JPWO2015059818A1 - Programmable display, program - Google Patents

Abstract

When there is a screen switching instruction, the old and new image management unit 202 saves and stores the screen image stored in the screen image storage unit 201 as the old screen image, and sets the image of the switching destination screen as the new screen image. Generate and store. The composite image generation unit 203 generates a composite image by combining a part of the old screen image and a part of the new screen image while changing the composite ratio as needed or at regular intervals. The display control unit 204 displays the generated composite image every time the composite image is generated, thereby performing screen display for transition from the old screen image to the new screen image.

Description

  The present invention relates to a programmable display and the like.

  In general, a programmable display is connected to various connected devices such as a PLC main body and a temperature control device, and items such as numerical displays and lamps for displaying the status of these connected devices, and for users to give arbitrary instructions. Displays an image of items such as switches. An item is also called a screen component or the like. Usually, images of a plurality of screen parts (items) are displayed on the screen of the programmable display. The screen of the programmable display is called an operation display screen.

  Data or the like for displaying such an operation display screen (referred to as screen data or the like) is arbitrarily created in advance by a developer or the like in a support device (not shown) and downloaded from the support device to a programmable display. .

  The screen data includes, for each item, data such as an image of the item, display position coordinates, and an address of an allocated memory area to be described later. In addition, some programs may be included. The item image is, for example, an image of a switch, an image of a lamp, or a “image of a type indicating a numerical value by a figure” such as a meter (meter or the like) or a bar graph.

  Each of the items is for displaying the state of the component or accepting an ON / OFF instruction for the component corresponding to an arbitrary component of an arbitrary connected device, for example. For example, in the case of an item that displays the temperature measurement value of the temperature control device as a numerical value, the current temperature is displayed as a numerical value as needed.

  The display control related to the various items is realized, for example, by periodically executing a predetermined process for each item. The predetermined processing is, for example, reading stored data in a predetermined area (allocated memory area) of a memory device in the connected device, and determining / displaying the display content of the item based on the stored data. The connected device updates the stored data in each allocated memory area as needed. For example, in the temperature control device, the temperature measurement value is updated as needed.

  For example, with respect to the item “lamp”, the stored data in the allocated memory area is 1-bit data. When this bit is “0”, the item image to turn off the lamp, and when “1”, the lamp is turned on is programmable. Display on the display. The stored data in the allocated memory area is updated on the connected device side as described above. For example, “1” is stored in the allocated memory area when the push button on the connected device is ON, and “0” is stored when the push button is OFF.

  Here, a predetermined area of the memory device in the connected device, that is, an allocated memory area may be referred to as a monitoring memory. From the above, it can be said that an arbitrary monitoring memory is assigned to each item, and the display content of each item is controlled to be updated based on the data stored in the monitoring memory.

  Further, the data read from the monitoring memory is temporarily stored in a predetermined area (referred to as internal memory) of the memory device in the programmable display, and the display contents of the item are determined and displayed based on the stored data. There is also a configuration.

  In the case of this example, the process of reading the data stored in the monitoring memory and storing it in the internal memory is executed, for example, periodically by the communication function unit of the programmable display. For example, the communication function unit communicates with various connected devices such as the PLC main body and the temperature control device, acquires the storage data of the monitoring memory for each item, and stores the acquired data in the internal memory. Overwrite and store. And the item display function part which performs the display control which concerns on the said various items in a programmable display determines and controls the display content regarding each item by accessing an internal memory regularly.

  Here, for example, the prior art described in Patent Document 1 is known.

In the invention of Patent Document 1, for example, the first animation display is performed during the transition from the first screen to the second screen. When the user gives an instruction to transition to the first screen while displaying the first animation, the first animation being reproduced is interrupted, and the second time from the point determined according to the interrupted time. The second animation that transitions from the screen to the first screen is reproduced.
JP 2013-16082 A

  Here, as a function of various items on the operation display screen of the programmable display, the stored data in the predetermined area of the memory device in the connected device as described above, that is, the allocated memory area is acquired, and the acquired data Typically, the display is based on that. The display based on the acquired data is, for example, lighting / extinguishing of the lamp, a meter, a bar graph, a numerical display, or the like. Alternatively, the operation on the connected device side is instructed by updating the stored data in the allocated memory area in accordance with the ON / OFF operation of the switch.

  Here, there is a screen switching function as a function of the item. That is, in the programmable display device, when there are a plurality of operation display screens (screens), only one arbitrary screen is displayed at any time, instead of displaying a plurality of screens at the same time. When the user operates an item (referred to as a screen switching item) having the screen switching function on the currently displayed screen, the screen is switched to another screen.

  Conventionally, when the screen switching item is operated, the screen is immediately switched to the other screen.

  On the other hand, there is a case where it is conventionally desired that an animation display of a screen transition as shown in FIG.

  However, in the case of the programmable display 1, it is difficult to perform an animation display of the screen transition in the same manner as in the case of the copying machine described in Patent Document 1. One of the reasons is that, in the case of the copying machine disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the transition is made from the first screen to the second screen, the display content is fixed on both the first screen and the second screen. On the other hand, in the case of the programmable display device 1, the display contents of various items on the operation display screen are in accordance with the acquired data from the allocated memory area. Further, the display content changes if the value of the acquired data changes.

  The subject of this invention is providing the programmable display etc. which can perform the animation display of a screen transition at the time of screen switching in the programmable display which can display a some operation display screen.

  The programmable display of this invention has the following each structure in the programmable display connected to the connection apparatus.

-When there is a screen switching instruction, the screen image being displayed is saved and stored as an old screen image, and an image of the switching destination screen is generated and stored as a new screen image;
A composite image is generated by combining a part of the old screen image and a part of the new screen image while changing the composition ratio until a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the transition process accompanying the screen switching instruction. A composite image generating means;
Display control means for performing screen display of transition from the old screen image to the new screen image by displaying the generated composite image every time the composite image is generated.

It is a schematic block diagram of the whole system containing the programmable display of this example. It is a structural example of the programmable display of this example. It is a software block diagram of this system. It is an example of a screen data creation support screen in the drawing editor device. It is an example of a screen switching display in a programmable display. It is a processing function figure (1/2) of the programmable display of this example. It is a processing function figure (2/2) of the programmable display of this example. (A), (b) is a data block diagram of an item list. (A), (b) is a data structure of a shared memory, a specific example. It is a process flowchart figure of a communication process part. (A) is a memory list, (b) is a data configuration example of memory information. It is a processing flowchart figure (1/2) of a screen image generation part. It is a process flowchart figure (2/2) of a screen image generation part. (A) is a data structural example of screen control data, (b) is a mode transition diagram. It is a process flowchart figure of a transition timer process part. (A) is an old and new screen to be synthesized, and (b) is a diagram showing a synthesis result example. It is a process flowchart figure of a screen display data transfer process part. It is a process flowchart figure of a touch switch determination process part. It is a data structural example of a switch list (switch information). (A) is an example of arrangement of a plurality of switches, and (b) is an example of a switch list corresponding to this example. (A), (b) is a transition display example of an overlap image, (c), (d) is a transition display example of a global overlap image. It is a functional block diagram of the programmable display of this example.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the entire system including the programmable display 1 of this example.

  The programmable controller system shown in FIG. 1 includes various connection devices 4 and a programmable display 1 that is connected to the various connection devices 4 via a communication line 6. Furthermore, the structure by which the programmable display 1 was connected to the drawing editor apparatus 5 (support apparatus) via the communication line 3 may be sufficient. However, the drawing editor device 5 does not necessarily need to be connected to the programmable display device 1. The drawing editor device 5 may be referred to as the support device 5 in some cases.

  The programmable display 1 is provided with a plurality of communication interfaces 2 (communication ports), and is connected to various connection devices 4 and the drawing editor device 5 by the communication line 3 / communication line 6 connected to each communication interface 2. ing.

