TWI609313B - Engineering tool program and engineering tool - Google Patents

Description

Engineering tools and engineering tools

The present invention relates to engineering tool programs and engineering tools for streamlining the monitor and debug operations of a sequence program.

An engineering tool for a programmable logic controller for optimizing a monitor and a debugging operation of a sequential program, comprising: a system for installing a control system composed of a programmable logic controller The module constitutes a function, a parameter setting function, a sequence program creation function, and a sequence program monitoring function, and is implemented by causing a computer to execute an engineering tool program. The unit constitutes a device for forming a programmable logic controller of the control system, and a specific example thereof is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an input unit, an output unit, or an analog unit. A programmable logic controller is constructed in a plurality of units. The sequential program is a program for causing the control system to operate, and a plurality of sequential programs can be created and monitored in the engineering tool.

Forming programmable logic by using display in a sequential program The state of the unit of the controller is a variable of the unit variable, which can control the state of the unit. Further, the user can perform each function using a display screen unique to the function. The display screen unique to the function is a unit configuration map, a variable list screen, or a program editor.

In the debugging operation when the sequence of the unit operation is bad, the conventional engineering tool must perform the following operations when it is desired to monitor the program or unit variable associated with the unit.

The first step is to identify a unit in which a defect has occurred. The second step identifies the unit variables associated with the unit specified in the first step. The third step is to retrieve and display the program used in the unit variable identified in the second step, and monitor the status.

Patent Document 1 discloses a technique of displaying information related to a display member, that is, a content, by an enlarged display operation of a display member displayed on a screen, that is, an icon.

(previous technical literature) (Patent Literature)

Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2014-130650

However, according to the above-described conventional technique, the icon of the selected display member and the content of the object to be switched caused by the zoom in and zoom out operations of the operation for changing the display area ( Correlation between data) The link is set to the person given. Therefore, it is necessary to perform an operation of setting a link according to each content material. As an example, when a unit is added to the control system configuration, in order to display the switching, it is necessary to set a link between the content materials used by the added unit.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an engineering tool program in which a user can perform association of display switching without explicitly setting a link between content materials.

In order to achieve the object of solving the above problems, the engineering tool program of the present invention causes a computer to function as an engineering tool for monitoring a programmable logic controller, which is formed by a plurality of units to form a control system, and The engineering tool program causes the computer to function as the following: the content data storage unit stores data in which the content class and the type of the monitor screen are associated with each other, wherein the content classification system is set by the engineering tool. The classification of the content data of the display object, the monitoring screen displays the content data; the content relationship management unit stores the content relationship management data that displays the hierarchical relationship between the different content categories; and the display control unit detects the When the first operation has been performed, the monitoring screen being displayed is changed to the monitoring screen corresponding to the content classification of the next hierarchy based on the content relationship management data, and when the second operation is detected, the data is managed based on the content relationship. The monitor screen in the display is changed to the content classification of the previous hierarchy. You should monitor screen.

The engineering tool program of the present invention can achieve the effect of the user not having to explicitly set the link between the content materials, that is, the relevance of the display switching.

10‧‧‧ computer

11‧‧‧calculation device

12‧‧‧ memory

13‧‧‧Input device

14‧‧‧Display device

15‧‧‧ memory device

20‧‧‧Engineering Tools

100, 150, 160‧ ‧ engineering tools

111‧‧‧Input Processing Department

112‧‧‧Data Editing and Processing Department

113‧‧‧Content Data Memory Department

114‧‧‧Content Relationship Management Department

115‧‧‧Display Control Department

116‧‧‧Screen display

117‧‧‧cell library

118‧‧‧ Time Series Data Acquisition Department

119‧‧ ‧ series data memory department

120‧‧‧ hour series display control department

121‧‧‧ Simulator

122‧‧‧ unit

123‧‧‧Content Relationship Order Setting Department

200‧‧‧unit composition diagram

210‧‧‧Programmable Logic Controller

211‧‧‧Power unit slot

212‧‧‧Slot for CPU unit

213‧‧‧General slot

300‧‧‧variable list screen

310‧‧‧List of unit variables

400‧‧‧Program Editor

401‧‧‧Edition area

410‧‧‧Sequence program

Contents of 1131, 1132, 1133, 1134‧‧‧

1140‧‧‧Content Relationship Management Information

1141‧‧‧Select content classification

1142‧‧‧Screen category

1143‧‧‧Enlarged display content classification when switching

1144‧‧‧Reduce the content classification when switching

1171‧‧‧unit name

1172‧‧‧unit variables

Fig. 1 is a view showing the configuration of an engineering tool according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the configuration of a computer suitable for the engineering tool of the first embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a view showing the functional configuration of the engineering tool of the first embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a view showing an example of a unit configuration diagram of the display of the unit of the engineering tool of the first embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a view showing an example of a variable list screen for displaying the unit variable in the engineering tool of the first embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a view showing an example of a program editor for displaying the sequential program by the engineering tool of the first embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a view showing an example of a unit library of the engineering tool of the first embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a view showing an example of content relationship management information of the engineering tool of the first embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a view showing an example of content data stored in the content data storage unit of the engineering tool of the first embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a view showing an example of content data stored in the content data storage unit of the engineering tool of the first embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a flowchart (flowchart) showing the flow of processing for the display control unit to determine the screen displayed on the display device in the engineering tool according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a view showing a screen transition of the engineering tool of the first embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a view showing the functional configuration of the engineering tool according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 14 is a view showing a screen transition of the engineering tool of the second embodiment.

