JPH06282427A - Programmable controller with icon control function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the programmable controller with the icon control function which enables a program indicating a process procedure as to an icon to easily be inputted in a short time and is speedily applicable to alternations of process contents and icons, etc. CONSTITUTION:A user program 74 which is inputted by using keys 30 and indicates the control procedure of an electronic notebook 20 is stored in a RAM 28 by a programmable controller 22. When a CPU 24 executes the user program 74, icon display control programs 62-72 stored in a ROM 26 are actuated corresponding to icon display instructions included in the user program 74 to control the display of icons on an LCD 32.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a programmable controller for controlling equipment, and more particularly to a technique for controlling display of icons used in interactive operations.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Among OA equipment, home electric appliances, machine tools, and the like, there are some which use a programmable controller in a control section in order to increase their versatility. This programmable controller controls the device according to the program that shows the operation procedure, and by changing the contents of the program, it does not add or change the configuration of the device, depending on the application, purpose, usage environment, etc. It is possible to operate the device properly.

On the other hand, in devices operated interactively while displaying operation guides and messages on the screen, recently, icons are often used to facilitate the operation. In a controller for controlling a device, a technique of displaying an icon by a program is realized.

For example, BASIC (Beginner's All-
purpose symbolic instruction code) In an electronic notebook equipped with a controller that uses a program written in a language as a control unit, an icon is displayed on a liquid crystal touch panel, and the operation procedure of instructing this icon with a touch pen or keyboard is programmed. It is as shown below.

An image of an icon is displayed on the touch panel using a PSET, LINE, GPRINT command or the like.

TOUCH, INPUT, INKEY
Using a $ command or the like, it is checked whether or not any part (point) on the touch panel is designated by the touch pen or the keyboard.

[0007] If there is any instruction, whether or not the instructed point is within the display range of the icon image is TO.
Check using the UCH function instruction.

If the designated point is within the display range of the icon image, in order to inform the user that the icon is designated, a LINE command or the like is used to fill in a rectangular range including the icon image. Do and flip the icon image.

If it is determined that the user has confirmed the icon by instructing the same location twice in succession or by releasing the touch pen from the touch panel, the processing data and the like are held as necessary. While moving to the next process. Follow these steps with IF THEN ELS
Described in the program as a syntax using the E instruction or the like.

[0010]

However, in the above-mentioned program, a large number of program instructions must be combined in order to show the processing procedure relating to the icon, which complicates the programming work.
In addition, it takes a long time to input the program. Furthermore, since the number of steps of a program to be input is large and the size of the program is large, it is necessary to provide the controller with a large-capacity memory for the user, which increases the assembly cost of the device. Also, depending on the device, a large number of programs may be input to the controller in order to diversify the control procedure, and if the processing procedure for the same icon is described in many places in the program, It is necessary to change the program at each location when changing the shape of, which is very troublesome, and may cause omission of changes or erroneous correction.

On the other hand, regarding the programming method, the process of determining whether or not an icon is instructed, as in the above-described program, is specifically as shown in FIG. A method of dividing into a large number of rectangles and checking whether or not the designated point exists in any of the rectangles is used. Therefore, in order to express this processing by a program, it is necessary to learn advanced techniques related to geometric calculation and programming.
It is a heavy burden on the user. Similarly, the process of inverting the image of the icon as shown in the above-described program can be performed by using the BASIC language, which is provided with a paint command in a designated range. However, in this case, since only the rectangular range can be specified, as shown in FIG. 35, even an unnecessary portion may be inverted depending on the shape of the icon, which may cause a problem in operation. is there.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and allows a program indicating a processing procedure relating to an icon to be input easily and in a short time. It is an object of the present invention to provide a programmable controller having an icon control function capable of swiftly responding to changes in the.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an apparatus for controlling a device operated interactively by using an icon displayed on a display unit, and controlling the operation of the device. Input means for inputting a program indicating a procedure for performing, a first storage means connected to the input means for storing the program input by the input means, and a program stored in the first storage means Control means for outputting a control signal for controlling the operation of the device based on the control information contained in the second storage means, a second storage means for storing the image data of the icon, a control means and a second storage means. Connected to and responding to an icon control signal output from the control means on the basis of one unit of icon control information contained in the program stored in the first storage means, It is intended to include display control means for controlling the display by the display unit of the read Te icon image data icon signal designates the second storage means.

