JPH1185220A - Programmable controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To actualize the programmable controller which can obtain the distribution state of the length of a scan time by judging the length of the scan time by a debugging circuit, judging which of previously set time ranges it corresponds to, and counting them. SOLUTION: An input signal 100a is inputted to a control circuit 2 through an input/output circuit 1, and the output from the control circuit 1 is outputted to the outside as an output signal 101a through an input/output circuit 1. Further, the control circuit 2 is connected to a storage circuit 3 and the debugging circuit 4a. Then the control circuit 2 reads instructions of a application program stored previously in a storage circuit 3 and executes them in order. The debugging circuit 4, on the other hand, measures the scan time to judge which of previously set time range the scan time corresponds to and count them. In other words, the distribution state of the scan time in time ranges is measured and recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a programmable controller, and more particularly to a programmable controller capable of measuring the distribution of scan time of an application program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional programmable controllers are:
Data collection from a sensor, control of a device, and the like are executed based on an application program stored in advance.

[0006] As a program execution method, there is a scan method in which an application program stored in advance is repeatedly executed many times.

For example, by collecting a pressure signal and a temperature signal from a sensor or the like and continuously executing an application program for compensating and outputting the pressure signal with the temperature signal, a temperature-compensated pressure signal is output from the programmable controller. Will be output periodically.

However, in general, the time for executing an application program once by a programmable controller (hereinafter, referred to as a scan time) is not always constant but varies depending on the conditions at the time of executing the program.

For example, not all instructions of the application program are executed but skipped instead of being executed due to various conditions such as a change in the value of the pressure signal or the temperature signal to be input or the content of the operation of the temperature compensation. The scan time is constantly changing due to the execution of an instruction or a command executed many times.

In particular, when a short scan time is required, it is necessary to devise a measure to reduce the scan time when creating an application program. In this case, information on the scan time of the application program executed by the programmable controller is required. You need to get

Generally, some programmable controllers are provided with such a function, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of such a conventional programmable controller.

In FIG. 5, 1 is an input / output circuit, 2 is a control circuit, 3 is a storage circuit for storing an application program, 4 is a debug circuit, 100 is an input signal, and 101 is an output signal.

An input signal 100 is input to a control circuit 2 via an input / output circuit 1, and an output from the control circuit 1 is output to the outside as an output signal 101 via the input / output circuit 1. Further, the control circuit 2 is mutually connected to the storage circuit 3 and the debug circuit 4.

Here, the operation of the conventional example shown in FIG. 5 will be described. The control circuit 2 sequentially reads and executes the instructions of the application program stored in the storage circuit 3 in advance.

On the other hand, the debug circuit 4 measures information on a scan time required to execute the application program once.

More specifically, the debug circuit 4 measures and stores the latest scan time, the maximum and minimum values of the scan time, and the average scan time.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a specific example of the debug circuit 4. In FIG. 6, 5 is a counter circuit for measuring time, 6 is a control circuit, 7 is a storage circuit, and 102 is a clock signal.

The clock signal 102 is input to the counter circuit 5 for time measurement, and the output of the counter circuit 5 for time measurement is connected to the control circuit 6. Further, the control circuit 6 and the storage circuit 7 are connected to each other.

Here, the operation of the debug circuit 4 shown in FIG. 6 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the debug circuit 4.

In FIG. 7A, the control circuit 6 resets the time measurement counter circuit 5 and starts the count operation, and detects the end of the execution of the application program in FIG. 7B.

When the end of the application program is detected in FIG. 7 (b), the control circuit 6 reads the count value of the counter circuit 5 for time measurement in FIG. 7 (c) and sets the latest scan time in FIG. 7 (d). It is stored in the storage circuit 7.

In FIG. 7E, the control circuit 6 calculates the average scan time and stores the result in the storage circuit 7.

In FIG. 7 (f), the control circuit 6 compares the count value with the maximum value of the scan time up to the previous time to determine whether it is larger.

If the count value is larger than the previous maximum value, the control circuit 6 stores the count value as the maximum value in the storage circuit 7 in FIG.
The processing of (j) is performed.

Similarly, in FIG. 7 (h), the control circuit 6 compares the count value with the minimum value of the scan time up to the previous time to determine whether it is small.

If the count value is smaller than the previous minimum value, the control circuit 6 stores the count value as the minimum value in the storage circuit 7 in FIG.
The processing of (j) is performed.

Finally, in FIG. 7 (j), the control circuit 6 judges whether or not the measurement of the scan time or the like has been completed. If the measurement is a re-measurement, the process returns to the process of FIG. To end.

Also, the programmable controller is connected to an application program development tool, and the debug circuit 4 is connected to the application program development tool.
It is possible to read out the information on the scan time measured in the above and display it on a display screen or the like.