Fig. 15 is a view showing the functional configuration of the engineering tool according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 16 is a view showing the concept of the operation of the content relation order setting unit of the engineering tool of the third embodiment.

Fig. 17 is a diagram showing the content relationship management data when the content relationship order setting unit of the engineering tool according to the third embodiment classifies the selected content selected by the enlargement display operation into the order of the unit → sequential program → unit variable.

Fig. 18 is a view showing a screen transition of the engineering tool of the third embodiment.

Hereinafter, the engineering tool program and the engineering tool according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. Moreover, the present invention is not by this The embodiment is limited.

Embodiment 1

Fig. 1 is a view showing the configuration of an engineering tool according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The engineering tool 100 is constructed by installing the engineering tool program 20 on the computer 10. In other words, the computer 10 in the execution of the engineering tool program 20 is the engineering tool 100.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the configuration of a computer suitable for the engineering tool of the first embodiment. The computer 10 has a calculation device 11 for executing a program, a memory 12 for the work area of the calculation device 11, an input device 13 for a user interface for input operation by the user, and a display. The information display device 14 and the memory engineering tool program 20 and the information storage device 15. Further, the display device 14 can also be externally applied to the computer 10. The arithmetic device 11 forms a plurality of functional units on the computer 10 by reading and executing the engineering tool program 20 from the memory device 15.

Fig. 3 is a view showing the functional configuration of the engineering tool of the first embodiment. The calculation device 11 is formed with an input processing unit 111 that recognizes the operation of the input device 13 and an information processing unit 112 that updates the data of the content data storage unit 113, which will be described later, and the input processing unit 111. The display control unit 115 that determines the monitoring screen and the content data to be displayed and the screen display unit 116 that switches the screen displayed on the display device 14 are output. In the memory device 15, a content data storage unit 113 that is a database of the memory content data, a content relationship management unit 114 that memorizes the content relationship management data of the hierarchical relationship between different content categories, and Memory to indicate which A cell library 117 in which units have information on which unit variables. Further, a variable name is set in advance in the unit variable.

The input processing unit 111, the material editing processing unit 112, the content data storage unit 113, the content relationship management unit 114, the display control unit 115, the screen display unit 116, and the cell library 117 shown in FIG. 3 are operated by the arithmetic device 11 It is implemented by executing the engineering tool program 20. In addition, a plurality of calculation devices and a plurality of memories may perform the above functions in cooperation.

The content material is a general term for the specific data to be displayed by the engineering tool 100. The content material is added or deleted in the engineering tool 100 when the control system is constructed by the programmable logic controller. Each content material has a status or value that can be displayed on the display device 14 by the monitoring function of the engineering tool 100.

The content classification is a classification of content data. In the first embodiment, there are a "unit" for displaying a type of a unit constituting a programmable logic controller, a "unit variable" for displaying an internal state of the display unit, and The three types of content classification of the "sequence program" executed by the program logic controller. Furthermore, in the first embodiment, it is assumed that a monitor screen of a different screen type is used for each content.

The display control unit 115 changes the monitoring screen displayed on the display device 14 to the monitoring screen corresponding to the content classification of the next hierarchy when the first operation is detected, and the data is managed in accordance with the content relationship. When it is detected that the second operation has been performed, the data is managed in accordance with the content relationship, and the monitoring screen displayed on the display device 14 is changed to the monitoring screen corresponding to the content classification of the previous hierarchy, and the command is drawn. Surface display unit 116.

Fig. 4 is a view showing an example of a unit configuration diagram of the display of the unit of the engineering tool of the first embodiment. The unit configuration diagram 200 shown in FIG. 4 simulates and displays a monitor screen of a unit configuration of the programmable logic controller 210 constituting the control system, and is mounted in a power unit slot 211, a CPU unit slot 212, And the categories of the units of the general slot 213 are displayed in a graphical manner.

Fig. 5 is a view showing an example of a variable list screen for displaying the unit variable in the engineering tool of the first embodiment. The variable list screen 300 displays a list 310 of unit variables by a table having a plurality of columns.

Fig. 6 is a view showing an example of a program editor for displaying the sequential program by the engineering tool of the first embodiment. The program editor 400 is displayed in an editable area 401 having a matrix of a plurality of columns and rows in such a manner that the sequence program 410 can be edited.