[0014]

With the above structure, when the program indicating the control procedure of the equipment is input from the input means, the program is stored in the first storage means. According to the stored program, the control means outputs various control signals for controlling the device. When the control means outputs an icon control signal based on one unit of icon control information included in the program and is input to the display control means, the display control means causes an image of the icon designated by the icon control signal. The data is read from the second storage means, and the display of the icon on the display unit is controlled.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below by taking a programmable controller (hereinafter simply referred to as "controller") for controlling an electronic notebook as an example.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of an electronic notebook 20 according to this embodiment. A controller 22 which is a control unit of the electronic notebook 20 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 24 corresponding to the control means according to claim 1.
And a ROM (Read Only Memory) 26 storing a program (described later) corresponding to the display control means according to claim 1.
And a RAM (Random Access Memory) 28 corresponding to the first storage means and the second storage means according to claim 1, and a key 30 corresponding to the input means according to claim 1 used for data input. Including. The CPU 24 has a liquid crystal display (hereinafter, referred to as “LCD”) 32 for displaying data.
Are connected via the LCD driver 34. LC
A touch panel 38 having a touch pen 36 is provided on the surface of D32, and the data of the position designated by the touch pen 36 is stored in the A / D (Analog / Digital) converter 4.
It is transmitted to the CPU 24 via 0. Further, an input / output port 42 for inputting / outputting data to / from the outside is provided, and
It is connected to the CPU 24 via an / O (Input / Output) 44. Further, an IC (Integrated
Circuit) card 48 can be installed. This IC card 4
Reference numeral 8 includes a ROM 50 and a RAM 52, is connected to the CPU 24, and is used as an expansion memory.

The ROM 26 of the controller 22 includes a file designating program 62 for designating an icon data file, a display program 64 for displaying an icon on the LCD 32, a blinking program 66 for blinking the icon, and an icon. An erasing program 68 for erasing (non-displaying) from the LCD 30, a trace program 70 for inverting the dot of the designated icon, and whether the point designated on the touch panel 38 is within the display range of the icon. An area determination program 72 for determining is stored. RAM
Reference numeral 28 denotes a user program 74 input by the user to control the electronic notebook 20, a data file 76 storing icon image data, and L.
A display management table 78 used for managing the icons displayed on the CD 32 is stored. The user program 74 is the operation procedure of the electronic notebook 20.
It is shown in the ASIC language.

2 and 3 are examples of the icon image displayed on the LCD 32, in which (a) shows a normal display state and (b) shows an inverted state. In the electronic organizer 20 of this embodiment, icon data is handled in a rectangular display range (illustrated by a broken line). In the case of the icon shown in FIG. 2, the icon image is inverted by inverting the brightness of the dots within the display range. On the other hand, in the icon shown in FIG. 3, in addition to the data of the normal display image (hereinafter, referred to as “front image”), the image at the time of inversion (hereinafter, “back image”)
Data is also stored, and when the icon is inverted, the back image data is displayed. These two
Which of the types of inversion methods should be used may be determined at the time of creating the icon data (described later) in consideration of the purpose and shape of the icon. Note that, in the following description, those having back image data are referred to as buttons in distinction from icons.

4 to 7 are examples of screen displays of an icon / button creating tool used in a personal computer (hereinafter, simply referred to as "personal computer") to create or change the image data of the icon / button. . A procedure for creating icon / button data will be described with reference to these drawings. When the icon / button creation tool is activated, a file setting / selection screen 90 shown in FIG. 4 is displayed. When a new icon / button data file is created, a new file name is input from the file name input area 92. When calling a file already registered, the cursor 96 is moved to the desired file name in the file name list display area 94 and selected.

When the file name is input or selected,
The creation / edit screen 100 shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. The creation / edit screen 100 has a drawing area 102 for drawing an image of an icon / button and a drawing area 102.
A menu area 104 is provided for selecting processing such as "registration", "call", and "delete" for the image data drawn in. In the drawing area 102, the icon / button image is drawn in dot units.