  The programmable display 1 displays the operation display screen (screen) based on the screen data and the like during operation. The programmable display 1 of this example can display the plurality of operation display screens (screens). As described above, when the screen switching item is operated on the currently displayed operation display screen, the screen is switched to another operation display screen. Further, as in the past, for each item on the operation display screen that is currently displayed, for example, the data in the allocated memory area is acquired from the connection device 4 at a fixed period, and the display content is updated based on the acquired data. .

  In this description, a special effect related to display is referred to as a transition. An example of the transition is “animation display of screen transition at the time of screen switching” by this method. This can be realized even if the display content of the switching destination screen is not fixed. As described above, the display content of the screen is determined by the acquired data from the allocated memory area, and is not fixed. Furthermore, it is possible to cope with updating of the display content of the screen as needed. Details will be described later.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration example of the programmable display 1 of this example.

  The programmable display device 1 has a function of performing display / update of the operation display screen based on the above-described screen data, acquired data, etc., switching of the operation display screen, and the like, in substantially the same manner as the conventional example described above. Further, in this method, there is a case where a screen transition animation display to be described later is executed when the screen is switched. Details will be described later.

  The illustrated programmable display 1 includes a display operation control device 10, a touch panel 18, a display 19, the communication interface 2, and the like.

  The display operation control device 10 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12 (flash memory or the like), a RAM 13, a communication controller 14, a graphic controller 15, a touch panel controller 16, and the like, which are connected to a bus 17.

  The CPU 11 is a central processing unit (arithmetic processor) that controls the entire display operation control device 10. The CPU 11 performs a predetermined arithmetic processing operation by executing a program (for example, a main body program 21 described later) stored in advance in the ROM 12. Thereby, for example, the processing of various flowcharts to be described later is realized. Various calculation results are stored in, for example, the RAM 13 or the ROM 12. The ROM 12 may be a flash memory, for example.

  The ROM 12 stores screen data (screen data 22 to be described later) described in the background art, a predetermined application program, and the like. For example, when the CPU 11 executes this application program, various processes described later are realized.

  As described above, the screen data is, for example, each item such as the above-described switch, lamp, meter, bar graph, etc., various data related to item display such as the image of the item, display position coordinates, and size, It has data related to monitoring memory access such as the address of the allocated memory area.

  The various processes of the CPU 11 include, for example, a process of acquiring “stored data in the allocated memory area for each item” described in the background art. From the above, it can be said that this is a process of acquiring data stored in the “monitoring memory”. This acquired data is temporarily stored, for example, in the shared memory 64 described later. The shared memory 64 may be a part of the storage area of the RAM 13 or the ROM 12, may be a memory (not shown) in the CPU 11, or may be another memory (not shown).

  Further, display target data based on, for example, the screen data and the acquired data is developed (drawn) on, for example, the RAM 13 or a video RAM (not shown) by the processing of the CPU 11. Based on this drawing, the graphic controller 15 displays the above-described operation display screen on the display 19.

  The display 19 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel, and a touch panel 18 is provided so as to overlap the liquid crystal panel. On the display 19, the operation display screen is basically displayed in which a plurality of item images are arranged at predetermined positions.

  In this example, it is assumed that a plurality of the operation display screens (the screen data 22) are registered, and the operation display screen is switched by a predetermined button operation or the like. In this method, transition display (screen transition animation display) may be performed when switching the operation display screen. For example, there may be a transition display in which the current (switching source) operation display screen gradually slides and disappears in such a manner that it is pushed out to the switching destination operation display screen. Details will be described later.

  Further, the communication controller 14 communicates with a connection device 4 and a drawing editor device 5 such as a PLC main body (not shown) or a temperature control device via the communication interface 2.

  The detection result of the pressing operation position (touch position) on the touch panel 18 by an operator or the like is taken into the CPU 11 or the like via the touch panel controller 16 and analyzed. This is analyzed based on the display position coordinates and size data of each item, for example. For example, when an operator touches the display position of an image of an arbitrary switch, it is assumed that the operation has been performed on this switch by analyzing that the touch position is within the display area of the switch image. It becomes.

  FIG. 3 shows a software configuration diagram of the system.

  In the programmable display 1, various programs / data such as a main body program 21, screen data 22, and communication program 23 are stored in, for example, the ROM 12 (flash memory or the like). When the CPU 11 reads / executes / references these programs / data and the like, display control of the operation display screen and the like is performed. The operation display screen includes image displays of various items such as meters, bar graphs, lamps, and switches. The display content of each item image is updated as needed, for example, by reflecting data acquired from the allocated memory area (monitoring memory) through communication with the connected device 4.

  Basically, the CPU 11 performs a process based on the main body program 21 and the screen data 22, whereby the operation display screen is displayed. The display content of each screen component on the operation display screen is updated as needed based on the result of communication with the connected device 4 by the communication program 23 (such as the acquired data). The display content is, for example, a display indicating a numerical value such as a temperature or lighting / extinguishing of a lamp.

  The screen data 22 is, for example, a screen data file 32 arbitrarily created in advance on the drawing editor device 5 side, downloaded to the programmable display device 1 and stored. In addition, the communication program 23 is also the one in which, for example, the communication program file 33 previously stored on the drawing editor device 5 side is downloaded and stored in the programmable display device 1.

  As described above, basically, the CPU 11 performs display control of the operation display screen based on the main body program 21, the screen data 22, and the acquired data. For example, regarding items such as meters and lamps, data is periodically read from the allocated memory area of the item, and the display content of the item is updated based on the read data. Alternatively, for example, regarding an item such as a switch, when the user touches a desired switch on the operation display screen and performs an ON / OFF operation, switch ON image display / switch OFF image display is performed. The CPU 11 also controls the connection device 4 according to the switch operation.

  And there exists a structure which stores the read-out data from this allocation memory area | region temporarily in the internal memory (such as the shared memory 64 mentioned later) of the programmable display 1, and performs item display control based on this.

  That is, for example, a process of periodically reading data from a predetermined storage area (allocated memory area) of a memory device in the connection device 4 and storing the read data in the internal memory by each communication processing unit 55 to be described later Is done. Then, display control of the operation display screen is performed based on data stored in the internal memory. As a result, the display contents of each item image on the operation display screen reflect the contents of the latest stored data in the allocated memory area (monitoring memory) corresponding to the item.

  The communication program 23 of the programmable display device 1 is a program for communicating with the connection device 4 via the communication line 6. Usually, each connected device 4 has a unique communication protocol (communication rule) for each model and performs communication between the programmable display 1 and the connected device 4 in accordance with this communication rule. Therefore, the communication program 23 needs to be developed for each model of each connected device 4. Of course, the CPU 11 and the like execute the communication program 23 to realize communication processing with the connected device 4.

  The communication between the programmable display 1 and the drawing editor device 5 is performed by, for example, the main body program 21 and the drawing editor 31. For example, a communication function is incorporated in the drawing editor 31. This is not particularly related to the present technique, and is not shown or described. The connection device 4 such as the PLC main body has various manufacturers and models, each manufacturer / model has its own communication program, and the communication program 23 depends on the manufacturer / model of the connection device 4 depending on the case. Multiple types will be provided.

  The communication program 23 is normally stored in advance as a plurality of communication program files 33 (a plurality of communication programs developed for each model) in an HD (hard disk) (not shown) in the drawing editor device 5. Then, when the user selects / designates an arbitrary connected device 4 using the drawing editor 31, the drawing editor device 5 transfers the communication program file 33 corresponding to the selected connected device 4 to the programmable display device 1, The communication program 23 is stored.

  The process of accessing the monitoring memory in the connected device 4 from the programmable display 1 is executed according to various settings included in the screen data 22. In other words, it is executed according to various user settings made when the screen data file 32 is created on the drawing editor 31. For example, when the user creates the screen data file 32, the user arranges various items in the screen and designates an arbitrary address (monitoring memory) for each item.

  Further, when adding some kind of transition display effect, the user can arbitrarily make settings for that purpose. An example of such a setting screen is shown in FIG. 4 and will be described later.