In the unit configuration diagram 200, the variable list screen 300, and the program editor 400, a "display member" is used to display the content data on the monitor screen. The display component can identify each content material on the monitor screen. The unit configuration diagram 200, the variable list screen 300, and the program editor 400 can display, select, display, enlarge, display, and monitor the display member. Further, the monitoring of the display member can dynamically display the state of the display member in accordance with the motion data of the programmable logic controller 210.

Figure 7 is a diagram showing the unit of the engineering tool of the first embodiment A schema for one of the libraries. The cell library 117 is a data structure in which the cell name 1171 and the cell variable 1172 are associated with each other. In the cell library 117 shown in FIG. 7, the cell named with the name of the analog cell_1 represents two cell variables having a digital output value_1 and a maximum value_1. The data of the cell library 117 is added when the cell is added to the cell structure. The variable categories that the unit has are predetermined in each unit. In the case of an analog unit, it is a "digit value" and a "maximum value". When the unit is added, the variable type name of the unit is added to the programmable logic controller to become a unique identifier, and the variable name is added to the unit library. In the case of a specific example, when the first analog cell is added, "digital output value_1" and "maximum value_1" are obtained.

The input processing unit 111 recognizes the operation performed on the input device 13, and notifies the selected display member and the operation content to the material editing processing unit 112 or the display control unit 115. When the operation of the input device 13 is an operation of displaying enlargement or display reduction, the input processing unit 111 notifies the display control unit 115 of the operation content. When the operation of the input device 13 is an operation of adding, changing, or deleting the content material, the input processing unit 111 notifies the content editing processing unit 112 of the operation content.

In the case of a specific example, an operator who displays enlargement and display reduction presses a control key on a keyboard belonging to a part of the input device 13 while belonging to the input device 13. The operation of rotating the mouse wheel of a part of the mouse, the amount of rotation of the mouse wheel becomes an operation amount indicating the magnification of the display enlargement or the display reduction. However, the operation of displaying the enlargement or the display reduction is not limited to the pressing of the control key plus the rotation of the mouse wheel. For example, if the input device 13 is a keyboard, the input processing unit 111 recognizes the depression of the control key plus the cursor key as a display enlargement operation or a display reduction operation. Furthermore, if the input device 13 is a touch panel, the input processing unit 111 recognizes the operation by pinch, stretch, slide, or swipe as a display. Zoom in or show zoom out. Furthermore, if the input device 13 is a microphone, the input processing unit 111 recognizes the display enlargement operation and the display reduction operation in accordance with the voice input.

When the data editing processing unit 112 notifies the input processing unit 111 of the input operation of adding, changing, or deleting the content material, the content data is added to the content data storage unit 113, or the content data storage unit 113 is changed or deleted. The content material is used to update the material in the content data storage unit 113.

When the display control unit 115 notifies the input processing unit 111 that the display enlargement or the display reduction has been performed, the display control unit 115 performs a process of enlarging or reducing the display screen. When the threshold value of the enlargement/reduction operation amount is exceeded, the display control unit 115 switches the screen to be displayed on the display device 14 in accordance with the content relationship management data stored in the content relationship management unit 114.

The content relationship management data stored in the content relationship management unit 114 is stored in the memory device 15 at the time of startup of the engineering tool 100, in other words, at the time of execution of the engineering tool program 20.

Fig. 8 is a view showing an example of content relationship management information of the engineering tool of the first embodiment. The content relationship management material 1140 is: a selection content that is classified by the content displayed on the current monitoring screen. The classification 1141, the screen type 1142 indicating the type of the current monitoring screen, the content classification 1143 at the time of display enlargement switching indicating the content classification of the input device 13 when the first operation is performed, and the input device 13 are indicated. In the second operation, the content classification 1144 is set to the content classification of the switching destination, and the related content is given. For example, when the content displayed on the current display screen is classified as a unit variable, the display screen displayed on the display device 14 is a variable list screen, and when the input device 13 performs the first operation, the content of the switching destination is classified as In the sequence program, when the second operation is performed on the input device 13, the content to be switched is classified into units.

On the other hand, at the start of the engineering tool 100, the content material storage unit 113 does not memorize the content material. The unit used for the control system is registered by the operation of the input device 113, and the content data is stored in the content data storage unit 113 by creating a sequence program.

First, an example of the operation of registering a unit used in the control system will be described. In the unit configuration diagram 200, the name of the "unit configuration map_A" is set in the unit configuration diagram 200, and the operation of the analog unit of the name "analog unit_1" is added to the fourth slot. The input processing unit 111 recognizes the operation of the input device 13 as the selected display member as the analog unit_1, and the position is the fourth slot, and the operation content is added. Since the operation of adding the content material is performed, the input processing unit 111 notifies the content editing processing unit 112 of the operation content.

