WO2015063848A1 - Programmable display apparatus and program - Google Patents

Abstract

Screen data which contains items, each of which has a set arbitrarily-allocated memory region within a connection device (4), is stored in a screen data memory (201). The items each contain a graphical representation item that displays the data value of the allocated memory region using a graphic position/angle. When the data value of the allocated memory region related to a graphical representation item is changed, a target position/angle calculating unit (202) acquires a target position/angle, which is the graphic position/angle that corresponds to the data value after the change. An auxiliary display animation control unit (203) displays an animation in which the graphic position/angle related to the graphical representation item is moved/rotated, in stages, from a start position/angle, which is the position/angle that corresponds to the data value before the change, to the target position/angle.

Description

Programmable display, program

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 data for each item, 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 above items, for example, displays the status of the component corresponding to an arbitrary component of an arbitrary connected device, or accepts an ON / OFF instruction for the component. 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 by, for example, periodically executing predetermined processing 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.

An object of the invention of Patent Document 1 is to reduce the amount of memory used and to speed up the drawing process. In the invention of Patent Document 1, drawing data including graphics information and animation information indicating a change in graphics information is analyzed to generate internal data. Further, a drawing command is generated based on the generated internal data. In addition, an update function for updating the generated drawing command to a drawing command corresponding to the current time is provided. When the drawing command is updated by the update function, a drawing process is performed on the frame corresponding to the current time using the updated drawing command.
JP 2012-123739 A

Here, the item display content of the programmable display is not limited to the form indicating ON / OFF or lighting / extinguishing such as a switch or the lamp, but numerical values (for example, temperature, humidity, rotation) of data stored in the monitoring memory Some items display numbers. As already described, there is an item such as not only displaying a numerical value but also displaying the numerical value in a visually easy-to-understand manner using a figure or the like. For example, there are items displayed in the form of meters, bar graphs, and the like.

Here, FIG. 22A shows a display example of the meter.

In the illustrated example, the stored data in the monitoring memory is displayed in the form of the illustrated meter. In the illustrated example, it is assumed that the stored data can take any numerical value within the range of “0” to “60”. Here, it is assumed that the data stored in the monitoring memory changes from “10” to “50” at an arbitrary time.

In such a case, the programmable display unit converts the new data value '50' into an angle of the meter needle and displays the needle at the angle. Here, as shown in FIG. 22B, the angle corresponding to the data value “10” is 30 degrees, and the angle corresponding to the data value “50” is 150 degrees. Thus, the display state is updated from the state in which the hands are displayed at an angle of 30 degrees to the state in which the hands are displayed at an angle of 150. As a result, the display state on the meter is updated from the display state in which the hand points to the numerical value “10” to the display state in which the numerical value “50” points.

However, in general, the meter display is such that the needle gradually moves (rotates), for example, as in a car speed meter or tachometer. It may be desired to have such an analog smooth needle movement. In the case of the example in FIG. 22A, it may be desired that the needle is displayed so as to gradually and smoothly rotate from an angle of 30 degrees to an angle of 150 as indicated by an arrow in the figure.

In the animation display of the above-mentioned patent document 1, such a display cannot be realized.

An object of the present invention is to provide a programmable display or the like that can display a display supplement animation that can smoothly display an update of the display content of an item of a type that displays a value by a figure.

The programmable display of this invention has the following each structure in the programmable display connected to the connection apparatus.
The screen data having an item in which an arbitrary allocated memory area in the connected device is set, and having at least a graphic expression item for displaying the value of the data in the allocated memory area by the position or angle of the graphic Means for storing screen data;
A target position / angle calculating means for obtaining a target position or target angle which is a position or angle of a graphic corresponding to the data value after the change when the data value of the allocated memory area is changed with respect to the graphic expression item;
Display supplement animation control means for performing animation display for moving or rotating the figure stepwise from the start position or start angle, which is a position or angle corresponding to the data value before change, to the target position or target angle.

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 operation image of display complement animation display. It is a figure which shows the parameter change which concerns on this operation | movement. It is a processing function figure of the programmable display of this example. It is a data block diagram (the 1) of an item list. It is a data block diagram (the 2) of an item list. It is a data block diagram (the 3) of an item list. (A) is a data structure example of a shared memory, (b) is a data storage example. (A) to (c) are data configuration examples of various data created during processing. It is a process flowchart figure of a communication process part. It is a process flowchart figure (1/2) of an item process part. It is a process flowchart figure (2/2) of an item process part. It is a detailed flowchart figure of the start process of step S28. It is a detailed flowchart figure of the stop process of step S26. It is a process flowchart figure of a parameter update execution timer process part. (A) to (c) are display examples when step S25 is YES. (A), (b) is a display example in which the color display is variable. It is a functional block diagram of the programmable display of this example. (A) is a calculation method of the angle of a needle, (b), (c) is a figure which shows the data structure of a meter. It is a display image of a conventional meter. It is a figure which shows the parameter change which concerns on this operation | movement.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described 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 has various connection devices 4 and a programmable display 1 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.

