JPH09319413A - Sequence controller, data editor, programmable controller, data transfer method, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten the transfer time of data by transferring a difference to a programmable logic controller(PLC) only when contents of a memory area preserving specified data of the PLC are coincident with the specified data. SOLUTION: The program of comparison stored in a RAM 104 of a personal computer 10 compares whether the read data/time is coincident with its own preserved date and time or not and in the case of coincidence, the program of difference extraction extracts the difference between the program to be transferred this time and the program transferred the last time and recorded in a program area 104a. A CPU 102 transfers only the difference to the PLC and writes it in an address. Then, the personal computer 10 codes the current date and time and transfers it to the data area for recording the date and time at the PLC. The program updated by the difference transferred to this PLC and the date and time, when the difference is transferred, are recorded in the program area 104a and a data area 104b.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to, for example, a programmable controller (Programmable Logic Controlle).
r: hereinafter abbreviated as PLC), after transferring the sequence program to the PLC, change the sequence program on a data editing device such as a personal computer having a function of editing the sequence program, and re-transfer to the PLC. In this case, a sequence control device for transferring only the difference that is the changed portion to the PLC, a data editing device having a data editing function, a PLC for executing a sequence program, a data transfer method from the data editing device to the PLC, and The present invention relates to a recording medium on which a computer program for data transfer is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A sequence program for a PLC that performs sequence control using a microprocessor is designed on a general-purpose personal computer loaded with an application program for editing a sequence program. After designing the sequence program, the designer describes the sequence operation of this program as switches, valves,
A simulation software that models the operation of a device such as a sensor is activated to perform simulation on a personal computer, the sequence program is debugged while verifying the result of the simulation, and the completed sequence program is transferred to the PLC.

At this time, as a result of transferring the sequence program to the PLC and testing the actual machine, when an unexpected trouble occurs during simulation, the designer saves the sequence program stored in the personal computer. Read out and debug the troubled part on a personal computer. The edited sequence program is transferred again to the PLC, and the operation on the actual machine is verified. At the development stage of the sequence program,
The sequence program is frequently transferred between the PLC and the personal computer. Therefore, the program transfer time becomes long in proportion to the number of steps of the program.

Although it is desirable to quickly deal with the occurrence of troubles during actual operation, if the operator re-transfers the entire modified program to the PLC, a program with a large number of steps is required. In this case, it takes a long time to transfer in proportion to the number of steps, and troubles cannot be dealt with promptly. In order to avoid the increase in transfer time as described above, the changed sequence program on the personal computer is compared with the saved sequence program for the previous transfer, and the changed portion is extracted as a difference. A sequence control device has been devised which transfers only the difference to the PLC.

[0005]

By the way, it is necessary to rework the sequence program such as when some equipment and specifications of the system are changed after the development of the sequence program, or when trouble occurs during the operation of the system. If a problem occurs, a slight rework can also be performed in the handy terminal, which is a handy simple programming tool. However, since changes made using the handy terminal are not notified to the personal computer, the changes are not reflected in the sequence program stored in the personal computer. Therefore, if it is changed in the handy terminal and is not the same program as the previously transferred sequence program saved in the personal computer, if only the difference corresponding to the changed contents is transferred from the personal computer to the PLC, the program operation will be changed. Not guaranteed.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and it is the latest data to be transferred to a PLC, for example, a program, or the difference between the latest transfer data and the previous transfer data, and the latest data. The data for identifying the transfer data, for example, the transfer date and time is stored on the data editing device side, and this specific data is stored together with the latest data in the PLC.
When the difference is transferred from the data editing apparatus to the PLC and the contents of the memory area in which the specific data of the PLC should be stored match the specific data, the difference is transferred to the PLC. By transferring the data to the PLC, the transfer time at the time of transferring the data editing result of the program edited by the data editing device to the PLC is significantly reduced, and the operation of the sequence program executed by the PLC is guaranteed. An object of the present invention is to provide a sequence control device, a data editing device having a data editing function, a PLC that executes a sequence program, a data transfer method from the data editing device to the PLC, and a recording medium on which a computer program for data transfer is recorded. .

