JPH0496105A - Programmable controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To freely change and select the firmware of a PC, while continuing the operation by providing a firmware setting area, a system setting part, etc., executing the input/output control of the firmware by a user's instruction from an external controller, and executing it. CONSTITUTION:The programmable controller is provided with a firmware setting area provided on a storage means 4 in which a program for operating the programmable controller (PC), etc., are written, and a system setting part 3 for executing the setting of a firmware, based on a command written in its setting area. Also, this controller is provided with an input/output control means 2 for executing the input/output control of the firmware written in its system setting part 3 by a user's instruction from an external control apparatus 10, and executing it. Accordingly, after changing a parameter of the setting area of the firmware by a transfer instruction, etc., the instruction from this user can be executed through the input/output control means 2. In such a way, the firmware of the PC can be changed and selected freely by a user side, while continuing the operation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a programmable controller, and particularly to a programmable controller that can select and change functions of firmware that operates a programmable controller Φ system.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, in programmable controllers (hereinafter referred to as PCs), the execution and processing of PC firmware, for example, is displayed in a preset language from among multiple languages, and the user It is designed to be convenient for use.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, according to the above-mentioned conventional technology, for example, the execution process of the PC is displayed in a preset language, and in this case, the function of the PC firmware is displayed. The configuration is such that it is almost impossible for the user to select or change the firmware, and even if the firmware can be selected, it can only be changed when the power is turned on using a deep switch or the like.

Furthermore, even if the firmware has a degree of freedom when viewed as a function, the user cannot freely select or change the desired language while driving (online). There was a problem.

Therefore, on the user side, once the PC starts operating, the PC's execution processing etc. are displayed in the preset language, so it can only be used by specific people who can understand the set language. Not only was this not possible, but it also meant that only those who understood the language could check for malfunctions, which created problems in terms of usability.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and its purpose is to provide a PC with excellent usability by allowing the operation of a PC system to be selected and changed by user commands specified by the user. It is something to do.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, according to the PC according to the present invention, a firmware setting area provided in the storage means into which a program etc. on the user side is written to operate the programmable controller; A system setting section that sets firmware based on commands written in the firmware setting area of the storage means, and input/output control of the firmware written in the system setting section based on user commands from an external control device and execution. An input/output control means.

(Function) The PC of the present invention having the above configuration has a firmware setting area provided in the storage means in which a program for operating the programmable controller is written, and firmware settings based on instructions written in the setting area. It is equipped with a system setting section that performs the system setting section, and an input/output control means that controls the input/output of the firmware written in the system setting section according to user commands from an external control device and executes the firmware. After changing the parameters in the firmware setting area using a transfer command, etc., by executing the command from the user via the input/output control means, the firmware can be freely controlled on the user side while continuing to operate the PC. It is now possible to change to or select 2, and if you want to,
You can maximize the functionality of your PC and improve its usability.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of a PC according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a circuit block diagram showing the basic circuit configuration of the PC according to the present invention, Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram of the firmware setting area of the PC shown in Figure 1, and Figures 3 and 4 are the PC of the present invention. Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram to explain the setting of each parameter to firmware, Figure 6 is a ladder diagram showing the manual state of system commands when transferring parameters, and Figure 7 is a flowchart showing each operation. The figure is an explanatory diagram showing various modes and message types input into the setting area.

As shown in Figure 1, the PCC main body has a color, a communication interface circuit 1 connected to an external device, an MPU 2 as an input/output control means connected to this communication interface circuit 1, and an MPU 2 connected to the MPU 2, which will be described later. An input/output (I
lo) It has a memory (i.e., RAM) 3 and a firmware setting area for operating the PC body A, and can be directly accessed by the user, and stores programs set according to the usability of the user. BUS to the knee subprogram 4 and the MP U 2 mentioned above.
An interface circuit 5 for external equipment that enables access to control equipment such as a programming console 10 provided on a separate color unit of the PCC main body connected via (B)
I like that.

Further, a system program 6 and an I10 interface circuit 8 are further connected to the BUS (B) of the PC body A, and this I10 interface circuit 8 is connected to the I10 interface circuit 8.
Connected to port 9.

The programming console 10 is configured to send/transmit firmware input manually through the interface circuit 5.
It is configured to display received signal data from a display section 11, and further includes a key operation section C for outputting a firmware command signal desired by the user to the MPU 2.

This key operation section C includes a numeric keypad 12 and a clear key 13.
and shift key 14 as well as channel key (CH)
15. HR key 16. A monitor key 17 and the like are provided.

In other words, when the user operates the key operation section C of the programming console 10, the PC main body A stores, for example, the system setting area of the RAM 3, as shown in a and b at the start of contact 0000 in the ladder diagram of FIG. When transferring firmware with German-specified parameters to address DM904, the German-specified parameters are transferred from the user program memory 4, which stores the channel number setting area, relay number, each mode function, etc., as shown in Figure 7. The MPU 2 inputs and outputs the parameter a based on the system setting command (command signal) b of the programming console 10, and stores the German parameter in the system setting area of the RAM 3, which is an input/output memory, as shown in FIG. and configured to have German firmware set.

In addition, when the system setting command of the programming console 10 is changed from German to Japanese, the MPU 2 must operate the key operation section C of the programming console 10 to output the Japanese system setting command signal. The user program memory 4 is input/output controlled based on the command, and Japanese parameters are set in the system setting area of the RAM 3.

