JPH07225831A - Data generation support device for display controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent mis-selection of a program for communication by automatically specifying a program 51 for communication corresponding to a selected external device simultaneously with acquisition of comfortable plotting data generation environments by selecting the classification of the external device like a PLC(programmable logic controller), to which a display controller is applied, at the time of plotting to automatically present a plotting support program specialized for this external device. CONSTITUTION:A plotting support program as which has the plotting function specialized for the selected external device and the control picture generating function is used to generate plotting data 53, and the program 51 for communication corresponding to this plotting data 53 and a function program 52 required for display of plotting data 53 are automatically selected simultaneously with this generation of plotting data 53. A selected data group is down-loaded to a display controller 15 through a communication line 22 and is subjected to test processing by an emulation program 57.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is connected to various external devices such as programmable logic controllers (hereinafter abbreviated as "PLC"), and displays in response to changes in data handled in the external devices. The present invention relates to a data creation support device that creates various data such as drawing data used in a display control device that performs the above.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the development of PLC has been remarkable, and many companies are developing PLCs with unique functions.
Since the characteristics of each company are too much, the communication protocols required for data exchange with the display control device capable of displaying data corresponding to the data handled on the PLC side have different specifications and are not compatible.

With respect to the current situation on the PLC side, the display control device is specially configured for each PLC, or conversely, a plurality of communication protocols are provided at the same time, and one of them can be selected at the time of initialization prior to the start of use. It is known that it is configured in this way.

[0004]

However, it is expected that the number of communication protocols to be dealt with will increase in the future, and in the above-mentioned method of specially configuring each PLC, complicated model management can be avoided. Absent. Meanwhile, all PLCs
With the method of incorporating the communication protocol corresponding to the above, it is unavoidable that the storage means is enlarged, and the display control device is reduced in size,
Eventually, it is difficult to aim at making an inexpensive system.

As a result of a study made by the present inventor on such a problem, not only the above-mentioned communication protocol but also the contents of creation of various data at the time of drawing differ from PLC to PLC, and various operation settings and communication protocol at the time of drawing Are in a close relationship with each other, and if the PLC is specified at the time of drawing, the communication protocol to be transferred to the execution device such as the display control device can be automatically specified, and the necessary data is automatically transmitted from the data creation support device to the execution device. I found that I could transfer.

The present invention was made on the basis of the above-mentioned findings, and if the type of external device is selected at the time of drawing,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a data creation support device which automatically provides a drawing support means specialized for the external device and which provides a comfortable drawing data creation environment.

Further, the present invention provides a data creation support device capable of automatically specifying a communication program corresponding to the PLC once the type of PLC is selected at the time of drawing and preventing a mistake in selecting the communication program. The purpose is to provide.

[0008]

A display control device 15 to which a data creation support device 21 according to the present invention is applied is shown in FIG.
As schematically shown in the configuration thereof, a communication unit 12 that is connected to a predetermined external device 10 via a communication path 11 and exchanges necessary data with the external device 10, and the communication unit 12 The control unit 13 that creates image information based on the received data and the display unit 14 that performs a display corresponding to the image information output from the control unit 13 are integrally provided.

The data creation support device 21 is specialized in the manual selection means 16 for manually identifying the external device 10 used on the display control device 15 side and the external device 10 identified by the manual selection device 16. An image drawing means 17 having a function of creating the drawing data 53, a storage means 18 storing communication programs corresponding to a plurality of types of communication protocols used for data communication between the external device 10 and the display control device 15, Automatic selection means 19 for automatically extracting from the storage means 18 one type of communication program 51 specified by the drawing data 53 created by the drawing means 17, and the drawing data 5 created by using the drawing means 17
3 and a communication program 51 extracted by the automatic selection means 19 and a data transfer means 20 capable of supplying the display control device 15 at the same time.

The data transfer means 20 is connected to the communication section 12 of the display control device 15 through the communication path 22, and the drawing data 53 created by the drawing means 17 and the automatic selection means 19 are taken out. It is preferable that the communication program 51 and the display control device 15 can be automatically downloaded.

The external device 10 is a PLC that controls the target system 28, and the data creation support device 21 finishes downloading the necessary data group to the display control device 15 and then selects P.
The function of the LC may be emulated so that the operation on the display control device 15 side can be tested.

[0012]

The operator first specifies the type of the external device 10 used in the display control device 15 by using the manual selection means 16 in the data creation support device 21. Then, the drawing means 17 automatically provides the operator with the function of creating the drawing data 53 specialized for the selected external device 10. Therefore, the operator uses the external device 10 such as the address designation at the time of data setting accompanying the drawing operation.
Drawing means 17 without worrying about the expression format specialized for
By performing the predetermined data input and drawing operation as requested by the user, the drawing data 53 necessary for the control on the display control device 15 side and the screen display is created.

