JPH06266418A - Programming device of programmable controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To generate a program with high work efficiency by providing a general purpose function key which can be allocated arbitrarily by a user, detecting it at the time when it is operated and storing the contents. CONSTITUTION:A function operation storage part 22 stores the designated contents to be operated, in a storage table 23 as operation history by a storage operation command based on an operating state detected by a function key operation detecting part 21. Also, the storage table 23 stores the operation history by the function key operation storage part 22. Moreover, a programming device program actuation request part 24 discriminates a function key operated according to the operating state of the detected function key, and actuates a programming device program 25, in the case where the operation history of the contents to be operated is stored in the operation history storage table 23 by the key. In the case where the operation history is not stored, the program 25 is actuated in accordance with the operating state of the key.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a programming device used in, for example, a general-purpose sequencer, a programmable controller (PLC), etc., and particularly, an operation history (level of operation procedure, order, operation command,
The present invention relates to a programming device for a programmable controller in which target data) is stored and the stored operation history is used at the next operation so that the operation before the data input operation can be saved.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a programming device for a programmable controller using a personal computer in particular, each function key is assigned to each operation function as the programming device to simplify the operation.

Here, when there are many functions and the operation has a plurality of stages, the functions assigned to the function keys are hierarchized and the hierarchy is traced by the function keys to select the required function.

By the way, in such a method, recent programmable controllers have become multi-functional, and the functions of programming devices supporting them have also increased, the programming devices have become large, and the operation of function keys has been hierarchized. As the functions of the programmable controller itself are expanded, the hierarchical structure of the controller becomes complicated, and the hierarchy becomes more difficult to remember, and operations are cumbersome and inefficient.

Further, even if the programmable controller becomes multi-functional, the range and the function to use it vary depending on the application, and even if a programming device supporting all the functions of the programmable controller is provided, Since it has many functions and few are used, it is in a state where many functions are intrusive to the user.

[0006]

As described above, when a programming device having a multi-layered hierarchy is used to perform work, each function is operated by tracing the hierarchy as it is operated. It is necessary to do. The depth of the hierarchy due to the complexity of the functions can be improved if the target function can be reached by one operation.

That is, there are many types of such functions,
The fact that the hierarchy of functions is deep and the number of times the programming device is activated is one of the factors that hinder the efficiency of the work when creating a program of the programmable controller due to the poor efficiency of the operation.

An object of the present invention is to store an operation history of a previous operation and use the stored operation history in the next operation to save the operation before the data input operation and to save the operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a programming device of a programmable controller capable of efficiently creating a program without having to follow a function hierarchy having many layers each time.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, in a programming device for creating a program of a programmable controller,

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a general-purpose function key that can be arbitrarily assigned by the user is provided, and a function key operation detecting means for detecting the function key when the function key is operated, and a function. A function key operation storage means for storing a specified operation content in the storage means as an operation history based on the operation state of the function key detected by the key operation detection means, and a function detected by the function key operation detection means. The function key operated is determined based on the operation state of the key, and if the operation history of the contents to be operated by the function key is stored in the storage means, the program of the programming device main body is started according to the operation history. And a start requesting means for There.

According to the second aspect of the invention, a general-purpose function key which can be arbitrarily assigned by the user is provided, and a function key operation detecting means for detecting the function key when the function key is operated, and a function. A function key operation storage means for storing a specified operation content in the storage means as an operation history based on the operation state of the function key detected by the key operation detection means, and a function detected by the function key operation detection means. The function key operated is determined based on the operation state of the key, and if the operation history of the contents to be operated by the function key is stored in the storage means, the program of the programming device main body is started according to the operation history. The start request means and the storage means Constitute what is a storage content changing means for creating arbitrarily changed to the user unique feature selection structure. Here, particularly as the operation history stored in the storage means, the level, order, operation command, and target data of the operation procedure are stored.

[0012]

Therefore, in the programmable controller programming device of the present invention, a general-purpose function key which can be arbitrarily assigned by the user is provided,
When the function key is operated, it is provided with means for detecting it and storing the designated contents to be operated, and by using this function key, the operation can be simplified.

In this case, the function key is an operation of pressing the key as it is in a normal operation, but in the operation of storing the operation content of the present invention, in order to distinguish from the normal operation, for example, another key (for example, ,shift key)
Press at the same time.

Further, by providing a means for creating a function selection structure unique to the user by arbitrarily changing the stored contents, the operation can be further simplified and dedicated. it can.