In general, by monitoring the information while executing an application program by a programmable controller, it is possible to reduce the scan time.

As a result, it becomes possible for the debug circuit 4 to obtain information on a scan time required for creating an application program of the programmable controller.

[0028]

However, in the conventional example shown in FIG. 5 and the like, although individual information such as the maximum value and the minimum value of the scan time can be known, for example, whether the maximum value of the scan time has suddenly occurred, Or, it cannot be distinguished whether it occurs constantly.

For this reason, there is a problem that it is not known which part of the application program should be modified, and the efficiency of the modification work of the application program is reduced. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to realize a programmable controller capable of obtaining a distribution state of scan time length.

[0030]

In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, in a programmable controller, an input / output circuit, a storage circuit for storing an application program, the input / output circuit, A control circuit for controlling the storage circuit, and a debug circuit for measuring a time when the application program is executed once, determining which time range falls within a preset time range, and counting the number thereof It is characterized by having.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the debug circuit includes a time measuring counter circuit for measuring a time during which the application program is executed once. A plurality of distribution counting counter circuits provided corresponding to a preset time range, and which time range of the preset time range corresponds to the measurement time of the time measurement counter circuit. And a control circuit for judging and incrementing the count value of the corresponding distribution counting counter circuit.

In order to achieve the above object, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in a programmable controller, an input / output circuit, a storage circuit for storing an application program, and a time for executing the application program once are set. A counter circuit for measuring time, a plurality of counter circuits for counting distribution provided in correspondence with a preset time range, and controlling the input / output circuit and the storage circuit; A control circuit for determining which time range of the preset time range falls within the preset time range, and incrementing a count value of the corresponding distribution counting counter circuit. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second and third aspects of the present invention, the connected application program development tool is provided with a count value counted by the distribution counting counter circuit. And displaying a distribution map of time during which the application program is executed once based on the application program.

[0034]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing one embodiment of a programmable controller according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1, 2 and 3 are assigned the same reference numerals as in FIG. 5, 4a is a debug circuit, 100a is an input signal, and 101a is an output signal.

The input signal 100a is input to the control circuit 2 via the input / output circuit 1, and the output from the control circuit 1 is output to the outside as the output signal 101a via the input / output circuit 1. The control circuit 2 includes a storage circuit 3 and a debug circuit 4
a.

Here, the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The control circuit 2 sequentially reads and executes the instructions of the application program stored in the storage circuit 3 in advance.

On the other hand, the debug circuit 4a measures information on the scan time required to execute the application program once.

More specifically, the debug circuit 4a measures the scan time, determines which of the preset time ranges the time range corresponds to, and counts the number.
In other words, the distribution status of the scan time in the time range is measured and stored.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific example of the debug circuit 4a.
Have the same reference numerals as in FIG. 6, 6a is a control circuit,
Reference numerals 9, 10 and 11 are distribution counting counter circuits.

The clock signal 102 is input to the counter circuit 5 for time measurement, and the output of the counter circuit 5 for time measurement is connected to the control circuit 6a. The control circuit 6a and the distribution counting counter circuits 8, 9, 10 and 11 are connected to each other.

Here, the operation of the debug circuit 4a shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the debug circuit 4a.

In FIG. 3A, the control circuit 6a presets a time range for counting by the distribution counter circuits 8 to 11.

More specifically, the measured scan time is
Tscan ”, t3 ≦ Tscan <t4 (1) t2 ≦ Tscan <t3 (2) t1 ≦ Tscan <t2 (3) 0 ≦ Tscan <t1 (4) (where 0 <t1 <t2 <t3 < t4) If the condition of Expression (1) is satisfied, the count value of the distribution counting counter 8 is incremented. Similarly, if the conditions of Expressions (2), (3) and (4) are satisfied, the counter 9 of distribution counting is performed. , 10 and 11 are set to be incremented.

In FIG. 3B, the control circuit 6a resets the time measurement counter circuit 5 and starts the counting operation, and detects the end of the execution of the application program in FIG. 3C.

When the end of the application program is detected in FIG. 3C, the control circuit 6a operates as shown in FIG.
In step 2, the count value of the time measurement counter circuit 5 is read.

In FIG. 3E, the control circuit 6a determines whether the count value satisfies the condition of equation (1).

If the condition of equation (1) is satisfied, FIG.
In (f), the control circuit 6a increments the count value of the distribution counting counter circuit 8 and performs the processing of FIG.

In FIG. 3G, the control circuit 6a determines whether or not the count value satisfies the condition of equation (2).

If the condition of equation (2) is satisfied, FIG.
In (h), the control circuit 6a increments the count value of the distribution counting counter circuit 9 and performs the processing of FIG.