After the image drawing is completed, the menu area 1
When the user selects "Register" in 04, the registration / movement / deletion screen 110 shown in FIG. 6 is displayed. Here, the icon / button created on the creating / editing screen 100 is registered in a vacant place. When registered, the image data of the icon / button is stored in the flexible disk as a data file of a predetermined format. The registration / movement / deletion screen 110 is also used when “moving” the image data to change the registration number of the icon / button or “deleting” the image data.

On the other hand, the registered icon / button is displayed in the menu area 104 by instructing “call” to display a call screen 114 shown in FIG. 7, and a desired icon / button is selected to create / edit a screen. 100 drawing areas 10
The image data can be called and changed to 2.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a method for transmitting the icon / button data created by the above-described procedure to the electronic notebook 20. At the time of data transmission, the electronic notebook 20 and the personal computer 120 are connected by a cable 122 to connect the personal computer 1
Data is transmitted from the flexible disk 20 to the electronic notebook 20. The data sent from the personal computer 120 is
The data is received by the CPU 22 via the input / output port 42 and stored as a data file 76 in the empty area of the RAM 28 as shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a structural diagram of the data file 76. The data file 76 includes a header part, an index part, and a data part. The header portion includes an identification code indicating the type of file and the number of data items stored in the file, that is, the number of icons / buttons. As the identification code, in the case of an icon / button data file, the character "IB", which is the abbreviation for Icon or Button, is AS.
It is stored in CII code. The index portion sequentially stores the relative addresses in the data file 76 of the icons / buttons included in the data portion. The data section stores an icon / button discrimination code for discriminating whether the data is an icon or a button, and dot data of the icon / button, and in the case of a button, also stores dot data of the back image. .

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of the display management table 78. The display management table 78 is the LCD 32 (FIG. 1).
For the icon / button displayed in, the registration number and the upper left coordinate of the display range are stored.

Tables 1 to 6 show the formats and functions of the commands for controlling the display of icons / buttons. In the user program 74 (FIG. 1), the instruction "I
By setting a predetermined parameter in CON "and executing the program, the program 62 of the ROM 26 corresponding to the instruction is executed.
.About.72 (FIG. 1) is activated, and the control operation shown in the table is performed.

[0027]

[Table 1]

[0028]

[Table 2]

[0029]

[Table 3]

[0030]

[Table 4]

[0031]

[Table 5]

[0032]

[Table 6]

Referring to FIGS. 11 to 32, ROM 2
The processing procedure of the programs 62 to 72 (FIG. 1) of No. 6 will be described. In this embodiment, the programs 62-72
Was created using C language.

FIG. 11 shows a file designation program 62.
It is a flowchart of (FIG. 1). User program 7
4, when "ICON I," file name "" is executed, the file designation program 62 is activated and the file name designated by the parameter is stored in the free space of the RAM 28 (S101).

12 and 13 show the display program 6
4 is a flowchart of FIG. 4 (FIG. 1). "ICON D,
Registration number, (display X coordinate, Y coordinate) "is executed,
The display program 64 is activated, and the file designating program 62 opens the data file 76 corresponding to the file name stored in the free area of the RAM 28 (S
201). The file identification code in the header portion of the data file 76 (FIG. 9) is read (S202). If the identification code is not "IB" (NO in S203), error processing is performed (S204), and the process ends. The identification code is "I
If it is B ″ (YES in S203), the number of data, that is, the maximum registration number is read (S205). It is checked whether or not the registration number specified in the parameter is smaller than the maximum registration number (S206), and it is smaller. If not (S206
NO), error processing is performed (S204), and the process ends.
If the designated number is smaller than the maximum number (YES in S206
S), the address of the index of the designated registration number is calculated (S207), the content of the index is read (S208), the address where the data is stored is obtained, and the icon / button data of the data part is read (S20).
9). The read front image is displayed at the coordinates designated by the touch panel 38 on the LCD 32 (S210).
When the display of the icon / button is completed, the registration number of the displayed icon / button and the upper left coordinate of the display range are registered in the display management table 78 (FIG. 10) (S211),
The data file 76 is closed (S212) and the process ends.