In this case, the function key will be described in the case of being registered at a fixed position in the present invention, but the registration position can be changed depending on where the key released for the user is placed, and registration at any position is possible. Can be done.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a programming device for a programmable controller according to the present invention. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the programmable controller programming device according to the present embodiment includes a function key operation detection unit 21, a function key operation storage unit 22, an operation history storage table 23 as a storage unit, and a programming device program. It is composed of a start request unit 24 and a programming device program 25. A general-purpose function key that can be arbitrarily assigned by the user is provided. Here, the function key operation detection unit 21 detects when a function key is operated.

The function key operation storage unit 22 is also provided.
Is based on the operation state of the function key detected by the function key operation detection unit 21 and the storage operation command 26 from the function key operation detection unit 21
The designated operation contents are stored in the operation history storage table 23 as an operation history. Further, the operation history storage table 23 is for storing the operation history by the function key operation storage unit 22.

Further, the programming device program activation requesting section 24 discriminates the operated function key based on the operation state of the function key detected by the function key operation detecting section 21, and determines the content to be operated by the function key. When the operation history is stored in the operation history storage table 23, the programming device program 25 is started according to the operation history,
When the operation history of the contents to be operated by the function key is not stored in the operation history storage table 23, the programming device program 25 is started according to the operation state of the function key. Further, the programming device program 25 is the main function of the programming device. As the operation history stored in the operation history storage table 23, for example, the level of the operation procedure, the order, the operation command, and the target data are stored. Next, the operation of the programmable controller programming device according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

In FIG. 1, in the function key operation detecting section 21, when the function key is operated,
This is detected. In this case, the function key detection in the function key operation detecting unit 21 is performed by a generally-known key scan method or interrupt method.

The function key operation storage unit 22 is also provided.
Is interlocked with the operation of the function key operation detection unit 21, and the operation contents are sequentially stored in the operation history storage table 23.

The programming device program activation request section 24 stores the correspondence between the function keys and the programming device program 25 which is activated corresponding to the function keys, in a table (not shown).

To start the storage operation in the function key operation storage unit 22, as described above, the function key operation detection unit 21 detects that the shift key and the function key have been simultaneously pressed, and the storage operation command 26 causes the function key operation. The storage operation is started by being notified to the storage unit 22. The storage operation is stopped in the same manner as when storing, or by a break operation or the like in the personal computer world. Next, the programming device program activation request unit 24 activates the programming device program 25 as follows.

That is, when a new function key stored in the operation history storage table 23 is pressed to perform a stored operation, a newly assigned operation table (eg, operation tables 16 and 17). Is called when the corresponding function key of is pressed, and thereafter, programming is performed according to the operation history output from the operation history storage table 23 instead of the function key input until the operation in the operation table is completed. The device program activation request unit 24 causes the programming device program 25 to perform an execution operation.

On the other hand, the operation of the function key operation storage unit 22 when it does not depend on the stored contents simply gives the function key device state by the function key operation detection unit 21 to the programming device program activation request unit 24. . Next, the operation of the function key operation storage unit 22 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, step A is a step in which the function key is pressed to start storing the operation, and this function key is operated by a combination of a plurality of keys in order to distinguish it from the normal operation. The subsequent function key operation is memory operation 1 ... n,
The procedure goes to registration end operation step D. Also, in step B,
C is a step for storing the normal operation of the tool, and step D is a step for ending the storage operation.

The end operation can be performed by an operation of combining a plurality of keys at an arbitrary position, or by returning to the registration start position shown in FIG. 3 and ending by the same operation as the registration start operation step A. . FIG. 3 is a system diagram (tree structure diagram) of the operation keys of the tool for storing the operation.

In FIG. 3, 5 to 13 are operation menus, which hierarchically flow from the left to the right in the drawing, and the hierarchy becomes deeper along this. The menus 14 and 15 indicated by broken lines in the figure are new operation key menus to be newly stored.

The operation is as follows. That is, first press the function key 14 (at the same time as other keys such as shift) to select the menu that you want to store continuously.
Select 7 and 9. By doing so, when the menu 14 is pressed next time, the operation menu 9 can be automatically selected through the operation menus 6 and 7.

On the other hand, the memory of the operation is stored in the table in the tool as shown in FIG. This table is updated every time a key is registered, and has a table for each function key to be registered.

In FIG. 4, the function keys 6,
7 is pressed, the function key 8 is pressed, and then three pieces of data are input. If the memory shown in FIG. 4 is stored at the position of the key 14 shown in FIG. 3, by pressing the function key 14, the key operation of the function keys 6, 7, and 8 and the data 1, 2, 3,
It becomes possible to input. The size of this table changes depending on the amount of function keys stored.