When the decision operation of the drawing data 53 created by the drawing means 17 is performed, the automatic selection means 19
Automatically retrieves the communication program 51 suitable for the external device 10 specified by the drawing data 53 from the storage means 18. The communication program 51, together with the above-mentioned drawing data 53, is sent to the display control device 15 side using the data transfer means 20, indirectly using a memory means such as an IC card, or via the communication path 22. It will be automatically downloaded to 12.

After that, the communication unit 12 uses the communication program 51 transferred as described above to set the communication unit 12 to the external device 10.
While the required data is exchanged between the control unit 13 and the drawing data 53, the control unit 13 creates image information using the received data and the drawing data 53, and the display unit 14 performs a display corresponding to the image information.

[0015]

According to the present invention, as described above, the manual selection means 16 is used.
The external device 10 to which the display control device 15 is connected
Once the type of is selected, the selected external device 10
Since the drawing means 17 adapted to the above is provided, it is possible to obtain a comfortable environment for creating the drawing data 53 in which a data input error at the time of creating the drawing data 53 is prevented.

Further, prior to the creation of the drawing data 53,
Only by specifying the type of the external device 10, the external device 10
Since the communication program 51 corresponding to is automatically specified, the selection mistake of the communication program 51 can be prevented, and the communication program 51 is automatically displayed together with the drawing data 53 formed by the drawing means 17. Transfer errors to the control device 15 side and necessary data can be prevented as much as possible.

[0017]

The configuration and operation of the display control device 15 and the data creation support device 21 for carrying out the present invention will be described in more detail below. A concrete description will be given based on an example in which the PLC 25 is used as the external device 10 connected to the display control device 15. However, in the case where a general-purpose or dedicated computer or other control device is used as the external device 10, Needless to say, it can be implemented in substantially the same manner.

As shown in FIG. 2, the display control device 15 embodying the present invention is of a small size in which the volume of the main body case 23 and the display screen 24 exposed at the front thereof are suppressed to the minimum necessary. Sometimes, the target PL
It is directly connected to C25 via the communication path 11 as shown in FIG.

[0019]

[Circuit Configuration of PLC] In the PLC 25 to which the display control device 15 is accessed as an external device, a circuit is unitized for each required individual function, and each unit is appropriately added via a bus line 26 as needed. By connecting in parallel as much as possible, the function achieved by the PLC 25 as a whole can be increased / decreased, and has substantially the same configuration as the conventional one (for example, product number “C2000H” manufactured by OMRON Corporation).

In this example, a CPU unit 27 for controlling the entire PLC 25 and a target system 28 are provided.
The input unit 29 that enables the direct reception of the detection signal sent from the device, and the output unit 30 that enables the output of a predetermined control signal toward the target system 28.
And a memory unit 31 for storing various data and a computer link unit 32 for enabling predetermined data communication with the display control device 15 as basic units.

The storage location of various information input / output to / from the target system 28 is a passive component such as a level meter or a limit switch provided on the target system 28 to be controlled or displayed, or a relay or a motor. Each active component is secured on the memory unit 31, and the input / output data is addressed by the word device for word data such as numerical values, and the bit device for bit data such as on / off information by addressing. It is set in the memory unit 31 so that the storage location can be specified.
Therefore, by simply specifying an address to access an arbitrary word device or bit device in the memory unit 31 from inside or outside the PLC 25, the corresponding position of the target system 28 can be controlled or the data regarding the operation state thereof can be individually obtained. I am taking it out.

[0022]

[Circuit Configuration of Display Control Device] The display control device 15 is integrated with the above-mentioned PLC 25 in an operation console of the target system 28 or provided independently, and is a means for inputting and displaying data to the target system 28. Is used as.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, a display 34 selected from various display means such as CRT, EL, plasma or liquid crystal is provided so as to close an opening 33 provided at the center of the front surface of the main body case 23. Deploy.

The display control circuit 35 shown in FIG. 3 is housed inside the main body case 23, while the display 3 described above is used.
4 is a transparent touch panel 3 in front of the display screen 24.
It is covered in close contact with No. 6. This touch panel 36
The instruction by the pressing operation for (1) is captured and analyzed via the touch panel controller 37, and various manual operations can be performed at the time of test, initial setting before the start of operation of the entire system, or during operation.