The data editing processing unit 112 refers to the cell library 117 based on the operation content notified from the input processing unit, and acquires the analog cell_1. The unit variable that you have. Here, the data shown in FIG. 7 is stored in the cell library 117, and the analog cell_1 has two unit variables of a digital output value and a maximum value. The data editing processing unit 112 causes the content notified from the input processing unit 111, that is, the unit configuration table in which the content is classified into units, and the operation content added to the fourth slot by the analog unit of the name of the analog unit_1. The corresponding content material is stored in the content data storage unit 113. Further, the material editing processing unit 112 memorizes the content material indicating the unit variable included in the analog unit_1 to the content material storage unit 113.

Fig. 9 is a view showing an example of content data stored in the content data storage unit of the engineering tool of the first embodiment. The content material 1131 of the first column is a record corresponding to the operation content, and the operation content is in the unit configuration map_A, and the unit of the name of the analog unit_1 is placed in the operation content of the fourth slot. The content material 1132 of the second column is a record corresponding to the information of the cell library 117 in which the information having the unit variable of the analog cell_1 is registered. The content material 1133 of the third column and the content material 1134 of the fourth column are records corresponding to the unit variables registered in the cell library 117.

Next, an example of the operation of the production sequence program will be described. The program editor 400 shown in FIG. 6 is opened to set the name of the "program editor A", and the program of the unit variable digital output value_1 of the analog unit_1 is added to the 10th line of the first column. The input processing unit 111 recognizes that the operation of the input device 113 is that the selected display member is the digital output value_1, the position is the tenth row of the first column, and the operation content is added. Since the operation of adding the content material is performed, the input processing unit 111 notifies the content editing processing unit 112 of the operation content.

The data editing processing unit 112 causes the content material storage unit 113 to store the content material based on the operation content notified from the input processing unit 111, that is, the program editor_A in which the content is classified into the monitoring screen of the sequential program, and the content data is stored. The unit variable indicating the name of the digital output value_1 has been appended to the 10th line of the 1st column.

Fig. 10 is a view showing an example of content data stored in the content data storage unit of the engineering tool of the first embodiment. When the content data storage unit 113 stores the content data at the time of unit registration, when the sequence program is to be created, the content data is additionally recorded in the content data storage unit 113. From the content data 1131 of the first column to the content data 1134 of the fourth column, the data editing processing unit 112 causes the content data storage unit 113 to record the recording when the unit is added. The content material 1135 of the fifth column is a record corresponding to the operation of arranging the unit variable of the name of the digital output value_1 in the first row and the tenth row in the program editor_A.

Next, an operation of switching the monitor screen displayed on the display device 14 will be described. Here, the first operation is an enlargement display operation of the operation amount equal to or greater than the first threshold value set in advance, and the second operation system is a reduction display operation of the operation amount equal to or larger than the second threshold value set in advance. By the first operation and the second operation, the monitoring screen can be switched by the enlargement display operation of the operation amount of the first threshold or more or the reduction display operation of the operation amount of the second threshold or more. When the input processing unit 111 detects that the input device 13 has performed the first operation or the second operation, the display control unit 115 performs a process to be described below, and notifies the screen display unit 116 of the type of the screen after the switching. The screen display unit 116 is in accordance with the communication from the display control unit 115. It is understood that the monitoring screen displayed on the display device 14 is changed.

Fig. 11 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing in which the display control unit determines the screen displayed on the display device in the engineering tool according to the first embodiment. In step S11, the display control unit 115 refers to the content material stored in the content material storage unit 113, and acquires the content classification of the currently displayed display member among the currently displayed screens. In step S12, the display control unit 115 refers to the content relationship management data stored in the content relationship management unit 114, and acquires the content classification at the time of switching between the enlarged display and the reduced display switching. In step S13, the display control unit 115 notifies the screen display unit 116 of the screen corresponding to the content classification after the switching.

A specific example of switching the screen displayed by the display device 14 will be described by way of a specific example. Fig. 12 is a view showing a screen transition of the engineering tool of the first embodiment. It is assumed that the failure is detected in the analogy unit_1 when the operation of the sequence program created by the program editor_A is confirmed. The user starts monitoring the system in order to investigate the adverse situation.

The user performs an operation of the opening unit to form the image_A in the input device 13, and causes the display device 14 to display the unit configuration drawing_A. The user confirms that the analog unit_1 of the fourth slot has an abnormality with reference to the unit configuration map_A displayed on the display device 14. Further, in Fig. 12, an abnormality has occurred in the analogy unit_1 by enclosing the analogy unit_1 with a broken line in the unit composition map_A.

When an operation corresponding to the operation amount of 200% of the enlarged display is performed on the unit configuration map_A with the state of the comparison unit_1 selected, the input processing unit 111 recognizes the selected display member as The analogy unit_1 recognizes the operation content as an enlarged display of 200%. Since it is an enlarged display operation, the input processing unit 111 notifies the display control unit 115 of the operation content.

Here, the first critical value of the enlarged display display switching is set to a value corresponding to the operation amount of 200% of the magnification. Since the operation amount of the enlargement display operation reaches a predetermined first threshold value, that is, an operation amount equal to or greater than 200% of the magnification, the display control unit 115 determines the enlarged display of the selected analog unit_1 by the next step. The switching screen is displayed and notified to the screen display unit 116.