  The screen data file 32 created as described above is downloaded to the programmable display 1 and stored as screen data 22. The programmable display 1 performs display control of the operation display screen using the screen data 22 as in the conventional case, and accordingly, periodically acquires the data in the monitoring memory for each item. Perform operations and so on. Furthermore, the operation | movement etc. which update the item display content on a screen based on acquisition data are performed. Furthermore, the operation display screen is switched according to a predetermined user operation, and at this time, the transition display (screen transition animation display) of the present method may be performed.

  Note that the program for realizing the various processes described above may be included in the main body program 21, for example, or may be included in the screen data file 32 (screen data 22). In any case, when the CPU 11 executes such a program, for example, various processes and operations of the programmable display 1 of this example are realized.

  Here, the support device 5 is, for example, a personal computer or the like. Although not particularly illustrated, a general general-purpose computer configuration (CPU, storage unit (hard disk, memory, etc.), communication unit, operation unit (mouse, etc.), display) is provided. Have. When the CPU (not shown) executes an application program stored in advance in the storage unit, for example, the processing function of the drawing editor 31 is realized.

  FIG. 4 is an example of a screen data creation support screen in the drawing editor device 5.

  The creation support screen shown in FIG. 4 shows a state in which the user has placed an arbitrary switch item 40 on the editing area shown on the left side of the figure. When the user designates the switch item 40 and performs a predetermined operation, a setting window 41 (dialog box or the like) shown in the figure is displayed.

  Various settings can be made on the setting target item on the setting window 41. Here, some of the settings are shown and described. First, in the illustrated function setting area 42, the user can select and designate an arbitrary function for the switch item 40 that is a setting target item. Here, the “screen” shown in the figure is the screen switching function. Further, in the screen number setting area 43 shown in the figure, the screen number of the switching destination screen is displayed. Can be set. Each screen is assigned a screen number that is a unique identification ID in advance.

  Further, in the illustrated transition setting area 44, the user selects and designates a desired transition display method. Here, the “slide” shown in the figure is selected and specified, and in this example, a transition display (screen transition animation display; “old → new” transition display) as shown in FIG. 5B described later is performed. become. In this description, basically, an example in which such “slide” display is performed will be described.

  Here, FIG. 5 shows a transition display example.

  Here, it is assumed that there are a screen A and a screen B shown in FIG. 5A as the plurality of types of operation display screens (screens). It is assumed that the screen changeover switch 40a shown in the figure is arranged on the screen A and the screen changeover switch 40b shown in the figure is arranged on the screen B. The functions of the screen changeover switches 40a and 40b are assumed to be the screen changeover function. As for the screen changeover switch 40a, the screen No. of the screen B is displayed in the screen No. setting area 42. Is set. That is, when the screen changeover switch 40a is operated, the screen B is switched.

  Further, when the “slide” is set in the transition setting area 44 with respect to the screen changeover switch 40a, when the user operates the screen changeover switch 40a, a transition display (screen transition) as shown in FIG. Animation display). In the illustrated example, the screen B that is the switching destination slides in from the right side of the screen (display), whereby the screen A gradually disappears from the screen while being pushed out to the left side of the screen. Finally, only the screen B is displayed, and the screen switching to the screen B is completed.

  Here, although omitted in FIG. 5, items other than the screen changeover switch 40 are usually arranged on the screen B. This also applies to the screen A.

  In this method, as an example, the display content of an item (not shown) on the screen B reflects the data content of the monitoring memory even during the screen transition shown in FIG. It may be updated at any time. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this example. In this example, the display contents of items (not shown) on the screen A are not updated after the screen transition start time. Details will be described later.

  6A and 6B are processing function diagrams of the programmable display of this example.

  Note that FIGS. 6A and 6B show one figure divided into two, and are hereinafter collectively referred to as FIG.

  When the CPU 11 executes a predetermined program (for example, the main body program 21, the communication program 23, etc.) stored in the ROM 12, for example, various processing function units shown in a dotted line in FIG. 6 are realized.

  That is, the illustrated touch switch determination processing unit 51, screen display data transfer processing unit 52, transition timer processing unit 53, screen image generation unit 54, each communication processing unit 55 (55-1, 55-2), and item generation unit 56 Various processing functions of various processing function units such as are realized. Details of these various processing functions will be described later.

The communication processing unit 55 is realized by the main body program 21 and the communication program 23, for example. The other processing function units are realized by the main body program 21.
In addition, the illustrated switch list 61, screen control data 62, item list 63, shared memory 64, and the like are stored in a memory (not illustrated) in the CPU 11. In addition, storage units such as a screen display data storage unit 65, an old screen image data storage unit 66, a new screen image data storage unit 67, and a transition display data storage unit 68 are provided. A predetermined storage area (memory area) in a memory (not shown) in the CPU 11 is allocated for each of the storage units 65, 66, 67 and 68.

  The screen display data storage unit 65 is a storage area for storing screen display data to be described later. The old screen image data storage unit 66 is a storage area for storing old screen image data to be described later. The new screen image data storage unit 67 is a storage area for storing new screen image data to be described later. The transition display data storage unit 68 is a storage area for storing transition display data to be described later.

  Note that a storage area in the RAM 13 or ROM 12 may be allocated instead of a memory (not shown) in the CPU 11. However, when these display data are stored in the RAM 13, a storage area other than the storage area accessed by the graphic controller 15 is naturally allocated. This is because the image data in the storage area accessed by the graphic controller 15 is displayed on the display 19.

  In addition, for convenience of explanation, in the following explanation, the data itself stored in each of the storage units 65, 66, 67, 68 is described with the reference numerals 65, 66, 67, 68 attached thereto. There shall be. That is, it may be described as screen display data 65, old screen image data 66, new screen image data 67, transition display data 68, and the like.

  The item generation unit 56 generates an item list 63 based on the screen data 22 and the like. This is generated, for example, by extracting a part of the screen data 22. The item generation unit 56 is an existing function. Therefore, the processing function of the item generation unit 56 is not particularly shown or described with reference to a flowchart or the like.

  Here, the data block diagram of the item list 63 is shown to Fig.7 (a), (b).

  FIG. 7A is a data configuration diagram of the entire item list 63. FIG. 7B is a detailed data configuration example of “data for each item type” 106 which is a part of the data.

  The item list 63 in the illustrated example includes an item type 101, coordinates 102, size 103, device name 104, address 105, “data for each item type” 106, a processed flag 107, and the like.

  The item list 63 stores the various pieces of information 101 to 107 for each item on the operation display screen. From the above, the various information 101 to 107 may be regarded as a part of the screen data 22. The data structure of the screen data 22 is not particularly shown.

  The item type 101 stores item type identification information indicating the type (switch, lamp, meter, bar graph, etc.) of the item.

  Coordinate 102 and size 103 store information indicating the display position and size of the image of the item.

  A device name 104 and an address 105 are addresses of the allocated memory area. That is, the storage area of the address 105 in the memory device in the connected device 4 indicated by the device name 104 is the above-mentioned allocated memory area.

  The processed flag 107 is a flag indicating whether or not the processing has been completed, and its usage will be described later with reference to a flowchart.

  Here, “data for each item type” 107 stores various data according to the type of the item. Here, as an example, various data when the item type is “switch” is shown in FIG.

  “Data for each item type” 106 in the example shown in FIG. 7B includes a function 111, a screen switching destination 112, a transition type 113, and the like. In these functions 111, the screen switching destination 112, and the transition type 113, information arbitrarily selected / set by the user in the function setting area 42, the screen number setting area 43, and the transition setting area 44 is stored. In the example of FIG. 4, the function 111 stores the screen switching function, the screen switching destination 112 stores “NO.1”, and the transition type 113 stores “slide”.

  The specific example of the item list 63 illustrated in FIG. 6 has been described above.

  Returning to the description of FIG.

  The touch switch determination processing unit 51 determines an item operated by the user based on a touch operation detection result by the user. That is, when the user performs an operation of touching an arbitrary position on the touch panel 18, the touch panel controller 16 detects the XY coordinates of the touch position. Thus, the touch switch determination processing unit 51 determines the item operated by the user based on the detected coordinates and the switch list 61, for example. For example, the determination may be made based on the item list 63 instead of the switch list 61.