The basic configuration of the display control circuit 35 is a general personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as "personal computer").
And the CPU 3 via the bus line 38.
9, a ROM 40, a RAM 41, or a graphic controller 42 is connected to the ROM 4 as shown in FIG.
C according to the system program 54a stored in 0
While the PU 39 performs a predetermined arithmetic operation, various arithmetic results appropriately stored in the RAM 41 are expanded on the video RAM 43 by the graphic controller 42 by using the drawing data 53a including the processing instruction word described in detail later. The display corresponding to the contents written in the video RAM 43 is displayed on the display 34.

Further, a communication program 51a conforming to the communication protocol in the computer link unit 32 of the PLC 25 is provided, and the communication controller 44 and the communication path 1 are provided.
1 enables data to be exchanged with the computer link unit 32 on the PLC 25 side at high speed.

All or part of the ROM 40 described above uses a memory means such as a flash memory that can be rewritten a plurality of times and does not require backup using a power source, and a display controller. 15
Prior to the use as, the various programs and data required for the operation can be downloaded from the data creation support device 21 side and stored in the ROM 40.

That is, the communication controller 44 is preliminarily provided with only a basic communication program having a low speed but versatility such as the RS-232C standard, and a high speed specialized for the communication protocol of the PLC 25 to be connected. Of the communication program or other data, as shown in FIG. 4, only a necessary portion is selectively stored in the ROM 40 by using the data creation support device 21, so that a memory to be provided in the display control device 15 is provided. It is configured so that the capacity can be suppressed to the required minimum.

[0029]

[Circuit configuration of the data creation support device] In this embodiment, as the data creation support device 21, as shown in FIG. 2, a portable personal computer in which a keyboard 45 and a display 46 are integrated is used. It may be dedicated to it.

Here, RS- which is commonly used in personal computers
The 232C type communication connector is connected to the communication controller 44 on the display control device 15 side via the communication path 22, and is provided with a predetermined download program 55, and data necessary for mutual communication with the display control device 15. It is possible to deliver Furthermore, a program for drawing support 48
It is possible to create various kinds of drawing data 53a used on the display control device 15 side as described below.

That is, in the display control device 15, a base screen 47 such as a table or a graph frame illustrated in FIG. 5 (a) whose display contents do not need to be changed, or blinking or color change on the base screen 47. Graphic data such as figures to be displayed is created by designating one file number for each required display unit.

On the other hand, among the data indicated by the bit or word device formed in the memory unit 31 of the PLC 25, necessary data is read into the RAM 41 of the display control device 15 side in association with each other at an appropriate time, while R
The process instruction word W illustrated in FIG. 5B, which is stored in advance on the OM 40, is read out intermittently at every minute time, and the operation of the content specified by the event name T of each process instruction word W is performed by PLC.
By executing the operation while referring to the data taken out from the 25 side, the display operation that changes in response to the change in the contents of the bit device or the word device on the PLC 25 side is performed.

That is, the basic structure of the processing instruction word W is
It is composed of a file number F of the base screen 47 on which the display control operation is to be executed, an event name T specifying the operation content to be executed on the base screen 47, and one or more data referred to for each execution event. The data creation support device is provided with the reference information d as one set, and the number of processing instruction words W corresponding to the number of events to be executed on each base screen 47 and the graphic data referenced from the processing instruction words W are It is created as the drawing data 53 by using the function realized by the drawing support program 48 provided in 21.

[0034]

[Initial Setting Operation of Display Control Device] Next, the initial setting operation of the display control device 15 using the data creation support device 21 will be described with reference to the explanatory view of FIG. 5 and the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the data creation support device 21 is energized and started up, in step 70, the display control device 15 can be connected to the PL on the display screen 58 of the display 46.
C is displayed as a list and the selection of the PLC 25 to be used is requested.
Then, when one corresponding PLC 25 is selected on the display screen 58, the drawing support program 48 corresponding to the PLC 25 is selected, and the program 48 starts operating (step 71).

The drawing support program 48 provided in the data creation support device 21 has a drawing function 49 for creating the above-mentioned graphic data and a control screen creating function 50 for designing a screen using the processing instruction word W. Composed of and.

The drawing function 49 is capable of freely creating arbitrary figures on the display screen, as is the case with ordinary graphic software, and is provided with a frequently used figures in advance as a database so that the figures can be arbitrarily displayed on the screen. It is pulled out so that it can be used.

On the other hand, the control screen creating function 50 concretely configures the display screen for controlling the PLC 25 by using the graphic created by using the drawing function 49, and performs necessary processing corresponding to each graphic. This is for setting the directive word W. Here, each processing instruction word W is PL as reference information d.
In many cases, it is necessary to specify the address in the memory unit 31 on the C25 side, and the address is specified by a symbol unique to the PLC.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when addressing is required at the time of inputting the drawing data 53 in step 72, it is determined in step 73 whether or not the data is input properly, and it is inappropriate. If a format or a value that exceeds the specifiable range is entered, it is automatically prompted to re-enter the data. PLC2 to which it applies
If there is any other model-specific or general restriction item in 5, the same is checked in step 73, and illegal data input is restricted.