[0007]

A sequence control device of a first invention is a sequence program editing means, a memory having a first area for storing a sequence program and a second area for storing data, and a memory after editing. Extraction means for extracting a difference between the sequence program and before editing, transfer means for transferring the sequence program or the difference together with specific data for specifying the edited sequence program, and the sequence program each time the sequence program or the difference is transferred Alternatively, a data editing apparatus having storage means for storing the difference in the first area of the memory and specific data in the second area, and a third area for storing the sequence program, which is connected to the data editing apparatus, A memory having a fourth area for storing specific data is provided, and the third area of the memory is provided. The data editing device includes a programmable controller that executes a stored sequence program to control an object, and the data editing device, when transferring the difference to the programmable controller, reads the contents read from the fourth area of the memory of the programmable controller and its own. As a result of the comparison by the comparison means for comparing the contents of the second area of the memory with the comparison means, if the two match, the difference is sent to the transfer means by the third means of the memory of the programmable controller.
Control means for transferring a control signal for writing the specific data to the area and the fourth area of the memory.

A data editing apparatus of the second invention comprises a data editing means, a memory having a first area for storing first data to be edited and a second area for storing data other than the first data. An extracting means for extracting a difference between the edited first data and the unedited first data, and each time the first data or the difference is transferred, the first data or the difference is stored in the first area of the memory and after the editing. Storing means for storing the specific data for specifying the first data in the second area, and transferring the specific data for specifying the edited first data together with the first data or the difference to an external device. Means and external equipment,
If the contents are read from the memory area where the specific data should be stored and the read contents are compared with the contents of the second area of the memory and the comparison result by the comparing means indicates that they match, And a control means for transmitting the difference to the transfer means.

The PLC of the third aspect of the present invention is the first aspect of the transferred first aspect.
A memory having a first area for storing a difference between the first data after editing or the first data after editing and a second area for storing specific data for specifying the first data after editing, And controlling the target using the first data stored in the first area of.

A data transfer method according to a fourth invention comprises a memory having a first area for storing first data and a second area for storing specific data for specifying the first data, and the first area of the memory. In the data transfer method of transferring the difference from the first data of the previous transfer to the programmable controller that controls the target using the first data stored in the first data of the first data to be transferred, Extract the difference from the previous transfer, along with the first data or difference,
The specific data that specifies the first data to be newly transferred is transferred to the programmable controller, and each time the first data or the difference is transferred, the first data to be newly transferred and the specific data are saved, and the difference is stored. At the time of transfer, the contents of the second area of the memory of the programmable controller are read, the read contents are compared with the stored specific data, and as a result of comparison, if the two match, the difference is stored in the memory of the programmable controller. It is characterized in that the first area and the specific data thereof are written in the second area of the memory.

The recording medium of the fifth invention comprises a memory having a first area for storing the first data and a second area for storing the specific data for specifying the first data, and the first area of the memory. To the programmable controller that controls the target using the first data stored in
Is a recording medium on which a computer program including a step of a method of transferring a difference between the first data after editing and the first data after editing from a data editing device having a data editing function of A step of extracting a difference between the first data and the before-editing; a step of transferring, together with the first data or the difference, specific data specifying the first data after the editing to the programmable controller; Or, every time the difference is transferred, this first data,
And a step of storing the specific data, a step of reading the content from the second area of the memory of the programmable controller when transferring the difference, and a step of comparing the content read from the second area with the stored specific data. And the result of comparison, if they match, the difference is stored in the first area of the memory of the programmable controller.
Also, a computer program including a step of transferring a control signal for writing the specific data to the second area of the memory to the programmable controller is recorded.

