JPH0728509A - Programmable controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simultaneously monitor plural input/output data or the like in arbitrary positions of a ladder diagram on the same picture. CONSTITUTION:A microprocessor 1 registers input/output designating information in a working memory 3 based on the input from a keyboard 7 and cyclically samples the states of inputs/outputs designated by this input/output designating information from an I/O memory 6. The states of inputs/outputs sampled by the microprocessor 1 for a certain number of past samplings are stored in a display device 8. The microprocessor 1 switches the display on the display device from the ladder diagram monitor state to the time-series display monitor state to display the input/output state of each sampling on the display device 8 in time series along the time base.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a programmable controller, and more particularly to a programmable controller for displaying input / output data on a monitor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of programmable controller displays a ladder diagram on a CRT screen in system service processing, and turns on / off devices (input / output contacts, external relay contacts, etc.) shown in the ladder diagram. It is common to display and monitor the state by changing the brightness.

In this way, it is possible to comprehend the ladder diagram displayed on at least one screen and the state of input / output data related thereto.

[0004]

However, the user program of this type of programmable controller is usually quite large, whereas the CRT screen has a limited display area, so that the entire ladder diagram is displayed. Only the state of input / output data within a specific narrow range can be simultaneously displayed on the CRT screen.

In other words, this type of ladder diagram monitoring system has the inconvenience of switching the display screen to the corresponding ladder diagram area each time in order to monitor input / output data that are widely separated in the ladder diagram. is there.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is a programmable program having a function of simultaneously monitoring a plurality of input / output data and the like at arbitrary positions in a ladder diagram on the same screen. To provide a controller.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention registers the input / output designation information in the first storage means in response to a key input operation for input / output designation. Registration control means, sample control means for cyclically sampling the input / output state designated by the input / output designation information registered in the first storage means, and input / output state sampled by the sample control means From a second storage means for storing a predetermined number of times in the past, and an image display means for displaying the input / output state of each sample time stored in the second storage means in time series along a time axis. And time-series monitor means; ladder diagram monitor means; and monitor transition means for transitioning from the monitor state by the ladder diagram monitor means to the monitor state by the time-series monitor means.

[0008]

In the time series monitoring means, the registration control means registers the input / output designation information in the first storage means in response to the key input operation for designating the input / output, and the sample control means makes the first control. The input / output state designated by the input / output designation information registered in the storage means is cyclically sampled. Then, the second storage means stores the input / output states sampled by the sample control means for a predetermined number of times in the past,
The image display means displays the input / output states of each sample stored in the second storage means in time series along the time axis.

On the other hand, the ladder diagram monitor means displays the ladder diagram. Then, the monitor shifting means shifts from the monitoring state by the ladder diagram monitoring means to the monitoring state by the time series monitoring means.

[0010]

Embodiments of a programmable controller according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an overall schematic configuration of a programmable controller to which the present invention is applied.

In this programmable controller, the microprocessor 1 is the center of overall control.

The system program memory 2 stores a system program executed by the microprocessor 1.

The working memory 3 is used by the microprocessor 1 as a temporary storage area for various variable data.

The user program memory 4 stores a sequence control program arbitrarily set by the user.

An input / output device (collective term for input circuit and output circuit) 5 including an input interface to which an external input signal is applied and an output interface for transmitting an external output signal, and an input / output data buffer corresponding to the input / output device The I / O memory 6 serving as a memory is provided.

Further, the microprocessor 1 is provided with a keyboard 7 used for inputting various operation commands and for inputting a user program, and a display device 8 for displaying a monitor.

As is well known, this type of programmable
The execution operation of the user program in the controller is
User instructions (for example, corresponding to a ladder diagram) are sequentially read from the user program memory 4, the input / output data stored in the I / O memory 6 is referred to in accordance with each user instruction, and arithmetic processing is performed, and the processing result is obtained. Is to update designated output data of the I / O memory 6.

