JPH09230913A - Programming tool for programmable controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a programming tool that can easily generate a user program which is even visually easy to understand. SOLUTION: Objects displayed on the display screen of a display device 10 are dragged and dropped by using a pointing device such as a mouse, and rearranged on the display screen of the display device 10, and those objects are connected by software wiring to form a diagram on the display screen. A data processing part 13 defines a user program according to the information of the diagram drawn o the display screen of the display device 10 and store it in a storage part 14. Then when the user program is downloaded to a PLC through an information transmission part 12, the data processing part 13 compiles the user program into a ladder language or BASIC language, or other existent languages that the PLC can run by following the procedure shown by the information of the user program stored in the storage part 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a programmable controller programming tool.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, programming in a programmable controller (hereinafter abbreviated as PLC) is performed by describing or arranging it using a special language typified by a ladder language (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 6-309013 and 62-62). No. 26583), the dedicated code is downloaded to the PLC, and the PLC executes arithmetic processing according to the information indicated by the dedicated code or a code further converted based on the information.

[0003]

The PLC is programmed by combining a relay sequence and various arithmetic commands as represented by a ladder language, but it is very difficult for a non-specialist to understand, and Very later,
There was a problem that it was difficult to understand what this combination meant. Further, when adding a new calculation instruction, it was necessary to change both the programming tool and the PLC.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to provide a simple CUI environment to a user, thereby making it possible to easily create a user program that is visually easy to understand by programming a programmable controller. To provide.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the invention of claim 1, modules representing each function processed by a programmable controller are connected by soft wiring along a data flow on a display screen. A means for defining a user program of the programmable controller with the obtained diagram information, and means for compiling and outputting to the existing language in which the programmable controller can operate when the defined user program is downloaded to the programmable controller In this way, a simple GUI environment can be provided, and thus a user program that is visually easy to understand can be easily created. Further, when the user program is downloaded to the programmable controller, the program is compiled into an existing language in which the programmable controller can operate and output, so that the program can be developed in parallel with a higher-level user who can understand the language.

According to the invention of claim 2, in the invention of claim 1, a ladder language is used as the language, and claim 3
In the invention, since the Basic language is used, the existing PLC using these languages can be used. In claim 4, means for defining a user program of the programmable controller with diagram information obtained by connecting modules representing each function processed by the programmable controller by soft wiring along a data flow on a display screen; And a means for compiling into a code operable by an MPU which performs arithmetic processing of the programmable controller when the defined user program is downloaded to the programmable controller and outputting the code. An environment can be provided, and thus a user program that is visually easy to understand can be easily created. In addition, when the user program is downloaded to the programmable controller, the arithmetic processing of the programmable controller is performed.
Since the PU compiles the code into operable code and outputs the code, when adding a new function (object), it can be dealt with only by improving the function on the programming tool side, and the processing load on the PLC side is reduced.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 2 shows a programming tool 1 of the present invention.
And PLC2 are connected by a signal line 3, and data can be exchanged between the PLC2 and the programming tool 1 through the signal line 3.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the programming tool 1 includes a display device 10 including a display using a CRT, an input device 11 such as a keyboard 11a and a mouse 11b, and a PLC 2 for data communication. An information transmission unit 12 for exchanging data, a data processing unit 13 for processing data, and a storage unit 14 used for work of storing and storing application programs.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the PLC 2 includes an MPU 20 for executing calculations, a storage unit 21 for storing system programs and user programs, and a programming tool 1.
Information transmission unit 22 for exchanging data with the communication unit 22
And an I / O device 23. A general-purpose (for example, RS232C) communication means may be used as the information transmission section 22 of the PLC 2 and the information transmission section 12 of the programming tool 1, or another data transmission means may be used.

The programming tool 1 is provided with an application program for providing a GUI environment, and a module representing each function prepared in advance corresponding to the function executable by the PLC 2 when the application program is executed ( Objects such as relays, timers, logical operators, and numerical operators required for sequence control are displayed on the screen of the display device 10.

The user drags and drops these objects using the pointing device such as the mouse 11b to arrange them on the display screen of the display device 10 and connects the objects by soft wiring to control the flow of control on the display screen. Is formed as shown in FIG. 3, for example. Taking a PID object as an example, there are contact data for determining the execution of the PID object, data for setting values, and data for measuring values, and output for the PID object is output value data according to the PID calculation result. Data specific to the object such as the PID parameter is set as follows. That is, when an operation such as double-clicking on the object is performed using the mouse 11b, a setting screen for the parameter opens, and the user can input the parameter. In this way, the contact data and the data for the object are respectively wired to configure the processing flow and programming is performed. Needless to say, the same operation is performed on other objects that require data input.

In FIG. 3, an object described as STRAT is a start command, an object described as IN is an input contact, an object described as OUT is an output contact, and an object described as or is an OR command. , And the object described as and is an AND command,
Further, the object described as SMEM indicates a shared memory (memory for exchanging data with the MPU 20 of PLC2) of the special unit, and the object described as MEM is a data memory in the PLC2.
In FIG. 1, a storage unit 21 (work for data storage used by a user) is shown. The number after the letter indicates a unique number. Or the object shown in the picture of the clock is a timer,
Further, the object connected to SMEM1 indicates a first-order delay instruction.