The recording medium of the sixth invention comprises a memory having a first area for storing the first data and a second area for storing the specific data for specifying the first data, and the first area of the memory. To the programmable controller that controls the target using the first data stored in
Is a recording medium used to transfer the difference between the edited first data and the unedited first data from the data editing device having the data editing function of 1 means for extracting the difference between the data before editing and the first data or the difference, and means for transferring the specific data for specifying the edited first data to the programmable controller, the first data or Means for storing the first data and the specific data thereof each time the difference is transferred, means for reading the contents of the second area of the memory of the programmable controller when transferring the difference, and reading from the second area Means for comparing the stored content with the stored specific data, and as a result of the comparison, if the two match, the difference is stored in the first area of the memory of the programmable controller, Specific data; and a means for transferring control signals for writing in the second region of the memory has.

A sequence control device, a data editing device having a data editing function, a PLC for executing a program transferred from the data editing device, a data transfer method from the data editing device to the PLC, and a computer program for data transfer according to the present invention are provided. The recorded recording medium includes a memory having a first area for storing data including a program and a second area for specifying the data and storing specific data of the data such as a transfer date and time of the data to the PLC. , The difference of the edited data from that before the editing is transferred from the data editing device having the data editing function to the programmable controller that executes the program stored in the first area of this memory and controls the target. At this time, the difference between the edited data and the data before the editing is extracted, and the data or the difference is extracted together with the edited data. Data is transferred to the programmable controller, and the edited data and the specific data are stored in the memory each time the data or the difference is transferred, while the second area of the memory of the programmable controller is used when the difference is transferred. And the specific data of the data before editing from which the difference was extracted, and the result of the comparison,
When the two data match, the difference is transferred to the programmable controller. If they do not match, the difference transfer is stopped.

As a result, the data transfer time at the time of transferring the edited result of the data such as the program edited by the data editing device to the PLC is significantly reduced, while the data previously transferred from the data editing device to the PLC is the data. When the change is made from the handy terminal which is not notified of the change to the editing device, the operation of the sequence program executed by the PLC is guaranteed by stopping the transfer of the difference.

[0015]

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a sequence control device using a data editing device of the present invention. The personal computer 10 stores a design support application program that realizes an editing function of a sequence program such as a ladder program, a simulation function of the sequence program, and a monitoring function of a simulation state, and a recording medium such as a magnetic disk in which the program is recorded. By loading from D and installing in the hard disk, it functions as the data editing apparatus of the present invention.

The personal computer 10 is a PLC
The (programmable controller) 20 is connected via a cable, and the sequence program designed on the personal computer 10 or the difference from the previous transfer is transferred to the PLC 20 together with the address data that specifies the storage address at the transfer destination. It

The above-mentioned design support application program loaded in the personal computer 10 outputs the control signals of valves, motors, lamps, etc., or a manual switch in response to inputs from the switches, valves, sensors, etc. 30 of the actual machine. The sequence control status of the PLC 20, which records the input history of the open / closed state signal of the sensor, the detection signal of the sensor, etc., is periodically polled, and the changes over time in the states of the switches, valves, sensors, etc. 30 are numerical values and time charts It also provides a monitor function for screen display.

The PLC 20 is a personal computer 1.
0 and a serial communication interface (I / F) circuit 201 for serially transferring data to and from the personal computer 1 via the serial communication I / F circuit 201.
The difference between the whole sequence program transferred from 0 or the previous transfer amount is stored in the program area 20 of the RAM 204.
It is stored in the address 4a corresponding to the address data given from the personal computer 10. Also, PL
The C20 stores, in the data area 204b of the RAM 204, the transfer date / time that specifies the program or the difference transferred from the personal computer 10 together with the difference between the entire program or the previous transfer.

In the data area 204b of the RAM 204,
Data that is input / output to / from devices such as switches, valves, and sensors via the input / output circuit 205 when the sequence program is executed is also stored, and in response to a request periodically transmitted from the personal computer 10. ,
These data stored in the RAM 204 are transferred to the personal computer 10 via the serial communication I / F circuit 201. The ROM 203 of the PLC 20 stores a system program such as an OS (operating system) for sequence control. The program area 204a of the RAM 204 stores a user program such as a sequence program, and the data area 204b stores data used for executing the system program / user program at predetermined addresses.

