11 stores internal data 20 and programmable display screen data 30 of the external control device.

  The simulation execution unit 12 uses the programmable display screen data 30 read from the data storage unit 11 to execute a display simulation on the display screen of the programmable display. The input unit 40 receives an input operation to the simulation execution unit 12. The display unit 50 is a simulation screen simulating a display screen of a programmable display. The display unit 50 displays the result of simulation by the simulation execution unit 12.

  The worker 60 causes the simulation execution unit 12 to execute a simulation by an input operation from the input unit 40. The worker 60 recognizes the result of the simulation by the simulation execution unit 12 by the display on the display unit 50.

  Here, the problem of the operation confirmation method using the simulation software of the screen data for conventional programmable displays will be described. For example, if a pressing operation is performed on a switch that does not satisfy the operating conditions in the main body of the programmable display device, the pressing operation becomes invalid. Similarly, when a pressing operation with a mouse (for example, a left click operation) is performed on a switch that does not satisfy the operating conditions in the simulation system, the pressing operation becomes invalid.

  In a programmable display, it may not be possible to determine whether the switch is in the established state or not established from the apparent state, for example, the display color of the switch. The simulation software has been developed mainly for realizing the same operation as that of the programmable display main body. For this reason, for operations that cannot be determined from the appearance of the display itself, whether the operating conditions are satisfied on the programmable display, whether the operating conditions are satisfied from the appearance of the display itself also on the simulation screen. It cannot be judged.

  For this reason, when the switch operation is confirmed using simulation software, even if the switch is pressed, if the switch operating condition is not satisfied, the operation of the switch is quickly confirmed. It becomes difficult.

  Since the operation condition cannot be confirmed on the simulation system, a screen data file is opened on the screen creation software in order to validate the operation condition set in the switch. On the screen creation software, the screen and the switch arranged in the screen are searched, and the operating condition set for the switch is confirmed. Thereafter, returning to the work on the simulation software, an operation for establishing the operation condition is executed by the tool of the simulation software. As a result, it is possible to confirm the operation by pressing the object.

  As described above, in the conventional simulation system, when the operation of the screen data for the programmable display is confirmed, if it is not apparent whether the operation condition of the object is satisfied, the object operation is performed. It takes a lot of work and time to confirm.

  Next, an operation confirmation method using the programmable display screen data simulation system according to the present embodiment will be described. Here, the operation confirmation of the switch as the object will be described as an example. The simulation system of the present invention is also applied to a case where operation confirmation of an object displayed on a simulation screen, for example, a lamp, a meter, a graph, etc. is performed in addition to the switch. In addition, although the operation condition is taken as an example as an item related to the operation and display, it is not limited to this.

  FIG. 2 to FIG. 5 are diagrams illustrating an example of a simulation screen when performing an operation check using the simulation system according to the embodiment. The switch 100 is one of objects arranged on the display screen of the programmable display. The switch 100 is also displayed on the display unit 50 at the same position as the position on the display screen of the programmable display.

  The worker 60 designates one of the objects displayed on the display unit 50 by an input operation from the input unit 40 and instructs the readout of items related to operation and display for the designated object. When the operator 60 moves the mouse pointer to the switch 100 using the input unit 40 and performs a right click operation, for example, the simulation executing unit 12 reads items set in the programmable display screen data 30 for the switch 100. . The simulation execution unit 12 displays the read items on the display unit 50 as, for example, the context menu 200 shown in FIG.

  The context menu 200 displays a list of items related to operations and displays set in the programmable display screen data 30 for the specified object. The context menu 200 includes, for example, items of “operation setting”, “display condition”, and “operation condition”. “Operation setting” is a setting item related to the operation of the specified object. The “display condition” is a condition set for displaying the designated object. The “operation condition” is a condition for executing the contents of the operation setting (for example, turning on the device “M100”) set in the designated object.

  When any item of the context menu 200 is selected by an input operation from the input unit 40, the simulation execution unit 12 displays a detailed menu 201 illustrated in FIG. 3 on the display unit 50 as a part of the context menu 200. Display. The detail menu 201 is assumed to display a list of details of an item selected from the context menu 200.

  For example, when the operator 60 selects “operation condition” from the context menu 200 by the input unit 40, the display unit 50 displays details about the “operation condition” as the detail menu 201.

  When any of the items displayed on the detailed menu 201 is appropriately selected by an input operation from the input unit 40, the simulation executing unit 12 further performs, for example, an operation illustrated in FIG. 4 as a part of the context menu 200. The menu 202 is displayed on the display unit 50. The operation menu 202 is a display for accepting operations on items specified from the detailed menu 201.

  In the simulation using the screen data 30 for the programmable display, when the operation of the switch 100 that does not satisfy the operation condition is confirmed, for example, the mouse that is the input unit 40 is used to display the mouse pointer on the switch 100. Right-click in the state. As a result, the display unit 50 displays items related to the operation and display set in the switch 100 as the context menu 200 (see FIG. 2).

  When the worker 60 selects “operation condition” in the context menu 200, the display unit 50 operates as a part of the context menu 200 next to the display together with the reverse display of the character string “operation condition →”. The detailed condition menu 201 is displayed (see FIG. 3).

  In the detailed menu 201, the name of a device (for example, “M100”) that is a target for confirming whether or not the operating condition is satisfied and the current state of the device in the simulation (for example, “OFF”) are displayed. . In the simulation example shown in the figure, the switch 100 instructs the device “M100” to be “ON”, but the state of the device “M100” remains “OFF”, and the setting of the switch 100 is the device “M100”. The operation condition of “M100” is not satisfied.