The display control unit 115 refers to the content data stored in the content material storage unit 113, and acquires the unit that constitutes the content classification of the analog unit_1 in the map_A. The display control unit 115 refers to the content relationship management data stored in the content relationship management unit 114, and acquires the unit variable of the content classification when the content is classified into the unit's enlarged display switching. The display control unit 115 refers to the content data stored in the content material storage unit 113, and acquires the variable list screen _A of the screen name whose data name is the analog unit_1 and whose content is classified as the unit variable. The display control unit 115 notifies the screen display unit 116 of the information of the changed screen name variable list screen _A.

The screen display unit 116 that has notified the screen name after switching from the display control unit 115 switches the screen displayed on the display device 14 from the unit configuration map_A to the variable list screen _A. In other words, the screen display unit 116 changes the monitor screen from the unit configuration map_A to the variable list screen _A, and generates a screen transition indicated by an arrow A in FIG.

In addition, the amount of operation in the enlarged display operation is equivalent to When the operation amount of the magnification is 200%, the display control unit 115 outputs the information specifying the unit configuration shown in the display device 14 to the screen display unit 116, and the operation amount of the enlarged display operation. The screen display unit 116 forms a map_A in accordance with the magnification enlargement display unit corresponding to the operation amount notified by the display control unit 115.

In the variable list screen _A displayed in the above operation, the value of the unit variable indicating the digital output value_1 is abnormal, and in FIG. 12, the digital output value is surrounded by a dotted line in the variable list screen_A_ 1 indicates that there is an abnormality in the digital output value_1. On the variable list screen _A, when the input device 13 is enlarged in a state in which the digit output value _1 is selected, the input processing unit 111 recognizes the selected display member as the digital output value_1, and The operation content is recognized as an enlarged display of 200%. Since it is an enlarged display operation, the input processing unit 111 notifies the display control unit 115 of the operation content.

The first critical value of the enlarged display display switching is set in advance to an operation amount equivalent to 200% of the magnification. Since the operation amount of the enlarged display operation reaches a predetermined first threshold value, that is, an operation amount equal to or greater than 200%, the display control unit 115 determines the enlarged display of the selected analog unit_1 by the next step. The switching screen is displayed and notified to the screen display unit 116.

The explanation display unit 115 determines a step of enlarging the display display switching screen. The display control unit 115 refers to the content data stored in the content data storage unit 113, and acquires the unit variable of the content classification in the variable list screen of the digital output value_1. The display control unit 115 refers to the content relationship The content relationship management data stored in the management unit 114 acquires a sequence program of the content classification when the content is classified into the unit variable and the enlarged display is switched. The display control unit 115 refers to the content material stored in the content material storage unit 113, and acquires the program editor_A whose data name is the digital output value_1 and whose content is classified as the screen name of the sequential program. The display control unit 115 notifies the screen display unit 116 of the information of the program name_A after the switching.

The screen display unit 116 that has notified the screen name after switching from the display control unit 115 switches the screen displayed on the display device 14 from the variable list screen _A to the variable program editor_A. In other words, the screen display unit 116 changes the monitor screen from the variable list screen _A to the program editor_A, and causes the screen transition indicated by the arrow B in Fig. 12 to be generated. Further, in Fig. 12, the analog unit_1 is surrounded by a broken line to indicate that the digital output value_1 is displayed in the program editor_A to indicate that an abnormality has occurred.

Further, when the operation amount of the enlargement display operation corresponds to the operation amount of 200% of the magnification, the display control unit 115 specifies the information of the variable list screen _A displayed on the display device 14 and the operation amount of the enlarged display operation. The screen is output to the screen display unit 116. The screen display unit 116 enlarges the variable list screen _A at a magnification corresponding to the amount of operation notified by the display control unit 115.

In the state where the digital output value_1 is selected in the program editor_A, when the input device 13 performs the reduction display operation of 50% of the operation amount, the input processing unit 111 recognizes that the operation content is the reduced display and the operation amount is 50%. Since the display operation is reduced, the input processing unit 111 notifies the display control unit 115 of the operation content.

Here, the second critical value for reducing the display switching is set to an operation amount corresponding to a magnification of 50%. Since the operation amount of the reduced display operation reaches a second threshold value corresponding to a predetermined value, that is, an operation amount equal to or greater than 50%, the display control unit 115 determines the reduction of the selected digital output value _1 by the next step. The display switching screen is displayed and notified to the screen display unit 116. Further, in the case of reducing the display operation, the smaller the magnification, the larger the operation amount.