The data processing unit 13 defines a user program based on the information of the diagram drawn on the display screen of the display device 10 and stores the information in the storage unit 14. Then, when the user program is downloaded to the PLC 2 through the information transmitting unit 12 and the information transmitting unit 22 of the PLC 2, the data processing unit 13 may operate the PLC 2 according to the procedure indicated by the information stored in the storage unit 14 or the basic language of Basic. Compile the user program into the language or another existing language and PL the source code
Send to C2. The PLC 2 stores this source code in the storage unit 21.
The MPU 20 of the PLC 2 executes arithmetic processing according to the language stored in the storage unit 21.

In this embodiment, since the user program is stored in the PLC 2 in the form of an existing language, it is possible to develop the program in parallel with a higher level user who understands the language. In other words, compared to the case of creating a user program with a ladder diagram, the programming by the diagram as in the present embodiment has the sensation of connecting the functions such as input, processing, and output (without knowing it). It is also possible to use it with the feeling that "maybe this is the case.)" It is based on the drawing method, and it is easy to attach and make even if you are not an expert. Furthermore, it is easy to understand what a third party is doing by looking at the diagram later. In addition, as a way of writing the program, it is possible to write mainly the data actually needed by the user, and to express the flow of data, the flow of bit data, etc. with different wire shapes,
Easy to grasp the flow.

Further, the compiled result is converted into an existing language and executed by the PLC 2, so that when the user program is modified later, the modification can be made in the existing language. For example, if the person in charge of program development and the person in charge of the field are different and the person in charge of the field is familiar with the existing language, programming is performed by diagrams for program development, and in the field, a simple programming device such as a handy programmer. Can be modified and changed.

(Embodiment 2) In Embodiment 1 described above, the user program is compiled in the programming tool 1 into an existing language and downloaded to the PLC 2. However, this embodiment is formed on the display screen of the display device 10. MPU of PLC2 based on the information of the created diagram
The application program has a function of compiling the user program into the object code in which 20 can operate, and the user program converted into the object code is downloaded to the PLC 2. Therefore, the MPU 20 of the PLC 2 executes the process by calling the entry address of the user program stored in the storage unit 21 in the form of the object code.

According to the present embodiment, when a new function (object) is added, it is possible to deal with it only by improving the function on the programming tool 1 side, and the PLC 2
The processing load is reduced on the side. Since the circuit configuration of the programming tool 1 is the same as that of the first embodiment, illustration and description thereof will be omitted here. In addition, the diagram display device 1
Since the method of creating on the display screen of 0 is the same, the description thereof will be omitted.

[0018]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the user program of the programmable controller is provided by the diagram information obtained by connecting the modules representing the respective functions processed by the programmable controller by soft wiring along the data flow on the display screen. And a means for compiling into a pre-existing language in which the programmable controller can operate when the defined user program is downloaded to the programmable controller and outputting the compiled user program can provide a simple GUI environment. Therefore, a user program that is visually easy to understand can be created easily, and when the user program is downloaded to the programmable controller, it is output in the existing language in which the programmable controller can operate. It can be in parallel with the user's upper there is an effect that it is possible to develop a program.

Since claim 2 uses the ladder language as the language in the invention of claim 1, and the invention of claim 3 uses the Basic language, existing PLCs using these languages can be used. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for defining a user program of the programmable controller with diagram information obtained by connecting modules representing respective functions processed by the programmable controller by soft wiring along a data flow on a display screen, And a means for compiling into a code operable by an MPU which performs arithmetic processing of the programmable controller when the defined user program is downloaded to the programmable controller and outputting the code. An MPU that can provide an environment and can easily create a user program that is visually easy to understand, and that performs arithmetic processing of the programmable controller when the user program is downloaded to the programmable controller Since it is compiled and output to operable code, when adding a new function (object), it is possible to deal with it only by improving the function on the programming tool side, and the processing load on the PLC side is reduced. is there.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a programming tool of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram in which the same as above is connected to a PLC.

FIG. 3 is an example diagram of a diagram showing sequence control created on a display screen of the display device of the above.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Programming Tool 10 Display Device 11 Input Device 12 Information Transmission Unit 13 Data Processing Unit 14 Storage Unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. Means for defining a user program of a programmable controller with diagram information obtained by connecting modules representing respective functions processed by the programmable controller by soft wiring along a data flow on a display screen, A programmable controller programming tool, comprising: means for compiling into a pre-existing language in which the programmable controller can operate and outputting when the defined user program is downloaded to the programmable controller. 2. The programming tool for a programmable controller according to claim 1, wherein a ladder language is used as the language. 3. The programming tool for the programmable controller according to claim 1, wherein the Basic language is used as the language. 4. A means for defining a user program of a programmable controller with diagram information obtained by connecting modules representing respective functions processed by the programmable controller by soft wiring along a data flow on a display screen, A programming tool for a programmable controller, comprising: means for compiling into a code operable by an MPU that performs arithmetic processing of the programmable controller when the defined user program is downloaded to the programmable controller and outputting the code.