  Based on the item list 63 and data stored in the shared memory 64 (to be described later), the screen image generation unit 54 executes processing related to determination / update of the display content of the image for each item. Alternatively, a process related to screen switching may be executed. Normally, the screen display data 65 is generated, but when the screen is switched with a transition display, the old screen image data 66 and the new screen image data 67 are also generated. Details will be described later.

  The transition timer processing unit 53 generates / updates the transition display data 68 based on the old screen image data 66 and the new screen image data 67, for example, at regular intervals when the screen is switched with the transition display. . Details will be described later.

  The screen display data transfer processing unit 52 normally draws (develops) a screen image in a predetermined area on the RAM 13 based on the screen display data 65. However, when the screen is switched with the transition display, a screen image is drawn (developed) in a predetermined area on the RAM 13 based on the transition display data 68.

  Although not described one by one, the predetermined area is an area accessed by the graphic controller 15 described above. The graphic controller 15 displays the drawing data of the predetermined area on the RAM 13 on the display 19 so that the display operation screen and the like, the transition display, and the like are performed.

  The communication processing unit 55 is a communication processing unit 55-1 or 55-1 provided for each of the connection devices 4 (4-1 and 4-2). That is, the communication processing unit 55-1 shown in the figure performs communication with the connection device 4-1 via the communication line 6 using the communication port WAY1 corresponding to the connection device 4-1, and sends each item to the item. The storage data of each corresponding allocated memory area is acquired. The acquired data is overwritten and stored in a predetermined area of the shared memory 64.

  Similarly, the communication processing unit 55-2 shown in the figure performs communication with the connection device 4-2 via the communication line 6 using the communication port WAY2 corresponding to the connection device 4-2, and each item. The storage data of each allocated memory area corresponding to is acquired. The acquired data is overwritten and stored in a predetermined area of the shared memory 64.

  Note that the process for acquiring the data stored in the allocated memory area and the process for storing the data in the shared memory 64 may be substantially the same as in the past, and will not be described in detail.

  Here, a specific example of the shared memory 64 is shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 8A shows a data structure example of the shared memory 64, and FIG. 8B shows a data storage example.

  In the example shown in FIG. 8A, the data stored in the shared memory 64 includes data items of a port 81, a device name 82, an address 83, and data 84. These data items may be substantially the same as those in the past. Therefore, a brief description will be given below.

  The port 81 is identification information or the like of the communication port, and is substantially information for identifying the connection device 4 of the communication partner. The device 82 is identification information of a memory device in the connection device 4 of the communication partner. The address 83 is an address of a predetermined storage area (allocated memory area) in the memory device indicated by the device 82, and the data 84 stores data acquired from the allocated memory area. The address of the allocated memory area may be referred to as “allocated memory address”.

  Note that the port 81, the device name 82, and the address 83 may be regarded as corresponding to the “allocated memory address” or “monitoring memory” of each item. That is, each record shown in FIG. 8B corresponds to each item. By storing the allocated memory address for each item included in the screen data 22 or the like in the port 81, the device name 82, and the address 83, each record shown in FIG. 8B is generated. At this time, a link between the record and the item may be formed, but the present invention is not limited to this example. In any case, when the display update processing of each item registered in the item list 63 is performed, the data 84 of the record corresponding to each item is referred to in the shared memory 64.

  Hereinafter, processing examples of the various processing function units shown in FIG. 6 will be described with reference to the flowcharts.

  First, a processing example of the communication processing unit 55 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a processing flowchart of the communication processing unit 55.

  For example, in the example of FIG. 6, each of the communication processing units 55-1 and 55-2 executes the processing of FIG. 9 cyclically (at a constant cycle).

  In the processing example of FIG. 9, first, based on the shared memory 64, the memory list 120 related to the connected device 4 that the user is in charge of is generated (step S11). For example, in the case of processing by the communication processing unit 55-1, the memory list 120 related to the connected device 4-1 is generated. For example, in the shared memory 64, the memory list 120 related to the connected device 4-1 is generated by extracting all records in which the port 81 is WAY1.

  FIG. 10A shows a data configuration example of the memory list 120.

  In the illustrated example, the memory list 120 includes data items of a device name 121, an address 122, and data 123. For example, in the case of the example of the communication processing unit 44-1, all records in which the port 81 is “WAY 1” are extracted from the shared memory 64, and information on the device name 82, the address 83, and the data 84 of each of the extracted records is obtained. By storing in the device name 121, the address 122, and the data 123, the memory list 120 related to the connected device 4-1 is generated. The data 123 is not necessarily required. Instead, flag information indicating whether or not the processing has been completed may be stored.

  Thereafter, while referring to the generated memory list 120, the processes in steps S12 to S14 are repeatedly executed until the determination in step S15 is NO. This process itself may be the same as that of the prior art, and will be briefly described below.

  That is, one unprocessed record is taken out from the memory list 120 as a processing target record, a memory read command is generated based on the content of the processing target record, and the communication line 6 is connected to the connected device 4 that is responsible for this. (Step S12). This command includes information (allocated memory address) for specifying an access destination such as the device name 81 and the address 82. Thus, the connected device 4 performs a response process of reading data from the storage area indicated by the allocated memory address and returning the read data.

  When the communication processing unit 44 receives a response from the connected device 4 to the memory read command (step S13), the communication processing unit 44 uses the data 84 in the record corresponding to the record to be processed in the shared memory 64 as the read data included in the response. (Step S14).

  Then, after executing the process of step S14, it is checked whether or not an unprocessed record remains in the memory list 120 (step S15). If it remains (step S15, YES), the process returns to step S12. If not (NO at step S15), the process is terminated.

  Next, a processing example of the screen image generation unit 54 will be described below.

  FIGS. 11 and 12 are process flowchart diagrams (1/2) and (2/2) of the screen image generation unit 54. FIGS. 11 and 12 show one flowchart divided into two parts. Therefore, hereinafter, FIG.

  The processing shown in FIG. 11 etc. is executed cyclically.

  In the processing example of FIG. 11 and the like, when a screen switching item such as the switch item 40 is operated by the user (step S21, YES), the processing of steps S22 to S26 is performed and then step S27. Processing of ~ S31 is performed. When there is no operation of the screen switching item (step S21, NO), the processing of steps S27 to S31 is performed as usual. In other words, the process itself of steps S27 to S31 is an existing item display update process. Therefore, the processing in steps S27 to S31 will not be described in detail.

  Note that the determination in step S21 is performed by referring to the screen switching request 142 of the screen control data 62, for example.

  Here, the screen control data 62 will be described.

  The screen control data 62 is information provided for screen switching processing, for example. Although not particularly illustrated, when the touch switch determination processing unit 51 detects an operation of a screen switching item, the touch switch determination processing unit 51 sets a screen switching request 142 described later of the screen control data 62 to “Requested” (for example, flag ON). In step S21, for example, when the screen switching request 142 is in the flag ON state, the determination is YES. In addition, description of a process when the touch switch determination process part 51 detects operation of items other than a screen switching item shall be abbreviate | omitted here.

  Here, FIG. 13A shows a data configuration example of the screen control data 62.

  The screen control data 62 in the illustrated example includes a screen control mode 141, a screen switching request 142, a switching destination screen No. 143, transition type 144, Δt change time counter 145, and Δt elapsed counter 146.

  The screen control mode 141 stores the current mode. That is, one of the three types of modes shown in FIG. 13B is stored. The three types of modes shown are a “normal” mode, a “screen generation” mode, and a “transition” mode.

  Normally, the mode is the “normal” mode. For example, the screen is switched to the “screen generation in progress” mode by a process in step S23 described later. Details will be described later. Note that mode switching is performed as indicated by arrows in FIG. That is, the mode transition is made such as “normal” mode → “screen generating” mode → “transition” mode → “normal” mode.

  The screen switching request 142 is normally “no request” (flag OFF), and becomes “requested” (for example, flag ON) when it is detected that screen switching is instructed as described above.