As described above, the programming device for the programmable controller using the personal computer or the like according to this embodiment has the function key operation detecting section 21 and the function key operation detecting section for detecting the function keys when they are operated. Based on the operation state of the function key detected by 21, the storage operation command 26 from the function key operation detection unit 21
The function key operation storage unit 22 and the function key operation storage unit 22 that store the designated operation content as an operation history in the operation history storage table 23
The operation history storage table 23 for storing the operation history by the user, and the function key operated based on the operation state of the function key detected by the function key operation detection unit 21 are determined, and the contents to be operated by the function key If the operation history is stored in the operation history storage table 23, the programming device program 25 is started according to the operation history, and the operation history of the contents to be operated by the function key is stored in the operation history storage table 23. If not, the programming device program activation request unit 24 for activating the programming device program 25 according to the operation state of the function key, and the programming device program 25 which is the main function of the programming device. A.

Therefore, the operation history of the previous operation, that is, the level of the operation procedure, the order, the operation command, and the target data are stored, and the function can be easily selected and specified by the 1 key at the next operation. It is possible to simplify the programming by the programming device and the data registration work.

This makes it possible to save the operation before the data input operation by using the stored level, order, operation command, and target data of the operation procedure at the next operation.
It is possible to significantly improve the work efficiency of the programmable controller when creating a program. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be implemented in the same manner as described below.

(A) In the above embodiments, the description has been made mainly on the premise of a programming device on a personal computer, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the same applies to the case of implementation on an engineering workstation (EWS).

In this case, depending on the operating system (OS) on the engineering workstation, the function key operation can be detected in the form of an event notification instead of the key scan method or the interrupt method. .

(B) In the above embodiment, the content stored in the operation history storage table 23 is arbitrarily changed based on the key input from the keyboard to create a user-specific function selection structure. By adding the means as needed, the operation can be further simplified and dedicated.

(C) In the above embodiment, when the function is selected without using the above-mentioned function keys (selected with a pointing device such as a mouse), the selected function is stored and the function is activated. May be.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, a function key operation detecting means is provided which is provided with a general-purpose function key which can be arbitrarily assigned by a user and detects the operation of the function key. A function key operation storage means for storing a specified operation content in the storage means as an operation history based on the operation state of the function key detected by the function key operation detection means and the function key operation detection means. The operated function key is discriminated based on the operation state of the function key, and when the operation history of the content to be operated by the function key is stored in the storage means, the program of the programming device main body is in accordance with the operation history. Start request means to start the In addition, since the memory contents changing means for arbitrarily changing the contents stored in the memory means to create the user's own function selection structure is configured, the operations before the data input operation are labor-saving, It is possible to provide a programming device of a programmable controller capable of creating a program with high work efficiency without having to trace a function hierarchy having many layers each time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of a programmable controller programming device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining operation contents of function selection in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an operation menu of the entire programming device of the programmable controller in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of contents of an operation table for storing an operation history in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

21 ... Function key operation detection unit, 22 ... Function key operation storage unit, 23 ... Operation history storage table,
24 ... Programming device program start request unit, 25
... a programming device program.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A programming device for creating a program for a programmable controller, wherein a general-purpose function key that can be arbitrarily assigned by a user is provided, and a function key operation detecting means for detecting this when the function key is operated. And a function key operation storage means for storing the specified operation content in the storage means as an operation history based on the operation state of the function key detected by the function key operation detection means, and the function key operation detection means The operated function key is discriminated based on the operation state of the function key detected by, and when the operation history of the contents to be operated by the function key is stored in the storage means, the program is executed according to the operation history. Programmable controller programming apparatus characterized in that it comprises a start request means for activating the ring device body program, a. 2. A programming device for creating a program for a programmable controller, wherein a general-purpose function key that can be arbitrarily assigned by a user is provided, and a function key operation detecting means for detecting this when the function key is operated. And a function key operation storage means for storing the specified operation content in the storage means as an operation history based on the operation state of the function key detected by the function key operation detection means, and the function key operation detection means The operated function key is discriminated based on the operation state of the function key detected by, and when the operation history of the contents to be operated by the function key is stored in the storage means, the program is executed according to the operation history. An activation requesting means for activating the program of the main body of the device, and a storage content changing means for arbitrarily changing the content stored in the storage means to create a user-specific function selection structure. Characteristic programmable controller programming device. 3. The programmable controller according to claim 1, wherein the operation history stored in the storage means includes an operation procedure level, an order, an operation command, and target data. Programming device.