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

The programmable display device 1 has a function of displaying an operation display screen based on the above-described screen data and the like in substantially the same manner as the above-described conventional example. May be executed. 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, etc.), a RAM 13, a communication controller 14, a graphic controller 15, a touch panel controller 16, etc., 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 the screen data (screen data 22 described later) and the like described in the background art. As described above, for each item such as the above-described switch, lamp, meter, bar graph, etc., the image data, the display position coordinates and size of the item, the angle of the needle, the position of the tip of the bar, the display color, for example And various data related to item display, data related to monitoring memory access such as the address of the allocated memory area, and the like.

The processing of the CPU 11 includes, for example, processing for 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 in, for example, a shared memory 63 described later. The shared memory 63 may be a part of the storage area of the RAM 13 or the ROM 12 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.

For example, taking the meter as an example, conventionally, as described above, the acquired data (numerical value) from the monitoring memory is converted into the angle of the meter needle and the acquired data is displayed by displaying the needle at this angle. Was displayed in a form (figures) that was easy to understand visually. In this example, there is a case where a display supplement animation display to be described later is performed, particularly in connection with such an item “display numerical values with graphics”. That is, for example, when a meter is used as an example, when the value changes, the needle is moved (rotated) from the current angle to the new angle instead of immediately displaying the needle at the angle corresponding to the changed value (new angle). There is a case where animation display is performed. Details will be described later.

The display 19 is made 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. Then, there is a case where display complement animation display of the present method is performed on the operation display screen.

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

The detection result of the pressing operation position (touch position) on the touch panel 18 by the 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 the software configuration of this 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 the ROM 12 (flash memory or the like), for example. 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 processing 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. As described above, the present technique particularly relates to display control of items such as meters and bar graphs in which numerical values are represented by graphics or the like, for example, display control of items of a type in which numerical values are represented by positions or angles of the graphics.

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, screen data 22, acquired data, and the like. 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.

The read data from the allocated memory area is temporarily stored in a later-described shared memory 63 (internal memory) in the programmable display 1, and item display control is performed 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.

However, in this method, the “item that expresses a numerical value by the position or angle of a figure” described above may not be immediately reflected in the display of the latest data value, and a display complement animation display described later may be performed. . That is, display control is performed so that the position / angle is gradually moved / rotated (stepwise) and finally the position / angle reflecting the latest data value is obtained.

In this description, “/” means “or” or “or”. Thus, for example, the position / angle means, for example, “position or angle”, and the “movement / rotation” means, for example, “movement or rotation”. Others are the same.

The communication program 23 of the programmable display 1 is a program for communicating with the connection device 4 via the communication line 6. Usually, each connected device 4 has a communication protocol (communication rule) unique to 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.

Note that communication between the programmable display 1 and the drawing editor device 5 is performed by the main body program 21 and the drawing editor 31, for example. 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 an item such as a meter or bar graph in the screen, and designates an arbitrary address (monitoring memory) for the item. Furthermore, the drawing editor 31 allows the user to set an “animation interval” to be described later, etc. with respect to an item to be displayed for display complement animation display according to this method. Moreover, you may make it make a user designate the item itself of execution target of a display complement animation display.

The screen data file 32 created as described above is downloaded to the programmable display 1 and stored as the 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, an operation for updating the item display content on the screen based on the acquired data may be performed. Furthermore, with respect to this display content update, by performing the display complement animation display of this method, it is possible to realize a display in which, for example, the meter needle rotates smoothly in an analog manner.

Note that a program for realizing various processes such as access to the monitoring memory, temporary storage of acquired data, and screen display may be included in the main body program 21, for example, or the screen data file 32 (screen data 22). May be included. 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 executes an application program stored in advance in the storage unit, for example, the processing functions of the drawing editor 31 are realized.

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

Note that in the description of FIG. 4 and subsequent figures, a meter as shown in FIG. 4 is basically described as an item for performing display complement animation display, but of course, the present invention is not limited to this example. As described above, an item of a type that displays a value by a graphic is a target, and may be, for example, the above bar graph or the like. In the case of a meter, the display supplement animation display shows the display content of rotating the needle by changing the angle of the needle, but in the case of a bar graph, the position of the tip of the bar is changed. become.

When the user arranges an arbitrary item (here, a meter) on the creation support screen and performs a predetermined operation, a setting box (dialog box or the like) related to this item is displayed. In this example, a meter setting box 40 is displayed.