  Switch destination screen No. In 143, the identification ID of the screen to be switched to is stored. The transition type 144 stores the type of transition (such as “slide” described above) related to the operated screen switching item. For example, when the touch switch determination processing unit 51 detects an operation of an arbitrary screen switching item, the screen switching destination 112 and the transition type 113 of the item list 63 corresponding to the operation item are set to the switching destination screen No. 143, stored in the transition type 144.

  In the Δt change time counter 145 and the Δt elapsed counter 146, for example, data values calculated in advance by the following calculation formula are registered.

  In the Δt change time counter 145, “Δt change time counter value” obtained by the following calculation formula (1) is stored in advance.

Δt change time counter value = change time ht / parameter update time Δt (1) Formula For example, predetermined values are registered in advance as the change time ht and the parameter update time Δt. At this time, the user may be able to set an arbitrary value.

  Here, the change time ht is the time taken from the start to the end of the transition display in this example. That is, for example, this is the time taken from the state shown in the upper left of FIG. 5B to the state shown in the lower right.

  The parameter update time Δt is a value arbitrarily set by a developer or the like in advance, and corresponds to a transition display execution cycle. That is, for example, the process of FIG. 14 described later is executed for each Δt.

  In addition, the Δt elapsed counter 146 stores a calculation result according to the following calculation formula (2) every time the processing of FIG. 14 is executed during execution of the transition display.

Δt elapsed counter = (elapsed time from the start of the transition) ÷ parameter update time Δt (2) In this example, the Δt elapsed counter 146 is a process from the start of the transition to the arbitrary process execution time of FIG. It can be said that it means the number of times (the number of times of execution of the process of FIG. 14). The Δt change time counter 145 and the Δt elapsed counter 146 are used for the determination processing in step S53 described later, but are not limited to this example. For example, the change time ht and “elapsed time from start of transition” are used. You may perform the determination process substantially the same as step S53. That is, the calculation processing by the equations (1) and (2) is not necessarily required.

  Returning to FIG.

  Hereinafter, steps S22 to S26 will be described.

  Here, as described above, the operation display screen is normally displayed based on the screen display data 65. Therefore, it is assumed that the screen display data 65 image is displayed at the time of starting the processing of steps S22 to S26, and the screen A is temporarily displayed. The switching destination is assumed to be the screen B.

  In step S22, the current screen display data 65 (screen A image) is copied and stored in the old screen image data storage unit 66 and the transition display data storage unit 68. In other words, the current screen display data 65 is used as new old screen image data 66 and transition display data 65. Further, the screen control mode 141 is changed to the “screen generation in progress” mode (step S23). Further, the stored data (screen A image) in the screen display data storage unit 65 is deleted (step S24). At this time, a process for turning off the screen switching request 142 may be executed.

  Further, after clearing the item list 63 (erasing the current data) (step S25), a new item list 63 corresponding to the switching destination screen is generated (step S26). The switching destination screen is the switching destination screen No. This can be determined by referring to 143. In this example, the item list 63 corresponding to the screen B is generated. Note that the item list generation process itself is an existing technology and will not be described in particular. Then, the process proceeds to step S27.

  In step S27, an initialization process is executed to set the processed flag 107 of all records in the item list 63 to “unprocessed” (flag OFF). The item list 63 to be processed is the new item list 63 generated in step S26 when step S21 is YES, and the existing item list 63 when step S21 is NO.

  In any case, thereafter, the item drawing process of steps S28 to S32 is executed using the item list 63 after the initialization process is executed. This item drawing process may basically be considered to mean a generation / update process of the operation display screen. That is, a new operation display screen is generated by newly drawing an image related to each item on the memory area of the screen display data storage unit 65, and the operation display screen is displayed on the display by transferring the image to the RAM 13. 19 will be displayed. However, in this method, the screen display data 65 is not necessarily transferred to the RAM 13, and the transition display data 68 may be transferred to the RAM 13.

  The item drawing process itself is basically an existing process and will be briefly described below.

  First, a record whose processed flag 107 is “unprocessed” in the item list 63 is set as a processing target (step S28), and data 84 of the record in the shared memory 64 linked to the processing target record is acquired. (Step S29). For example, the data 84 is acquired as the memory information 130 (the data 131). An example of the memory information 130 is shown in FIG.

  Then, the processing target item is drawn based on the processing target record, the memory information 130, and the like (step S30). This is for drawing on the memory area of the screen display data storage unit 65. FIG. 12 shows an example of this item drawing image. This example is a numerical display item, and the data 131 is '12345', which shows an image drawn as shown in the figure.

  Then, the processed flag 107 of the processing target record is set to “processed” (step S31), and when an unprocessed record remains (step S32, YES), the process returns to step S28 and a new processing target record is obtained. The same processing as described above is performed.

  When there is no unprocessed record (step S32, NO), the generation of the screen display data 65 is completed, and the process proceeds to step S33. If step S21 is YES, generation of the screen display data 65 relating to the switching destination screen (screen B in the above example) is completed.

  If step S21 is YES, the drawing data of the switching source screen (screen A in the above example) is stored as old screen image data 66 and transition display data 68 as described above. It is in a state. Therefore, at this time, the screen display data transfer processing unit 52 can display either the transition display data 68 (screen A) or the screen display data 65 (screen B) as the operation display screen. Details of the processing of the transfer processing unit 52 will be described later.

  If the screen control mode 141 is the “screen generation in progress” mode (YES in step S33), the processes in steps S34, S35, and S36 are executed and the process is terminated. If step S21 is YES, the screen control mode 141 is in the “screen generation in progress” mode in step S23. On the other hand, if step S21 is NO, the screen control mode 141 should be the “normal” mode, and therefore the determination in step S33 is NO. In this case, the present process is terminated.

  In step S34, the new screen display data 65 (screen B) generated as described above is copied and stored in the new screen image data storage unit 67. Then, after the screen control mode 141 is changed to the “in transition” mode (step S35), the transition timer is started (step S36). The transition timer will be described later.

  However, the process of step S34 may not be executed. That is, the new screen image data 67 may be omitted. In the case of such a modification, the transition display data 68 is generated by performing a process of combining the old screen image data 66 and the screen display data 65. The new screen image data 67 is a copy of the new screen display data 65 (screen B) for execution of the transition display, but such a copy may not be necessary. In the case of the illustrated example, four memory areas for the storage units 65, 66, 67, and 68 are required. On the other hand, in the case of the modification, only three memory areas for the storage units 65, 66, and 68 are required.

  Further, during the execution of the transition, the screen display data 65 may be updated to the latest version at any time. That is, even when the transition display is being executed, for example, the processing of FIG. 11 is executed cyclically, and the latest screen display data 65 corresponding to the latest acquired data is generated by the processing of steps S27 to S32. May be. Along with this, the display content of the switching destination screen in the transition display is updated to the latest version. The acquired data is data acquired from the allocated memory area and stored in the shared memory 64 or the like. This update process itself may be regarded as an existing process.

  In this way, the display content of the switching destination screen may be updated to the latest version at any time during the transition, that is, during the screen switching animation display. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, the screen display data 65 may not be updated during the transition. Alternatively, during the transition, the screen display data 65 is updated to the latest version, but the process of step S34 may not be performed. In any case, the display content of the switching destination screen in the transition display may be the same as the content at the start of the transition.

  Here, the transition timer is a component (not shown) in the CPU 11, for example, and is a timer in which the parameter update time Δt is set in advance. After the transition timer is activated in step S36, the transition timer is repeatedly incremented every time Δt passes until it is stopped in step S54 described later.

  The transition timer processing unit 53 executes the process of FIG. 14 every time the transition timer is up. That is, the process of FIG. 14 is executed at a period of Δt.

  FIG. 14 is a processing flowchart of the transition timer processing unit 53.

  The transition timer processing unit 53 first updates the Δt elapsed counter 146 (step S51). This is updated by, for example, the calculation result by the above-described equation (2). Note that the “elapsed time from the start of the transition” in the above equation (2) is obtained by separately measuring, for example, the elapsed time from the processing time of step S36. However, the update is not limited to this example. For example, “Δt elapsed counter 146 = Δt elapsed counter 146 + 1” may be used. That is, the Δt elapsed counter 146 may be updated with “current value + 1”. In this case, for example, the Δt elapsed counter 146 is initialized (= 0) in the process of step S36.