The procedure in which the display control unit 115 determines the reduced display display switching screen of the selected digital output value_1 is described. The display control unit 115 refers to the content data stored in the content material storage unit 113, and acquires the sequence program of the content classification in the program editor_A of the digital output value_1. The display control unit 115 refers to the content relationship management data stored in the content relationship management unit 114, and acquires the content classification, that is, the unit variable, when the content is classified into the reduced program switching of the sequential program. The display control unit 115 refers to the content data stored in the content data storage unit 113, and acquires the variable list screen _A of the screen name whose content is the digital output value _1 and whose content is classified as the unit variable. The display control unit 115 notifies the screen display unit 116 of the information of the changed screen name variable list screen _A.

The screen display unit 116 that has notified the screen name after switching from the display control unit 115 switches the screen displayed on the display device 14 from the program editor_A to the variable list screen_A. In other words, the screen display unit 116 changes the monitor screen from the program editor_A to the variable list screen_A, and generates a screen transition indicated by an arrow C in FIG.

In addition, the amount of operation for reducing the display operation is equivalent to When the operation amount is 50%, the display control unit 115 outputs the information of the program editor_A in the display device 14 and the operation amount in the reduced display operation to the screen display unit 116. The screen display unit 116 reduces the display program editor_A by a magnification corresponding to the amount of operation notified by the display control unit 115.

When the input device 13 is subjected to the reduction display operation of 50% of the operation amount on the variable list screen_A, the input processing unit 111 recognizes that the operation content is reduced display and the operation amount is 50%. Since the display operation is reduced, the input processing unit 111 notifies the display control unit 115 of the operation content.

Similarly to the above, the second critical value for reducing the display switching is set to an operation amount corresponding to a magnification of 50%. The display control unit 115 determines the reduced display of the selected analog unit_1 by the next step because the operation amount of the reduced display operation reaches a second threshold value corresponding to a predetermined value, that is, an operation amount equal to or greater than 50%. The switching screen is displayed and notified to the screen display unit 116.

The description indicates that the display control unit 115 determines the reduced display display switching screen of the selected comparison unit_1. The display control unit 115 refers to the content data stored in the content data storage unit 113, and acquires the unit variable of the content classification in the variable list screen_A of the comparison unit_1. The display control unit 115 refers to the content relationship management data stored in the content relationship management unit 114, and acquires a unit for classifying the content at the time of reduction display switching in which the content is classified into unit variables. The display control unit 115 refers to the content data stored in the content material storage unit 113, and acquires the data name as the analogy unit_1 and the content is divided into The unit of the picture name whose class is a unit variable constitutes a picture _A. The display control unit 115 notifies the screen display unit 116 of the information of the unit name map _A after the switching.

The screen display unit 116 that has notified the screen name after switching from the display control unit 115 switches the screen displayed on the display device 14 from the variable list screen_A to the unit configuration map_A. In other words, the screen display unit 116 changes the monitor screen from the variable list screen_A to the unit configuration map_A, and generates a screen transition indicated by an arrow D in FIG.

When the amount of operation for reducing the display operation corresponds to an operation amount that is less than 50% of the magnification, the display control unit 115 outputs the information of the variable list screen _A in the display of the display device 14 and the operation amount of the enlarged display operation. The screen display unit 116 is displayed. The screen display unit 116 reduces the display variable list screen _A by the magnification corresponding to the operation amount notified by the display control unit 115.

Conventional programmable logic controllers use engineering tools to monitor the program or unit variables associated with the unit. It is necessary to use the search function to search for and display the object program. The engineering tool 100 of the first embodiment has the above problem, the user does not need to directly set the link between the contents, and the single operation on the engineering tool does not need to move the mouse cursor to the menu or project (project) When a list or a tab is formed, the unit configuration of the control system can be performed, and the unit variable indicating the internal state of the unit can be switched until the monitor screen of the sequence program using the unit variable is switched. Thereby, the display switching of the monitor screen of the sequential program can be performed with less operation, and therefore, the debugging can be shortened. Working hours. Furthermore, when a computer having a small display device is applied to an engineering tool, the display switching can be performed quickly, and therefore, the efficiency of debugging work in the field can be improved. Further, a tablet terminal can be cited as an example of a computer having a small display device.

In the engineering tool of the first embodiment, when the unit is added and the program is edited, the user does not have to explicitly set the link between the content materials, that is, the association of the display switching can be performed. In other words, the user does not have to explicitly set the link between the unit constituting the programmable logic controller, the unit variable of the internal state of the display unit, and the sequential program executed by the programmable logic controller. Further, according to the engineering tool 100 of the first embodiment, the user can change the monitoring screen by the simple operation of the enlargement display operation of the operation amount of the first threshold or more or the reduction display operation of the second threshold or more. In this way, the working time of the construction and operation of the control system composed of the programmable logic controller can be shortened.

In the above description, when the operation amount of the enlargement display operation or the reduction display operation is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the process of switching the monitoring screen is performed, but the trigger for monitoring the screen switching is not necessarily limited to the threshold value. The operation of the amount of operation. For example, in the case where the input device 13 is a mouse, the left click (click) shifts to the monitor screen of the previous hierarchy, and the right click shifts to the monitor screen of the next hierarchy.