In addition, the PCC main body of this embodiment counts the transmitted/received signals inputted to the communication interface circuit 1, inputs them as character signals to the input/output RAM 3, and transmits/received signals from the programming console 10. When there is a request to output data, the transmit/receive signal data stored in the RAM 3 is output controlled and sent/received to the programming console 1o via the interface circuit 5.
It is configured to output received data.

Next, the operation of the PC of the present invention in this embodiment will be explained based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 to 5.

First, during normal operation of the PC of the present invention, as shown in FIG. Based on this, input/output control of the MPU 2 is performed, and the process moves to the next step 101.

In step 101, a peripheral device service to an external device is executed via the communication interface circuit 1 under the control of the MPU 2'.

Then, a service is performed for the peripheral device, and the execution status of the service is displayed on the display section 1 of the programming console 10.
1 will be displayed in German, and once it is completed, step 1 will be displayed.
02, the memory of the RAM 3 is refreshed by the input/output control of the MPU 2, the process returns to the original step 100, and the above-described steps are repeated.

Next, the case of changing the firmware will be explained based on FIG. 4.

When the user wants to change the firmware, he operates the key operation part c of the programming console 1o, and changes the parameters currently displayed in Japanese to German from the display part 11 of the programming console 1°, for example. If desired, the user can store the user program memory 4
The German parameter system setting instructions stored in the MPU 2 are sent via the programming console 1o.
In step 201, the MPU 2 examines whether the system instruction is being fetched.

In the next step 202, if it is determined that the MPU 2 has output a system setting command other than the END command, that is, if it is affirmative (YES), the process moves to step 203, and the German parameter desired by the user is set in the user program. 4 is transferred to the system setting section of RAM3, and the German firmware is set in RAM3 as a system setting.

In step 20B, the German language set in the RAM 3 is displayed on the display unit 11 of the block programming console 10, and the process proceeds to step 204. In step 204, the program counter is updated, and when the update is completed, the original Return to step 201,
” - the steps described will be repeated.

Further, in step 202 above, the MPU 2 rejects (N
If it is determined as O), the process moves to step 205, and the change processing is completed.

Further, the case where system settings are performed using the PC of the present invention will be explained based on FIG. 5.

At step 300, when a system setting command is output from the programming console 10 to the MPU 2 by operating the key operation section C, the process moves to step 301, and step 30
First, the contents of the parameters in the system setting area of the user program 4 desired by the user are transferred to the system work of the RAM 3.

In step 302, the commanded parameter setting data is checked, and then the process moves to step 303.

In step 303, the MPU 2 determines whether or not there is an error in the portion checked in step 302.
If there is no error (YES), step 304
, the user sets each parameter desired in the RAM 3, and when this is completed, the process ends.

Further, if the answer in step 303 is negative (NO), the process moves to step 305, turns on the error flag, and then ends the process.

From the above explanation, the PC of the present invention in this embodiment has a firmware setting area provided in the user program 4 in which programs for operating the PC body A are written, and instructions written in the setting area. R is a system setting section that configures firmware based on
It is equipped with an MPU 2 as an input/output control means that controls and executes the input/output of the firmware written in the system setting section of the AM3 according to user commands from the programming console 10, which is an external control device, and allows the firmware setting area to be accessed from the Nisa side. The configuration is such that the user can select or change the desired Sulfur armwear on the user side by a command to transfer the parameters from the Progeramink console 10.
After the user freely changes parameters in the firmware setting area using a transfer command, etc., by executing this user's command, the firmware of PC body A can be freely changed or selected even while continuing operation. This makes it possible to maximize the functions of the PC body A, and improves usability.

In this embodiment, the programming console 10 is used as a user control device connected to the interface circuit 5 for external devices of the PC main body A, but the programming console 10 is not limited to this, and may have a monitoring function. For example, GPC (Graphic Programming Console)
Needless to say, it is possible to connect peripheral control equipment such as the following.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above configuration, the PC of the present invention has a firmware setting area provided in the storage means in which programs for operating the programmable controller are written, and It is equipped with a system setting section that configures firmware settings based on commands, and an input/output control means that controls and executes the firmware written in the system setting section according to user commands from an external control device. The configuration is such that it outputs a command to transfer the parameters of the firmware setting area and allows the user to select or change the desired firmware, so the user can freely command the transfer of the parameters of the firmware setting area. By executing these user commands, you can freely change or select the firmware of your PC while continuing to operate it, maximizing the functionality of your PC and improving usability. Direction
The effects such as the fact that you will be able to read the book will be i.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a circuit block diagram showing the basic circuit configuration of the PC according to the present invention, Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram of the firmware setting area of the PC shown in Figure 1, and Figures 3 and 4 are the PC of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the setting of each parameter to the firmware, FIG. 6 is a ladder diagram showing the input state of system commands when transferring parameters, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing each operation. The figure is an explanatory diagram showing various modes and message types input into the setting area. A... PC body 1... Communication interface circuit 2... MPU (input/output control means) 3... Input/output memory (RAM) 4... User program memory 10... Programming console (external control equipment) )
11...Display section

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A firmware setting area provided in a storage means into which a user's program, etc. is written in order to operate the programmable controller, and a firmware setting area provided in the storage means, and a firmware setting area based on instructions written in the firmware setting area of the storage means. A programmable controller comprising: a system setting section that performs settings; and an input/output control means that controls input/output of firmware written in the system setting section based on user commands from an external control device and executes the input/output control means. .