On the setting box 40, various setting areas such as a monitoring memory setting area 41, a minimum / maximum value setting area 42, and an animation interval setting area 43 are provided.

The user can arbitrarily set the address of the allocated memory area (monitoring memory) of the setting target item (meter) on the monitoring memory setting area 41. The setting result is stored as a monitoring memory device name 91 and a management memory address 92 which will be described later.

In addition, the user can set the minimum value and the maximum value related to the stored data in the allocation memory area of the setting target item on the minimum value / maximum value setting area 42. For example, when the stored data is an arbitrary value within the range of 0 to 60, the minimum value = 0 and the maximum value 60 are set. The setting result is stored as a minimum value 99 and a maximum value 100 described later.

Also, the user can set a desired animation interval value on the animation interval setting area 43. The setting result is stored as an animation interval 101 described later.

Note that, for example, if the user does not want to display the display supplement animation for the setting target item, the animation interval is not set, for example. For example, the initial value of the animation interval in the animation interval setting area 43 is “0”, and it remains “0” when the setting is not performed. In this example, when the animation interval 101 is “0” in the display process described later, display supplement animation display is not executed for the item. However, this is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this example. What is necessary is just to enable it to specify whether a user performs a display complement animation display for every item by a certain method.

Here, FIG. 5A shows an operation image of display complement animation display of this method, and FIG. 5B shows a parameter change related to this operation.

In the example of FIG. 5A, as in the conventional example of FIG. 22A, the address of the monitoring memory (allocated memory area) related to the item (meter) shown in the figure is “D100”. It is assumed that the value has changed from “10” to “50”.

In the conventional case, as described with reference to FIG. 22A, the needle was immediately displayed at 150 degrees, which is an angle corresponding to the data value '50'.

On the other hand, according to this method, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the time of the animation interval 101 (change time ht) is multiplied and the angle (30 degrees) corresponding to the data value “10” is obtained. The display is performed so that the angle of the needle is gradually (stepwise) changed to the angle (150 degrees) corresponding to the data value “50”. As shown in FIG. 5B, this is realized by performing a process of changing the display angle of the needle every fixed period Δt.

Note that the value of Δt is arbitrarily determined and registered in advance. For example, Δt is set in the CPU timer. Thus, the CPU timer counts up when the count value reaches Δt. In other words, it counts up when the time Δt elapses from the start.

As shown in FIG. 5B, every time the count value of the CPU timer counts up from 0 and reaches Δt, the count value is reset to ‘0’ and the angle of the needle is changed. The needle angle changing process will be described later with reference to an example. Basically, as shown in the drawing, the needle display angle gradually (in steps) is an angle (150) corresponding to the above-mentioned '50'. ).

The display complement animation display process of this method performs the update process of the current angle and the item display process by the updated current angle at regular intervals (every parameter update time Δt). Finally, the current angle becomes an angle corresponding to the latest acquired data (in this example, 150 degrees), and the display supplement animation display process ends. Details will be described later.

FIG. 6 is a processing function diagram of the programmable display of this example.

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 within a dotted line in FIG. 6 are realized. That is, various types of processing function units such as the item generation unit 51, the item processing schedule unit 52, the item processing unit 53, the parameter update execution timer processing unit 54, the communication processing unit 55 (55-1, 55-2, etc.) shown in the figure. Processing functions are realized. Details of these various processing functions will be described later. The parameter update execution timer processing unit 54 may be a part of the function of the item processing unit 53.

Note that, for example, the item generation unit 51, the item processing schedule unit 52, the item processing unit 53, and the parameter update execution timer processing unit 54 are realized by the main body program 21. The communication processing unit 55 is realized by the main body program 21 and the communication program 23, for example. Further, the screen data 22 and the like are used when executing processing of these processing functions.

The item generation unit 51 generates an item list 61 based on the screen data 22 or the like. This is generated, for example, by extracting a part of the screen data 22.

Here, FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 show data structure diagrams of the item list 61. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a data configuration diagram of the entire item list 61. FIG. 8 is a detailed data configuration example of the data 85 for each item type as a part thereof, and FIG. 9 is a detailed data configuration example of the animation control information 102 as a part thereof.

The item list 61 in the example shown is an item number. 81, item type 82, coordinate 83, size 84, “data for each item type” 85, processed flag 86, and the like.

The item list 61 stores the various information 81 to 86 for each item on the operation display screen. From the above, the various information 81 to 86 may be regarded as a part of the screen data 22. The data structure of the screen data 22 is not particularly shown.

Item No. Reference numeral 81 denotes an identification ID of the item. A unique ID for identification is assigned to each item on the operation display screen, that is, each item constituting the screen data 22.

Item type 82 stores item type identification information indicating the type of the item (switch, lamp, meter, bar graph, etc.).