Further, in the engineering tool 100 of the first embodiment, by using the engineering tool program 60, the variables and the sequence program which cause the problem in the unit in which the problem has occurred can be performed with less operation. Monitoring display.

Embodiment 2

Fig. 13 is a view showing the functional configuration of the engineering tool according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The engineering tool 150 of the second embodiment differs from the engineering tool 100 of the first embodiment in that the time series data acquisition unit 118 records the operation data of the registration unit 122 and stores it in the time series data storage unit 119. And the time series data storage unit 119 memorizes future motion data calculated by a simulator; the time series display control unit 120 performs a past state or a future state for displaying the unit variable and the sequence program. The processing of the time series data storage unit 119 is to memorize past motion data and future motion data; and the simulator 121 is an action of the simulation unit to generate future motion data.

The engineering tool 150 according to the second embodiment has a function of displaying the past variables of the unit variable and the sequence program and the future state. The operation of the past state of the unit variable and the sequence program and the future state will be described below.

Fig. 14 is a view showing a screen transition of the engineering tool of the second embodiment. When the user reverses the operation of the input device 13 to the third operation by 50% on the variable list screen_A, the input processing unit 111 recognizes that the operation content is time-reversed by 50%. A specific example of the time reversal operation is an operation of rotating a mouse wheel of a mouse belonging to a part of the input device 13 while pressing a shift key on a keyboard belonging to a part of the input device 13. The amount of rotation of the mouse wheel shows the amount of operation in which the time is reversed. Because it is a time reversal operation, so lose The entry processing unit 111 notifies the time series display control unit 120 of the operation content.

The time series display control unit 120 acquires the past state data of the variable list screen_A by the following procedure, and notifies the screen display unit 116 of the past state data.

The time series display control unit 120 recognizes the time back to 50% as the operation at the time point between the start of the specified system operation and the current time point. The time series display control unit 120 reads the operation data at the time point between the start of the system operation and the current time point from the time series data storage unit 119. The time series display control unit 120 outputs the past motion data read from the time series data storage unit 119 to the screen display unit 116, and causes the display device 14 to display it.

On the other hand, when the user advances the input device 13 by 200% of the time belonging to the fourth operation on the variable list screen_A, the input processing unit 111 recognizes that the operation content is time advance by 200%. A specific example of the time advance operation is an operation in which the operator rotates the mouse wheel of the mouse belonging to a part of the input device while pressing a shift key on the keyboard belonging to a part of the input device 13. The amount of rotation of the mouse wheel shows the amount of operation of the time advancement magnification. Since it is a time advance operation, the input processing unit 111 notifies the time series display control unit 120 of the operation content.

The time series display control unit 120 acquires the future status data of the variable list screen_A by the following procedure, and notifies the screen display unit 116 of the status data.

First, the time series display control unit 120 advances the time. 200% is recognized as an operation specifying a time point from the current time point after the same time as the time from the start of the system operation to the current time point. The time series display control unit 120 reads the operation data from the time series data storage unit 119 at a time point after a certain time elapses from the current time point. The time series display control unit 120 outputs the future motion data read from the time series data storage unit 119 to the screen display unit 116, and causes the display device 14 to display it.

Similarly, when the 50% time rewind operation or the 200% or more time advance operation is performed on the program editor screen, the time series display control unit 120 reads out past or future action data from the time series data 119. The display is output to the screen display unit 116, and the display device 14 is displayed.

As a result, the engineering tool 110 of the second embodiment can easily display the past state of the unit variable and the sequence program and the future state on the monitor screen.

Embodiment 3

Fig. 15 is a view showing the functional configuration of the engineering tool according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The engineering tool 160 of the third embodiment differs from the engineering tool 100 of the first embodiment in that it has the content relationship order setting unit 123 of the content relationship management material in the edit content relationship management unit 114.

Fig. 16 is a view showing the concept of the operation of the content relationship order setting unit included in the engineering tool of the third embodiment. The content relationship management material 1140 shown in FIG. 8 can be regarded as a sequence in which the selected content classification is displayed along with the enlarged display operation and the reduced display operation. In other words, the content relationship management data shown in FIG. 8 shows that the selected content is classified by the unit → unit variable → sequential program by the enlarged display operation. The order changes. As shown in Fig. 16, the content relationship order setting unit 123 performs processing for changing the order of screen transitions. When the content relationship order setting unit 123 performs the process of changing the order of the screen transition, the content relationship management material 1140 is changed. Fig. 17 is a diagram showing the content relationship management data when the content relationship order setting unit of the engineering tool according to the third embodiment classifies the selected content selected by the enlargement display operation into the order of the unit → sequential program → unit variable.

Fig. 18 is a view showing a screen transition of the engineering tool of the third embodiment. When the content relationship management material is changed, the screen to be switched when the input processing unit detects the enlargement display operation or the reduction display operation also changes. That is, according to the enlarged display operation of the unit configuration screen_A, the monitor screen shifts to the program editor_A, and the monitor screen shifts to the variable list screen _A in accordance with the enlarged display operation of the program editor_A. Further, according to the reduced display operation on the variable list screen _A, the monitor screen shifts to the program editor_A, and the monitor screen shifts to the unit configuration screen_A in accordance with the reduced display operation in the program editor_A.