The CPU 202 operates the RAM 20 according to the OS.
4 to control the sequence of devices such as switches, valves, and sensors 30 arranged in the actual machine to be controlled by executing the sequence program stored in
The data stored in the RAM 204 is rewritten. Further, the PLC 20 includes switches, valves, sensors, etc.
It has an input / output circuit 205 for outputting control signals of valves, motors, lamps, etc. in response to the input from, and for inputting an open / close state signal of a manual switch, a detection signal of a sensor and the like.

Further, the PLC 20 serial communication I / F
To the circuit 201, a signal from a simple portable type handy terminal (not shown) for programming or editing a user program such as a sequence program at the site of sequence control or the like is input by wire such as RS232C or wirelessly. Is also possible. The CPU 202 is not limited to the personal computer 10 having the functions of the present invention, but may be a handy terminal that does not have a function of transferring the transfer date and time together with transfer data, an old personal computer, or the like, and the program area 2 of the RAM 204.
If a write occurs in 04a, the data area 204
Clear the contents of b.

FIG. 2 shows the personal computer 10 of FIG.
It is a block diagram of. Input unit 1 such as keyboard and mouse
Reference numeral 01 denotes a unit for inputting various commands and data by key operation or click operation. The CPU 102 receives various commands and data input from the input unit 101, and executes the design support program loaded from the recording medium D and stored in the program area 104 a of the RAM 104.

In the program area 104a of the RAM 104, a program for editing a ladder program created by a design support program or the like, and a program to be transferred to the PLC 20 this time, which is stored in the program area 104a of the RAM 104, is stored in the previous PLC 20. Program that extracts the difference from the program transferred to
Previous PLC stored in the data area of AM104
PLC20 and the date and time when the program was transferred to
A program for comparing the data content read from the data area 204b of the RAM 204 is stored.

A ladder program as a sequence program, a mnemonic list of the ladder program, a change with time of the device state described in the ladder program (numerical value, time chart), etc. are displayed on the CRT (or LC).
D) It is displayed in each of a plurality of windows opened in 105.

The hard disk 100 stores a system program such as an OS that provides a multi-window environment. In addition to this, the program last transferred to the PLC 20 is stored in a predetermined address in the program area 104a of the RAM 104, and transferred to the PLC 20.
The transfer date / time as data for specifying this program is stored in the data area 104b. In addition to this, the data area 104b stores data used for executing a user program such as a design support program and a simulation program, and data used for executing a system program at other addresses in the data area 104b. ing.

The timer 107 also provides the current date and time. The serial communication I / F circuit 106 is a circuit for serially transferring data to and from the PLC 20.

In the above sequence control device, the sequence program is created by activating an application program for creating / editing a sequence program on the personal computer 10. Next, a monitor program for simulation is started, the operation of the sequence program is verified while simulating and debugging the created sequence program, and the completed sequence program is transferred to the PLC 20. PL
When the actual machine is tried on C20 and a problem occurs, the sequence program is debugged on the personal computer 10, the difference from the previous transfer is extracted, and the difference is transferred to the PLC 20 together with the transfer date and time. However, until the difference is transferred, if the sequence program of the PLC 20 is changed from another external device such as a handy terminal, the difference transfer is stopped.

Next, the sequence program transfer procedure executed by the sequence control device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
A description will be given based on the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 3 shows a procedure of writing a program (all) from the personal computer 10 on the monitor side to the PLC 20. The personal computer 10 transfers the program to the program area 204a of the PLC 20 (step S1). At this time, the personal computer 10 encodes the current date / time and transfers it to the data area 204b of the PLC 20 for recording the date / time (step S2). PLC2
The program transferred to 0 and the transferred date and time are stored in the program area 10 of the RAM of the personal computer 10.
4a and the data area 104b, respectively (step S3).