  When the worker 60 selects the display about the current state of the device from the detailed menu 201, the display unit 50 displays the context menu next to the display together with the reverse display of the character string “state: OFF →”. An operation menu 202 is displayed as a part of 200 (see FIG. 4). The operation menu 202 regarding the operation condition receives an operation for forcibly changing the state of the target device. This operation menu 202 has two items, “ON execution” for forcibly establishing an operating condition and “OFF execution” for forcibly disabling.

  When the worker 60 selects “ON execution” in the operation menu 202, the display unit 50 reversely displays the character string “ON execution” as shown in FIG. The simulation execution unit 12 forcibly establishes the operation condition set in the switch 100. By performing such an operation, the simulation system can quickly perform an operation check operation on an object for which there is a failure in either the display condition or the operation condition.

  In confirming the operation of the object by the simulation software 10, by displaying the items set in the object as the context menu 200, it is not necessary to start up the screen creation software separately and perform the confirmation work. Further, it is possible to eliminate the work of switching to another program other than the simulation software 10 and the reworking work for confirming the items related to the operation and display set in the object. Thereby, the simulation system according to the present embodiment can realize the efficiency of work for confirming the operation of the object on the screen.

  The simulation system displays the name of the device set for each object in order to change the operation and display, and the current state of the device as a part of the context menu 200, so that other tools other than the simulation software 10 are displayed. This eliminates the need for checking the state of the device.

  The simulation system makes it possible to change the state of the device by a selection operation in the operation menu 202 that is a part of the context menu 200, thereby eliminating the need to change the state of the device using a tool other than the simulation software 10. it can.

  The simulation system displays a detailed menu 201 and an operation menu 202 on the display unit 50 as a cascade menu for each item of the context menu 200. Thereby, the transition from the context menu 200 to the detailed menu 201 and the operation menu 202 can be facilitated sensuously, and the operation check operation can be continued without requiring the operator 60 to perform a new operation.

  The simulation system according to the present embodiment may be applied to the programmable display itself. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a partial configuration of a programmable display device having a function as a simulation system according to the embodiment. The programmable display device 1 includes a data storage unit 11 and a simulation execution unit 12 (see FIG. 1). The display screen 51 of the programmable display 1 is, for example, a touch display that combines the function as the input unit 40 and the function as the display unit 50.

  On the display screen 51, an operation check work mode changeover switch 500 is displayed. The operation check work mode switching switch 500 is a switch for switching the programmable display device 1 between a normal use mode and an operation check work mode for simulation. The programmable display 1 is switched to the normal use mode and the operation check work mode by pressing the operation check work mode changeover switch 500. In the operation check work mode, the display screen 51 functions as a simulation screen that displays the result of the simulation performed by the simulation execution unit 12.

  The worker 60 performs the operation check of the switch 100 in which the operation condition is not satisfied, for example, with the programmable display 1 as the operation check work mode. The programmable display device 1 receives an input to the simulation execution unit 12 in the operation check work mode by a touch operation on the display screen 51. The input to the simulation execution unit 12 in the operation check work mode may be performed by operating the mouse 70 that is another input means connected to the programmable display 1.

  By using the programmable display device 1 having a function as a simulation system, it is possible to perform an operation check operation of the screen data 30 for the programmable display device in a place where a device incorporating the programmable display device 1 is set. Become. By providing the programmable display 1 with a function as a simulation system, it is possible to reduce the trouble of carrying the hardware in which the simulation software 10 and the screen creation software are installed, and the operation confirmation work by starting these software. it can.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Programmable display device, 10 Simulation software, 11 Data storage part, 12 Simulation execution part, 20 Internal data, 30 Programmable display screen data, 40 Input part, 50 Display part, 51 Display screen, 60 Worker, 70 Mouse, 100 Switch, 200 context menu, 201 detailed menu, 202 operation menu, 500 switch.

Claims (5)

A simulation execution that displays the operation status of the external control device and executes display simulation on the display screen using screen data for display on the display screen of a programmable display that accepts an input operation to the external control device And
A display unit for displaying a result of the simulation by the simulation execution unit,
The simulation execution unit is an item related to the operation and display set in the screen data for the specified object in response to an input operation after specifying any of the objects displayed on the display unit A screen display data simulation system for a programmable display , wherein a context menu including: is displayed on the display unit. The simulation execution unit further includes, for the operation condition set for the specified object, a name of a device for which confirmation of establishment and non-establishment of the operation condition, and a current state of the device in the simulation simulation system programmable display-screen-data according to claim 1, characterized in that to display the context menu on the display section including and.   The simulation of the screen data for programmable display according to claim 2, wherein the simulation execution unit further causes the display unit to display an operation menu for an operation for changing the state of the device in the simulation. system. Software for displaying the operation status of the external control device and causing the computer to perform a display simulation on the display screen of the programmable display that accepts an input operation to the external control device ,
The computer,
Using the screen data for display on the display screen, execute a display simulation on the display screen, and function as a simulation execution unit that displays the simulation result on the simulation screen,
The simulation execution unit is related to the operation and display set in the screen data for the specified object in response to an input operation after specifying any of the objects displayed on the simulation screen. programmable display-screen-data simulation software, characterized in that to display the context menu on the simulation screen including. A display screen for displaying an operation status of the external control device and receiving an input operation to the external control device;
Using a screen data created for display on the display screen, and a simulation execution unit for executing a simulation of display on the display screen,
The display screen further displays the simulation result by the simulation execution unit,
The simulation execution unit, in response to an input operation on the specified one of objects displayed on the front Symbol display screen, relating to the operation and display is set to the screen data for the given said object programmable display device, characterized in that to display a context menu including items on the display screen.

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