14 to 16 show a blinking program 6
6 is a flowchart of FIG. 6 (FIG. 1). "ICON B,
When the "registration number, number of blinks" is executed, the blinking program 66 is activated, and S201 to S of the display program 64 are executed.
209 (FIGS. 12 and 13), the data of the designated icon / button is read (S301 to S301).
309). The display management table 78 (FIG. 10) is read (S310), and it is checked whether the designated icon / button is registered in the display management table 78 (S3).
11) If not registered (NO in S311),
Error processing is performed (S304), and the process ends. If the designated icon / button is registered in display management table 78 (YES in S311), display management table 7
The upper left coordinate of the display range is read with reference to the data of No. 8 (S312).

Next, after the blinking counter for counting the number of blinks is cleared to 0 (S313), the icon / icon included in the data portion of the data file 76 (FIG. 9) is set.
It is determined by the button discrimination code whether the designated one is an icon or a button, that is, whether or not there is back image data (S314). If the data is icon data and the back image data is not included (S
(NO in 314), the vertical / horizontal size of the read table image data is calculated (S315), and all the dots included in the display range of the vertical / horizontal size based on the upper leftmost coordinates obtained in S312. Is reversed (S316). on the other hand,
If the data is button data and the back image data is included in S314 (YES in S314).
S), based on the data, the back image is displayed at the coordinates obtained in S312 (S317). If the reverse image of the icon or the back image of the button is displayed, after waiting for a predetermined time (S318), the front image is displayed (S).
319). After adding 1 to the blinking counter (S320),
It is determined whether the blinking counter has reached the designated number of blinks, that is, whether the blinking has been performed the designated number of times (S32).
1). If the number of blinks has not reached the specified number (NO in S321), after waiting for a predetermined time (S32).
2), the above-described processing of S314 to S320 is repeated.
If the number of blinks reaches the designated number (YES in S321),
The data file 76 is closed (S323) and the process ends.

17 to 20 show an erase program 6
8 is a flowchart of FIG. 8 (FIG. 1). "ICON C,
When the "registration number" is executed, the deletion program 68 is activated, and the data file 76 is opened by the same procedure as S201 to S204 (FIG. 12) of the display program 64 (S401 to S404). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the registration number designated by the parameter is 0, that is, whether or not it is instructed to delete all the displayed icons / buttons (S405), and if the designated number is 0, (S
(YES at 405), and proceeds to the process of all erasing (described later). If the designated number of the parameter is not 0 (N in S405
O), S305 to S312 of the blinking program 66
The designated number is checked and the display coordinates and the size are obtained in the same procedure as (FIGS. 14 and 15) (S406 to S4).
13) The display range is calculated (S414), and the images included in the range are deleted (S415).

On the other hand, if all deletion is designated (S40
5 is YES), and it is checked whether or not data is stored in the display management table 78 (FIG. 10) (S416). If the data is stored (YES in S416), the registration number of the icon / button at the head and the display coordinates thereof are taken out (S417). The address of the index in the data file 76 (FIG. 9) corresponding to the retrieved registration number is calculated (S418), and the content is read (S4).
19). The icon / button data stored at the address indicated by the index is read (S420), the vertical and horizontal sizes of the image data are calculated, and the size and S417 are calculated.
Calculate the display range by using the upper left coordinates extracted in
The images included in the range are deleted (S421). Display management table 78 for deleted icons / buttons (FIG. 10)
Delete the data in, that is, the data at the beginning,
After moving up and updating the second and subsequent data (S42
2) and returns to S416. The presence or absence of data is checked in S416, and if there is data (YES in S416), the above-described processing of S417 to S422 is repeated. If there is no data (NO in S416), the data file 76 is closed (S423). ),finish.

21 to 25 are flowcharts of the trace program 70 (FIG. 1). "ICON
"T, registration number, result variable" is executed, the trace program 70 is activated, and S3 of the blinking program 66 is executed.
01-S312 (FIGS. 14 and 15), the data of the icon / button of the designated registration number is read from the data file 76 and the display management table 78 (S501-S512). Calculate the vertical and horizontal size of the image based on the read data (S513),
The display range on the LCD 32 is obtained (S514). Subsequently, after this time point, first, the coordinates on the touch panel 38 pressed by the touch pen 36 are acquired (S51).
5) Then, it is checked whether or not the pressed position is within the display range obtained in S514 (S516). If it is outside the display range (NO in S516), 0 is set in the result variable, that is, a code indicating "out of range" (S517), and the process is ended. On the other hand, if the first pressed position is within the display range (YES in S516), the currently displayed icon /
0 for the front / back flag to indicate whether the button is a front image, a back image, or an inverted image
(Table) is set (S518).

