JP6632692B1 - Control program creation support tool and control program creation method - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to create a versatile control program that can reduce the work load on a designer with a simple configuration, greatly reduce the time required to create a control program, and can operate regardless of the program format of a PLC maker. Provided are a control program creation support tool and a control program creation method. A target device list in which specification data of each target device is listed, and a control program are modularized for each function, and parameters necessary for creating the control program are listed. A function list 19 that is a basis of an XML file 18 that can be converted into the control program 11 is created from the function template 13 partially described in a format that refers to the target device list 12 and the target device list 12 and the function template 13. The apparatus includes a function list creating unit 20 and an XML file creating unit 21 that creates an XML file 18 from the function list 19 created by the function list creating unit 20. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

The present invention relates to a control program creation support tool for supporting creation of a control program executed by a programmable logic controller (hereinafter, referred to as a PLC) used for controlling various devices such as industrial devices, and a control program creation method.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, monitoring of a system such as a factory or various social infrastructure facilities and control of a process are performed by sending an operation instruction from a PLC used as a control device to a target device to be controlled. At this time, the PLC generates an operation instruction by executing the control program (PLC program), but creation (programming) of the control program requires special knowledge. For example, a conventional control program mainly based on a ladder diagram language uses application instructions unique to a PLC maker. Particularly, a complicated control program lacks readability, and a third party cannot understand the contents of the control program. There was a problem that it was difficult, and it took time to check (fix) errors (bugs) and troubleshoot. In addition, when a control program is created manually (manually) using a structured program such as a structured text (ST) language or a function block diagram (FBD) language, an input error easily occurs and all errors are corrected. Until it is possible, the conversion (compilation) of the created (modified) control program and the correction of errors must be repeated, which places a burden on the designer (program creator).
On the other hand, in order to reduce the burden on the designer in creating the control program, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-163873 discloses the control (processing) in the control program as components and registering them to create the control program. A program development support apparatus and a method for automating a part of the process have been proposed. Further, in the simulation program generation device, the simulation program generation method, and the program of Patent Document 2, an equipment model part is read based on the equipment layout and the equipment list, and read from the equipment list according to the parameter list related definition. The simulation program is automatically generated by setting the set parameters to the equipment component parts.

International Publication No. WO 2014/136185 JP-A-2006-164751

However, in Patent Literature 1, since a component target program to be converted into a component is selected from the diversion source program and incorporated into the diversion destination program, the diversion source program and the diversion destination program are required, and the control program is created from scratch. It is not possible. In addition, it is necessary to unify variables between the target component program and the diversion target program.To do so, it analyzes the variables that exist in the target component program and associates them with the variables used in the diversion target program. Therefore, there is a problem that the configuration of the program development support device becomes complicated. Furthermore, if the diverted source program and the diverted destination program are created by the control program creation tool of the PLC maker, if the corresponding PLC maker is different for each program, a part of the diverted source program is diverted to the diverted destination program. Is difficult to combine. Therefore, the combinations of control programs that can be used as the diversion source program and the diversion destination program are limited, and the control program created in this way also becomes a control program specific to a specific PLC maker, and lacks versatility. There is. In Patent Document 2, the parameter list related definition is created by a program in a structured text (ST) language, for example, and the equipment model part is constructed in a function block diagram (FBD) language, for example. For this reason, when newly registering equipment with a different operation as an equipment model, it is necessary to create parameter list related definitions and equipment model parts using these programming languages. There is a problem that certain skills are required and it takes time to create. In Patent Document 2, an intermediate file for converting a program described in a program sheet by a simulation program automatic generation unit into an intermediate file based on a world standard format (PLCopen XML (Extensible Markup Language)) standardized by a PLC. By providing the generation unit, the simulation program can be read by PLC programming tools of various manufacturers. However, since the XML file is large in size and low in readability, it takes a long time to find an error. Therefore, in Patent Document 2, a simulation program converted into an intermediate file (XML file) is once read by a PLC programming tool, the contents of the simulation program are displayed, and the simulation program editing unit changes (corrects) the contents. Therefore, there is a problem that the procedure for completing the program is complicated and the work efficiency is low.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can reduce the work load on a designer with a simple configuration, greatly reduce the time required to create a control program, and operate irrespective of the program format of a PLC manufacturer. An object of the present invention is to provide a control program creation support tool and a control program creation method capable of creating a control program with excellent versatility.

A control program creation support tool according to a first invention that meets the above object is a control program creation support tool that supports creation of a control program for controlling the operation of a target device to be controlled,
A target device list in which the specification data of each target device is listed,
A function template in which the control program is modularized for each function, parameters (variables) necessary for creating the control program are listed, and some of the parameters are described in a format that refers to the target device list When,
Function list creation means for creating, from the target device list and the function template, a function list based on an XML file convertible to the control program;
XML file creation means for creating the XML file from the function list created by the function list creation means.

In the control program creation support tool according to the first invention, it is preferable that the function template selects necessary specification data from the target device list by designating a row and a column of the target device list. .