If the drawing data 53 is not confirmed in step 74, the process returns to step 72 and the input process of the drawing data 53 is continued, but the necessary data forming process is completed and the operation of confirming the drawing data 53 is completed. When performed in step 74, the process proceeds to step 75, and the data transfer operation from the data creation support device 21 side to the display control device 15 side is started.

Here, in this embodiment, only a portion of the display control device 15 that processes a basic operation is made common as the system program 54, and a communication program 51 for executing a data communication function with the PLC 25 is provided. When,
A function program 52 for executing each function required for the display control operation using the processing instruction word W is separately provided, and only the necessary program is provided corresponding to the drawing data 53 created as described above. Is configured to be automatically selected as data for transfer.

That is, in step 75, the drawing data 53
Only one or a plurality of function programs 52 required for the processing of step 1 are selected, and the communication program 51 corresponding to the drawing data 53 is automatically selected in step 76, so that the data necessary for the operation of the display control device 15 is selected. The group creation work is completed.

This data group can be stored in a predetermined memory means such as an IC card and indirectly transferred to the display control device 15 side via this memory means. However, in the present embodiment, when the creation of the above-mentioned data group is completed, the data creation support device 21 via the communication path 22.
When the display control device 15 and the display control device 15 are connected, the download program 55 starts file transfer to the display control device 15 in step 77, and the drawing data 53, the function program 52, the communication program and the system program 5 are started.
Data transfer with 4 as a set is performed until it is confirmed in step 78.

Further, when it is confirmed in step 78 that the processing of transferring the necessary files to the display control device 15 side is completed, the data creation support device 2
In response to a command from the first side, the display controller 15 activates the boot program 56 incorporated in advance and enters the test mode of step 79. In such a test mode, the emulation program 57 provided in the data creation support device 21 simulates the function of the selected PLC 25, and whether or not each file downloaded to the display control device 15 side operates normally. The operation can be confirmed in advance without connecting to the actual PLC 25.

The display controller 15 which has completed the above-mentioned initialization and operation confirmation in step 79 selects the selected PL.
It has various functions specialized for C25. Therefore, instead of the above-described data creation support device 21, by connecting the corresponding PLC 25 via the communication path 11, the display control device 1
On the display 34 of No. 5, data is displayed immediately corresponding to the control content of the PLC 25.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a basic configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing external shapes of a display control device and a data creation support device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of a display control device and an external device.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a data transfer state between a display control device and a data creation support device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of drawing data,
(A) shows graphic data, (b) shows a processing instruction word, respectively.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an initial setting operation in the display control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 External device 11 Communication path 12 Communication part 13 Control part 14 Display part 15 Display control device 16 Manual selection means 17 Drawing means 18 Storage means 19 Automatic selection means 20 Data transfer means 21 Data creation support device 44 Communication controller 46 Display 48 Drawing support Program 49 Drawing function 50 Control screen creation function 51 Communication program 52 Function program 53 Drawing data 54 System program 55 Download program 58 Display screen

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A communication unit (12) connected to an external device (10) through a communication path (11) for exchanging data with the external device (10), and the communication unit (12). Control unit (1) that creates image information based on the data received by
A data creation support device for a display control device (15), which is integrally provided with 3) and a display part (14) for performing a display corresponding to the image information output from the control part (13). Manual selection means (16) for manually specifying the external device (10) to be operated, and the external device (1) specified by the manual selection means (16)
Created by the drawing means (17) having a drawing data creation function specialized for 0), the storage means (18) storing the communication programs corresponding to a plurality of types of communication protocols, and the drawing means (17) Drawing data (53)
The automatic selection means (19) for automatically taking out the communication program (51) specified in step 5 from the storage means (18) and the drawing data (5) created by the drawing means (17).
3) and a data transfer device (20) capable of simultaneously supplying the communication program (51) retrieved by the automatic selection device (19) to the display control device (15). Data creation support device. 2. The data transfer means (20) includes a communication section (12) and a communication path (22) of the display control device (15).
The drawing data (53) created by using the drawing means (17) and the communication program (51) extracted by the automatic selecting means (19) are connected to the display control device (15). 2. The data creation support device according to claim 1, wherein the data creation support device can be automatically downloaded. 3. The above-mentioned external device (10) controls the target system (28) by a PLC (2).
5) The data creation support device (21) is a display control device (15)
After downloading the necessary data group to, emulate the function of the selected PLC (25),
The data creation support device according to claim 2, wherein the operation on the display control device (15) side can be tested.