Further, in a time zone different from the execution of a series of user programs, the input data supplied to the input circuit are collectively written in a predetermined area of the I / O memory 6 (input update), and the I / O is also performed. An operation (output update) of collectively transferring output data in a predetermined area of memory 6 to the output circuit is performed.

In still another time zone, the system service program stored in the system program memory 2 is read as needed to monitor the input / output,
Various operations (system service) such as modification of user programs are performed.

The system program thus stored in the system program memory 2 is loaded into the microprocessor 1
The input update processing, the user program execution processing, the output update processing, the system service processing, and the like are cyclically performed by executing.

In order to realize the present invention, in addition to the basic configuration of the programmable controller described above, it is necessary to provide the following means for functioning in the system service processing.

That is, the microprocessor 1 has a registration control means for registering input / output designation information in the first storage means, and an input / output state designated by the input / output designation information registered in the first storage means. The sample control means for cyclically sampling and the function of each means are provided.

Further, the working memory 3 is provided with a function as a first storage means for registering input / output designation information.

Further, the display device 8 is provided with a function as a second storage means (video RAM) for storing the input / output states sampled by the sample control means for a predetermined number of times in the past, and also has a second function. The storage means is provided with a function as an image display means for displaying the input / output state of each sample times in time series along the time axis.

Input / output is designated by the keyboard 7. In this case, the keys are operated in the order shown in FIG.

That is, the keyboard 7 includes a time-series monitor key 71, types of input / output data, for example, input / output signals T / C of timer and counter, input / output signals i / o of control system.
A selection key 72 for selecting, etc., a number key 73 for keying in an input / output number, an entry key 74 for deciding to display on the screen of the display device 8, and an end key 75 are provided.

After the time series monitor key 71 is keyed in, the selection key 72, the number key 73 and the entry key 74 are repeatedly keyed in in this order.

This repetitive key-in is performed for the number of input / output points to be time-series monitored.
Usually, 6 times is suitable. After these key-ins, the end key 75 is keyed-in.

The operation will be described below with reference to the flowchart.

As shown in the flowchart of the entire system of FIG. 4, in the step (402) following the initial process of the step (401), the key input signal from the keyboard 7 is sequentially read by the microprocessor 1.

In step (403), the system service program stored in the system program memory 2 is read out as needed to perform system service processing such as modification of the user program.

In step (404), input update is performed in which the input data provided to the input / output device 5 is transferred to the input area of the I / O memory 6.

In step (405), if the execution mode flag F ₀ is not the execution mode of the user program, the output of the input / output device 5 is cleared in the following step (406) to read the key input in step (402). Steps (402) to (406) are repeated until returning to the execution mode.

In the case of the execution mode, the routine proceeds to step (407) and thereafter. First, step (4
In 07), the program counter PC is cleared, in the subsequent step (408), the instruction indicated by the program counter PC is read from the user program memory 4, and in the subsequent step (409), it is determined whether or not the instruction read is the END instruction. judge.

If the instruction is other than the END instruction,
At step (410), the instruction is executed by a known interpreter process, then at step (411), the program counter PC is incremented, and the process returns to the instruction reading at step (408).

If it is an END instruction, step (4
Proceeding to 12), the output data of the I / O memory 6 is transferred to the input / output device 5, and the output is updated as an external output signal.

When the output is updated, the process returns to the key input reading in step (402).

In such a loop execution operation, the monitor display is performed in the system program processing of step (403).

The system program processing is executed by the routine shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, and this execution is carried out after temporarily storing all the key input signals read by the microprocessor 1 in the working memory 3.

In the first step (501) in FIG. 5, if the key input signal read from the working memory 3 is the time series monitor key 71, the time series monitor flag F ₁
Is set.

When the time-series monitor flag F ₁ is set, the process proceeds to step (502), and the status area located, for example, at the bottom of the screen of the display device 8 displays that the registration key is keyed in, and the input / output It is ready to be specified.