Next, by referring to the icon / button discrimination code in the data portion of the data file 76 (FIG. 9), it is discriminated whether it is an icon or a button to check the presence / absence of back image data (S519). If there is no back image data (NO in S519), the dots within the display range obtained in S514 are reversed to display an inverted image of the icon (S520). If there is back image data (YES in S519), the back image of the button is S
It is displayed at the coordinates taken out at 512 (S521). When the inversion or the back image display is completed, 1 (back) is set to the front / back flag (S522).

Subsequently, the coordinates currently pressed on the touch panel 38 (FIG. 1) are acquired (S523). If there is an output indicating the coordinates from the touch panel 38, that is, if it is touched by the touch pen 36 (S524).
YES), it is checked whether the pressed position is within the display range obtained in S514 (S525), and if it is outside the display range (NO in S525), a table image is displayed (S).
526-S528). If it is within the display range (YES in S525), an inverted image is displayed for an icon, and a reverse image is displayed for a button (S529 to S531). When switching between the front and back of the display, the current display state is checked by the front / back flag (S526, S529), and if the display switching is unnecessary (YES at S526, YES at S529). ,
Continue to proceed. When the display is switched, the code of the front / back flag is changed immediately after that (S5).
28, S531).

The above steps S523 to S531 are repeated until the touch pen 36 is released from the touch panel 38. If the touch pen 36 is released from the touch panel 38 (NO in S524), the front / back flag at that time is checked (S532), and if the flag is set to 0 (YES in S532), “out of range” , Which is a code indicating "," is set to the result variable (S533). If the value of the front / back flag is 1 (NO in S532), the display image of the icon / button is returned to the front image (S53).
4), 1 indicating “within range” is set to the result variable (S
535). When the setting of the result variable is completed, the data file 76 is closed (S536), and the process ends.

26 to 32 are flowcharts of the area determination program 72 (FIG. 1). "ICON
"A (result variable), registration number, presence / absence of trace, number of blinks" is executed, the area determination program 72 is activated, and S501 to S514 of the trace program 70 are executed.
The display range of the icon / button is obtained by the same procedure as (FIGS. 21 and 22) (S601 to S614). Next, the presence / absence of trace designation in the parameter is determined (S615). If the parameter designating the presence / absence of trace is not T (NO in S615), the process proceeds to normal area determination processing.

In the normal area determination processing, the coordinates at which the touch panel 38 is pressed are acquired (S616), and it is checked whether or not the position is within the icon / button display range obtained in S614 (S617). If the pressed position is out of the display range (NO in S617), 0 indicating “out of range” is set in A, which is a parameter that specifies the area determination and is also a result variable (S61).
8). If the pressed position is within the display range (YES in S617), the result variable A is set to "within range", which is 1 (S619).

On the other hand, when T is set in the trace designation parameter (YES in S615), the trace program 70 performs steps S515 to S535 (see FIGS. 23 to 2) so that the trace processing is performed simultaneously with the area determination.
The same process as 5) is performed (S620 to S640).

The normal area determination processing described above (S616
To S619) or when the area determination / trace processing (S620 to S640) is completed, "within range"
If it is determined (YES in S641), the blinking process of the icon / button is performed in the same procedure as S313 to S322 (FIGS. 15 and 16) of the blinking program 66 (S642 to S651). When the process is completed, the data file 76 is closed (S652) and the process is ended.

FIG. 33 shows an example of a user program for controlling the electronic notebook 20 of this embodiment, which displays an icon / button, and when the icon / button is selected, blinks three times and is selected. This is a description of a process indicating that. FIG. 7A shows a program using "ICON" which is an icon / button control command, and FIG. 9B shows only a basic command in the BASIC language as in the conventional case. In the conventional program, when controlling the display of icons / buttons, a plurality of units of program commands (control information) are used in combination for processing such as displaying a large number of figures and determining coordinates. There must be. On the other hand, in the controller 22 of the present embodiment, the display of each icon / button can be controlled by the program command of one unit in the user program, so that the program can be easily made smaller than the conventional one.