In the control program creation support tool according to the first invention, the function template may be capable of describing a repetition specifier for setting to repeatedly read the specified specification data from the target device list. preferable.

A method for creating a control program according to a second aspect of the present invention is a method for creating a control program for controlling an operation of a target device to be controlled,
From the target device list in which the specification data of each of the target devices is listed, the specification data serving as the basis of the parameters necessary for creating the control program is read and becomes the basis of an XML file that can be converted into the control program. A function list is created, the XML file is created from the function list, and the XML file is converted to create the control program.

A control program creation support tool according to a first aspect of the present invention provides a target device list in which specification data of each target device is listed, and a control program that is modularized for each function, and parameters necessary for creating the control program are listed. Since a function list is created from a function template in which some of the parameters are described in a format that refers to the target device list, the function list is created based on an XML file that can be converted into a control program. By simply inputting the specification data that is the basis for the parameters (variables) required to create the control program, a function list is automatically created and the control program can be obtained easily in a short time. There is no need to input a language, and the burden on the designer can be reduced. In addition, since a bug can be checked on the function list before creating the XML file, the conversion (compile) from the function list to the XML file can be performed without any bug, and the conversion work is repeatedly performed. There is no need to do so, and the time for creating the control program can be reduced. Furthermore, the XML file finally created is described in a standard format standardized by PLC, so that it can correspond to PLCs of various manufacturers and is excellent in versatility.

When the function template selects the required specification data from the target device list by specifying the rows and columns of the target device list, the description of the function template can be generalized and only the target device list is changed By doing so, it is possible to cope with the creation of a control program for a different target device, which is excellent in versatility.

If the function template can describe a repetition specifier that sets to repeatedly read the specified specification data from the target device list, control multiple target devices by using a function template with a small amount of description. Therefore, it is possible to cope with the creation of a control program corresponding to the above, and the versatility can be improved.

The method of creating a control program according to the second invention reads specification data serving as a basis for parameters necessary for creating a control program from a target device list in which specification data of each target device is listed, and stores the data in a control program. Creates a function list that is the basis of an XML file that can be converted, creates an XML file from the function list, and converts the XML file to create a control program. Therefore, complex programs can be created using graphic languages or text languages. There is no need to create an XML file that is large and lacks in readability directly. It is possible to reduce manual input errors, shorten the time required to create control programs, find bugs (fix) easily, and burden the designer. Can be greatly reduced.

1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of a control program creation support tool according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control program creation method using the control program creation support tool. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a target device list used by the control program creation support tool. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram in which a function template created by the control program creation support tool is described in a graphic language. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a function template created by the control program creation support tool.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide an understanding of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a control program creation support tool 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention supports creation of a control program 11 for controlling operations of various target devices to be controlled by a PLC. is there.
First, the control program creation support tool 10 includes a target device list 12 in which specification data of each target device is listed. When creating the control program 11 using the control program creation support tool 10, first, as shown in FIG. 2, a target device list 12 is created (first step: S1). The target device list 12 can be easily created by using, for example, known spreadsheet software. The target device list 12 in the case where the target device is a motor is, for example, as shown in FIG. 3. The specification data described in the target device list 12 can be appropriately selected according to the type and combination of the target devices.

Next, the control program creation support tool 10 includes a function template 13 in which the control program 11 is modularized for each function (task) and parameters (variables) required for creating the control program 11 are listed. The function template 13 is created so as to correspond to one of descriptions in five languages (three kinds of graphic languages and two kinds of text languages) defined by the standard IEC61131-3 (JISB3503) for PLC programming. (The second step in FIG. 2: S2). For example, when a certain function is described in a function block diagram (FBD) language which is one of graphic languages, the result is as shown in FIG. In the conventional programming using the FBD language, the arrangement and connection state of a plurality of function blocks 15 to 17 are graphically described, and the instance names, instructions (processes), one or more input parameters, and one Set output parameters for On the other hand, in the function template 13, without using a programming language directly, as shown in FIG. 5, the instance names 1 to 3 of the function blocks 15 to 17 required for programming, the instructions 1 to 3, Only the parameters such as the coordinates (X1, Y1) to (X3, Y3) of the upper left vertex, the widths W1 to W3, the heights H1 to H3, and the respective input parameters and output parameters such as variables 1 to 6 are listed. Has been described. In this, the instructions 1 to 3 and the variables 1 to 6 are described in a format referring to the target device list 12. For example, by creating a function template 13 using publicly known spreadsheet software and designating a row and a column of the target device list 12 therein, necessary specification data can be easily selected from the target device list 12. , Can be read as parameters necessary for creating the control program 11. As a result, the description of the function template 13 can be generalized, and it is possible to cope with the creation of a control program for a different target device by only changing the target device list 12. The number and arrangement of the function blocks, the number of input parameters of each function block, the content of the instruction, and the like can be appropriately selected according to the type, arrangement, operation, and the like of the target device. Further, it is preferable that the function template 13 can describe a repetition specifier for setting to repeatedly read the specified specification data from the target device list 12. Thus, even when creating a control program for a process line or the like in which a plurality of target devices are combined, the amount of description of the function template 13 can be reduced, and versatility can be increased. In the present embodiment, the function template 13 corresponding to the description in the FBD language has been described. However, the programming language on which the description of the function template 13 is based is defined by the standard 5 according to the processing content of each function. An optimal language can be selected from the two languages, and a function template corresponding to a description in a text language such as a structured text (ST) language can be used. Then, one control program can be created by combining a plurality of function templates corresponding to different programming languages.