  Then, according to the transition type 144, a part of the old screen image data 66 and a part of the new screen image data 67 are combined, and this combined image is overwritten and stored in the transition display data storage unit 68 (step S52). That is, this composite image is used as new transition display data 68.

  An example of the image composition processing in step S52 will be described with reference to FIG.

  Here, the case where the transition type 144 is “slide” as described above will be described as an example. That is, for example, an example in which the transition display shown in FIG. 5 is performed will be described.

  In FIG. 15A, an example of the old screen image data 66 is shown on the left side of the figure, and an example of the new screen image data 67 is shown on the right side of the figure. That is, the left side in the figure may be regarded as the screen A as the switching source, and the right side in the figure may be regarded as the screen B as the switching destination.

  FIG. 15B shows an example of the combined result of these new and old screens. That is, as shown in FIG. 15A, a part of the old screen image data 66 is cut out and a part of the new screen image data 67 is cut out. Then, the transition display data 68 is generated by synthesizing these cut-out images as shown in FIG. For example, a composite image is generated by storing an image cut out from the old and new screens in the memory area of the transition display data storage unit 68.

  Here, it is assumed that the screen resolution is (X direction × Y direction) = (800 pixels × 600 pixels). In other words, width (resolution X width) = 800 (pixels) and height (resolution Y width) = 600 (pixels). Further, the coordinates of the upper left corner of the screen are set as the base point (0, 0). Thus, the coordinates of the lower right corner of the screen are (800, 600) as shown.

  (1) In this example, the image cutting process of the old screen image data 66 is as follows.

  Cut out (clip) the image of the region of width W1 and height H1 from the coordinates (X1, Y1). In this example, X1, Y1, W1, and H1 are as follows.

X1 = resolution X width × (Δt elapsed counter 146 / Δt change time counter 145)
Y1 = 0
W1 = Resolution X width-X1
H1 = Resolution Y width (= 600 pixels)
Further, the process (copy process) for pasting the image cut out from the old screen image data 66 into the memory area of the transition display data storage unit 68 is as follows.
Affixing is performed so that the upper left corner of the cut-out image becomes the coordinates (COPYYX1, COPYY1) in the memory area.

  In this example, COPYX1 and COPYY1 are as follows.

COPYX1 = 0
COPYY1 = 0
(2) On the other hand, the image cutting process of the new screen image data 67 is as follows.

  Cut out (clip) the image of the area of width W2 and height H2 from the coordinates (X2, Y2). In this example, X2, Y2, W2, and H2 are as follows.

X2 = 0
Y2 = 0
W2 = resolution X width−W1 (= X1)
H2 = Resolution Y width (= 600 pixels)
Furthermore, the process (copy process) for pasting the image cut out from the new screen image data 67 into the memory area of the transition display data storage unit 68 is as follows.

  -Paste the cutout image so that the upper left corner is the coordinates (COPYY2, COPYY2).

  In this example, COPYX2 and COPYY2 are as follows.

COPYX2 = W1
COPYY2 = 0
This process is a copy process, and an image cut out from the old screen image data 66 or the new screen image data 67 is not deleted from the old screen image data 66 or the new screen image data 67 but is left as it is. .

  Returning to the description of FIG.

  After the image composition processing in step S52 is executed, it is subsequently determined whether or not “Δt change time counter 145 ≦ Δt elapsed counter 146” is satisfied (step S53). That is, it is determined whether or not the change time ht has elapsed since the start of the transition display.

  If “Δt change time counter 145> Δt elapsed counter 146” (step S53, NO), that is, if the time ht has not yet elapsed from the start, the present process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if “Δt change time counter 145 ≦ Δt elapsed counter 146” (step S53, YES), the transition timer is stopped (step S54), and the screen control mode 141 is changed to the “normal” mode. (Step S55), the process is terminated.

  Further, the screen display data transfer processing unit 52 transfers either the screen display data 65 or the transition display data 68 to the RAM 13 in accordance with the screen control mode 141. As a result, either one is displayed on the display 19. For example, the processing shown in FIG. 16 is executed.

  FIG. 16 is a processing flowchart of the screen display data transfer processing unit 52.

  When the screen control mode 141 is the “in transition” mode (YES in step S61), the screen display data transfer processing unit 52 transfers the transition display data 68 to the RAM 13 (step S63). As a result, the composite image of the old and new screens is displayed on the display 19. That is, transition display (animation display of screen transition at the time of screen switching) is performed.

  On the other hand, when the screen control mode 141 is not the “transition” mode (basically when it is the “normal” mode or the like) (NO in step S61), the screen display data 65 is transferred to the RAM 13. (Step S62). This is a normal operation display screen display.

  Here, the process related to the transition display described above is executed when the touch switch determination processing unit 51 determines that the screen switching item has been operated. Particularly, in steps S22 to S26 and steps S34 to S36 in FIG. 11 and the like, the touch switch determination processing unit 51 updates the screen control data 62 in accordance with the determination that the screen switching item is pressed. Will be executed.

  Hereinafter, the process of the touch switch determination processing unit 51 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 17 is a process flowchart of the touch switch determination processing unit 51.

  Here, an example in which the pressed item is determined with reference to the switch list 61 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to such an example. Basically, by referring to the coordinates 102 and the size 103 of the item list 63, the area where each item is arranged can be known. Therefore, which item area includes the coordinates of the position touched by the user. If it is determined, the pressed item can be determined. Therefore, normally, the item list 63 may be referred to, and the switch list 61 is not necessary.

  Here, an example of processing that makes it possible to appropriately determine a pressed item even when items are arranged so as to partially overlap each other is illustrated and described. However, such an item discrimination process is not essential and may be omitted.

  In any case, when the screen switching item is operated, the process of step S44 described later is executed.

  The touch panel controller 16 detects the coordinates of the position touched by the user and passes them to the touch switch determination processing unit 51.

  The touch switch determination processing unit 51 determines an item operated by the user based on the touch position coordinates, the switch list 61, and the like. In the example shown in the figure, the various items on the screen are classified into the above-mentioned screen switching item and other items (referred to as other items), and it is determined that any of the other items has been operated. If YES, step S41 shown in the figure is YES. If a screen switching item is operated, step S41 is NO and step S43 is YES. Of course, it is not limited to such an example.

  An example of the switch list 61 is shown in FIG.

  In addition, although only a switch is demonstrated as an example here among various items, it may be the same also about another item, not only this example.

  18 shows a specific example of the switch information 90, the switch list 61 may be regarded as an aggregate of the switch information 90. Each item on the screen has corresponding switch information 90. However, as described above, here, only the switch among various items will be described as an example.

  Each switch information 90 includes an upper link 91, a lower link 92, a "link to switch item information" 93, a switch area start X94, a switch area start Y95, a switch area end X96, a switch area end Y97, and the like.

  The upper link 91 is a link (such as a pointer) to the switch information 90 corresponding to the switch arranged above (upper) the switch.

  The lower link 92 is a link (such as a pointer) to the switch information 90 corresponding to the switch arranged at the lower level (lower side) of the switch.

  “Link to switch item information” 93 is a link (pointer or the like) to a record in the screen data 22, item list 63, or the like in which information related to the switch is registered. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. When a unique identification ID (referred to as item ID) is assigned in advance for each item, and each record in the screen data 22 or the item list 63 is managed using the item ID, The item ID may be stored in the “link to switch item information” 93.

  When the item operated by the user is determined using the switch list 61, the “link 93 to the switch item information” of the switch information 90 corresponding to the operation item is referred to, for example, the operation item. Will perform the function.

  A switch area start X94, a switch area start Y95, a switch area end X96, and a switch area end Y97 all indicate an area (arrangement area) where the switch is arranged. This assumes a rectangular switch as shown in FIG. 19A to be described later, and the XY coordinates of the upper left corner of the rectangle are the switch area start X94 and the switch area start Y95, and the lower right corner of the rectangle. Are the switch area end X96 and the switch area end Y97.