In the above description, the case where the order of the selected content classification is changed is taken as an example, but the content classification other than the unit, the unit variable, and the sequential program may be used. For example, it is possible to use a plurality of materials composed of the operation states of the setting unit, and to replace the unit variables with the content classification of the so-called "parameters" referred to in the sequence program, and to select the selection contents according to the enlarged display operation. The classification is set to the order of the unit → parameter → sequential program. Further, the content classification of the so-called parameters may be added to the unit, the unit variable, and the sequence program, and the four content categories are switched and displayed.

The engineering tool of the third embodiment can set the order of the content classification, so that the monitoring screen having a high display frequency can be displayed with a small amount of operation.

The configuration shown in the above embodiment is an example of the present invention, and may be combined with other well-known techniques, and a part of the configuration may be omitted or changed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

10‧‧‧ computer

11‧‧‧calculation device

13‧‧‧Input device

14‧‧‧Display device

15‧‧‧ memory device

20‧‧‧Engineering Tools

111‧‧‧Input Processing Department

112‧‧‧Data Editing and Processing Department

113‧‧‧Content Data Memory Department

114‧‧‧Content Relationship Management Department

115‧‧‧Display Control Department

116‧‧‧Screen display

117‧‧‧cell library

Claims (10)

An engineering tool program that enables a computer to function as an engineering tool for monitoring a programmable logic controller that is formed by a plurality of units that form a control system that causes the computer to function as Function: The content data storage unit stores data in which the content classification and the type of the monitoring screen are associated with each other, wherein the content classification system displays a classification of the content data set as the display target by the engineering tool, and the monitoring screen is displayed. The content information management unit stores a content relationship management data for displaying a hierarchical relationship between different content categories; and a display control unit that detects that the first operation has been performed, according to the foregoing content The relationship management data is changed to the monitoring screen corresponding to the content classification of the next hierarchy, and when the second operation is detected, the monitoring screen being displayed is changed to and based on the content relationship management data. The monitoring screen corresponding to the content classification of the previous hierarchy. The engineering tool according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein the first operation is an enlarged display operation of an operation amount equal to or greater than a first threshold value set in advance, and the second operation system is set to a second critical value or more The operation amount is reduced to display the operation. The engineering tool program of claim 1, wherein the content classification is a category of the unit, a unit variable indicating an internal state of the unit, and a cis- Sequence program. The engineering tool program according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the engineering tool program further enables the computer to function as the following component: the time series data storage unit, the memory: recording the action data of the foregoing unit The past motion data of the unit and the future motion data of the unit obtained from the simulator; and the time series display control unit, when detecting the third operation, according to the time series data storage unit The memory data is changed to a monitor screen for displaying the past motion data, and when the fourth operation is detected, the monitor screen displayed is changed according to the data stored in the time series data storage unit. A monitor screen for displaying future action data. For example, the engineering tool program described in the first application of the patent scope, the engineering tool program further enables the computer to function as the following components: the content relationship order setting unit edits the content management information. An engineering tool for monitoring a programmable logic controller, wherein the programmable logic controller is formed by a plurality of units to form a control system, the engineering tool having: a content data storage unit for memorizing content classification and monitoring images a category-associated data, wherein the content classification system displays a classification of content data set by the foregoing engineering tool as a display object, and the monitoring screen displays the content data; The content relationship management unit stores content relationship management data for displaying the hierarchical relationship between different content categories; and the display control unit controls the data according to the content relationship when detecting that the first operation has been performed. When the monitoring screen in the display is changed to the monitoring screen corresponding to the content classification of the next hierarchy, when the second operation is detected, the monitoring screen in the display is changed to the previous hierarchy based on the content relationship management data. The monitoring screen corresponding to the content classification. The engineering tool according to claim 6, wherein the first operation is an enlarged display operation of an operation amount equal to or greater than a first threshold value set in advance, and the second operation system is set to a second critical value or more The operation amount is reduced to display the operation. The engineering tool according to claim 6, wherein the content classification is a type of the unit, a unit variable indicating an internal state of the unit, and a sequence program executed by the programmable logic controller. The engineering tool according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the engineering tool further comprises: a time series data storage unit, which is a memory: recording past action data of the unit obtained by recording the action data of the unit And the future motion data of the unit obtained from the simulator; and the time series display control unit is configured to display the data stored in the data unit according to the time series when the third operation is detected. The monitor screen is changed to a monitor image showing past action data. When it is detected that the fourth operation has been performed, the monitoring screen displayed is changed to the monitoring screen for displaying the future motion data based on the data stored in the data series storage unit. For example, in the engineering tool described in claim 6, the engineering tool further includes: a content relationship order setting unit that edits the content management information.