In this state, when the selection key 72, the number key 73, and the entry key 74 are keyed in this order, the input / output number to be monitored in time series is the input / output designation information area in the working memory 3 (see FIG. 6). Be registered with. The input / output designation information area corresponds to the first storage means.

After repeating this six times, for example,
When the end key 75 is keyed in, the time-series monitor registration process ends, and the process proceeds to the input update of step (404) in FIG.

If the key-in other than the input / output designation is made at step (501), the routine proceeds to step (503) and subsequent steps.

First, in step (503), it is determined whether or not the key input signal has been keyed in in a predetermined time series monitor mode.

If the time series monitor mode is not set,
Steps (504) to (507) are skipped and the process proceeds to another key input process of step (508).

If it is determined that the time-series monitor mode is set, it is determined in the following step (504) whether the time-series monitor mode flag F ₂ is set.

Here, if the time-series monitor mode flag F ₂ is not set, the input / output data registered in the input / output designation information areas B _{1 to} B ₆ (see FIG. 6) in the following step (505) is set. Whether or not there is a change is checked based on the content of the corresponding input / output data stored in the I / O memory 6.

In order to check the change of the input / output data, the past state must be stored. Therefore, the working memory 3 has 2 for each registered input / output.
A bit (FIFO IN FIRST OUT) stack of bits is provided to determine whether or not data matches before and after each sample.

Under this condition, the states of the input and output data of the past and the present are compared, and if there is a change, the following step (50
At 6), the time series monitor flag F ₃ is set.

When the input / output data is not changed in step (505), the process proceeds to another key input process in step (508).

In the other key input processing of step (508), as shown in FIG.
Display the ladder diagram. The monitor processing by the ladder diagram display is well known from various documents and will not be described here.

When the ladder monitor is completed at step (508) in this way, the process proceeds to input update at step (404) in FIG.

On the other hand, if the time-series monitor flag F ₃ is set at step (506), it enters the next round execution cycle, the time-series monitor flag F ₃ is set at step (504) It is determined that the step (5
The process proceeds to 07) time series monitor display processing.

The time-series monitor display processing of step (507) is executed as shown in the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step (701), an external timer determines whether or not the sampling period T seconds has elapsed.

If the time does not elapse at this point, the process ends, and FIG.
The process proceeds to another input process of step (508). On the other hand, when the time has elapsed, the count-up output from the external timer is added to the microprocessor as an interrupt signal. Then,
In the microprocessor 1, the timer flag is "1", for example.
Is set to.

When the timer flag is set, in the following step (702), the I / O memory 6 designated by the number registered in the head address B ₁ of the input / output designation information area (FIG. 6) is loaded. Read output data.

Next, in step (703), the input / output data stored in step (702) is converted into a display code for accessing the character generator.

In step (704), the code-converted display code is sent to the video RAM of the display device 8.

As shown in FIG. 8, the video RAM of the display device 8 is provided with ₅₀ display data areas A _{1 to} A ₅₀ (corresponding to the second storage means), and each area is in the working memory. Can be designated by the value of the pointer N (1 to 50). In addition, each display data area A _{1 to} A ₅₀
6 pieces of input / output data can be stored in.

Each display data area A _{1 to} A ₅₀ corresponds to each row when the lower half of the CRT screen of the display device 8 is divided into 50 rows in the horizontal direction and 6 rows in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. Therefore, when six pieces of display data are written in the areas A _{1 to} A ₅₀ , a time chart for one column in the vertical direction is drawn on the CRT display screen as shown in the display area in FIG.

Based on the coded display data, "H" for displaying "H" on the CRT screen of the display device 8 is displayed.
Or for the process of displaying "_" for "L",
As is well known, video RAM, character generator, CR
Use a T controller or the like.