Further, in FIG. 3 (i), the control circuit 6a
Determines whether the count value satisfies the condition of equation (3).

If the condition of equation (3) is satisfied, FIG.
In (j), the control circuit 6a increments the count value of the distribution counting counter circuit 10 and performs the processing of FIG.

Then, in FIG. 3 (k), the control circuit 6a
Increments the count value of the distribution counting counter circuit 11.

Finally, in FIG. 3 (l), the control circuit 6a
Determines whether the measurement is completed or not, and if it is a re-measurement, FIG.
When the measurement is completed, the process is terminated.

FIG. 4 is a distribution diagram showing an example of the distribution of scan times measured by the debug circuit 4a.

Specifically, a programmable controller is connected to an application program development tool,
This application program development tool reads out information on the distribution of scan times measured by the debug circuit 4a and displays the information on a display screen or the like in a distribution diagram.

In FIG. 4, "a", "b", "c" and "d" are shown.
Are the count values counted by the distribution counting counter circuits 11, 10, 9 and 8, and it can be seen from FIG. 4 that the scan time is widely distributed in the time range shown in the equation (2).

Further, since the distribution of "d" in FIG. 4 is small, it can be also recognized that the maximum value of the scan time occurs suddenly.

For this reason, in the above case, it can be specified that there is a problem in a specific branch routine or the like that is not normally executed in the application program, and it is only necessary to correct that part. Get better.

On the other hand, if the count value of the portion "d" in FIG. 4 is large, it can be recognized that the maximum value of the scan time occurs steadily. Can be identified as having a problem.

As a result, the length of the scan time is determined by the debug circuit 4a, which time range among the preset time ranges falls, and the number thereof is counted. It is possible to obtain the distribution of the length.

In the debug circuit 4a of FIG. 2, four counter circuits for distribution counting are exemplified for simplicity of explanation, but the number of counter circuits for distribution counting is not limited to this number. With this arrangement, a more detailed distribution of scan times can be obtained.

Further, in the debug circuit 4a of FIG. 2, the control circuit 6a is illustrated separately from the control circuit 2 in FIG. 1 for simplicity of explanation, but the processing contents in the control circuit 6a are processed by the control circuit 2. It does not matter.

As an application program development tool, a control device such as a personal computer or a workstation is generally used.

In order to identify a phenomenon that occurs only when the scan time exceeds a certain time, it is necessary to examine the relationship between the frequency at which the scan time exceeds the certain time and the frequency of occurrence of the phenomenon. According to the present embodiment, it is possible to examine these relationships.

[0066]

As is apparent from the above description,
According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. The length of the scan time is determined by the debug circuit, which time range among the preset time ranges is determined, and the number thereof is counted, thereby obtaining the distribution state of the scan time length. A programmable controller capable of performing the above can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of a programmable controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram illustrating a specific example of a debug circuit.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the debug circuit.

FIG. 4 is a distribution diagram illustrating an example of a distribution state of scan times.

FIG. 5 is a configuration block diagram illustrating an example of a conventional programmable controller.

FIG. 6 is a configuration block diagram showing a specific example of a debug circuit.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the debug circuit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Input / output circuit 2, 6, 6a Control circuit 3, 7 Storage circuit 4, 4a Debug circuit 5 Time measurement counter circuit 8, 9, 10, 11 Distribution counting counter circuit 100, 100a Input signal 101, 101a Output signal 102 Clock signal

Claims (4)

[Claims] An input / output circuit, a storage circuit for storing an application program, a control circuit for controlling the input / output circuit and the storage circuit, and a time for executing the application program once. A programmable circuit, comprising: a debug circuit for measuring and determining which time range falls within a preset time range, and counting the number thereof. 2. The debugging circuit according to claim 1, wherein the debugging circuit measures a time during which the application program is executed once, and a plurality of distribution counting counter circuits provided corresponding to a preset time range. A control circuit for determining which time range of the preset time range the measurement time of the time measurement counter circuit corresponds to, and incrementing the count value of the corresponding distribution counting counter circuit. The programmable controller according to claim 1, wherein the program is performed. 3. A programmable controller, comprising: an input / output circuit; a storage circuit for storing an application program; a time measurement counter circuit for measuring a time during which the application program is executed once; A plurality of distribution counting counter circuits provided correspondingly to the input / output circuit and the storage circuit, and a time range of the preset time range for controlling the input / output circuit and the storage circuit. And a control circuit for determining whether the condition is satisfied and incrementing the count value of the distribution counting counter circuit. 4. An application program development tool connected to the application program, wherein the application program is set to 1 based on the count value counted by the distribution counting counter circuit.
4. The programmable controller according to claim 2, wherein a distribution map of time executed multiple times is displayed.