FIG. 4 shows a procedure for writing a program (difference) from the personal computer 10 on the monitor side to the PLC 20. The personal computer 10 reads the date / time from the data area 204b in which the date / time of the PLC 20 is recorded (step S1).
1). The comparison program stored in the RAM 104 of the personal computer 10 reads the date,
It is compared whether or not the time is the same as the date and time saved by itself (step S12). If they match, the difference extraction program is recorded in the program area 104a together with the program to be transferred this time. The difference from the previous transfer program is extracted. The CPU 102 transfers only the difference to the PLC 20 (step S13), gives address data for storing the difference to the PLC 20, and causes the difference to be written at the address. Personal computer 10
Encodes the current date / time and transfers it to the data area 204b for recording the date / time of the PLC 20 (step S14). The program updated by the difference transferred to the PLC 20 and the date and time when the difference is transferred are stored in the program area 104a of the RAM of the personal computer 10.
And the data area 104b are recorded (step S15).

On the other hand, as a result of the comparison in step S12, the date and time saved on the monitor side and the data area 204b of the PLC 20 are read out, for example, when the sequence program is changed on site using the handy terminal. If it is not the same as the date and time, the difference writing process ends as a difference writing failure (step S16).

FIG. 5 shows a write procedure of the PLC 20. When the transfer from the external device to the PLC 20 occurs, the PLC 20 checks whether or not the writing is to the program area 204a (step S21), and when it is not the writing to the program area 204a, this processing is terminated and other processing is performed. Move to. On the other hand, program area 2
In the case of writing to 04a, the data area 204b for recording the date and time is cleared (step S22), and the transferred data is written to the address designated by the external device (step S23). Therefore, when the program is transferred, the program is transferred from a simple handy terminal, an old external device, or the like that does not have a function of transferring the transfer date / time as data for specifying the program together with the program, and the program area 204a of the PLC 20 is transferred. If the content of the data area 204b is updated, the content of the data area 204b is cleared even if the difference is transferred next from the personal computer 10 having the function of the present invention. However, since the transfer of the difference is stopped without matching the date and time of the previous transfer, there is no danger of updating the program of the PLC 20 due to the difference.

In this example, the transfer date / time of the data is used as the data for specifying the data of the program transferred to the PLC 20, but the data of the program is transferred as the data for specifying the data. A unique number may be added to the program and the number may be used. Further, the difference transferred by the personal computer 10 is not limited to the program difference, and may be the numerical data difference.

The recording / reproducing computer program as described above may be recorded in a removable recording medium D such as a magnetic disk and loaded into a general-purpose personal computer at the time of execution. Alternatively, it may be installed in advance in the ROM 103 of the personal computer.

[0034]

As described above, the sequence control device of the present invention, the data editing device having the data editing function, the PLC for executing the sequence program, the data transfer method from the data editing device to the PLC, and the computer program for the data transfer. The recording medium in which is recorded is the latest data to be transferred to the PLC, for example, the program, or the difference between the latest transfer data and the previous transfer data, and the data specifying the latest transfer data, such as the transfer date and time. While saving it on the device side, transfer this specific data to the PLC together with the latest data and save it on the PLC side.
When transferring the difference from the data editing device to the PLC, P
By transferring the difference to the PLC only when the contents of the memory area where the LC specific data should be stored and the specific data match, the edited result of the data such as the program edited by the data editing device is transferred to the PLC. There is an excellent effect that the transfer time at the time of performing is significantly reduced and the operation of the sequence program executed by the PLC is guaranteed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a sequence control device using a data editing device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a data editing device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a procedure of writing (all) a program from a personal computer to a PLC in the sequence control device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a procedure for writing a program (difference) from a personal computer to a PLC in the sequence control device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a PLC write processing procedure in the sequence control device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Personal Computer 100 Hard Disk 101 Input Unit 102 CPU 103 ROM 104 RAM 104a Program Area 104b Data Area 106 Serial Communication I / F Circuit 107 Timer 20 PLC 201 Serial Communication I / F Circuit 202 CPU 203 ROM 204 RAM 204a Program Area 204b Data Area D recording medium