In the controller 22 of this embodiment,
The icon / button is stored in the RAM 28 as individually identifiable image data, and the control command "ICON" is stored.
By specifying the registration number of the icon with the parameter, the display of any icon can be controlled. Therefore, when changing the type of icon / button to be displayed, it can be easily performed by changing the number specified in the user program. Furthermore, when changing the shape of the icon, the image data can be edited on the personal computer without modifying the program.

The present invention has been described above based on the embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made. For example, in this embodiment, the icon /
Although the image data of the button is handled in the rectangular display range, it may be handled in the display range in which the picture of the icon / button is the outer shape. In that case, when determining whether it is within or outside the range, it is possible to determine whether the dot at the position pressed by the touch pen 36 is black or white, instead of the coordinate. Further, FIG. 8 shows an example in which data created on a personal computer is transmitted to the electronic notebook via a cable, but the R of the IC card 48 shown in FIG.
A method of storing the data file 76 in the AM 52 and mounting the IC card 48 on the electronic notebook 20 may be used.

On the other hand, the processing contents of the programs shown in FIGS. 11 to 32 are not limited to individual procedures, and can be modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For user programs, see BASI
Although an example using C language is shown and the programs 62 to 72 for controlling the display of icons are created in C language,
Both of them may use other general high-level programming languages or machine languages, and in some cases, may use a specific control language that is limited to the device to be controlled.

Although the configuration of the present embodiment exemplifies the programmable controller used as the control unit of the electronic notebook, the present invention displays the icon on the display unit such as a display and controls the device operated interactively. It can be widely applied to the device.

[0053]

As described above, the programmable controller of the present invention uses a unit of control information to display each icon in a program when designating a control operation of a device operated interactively using the icon. It was configured to be controllable. As a result, 1
Controlling the display of one icon eliminates the need to combine a plurality of units of control information for displaying a large number of figures and determining coordinate values, and is simple and easy to input and change. A programmable controller capable of controlling a device by a program can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a programmable controller for controlling an electronic notebook according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example of an icon image.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of a button image.

[Figure 4] Icon / button creation tool file settings
It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a selection screen.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of a creation / editing screen of an icon / button creation tool.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of a registration / movement / deletion screen of an icon / button creation tool.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example of a call screen of an icon / button creation tool.

[Figure 8] Icon / created on a personal computer
It is explanatory drawing which shows the method of transmitting the data of a button to an electronic notebook.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of an icon / button data file.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of an icon / button display management table.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a file designation program.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a display program.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a display program.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a blinking program.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a blinking program.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a blinking program.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an erase program.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an erase program.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an erase program.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an erase program.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a trace program.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a trace program.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a trace program.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a trace program.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a trace program.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an area determination program.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an area determination program.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an area determination program.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an area determination program.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an area determination program.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an area determination program.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an area determination program.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing an example of a user program for controlling an electronic notebook.

FIG. 34 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which an icon image is divided into rectangles of large and small logarithms in a conventional programmable controller.

FIG. 35 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a rectangular range is filled and an icon image is inverted in a conventional programmable controller.

[Explanation of symbols]

 20 Electronic Notebook 22 Programmable Controller 24 CPU 26 ROM 28 RAM 30 Key 32 Liquid Crystal Display 62 File Designation Program 64 Display Program 66 Blinking Program 68 Erase Program 70 Trace Program 72 Area Judgment Program 74 User Program 76 Data File

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for controlling a device that is interactively operated by using an icon displayed on a display unit, and an input unit for inputting a program showing a procedure for controlling the operation of the device. A first storage unit connected to the input unit for storing a program input by the input unit; and, based on control information included in the program stored in the first storage unit, the device A control means for outputting a control signal for controlling the operation, a second storage means for storing the image data of the icon, and a first storage means connected to the control means and the second storage means.
In response to an icon control signal output from the control means on the basis of one unit of icon control information contained in the program stored in the storage means of the second storage means. A programmable controller having an icon control function, comprising: a display control unit for controlling the display of the icon by the display unit read from the display unit.