In the following step (705), the registration I / O is performed.
It is determined whether or not all the input / output data indicated by the number has been completed, and if not completed, the process returns to step (702), and the input / output designated by the next address B ₂ in the input / output designation information area is determined. for, performs the same processing (step (702) - (704)), the following together with the processing of the address B ₃ .about.B ₆ is completed, and the value of the display area pointer N from "1" to "2" Update.

Next, the processing of steps (702) to (706) is skipped until a further T seconds elapse, and the same processing corresponding to the value "2" of the display area pointer N is performed as the T seconds elapse. .

That is, steps (702) to (70)
When the process of 4) is repeated 6 times, the display codes for one column in the vertical direction are sequentially transferred to the display device 8. Then, in the video RAM (not shown) on the display device 8 side, a new vertical column of display data is horizontally shifted to the right by one column on the display screen and displayed in the next area. .

After that, if the value of the display area pointer N reaches "50" as a result of repeatedly executing the steps (701) to (706), the six display data of each sampling time are again displayed from the left end of the screen. The display is controlled.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, when the ladder chart is displayed on the entire CRT screen and the process shifts to the time-series monitor processing described above, the ladder chart that has been displayed up to that point is contracted vertically. The time chart according to the present invention is displayed on the upper half of the CRT screen and the lower half of the CRT screen.

Although such ladder diagram reduction processing is already known, it will not be described in detail. For example, in the ladder diagram data corresponding to one CRT screen, the device No. assigned to each input / output device is selected. The ladder diagram can be reduced to half in the vertical direction by removing only the gap as shown in FIG. 1B and filling the gap.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the designated input / output data among the input / output data already registered in the I / O memory 6 is changed during the ladder monitor, the screen of the display device 8 is changed. The state of FIG. 1A is changed to the state of FIG. 1B, and the designated input / output data can be displayed in time series together with the ladder diagram.

Therefore, even if the input / output numbers to be monitored are registered in advance, even if the input / output cannot be displayed on one screen as a ladder diagram at the same time, they can be displayed simultaneously on one screen. Moreover, it is possible to monitor in time series, and the monitor function in this type of programmable controller can be made even more convenient.

Further, particularly in this embodiment, since the ladder diagram monitor automatically shifts to the time-series monitor process in response to a change in any of the registered inputs and outputs, It is possible to easily detect the timing when a specific input / output state changes.

Further, in this embodiment, when any input / output changes during the ladder diagram monitor, the ladder diagram and the time chart are simultaneously displayed on the upper and lower halves of the screen. It is possible to monitor the designated input / output states in time series while performing the above-mentioned operation, and to simultaneously grasp the circuit and the timing.

In the above embodiment, the number of samples that can be displayed simultaneously is 50 and the sample period is fixed at T seconds. However, if the number of samples and the period can be programmed, the usability will be further improved. Of course, it can be improved.

[0076]

As described above, according to the configuration of the present invention, if the created ladder program is long enough to fit on the monitor screen, the ladder diagram monitor state is set,
When the program becomes long, it is possible to provide a user-friendly programmable controller, such as changing to a time-series monitor.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B are explanatory views of a monitor display state in a programmable controller to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a programmable controller to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of key operations.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the entire system of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of system program processing according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an input / output designation information area.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of time series monitor display processing according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a display data area of a video RAM.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing correspondence between writing in a display data area and screen status.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Microprocessor 2 System Program Memory 3 Working Memory 4 User Program Memory 5 Input / Output Device 6 I / O Memory 7 Keyboard 8 Display Device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A registration control means for registering the input / output designation information in a first storage means in response to a key input operation for input / output designation, and an input / output registered in the first storage means. Sample control means for cyclically sampling the input / output state designated by the designation information; second storage means for storing the input / output state sampled by the sample control means a certain number of times in the past; Image display means for displaying the input / output states of each sample times stored in the second storage means in time series along a time axis; time series monitor means; ladder diagram monitor means; and ladder diagram monitor A programmable controller, comprising: monitor transition means for transitioning from the monitor state by the means to the monitor state by the time-series monitor means.