Next, the control program creation support tool 10 includes a function list creation unit 20 that creates a function list 19 that is a basis of the XML file 18 that can be converted into the control program 11 from the target device list 12 and the function template 13. . The function list creation means 20 is a program created in a programming language such as Visual Basic, for example. The function list creation means 20 reads specification data serving as necessary parameters from the target device list 12 in accordance with the description of the function template 13 and reads the function list 19. It is created (third step in FIG. 2: S3). The function list 19 can be created as a file that can be read by known spreadsheet software. Unlike the conventional complicated program, the function list 19 created in this way is a list of the operations (processes) of the respective functions, and is excellent in readability. The necessary corrections can be made easily.

Next, the control program creation support tool 10 includes an XML file creation unit 21 that creates the XML file 18 from the function list 19. The XML file creating means 21 is, for example, a program created in a programming language such as Visual Basic, and creates the XML file 18 which can be converted into the control program 11 based on the description of the function list 19 (FIG. 2). Fourth step: S4). Since the XML file 18 is described in accordance with the global standard format standardized by the PLC, by using the PLC dedicated control program creation tool 22 of each manufacturer, the control program 11 that can be finally operated by the PLC of each manufacturer is used. Is obtained (the fifth step in FIG. 2: S5). The finally obtained control program 11 is converted into a programming language such as FBD language or ST language, which depends on the description of the programming language in which the function template 13 is created. .

In the method of creating a control program according to an embodiment of the present invention, as described above, a parameter base necessary for creating the control program 11 is obtained from the target device list 12 in which the specification data of each target device is listed. Then, a function list 19 (intermediate file) which is a basis of the XML file 18 that can be converted into the control program 11 is created by reading the specification data. Then, an XML file 18 is created from the function list 19, and the control program 11 is created by converting the XML file 18. Therefore, there is no need to create a complicated program using a graphic language or a text language, and it is not necessary to directly create the XML file 18 having a large size and lacking in readability, and it is possible to reduce manual input errors. In addition, by using the function list 19 before conversion into the XML file 18, a bug can be easily found (corrected), and the burden on the designer can be greatly reduced. Furthermore, conversion (compilation) from the XML file 18 to the control program 11 takes time. However, by checking a bug on the function list 19, conversion from the function list 19 to the XML file 18 can be performed without any bug. Can be performed, eliminating the need to repeat the conversion operation. From the above, it is possible to reduce the time for creating the control program 11.
The control programs targeted by the control program creation support tool and the control program creation method of the present invention are actually used for controlling various devices, and do not include simulation programs. Specifically, the control program 11 is used for controlling, for example, an automatic machine such as a factory, and also for controlling various devices such as an elevator, an automatic door, and a boiler.

As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the configurations described in the above embodiments, and can be considered within the scope of matters described in the claims. Other embodiments and modifications are also included.
For example, the order in which the target device list is created and the function template is created is not particularly limited, and can be appropriately performed before the function list creation unit creates the function list. Further, the function template can also read data as necessary parameters (set values) from various lists other than the target device list as needed.

10: Control program creation support tool, 11: Control program, 12: Target device list, 13: Function template, 15 to 17: Function block, 18: XML file, 19: Function list, 20: Function list creation means, 21: XML file creation means, 22: PLC dedicated control program creation tool

Claims (4)

A control program creation support tool that supports creation of a control program that controls operation of a target device to be controlled,
A target device list in which the specification data of each target device is listed,
The control program is modularized for each function, parameters necessary for creating the control program are listed, and a part of the parameters are described in a format referring to the target device list, a function template,
Function list creation means for creating, from the target device list and the function template, a function list based on an XML file convertible to the control program;
A control file creation support tool, comprising: an XML file creation unit that creates the XML file from the function list created by the function list creation unit. 2. The control program creation support tool according to claim 1, wherein the function template selects necessary specification data from the target device list by specifying a row and a column of the target device list. Control program creation support tool. 3. The control program creation support tool according to claim 1, wherein a repetition specifier for setting to repeatedly read the specified specification data from the target device list can be described in the function template. 4. A control program creation support tool characterized by the following. A method of creating a control program for controlling the operation of a target device to be controlled,
From the target device list in which the specification data of each of the target devices is listed, the specification data serving as the basis of the parameters necessary for creating the control program is read and becomes the basis of an XML file that can be converted into the control program. A method for creating a control program, comprising: creating a function list; creating the XML file from the function list; and converting the XML file to create the control program.

Images