  The “that switch” is a switch corresponding to each switch information 90. That is, in the case of the switch information 90 corresponding to the switch A described later, “the switch” means the switch A.

  The touch switch determination processing unit 51 determines an area including the touch position coordinates in each arrangement area of the switch information 90. If there is only one corresponding item, it may be determined that the switch is an operation item. However, when there are a plurality of applicable items (basically two), the operation switch is determined using the upper link 91 and the lower link 92. The operation item is an item that is touch-operated by the user, and basically the function of the operation item is executed as usual.

  Here, the switch information 90 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the example shown in FIG. 19A, three switch items of switch A, switch B, and switch C are arranged. As shown in the figure, the switch A and the switch B partially overlap, and the switch B and the switch C also partially overlap. This overlaps so that the switch B is on the upper side (upper order) of the switch A. The switches C overlap so that they are above (upper) the switch B. In addition, this can be said that the arrangement | positioning area | region of a some switch has overlapped.

  In the case of such an item arrangement, when the user touches the position of the fingertip indicated by the “hand” picture in the drawing, there is no problem even in the determination process using only the item list 63. That is, it can be determined that the switch A is operated. However, when the user touches, for example, the area where the switch A and the switch B overlap, in the determination process using only the item list 63, both the switch A and the switch B are applicable. On the other hand, in this example, by using the switch list 61 (consisting of switch information 90 of each item), it is determined that a relatively higher (upper) switch has been operated. Of course, this is only an example, and for example, a configuration in which it is determined that a relatively lower (lower) switch is operated may be employed.

  In the illustrated example, for example, in the case of the switch B, the upper link 91 is “switch C” and the lower link 92 is “switch A”. From this, for example, when the area where the switch A and the switch B overlap is touched, it can be determined that the switch B is operated because the switch A can be recognized as being lower than the switch B. Similarly, for example, when the area where the switch C and the switch B overlap is touched, the switch C can be recognized as being higher when viewed from the switch B, so that it can be determined that the switch C is operated.

  Then, by using the “link 93 to the switch item information” in the switch information 90 of the switch that is regarded as the operation item as described above, the item type 101 of this switch can be known, so that the operation item is displayed on the screen. It can be determined whether or not the item is a switching item.

  When the operation item is determined as described above, the touch switch determination processing unit 51 determines the function of the operation item when the operation item is not a screen switching item as described above (YES in step S41). Run.

  On the other hand, when the operation item is a screen switching item (as described above, step S41 is NO and step S43 is YES), a screen switching request process is executed (step S44).

  The process of step S44 is a process of updating the screen control data 62. For example, first, using the “link 93 to the switch item information” in the switch information 90 of the operated screen switching item, the screen switching destination 112 and the transition type 113 related to the screen switching item are acquired. . Then, the obtained screen switching destination 112 and transition type 113 are set to the switching destination screen No. 143, overwritten in the transition type 144. Further, the screen switching request 142 is set to “Requested” (for example, flag ON).

  In the process of step S44, a predetermined calculation process according to the above equations (1) and (2) is further performed, and the calculation results are stored in the Δt change time counter 145 and the Δt elapsed counter 146. You may go. However, it is not necessary to perform such calculation / storage processing one by one, and it may be performed only once, for example. Further, as already described, such a calculation process itself may not be performed.

  If no item is operated, that is, if an empty area where no item is arranged is touched, step S41 is NO and step S43 is NO, and this process is ended as it is.

  The process of the touch switch determination processing unit 51 has been described above.

  Here, a case where an overlap image is displayed will be described.

  The overlap image is a window or the like that pops up on the operation display screen, such as a dialog box. In a state where the overlap image is normally displayed, the screen display data storage unit 65 and the RAM 13 store an image in which the overlap image is overwritten and drawn on a part of the operation display screen. It has become. For example, an image as shown in FIG. 20A is stored in the screen display data storage unit 65. In addition, the image is transferred to the RAM 13 and stored.

  When the screen switching item is operated in such a state, for example, the image data shown in FIG. 20A is copied and stored in the old screen image data storage unit 66 or the like.

  By generating the composite image described with reference to FIG. 15 using such old screen image data 66 and the like, the transition display on the display 19 is as shown in FIG. 20B, for example. That is, the transition display is such that the old screen with an overlap image on a part of the operation display screen moves while being pushed out to the new screen.

  Even in the case of a screen including an overlap image, the processing itself may be the same as in the case of the normal screen described above. Also, the transition display is substantially the same as in the case of a normal screen as described above. The overlap image will also slide out along with the operation display screen.

  Here, conventionally, there is a special overlap image called “global overlap image”. The “global overlap image” is an overlap image that displays, for example, an alarm or a warning, and therefore needs to be continuously displayed even when the screen is switched. For this reason, it is not desirable that the display slides out together with the operation display screen and disappears like the normal overlap image.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 20C, when the “global overlap image” is displayed on the switching source screen, the “global overlap image” needs to be displayed even after the switching. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 20D, it is desirable that the “global overlap image” is displayed even during the screen switching animation operation according to this method.

  In order to realize this, for example, in the example of FIG. 6, although not shown in FIG. 6, a “global overlap image storage unit” (not shown) is provided. For this purpose, for example, a memory area for storing the global overlap image is further provided in a memory (not shown) in the CPU. When an event for displaying a “global overlap image” occurs, a process of storing the “global overlap image” in the “global overlap image storage unit” is performed. As the “global overlap image” itself, a predetermined image is registered in advance, and when a predetermined event (such as some abnormality detection) occurs, this registered image is stored in the “global overlap image storage unit”. .

  Then, for example, the screen display data transfer processing unit 52 transfers either the transition display data 68 or the screen display data 65 to the RAM 13 by the process of FIG. Perform the process.

  That is, after any of the display data is transferred to the RAM 13 and stored in a predetermined storage area, it is checked whether or not an image is stored in the “global overlap image storage unit”. If there is an image, the global overlap image is overwritten in the predetermined storage area. As a result, for example, the screens shown in FIGS. 20C and 20D are displayed on the display 19.

  For example, when an alarm occurs, a process of storing the global overlap image in the “global overlap image storage unit” is performed, and when the alarm is released, the image in the “global overlap image storage unit” is deleted. Processing may be performed.

  FIG. 21 is a functional block diagram of the programmable display 1 and the like of this example.

  The programmable display 1 of this example includes, for example, an old and new image management unit 201, a composite image generation unit 202, a display control unit 203, a screen display control unit 204. A global image storage unit 205 is included.

  When there is a screen switching instruction, the new and old image management unit 201 saves and stores the screen image being displayed as the old screen image, and generates and stores the image of the switching destination screen as the new screen image. One example of these is the old screen image data 66, the new screen image data 67, etc., but is not limited to this example.

  The synthesized image generating unit 202 synthesizes a part of the old screen image and a part of the new screen image while changing a synthesis ratio until a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the transition process accompanying the screen switching instruction. To generate a composite image. An example of the composite image is the transition display data 68, but is not limited to this example. An example of the predetermined time is the change time ht or the Δt change time counter 145, but is not limited to this example. The transition process start time is, for example, the process execution time of step S36, but is not limited to this example.

  The display control unit 203 displays the generated composite image every time the composite image is generated, thereby performing screen display for transition from the old screen image to the new screen image. An example of such a transition display is the screen display shown in FIG. 5B, but is not limited to this example.

  For example, the composite image generation unit 202 determines the composite ratio based on the predetermined time and execution period registered in advance and the elapsed time from the start time of the transition process. An example of the execution cycle is the parameter update time Δt, but is not limited to this example. Examples of the elapsed time are the “elapsed time from the start of the transition” and the Δt elapsed counter 146, but are not limited to these examples.

  In addition, the composite image generation unit 202, for example, reduces the composite ratio of the old screen image and the new screen image so that the ratio of the old screen image is high when the transition process starts, and the ratio of the old screen image is gradually decreased. Thus, the ratio of the new screen image is increased at the end of the transition process.