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A method for editing a sequence program, a memory having a first area for storing the sequence program and a second area for storing data, and an extraction for extracting a difference between the edited sequence program and that before editing. And a transfer means for transferring specific data specifying the edited sequence program together with the sequence program or the difference, and the sequence program or the difference in the first area of the memory each time the sequence program or the difference is transferred. A data editing apparatus having a storage unit for storing the specific data in a second area; a third area connected to the data editing apparatus for storing a sequence program; and a fourth area for storing the specific data. A sequence having a memory having an area and stored in a third area of said memory. A programmable controller that executes a program to control an object, and the data editing device, when transferring the difference to the programmable controller, reads the contents of the fourth area of the memory of the programmable controller, and Comparing means for comparing the contents of the second area of the memory of the memory and the result of the comparison by the comparing means, if they match, the transfer means, the difference to the third area of the memory of the programmable controller, A sequence control device comprising: a control unit that transfers a control signal for writing the specific data in a fourth area of the memory. 2. A data editing unit, a first area for storing first data to be edited, and a first area.
Memory having a second area for storing data other than the data, extraction means for extracting the difference between the edited first data and the data before the editing, and the first data or the difference each time the difference is transferred. Storage means for storing the first data or the difference in the first area of the memory, and the specific data for specifying the edited first data in the second area; and to the external device, the first data or the difference. With
Transfer means for transferring the specific data for specifying the edited first data, contents read from a memory area of the external device in which the specific data should be stored, and contents of the second area of the memory. When the comparing means for comparing and the result of the comparison by the comparing means are the same,
A data editing apparatus, comprising: a control unit that causes the transfer unit to send out the difference. 3. A first area for storing the difference between the transferred first data or the edited first data before the editing and a specific data for specifying the edited first data are stored. A programmable controller, comprising: a memory having a second area for controlling, and controlling an object using the first data stored in the first area of the memory. 4. A memory having a first area for storing first data and a second area for storing specific data for specifying the first data, the memory being stored in the first area of the memory. In the data transfer method of transferring the difference between the first transfer data and the first data to the programmable controller that controls the target using the first data, the difference between the first transfer data and the previous transfer data. A first data or a difference, and, together with the first data or the difference, specific data for specifying the first data to be newly transferred, is transferred to the programmable controller, and is newly transferred each time the first data or the difference is transferred. Data and the specific data are saved, and when the difference is transferred, the contents of the second area of the memory of the programmable controller are read, and the read contents and the saved contents are saved. The specified data is compared with each other, and if the two match as a result of the comparison, the difference is written in the first area of the memory of the programmable controller, and the specified data is written in the second area of the memory. And data transfer method. 5. A memory having a first area for storing first data and a second area for storing specific data for specifying the first data, the memory being stored in the first area of the memory. The steps of the method of transferring the difference between the edited first data and the unedited first data from the data editing device having the editing function of the first data to the programmable controller that controls the target using the first data. A recording medium in which a computer program including the same is recorded, wherein a step of extracting a difference between the edited first data and that before the editing, and the first data or the edited first data together with the difference Transferring to the programmable controller specific data identifying the first data or the differential data each time the differential data is transferred,
And a step of storing the specific data, a step of reading the content from a second area of the memory of the programmable controller when the difference is transferred, a content read from the second area, and the stored specific data And the comparison result shows that if the two match, the difference is written in the first area of the memory of the programmable controller, and the control signal is written in the second area of the memory. A recording medium on which a computer program including a step of transferring to a recording medium is recorded. 6. A memory having a first area for storing first data and a second area for storing specific data for specifying the first data, the memory being stored in the first area of the memory. Used to transfer the difference between the edited first data and the unedited first data from the data editing device having the editing function of the first data to the programmable controller that controls the target using the first data And a means for causing the data editing device to extract a difference between the edited first data and the edited first data, and the first data or the edited first data together with the first data or the difference. Means for transferring to the programmable controller specific data for specifying the first data or the difference between the first data and the difference every time the difference is transferred,
And means for storing the specific data, means for reading the contents of the second area of the memory of the programmable controller when transferring the difference, and contents read from the second area. Means for comparing the specific data, and a control signal for writing the difference in the first area of the memory of the programmable controller and the specific data in the second area of the memory when the two match as a result of the comparison. A recording medium comprising means for transferring.