  As an example, for example, the ratio of the old screen image is set to 100% at the start of the transition process, and the ratio of the new screen image is set to 100% at the end of the transition process.

  An example of the above-described synthesis ratio calculation process is as described with reference to FIG. 15, but of course is not limited to this example.

  When the display control unit 203 displays the generated composite image, for example, the old screen image is pushed out of the screen by the new screen image, and finally only the new screen image is displayed on the screen. The form transition display is performed. An example of this is the “old → new” transition display shown in FIG. 5B, but is not limited to this example.

  Further, for example, an old screen memory area for storing the old screen image, a new screen memory area for storing the new screen image, and a composite image memory area for storing the composite image are provided. It may be configured as described.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, an old screen memory area for storing an old screen image and a composite image memory area for storing a composite image are provided. The configuration may be such that a new screen is generated and stored on the display target memory area for storing the target screen image. An example of the display target memory area is the screen display data storage unit 65, but the present invention is not limited to this example.

  Moreover, the structure which has the screen display control part 204 which performs a screen display using the image stored in the memory for screen displays may be sufficient. An example of the screen display memory is the RAM 13, and an example of the screen display control unit 204 is the graphic controller 15. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples.

  Further, for example, the display control unit 203 transfers and stores the image stored in the composite image memory area to the screen display memory until a predetermined time elapses from the transition processing start time. Thus, the composite image may be displayed on the screen.

  For example, the display control unit 203 may transfer the screen image stored in the display target memory area to the screen display memory and store the screen image in the normal time.

  Further, for example, the old and new image management unit 201 may save and store the screen image stored in the display target memory area as the old screen image when the screen switching instruction is issued. Good.

  For example, the programmable display 1 of this example is connected to the connection device 4.

  As described above, each screen image is composed of images related to one or more items as in the prior art, and each item includes, for example, screen data 22 or the like and a predetermined allocated memory area in the connection device 4 in advance. Is assigned.

  Thus, the displayed screen image or new screen image is based on, for example, predetermined information (screen data 22 / item list 63, etc.) on each item related to the screen image, data acquired from the allocated memory area, and the like. Generated. However, the present invention is not limited to such an example.

  As described above, such a screen image generation / update process may be performed during the transition.

  Thus, for example, the new and old image management unit 201 updates the new screen image based on the data in the allocated memory area of each item related to the new screen image until the predetermined time elapses from the start of the transition process. It may be a thing. In this case, the composite image generation unit 202 may use the updated new screen for composition when generating the upper composite image. Thereby, the part of the new screen image in the composite image can be updated.

  Further, for example, the screen image being displayed is an image formed by overlapping an arbitrary image on the operation display screen generated based on the screen data 22 / item list 63 that is information on one or more items. It may be.

  In the case of this example, the screen image including the overlap image is saved and stored as the old screen image. The composite image generation unit 203 cuts out a part of the image including the overlap image and uses it for the composition. In this example, for example, the transition display shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B is performed.

  In addition, for example, when displaying a global overlap image that is an overlap image that needs to be continuously displayed even when the screen is switched, the configuration further includes a global image storage unit 205 that stores the global overlap image. May be.

  Then, when the global image storage unit 205 stores the global overlap image, the composite image generation unit 202 further combines the global overlap image with the generated composite image, thereby generating a composite image. May be completed. In this case, the display control unit 203 displays a composite image including the global overlap image. As a result, for example, the transition display shown in FIGS. 20C and 20D is performed.

  Further, the support device 5 may have, for example, the setting unit 211 shown in the figure as its processing function. The setting unit 211 performs, for example, the screen display described with reference to FIG. 4 and allows the user to make a desired setting. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, the change time ht, the parameter update time Δt, and the like may be arbitrarily set.

  As described above, the programmable display device 1 of this example is a programmable display device that can display a plurality of operation display screens (screens), and can perform an animation display of screen transitions at the time of screen switching. In addition, during the screen transition, the display content of the switching destination screen can be updated at any time according to the data stored in the allocated memory area.

  Further, even when the overlap image is displayed on the switching source screen, the screen transition animation can be displayed as it is. On the other hand, when the global overlap image is displayed on the switching source screen, the global overlap image can be continuously displayed without transitioning (moving / erasing).

Claims (15)

In a programmable display,
When there is a screen switching instruction, the screen image being displayed is saved / stored as an old screen image, and an image of the switching destination screen is generated / stored as a new screen image;
A part of the old screen image and a part of the new screen image are combined while changing the composition ratio until a predetermined time elapses from the transition processing start time associated with the screen switching instruction to generate a composite image. A composite image generating means;
Display control means for displaying the transition from the old screen image to the new screen image by displaying the generated composite image every time the composite image is generated;
A programmable display device comprising:   The programmable image generation unit according to claim 1, wherein the composite image generation unit determines the composite ratio based on the predetermined time registered in advance, an execution cycle, and an elapsed time from the transition processing start time. display.   The composite image generation means is configured to change the composition ratio of the old screen image and the new screen image by increasing the ratio of the old screen image at the start of the transition process and gradually decreasing the ratio of the old screen image. 3. The programmable display according to claim 2, wherein the ratio of the new screen image is increased at the end.   The programmable image generating means according to claim 3, wherein the ratio of the old screen image is set to 100% at the start of the transition process, and the ratio of the new screen image is set to 100% at the end of the transition process. display.   The display control means displays the generated composite image so that the old screen image is pushed out of the screen by the new screen image, and finally only the new screen image is displayed on the screen. The programmable display according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the transition display is performed.   An old screen memory area for storing the old screen image, a new screen memory area for storing the new screen image, and a composite image memory area for storing the composite image are provided. The programmable display according to claim 1, wherein:   An old screen memory area for storing the old screen image and a composite image memory area for storing the composite image are provided, and the new screen image stores a screen image to be displayed. The programmable display device according to claim 1, wherein the programmable display device is newly generated and stored in a display target memory area. Screen display control means for performing screen display using an image stored in the screen display memory;
The display control means transfers the image stored in the composite image memory area to the screen display memory and stores it in the composite image memory until a predetermined time elapses from the transition processing start time. The programmable display according to claim 7, wherein the screen is displayed.   9. The programmable display according to claim 8, wherein the display control means transfers the screen image stored in the display target memory area to the screen display memory and stores it in the normal state.   10. The old and new image management means saves and stores a screen image stored in the display target memory area as the old screen image when the screen switching instruction is issued. The programmable display in any one of. The programmable display is connected to a connection device,
The screen image is composed of images related to one or more items,
A predetermined allocation memory area in the connected device is allocated in advance to each item,
The screen image being displayed or the new screen image is generated based on predetermined information related to each item relating to the screen image and data acquired from the allocation memory area. Programmable display. The new and old image management means updates the new screen image based on the data in the allocated memory area of each item related to the new screen image until the predetermined time elapses from the transition processing start time,
11. The programmable display device according to claim 10, wherein the composite image generation means uses the updated new screen image for the composition when the composite image is generated. The displayed screen image is an image formed by overlapping an arbitrary image on an operation display screen generated based on screen data that is information on one or more items.
A screen image including the overlap image is saved and stored as the old screen image;
2. The programmable display device according to claim 1, wherein the synthesized image generating means cuts out a part of the old screen image and uses it for the synthesis. When displaying a global overlap image that is an overlap image that needs to be continuously displayed even when the screen is switched, it further includes a global image storage means for storing the global overlap image,
The synthesized image generating means, when the global overlap image is stored in the global image storage means, further synthesizes the global overlap image with the generated synthesized image;
The programmable display device according to claim 1, wherein the display control means displays a composite image including the global overlap image. Programmable display computer,
When there is a screen switching instruction, the screen image being displayed is saved / stored as an old screen image, and an image of the switching destination screen is generated / stored as a new screen image;
A part of the old screen image and a part of the new screen image are combined while changing the composition ratio until a predetermined time elapses from the transition processing start time associated with the screen switching instruction to generate a composite image. A composite image generating means;
Display control means for displaying a screen transition from the old screen image to the new screen image by displaying the generated composite image each time the composite image is generated;
Program to function as.

Images