The coordinates 83 and the size 84 store information for designating the display position and size of the image of the item (in the case of a meter, a background image, a needle image, etc., which will be described later).

The processed flag 86 is a flag indicating whether or not it has been processed, and its usage will be described later with reference to a flowchart.

Here, “data for each item type” 85 stores various data according to the type of the item. Here, as an example, various data when the item type is “meter” are shown in FIG.

The “data for each item type” 85 in the example shown in FIG. 8 includes a monitoring memory device name 91, a monitoring memory address 92, background image data 93, needle image data 94, needle image data arrangement coordinates 95, and needle image data center coordinates 96. , Start angle 97, end angle 98, minimum value 99, maximum value 100, animation interval 101, animation control information 102, and the like.

Of these various data items, those other than the animation interval 101 and the animation control information 102 are existing data items that existed in the prior art, and will be briefly described below. As described above, a detailed example of the animation control information 102 is shown in FIG. 9 and will be described later.

The monitoring memory device name 91 and the monitoring memory address 92 indicate the allocated memory area.

The background image data 93 and the needle image data 94 store background image data and needle image data that are images related to the “meter”. The needle image data arrangement coordinates 95 are arrangement coordinates of the needle image, for example, relative coordinates (X, Y coordinates) in the “meter” item. The needle image data center coordinates 96 are coordinates of the rotation axis of the needle image, and are, for example, relative coordinates (X, Y coordinates) in the needle image. However, these are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to this example, and will not be described in further detail. Here, a description will be given schematically assuming that a needle image is displayed according to a current angle 114 described later.

The start angle 97 is a needle angle corresponding to the minimum value, the end angle 98 is a needle angle corresponding to the maximum value, and the set values of the minimum value and the maximum value are stored in the minimum value 99 and the maximum value 100. Is done. The minimum value 99 and the maximum value 100 are values that are arbitrarily set by the user in the minimum value / maximum value setting area 42. Normally, the minimum value and the maximum value that can be taken as the data value of the monitoring memory related to the item are set. Further, the values of the start angle 97 and the end angle 98 are determined and registered in advance. In the case of “meter”, a typical example is that the start angle 97 is 0 degrees and the end angle 98 is 180 degrees.

In the animation interval 101, a value arbitrarily set by the user in the animation interval setting area 43 is stored. The “animation interval” may be called, for example, “display complement animation execution time”. In this method, the user or the like can freely set / change how long it takes to display an animation. That is, for example, the display complement animation can be executed so as to achieve a needle movement that the user feels appropriate. Although the setting itself is performed by the developer or the like on the support device 5 side, the user of the programmable display 1 may tell the developer or the like of his / her wishes and set it.

The animation control information 102 will be described below with reference to a detailed example shown in FIG.

In the illustrated example, the animation control information 102 includes a monitoring memory previous value 111, an animation operation flag 112, a target angle 113, a current angle 114, a Δt change time counter 115, a Δt elapsed counter 116, a Δ angle 117, and the like.

The monitoring memory previous value 111 is the previous value of the acquired data from the allocated memory area (monitoring memory). That is, the previous acquired data. As will be described later, when the latest (current) acquired data is the same as the previous value, it is not necessary to change the item display content (angle of the needle image). When the current value is different from the previous value, the item display content is changed. In some cases, display supplement animation display is started. The current value is overwritten and stored in the monitoring memory previous value 111 as a new previous value.

The animation operation flag 112 is a flag indicating whether or not the display complement animation operation is in progress, and here, the flag ON means that the operation is in progress.

The target angle 113 stores an angle corresponding to the current value. This means the final arrival angle of the display complement animation display. For example, when “current value ≠ previous value” and display complement animation display is started, an angle corresponding to the current value is obtained and stored in the target angle 113.

The current angle 114 stores the current needle image display angle. The value of the current angle 114 is basically updated every Δt described later during the display complement animation. Details will be described later.

In the Δt change time counter 115, “Δt change time counter value” obtained by the following calculation formula (1) at the start of display complement animation display is stored.

Δt change time counter value = change time ht / parameter update time Δt (1) Expression Here, the change time ht is the animation interval 101. That is, it is the time taken from the start to the end of display complement animation display. The parameter update time Δt is a value arbitrarily set by a developer or the like in advance, and corresponds to an execution period of display supplement animation display. That is, for example, the process of FIG.

It can be said that the Δt change time counter value means the number of processes to be executed from the start to the end of the display complement animation (the number of executions of the process in FIG. 17).

In addition, the Δt elapsed counter 116 stores a calculation result according to the following calculation formula (2) each time the processing of FIG.

Δt elapsed counter = (elapsed time from the start of animation) ÷ parameter update time Δt (2) The Δt elapsed counter 116 indicates the number of processes from the start of the display complementary animation to the current time (the number of times of execution of the process of FIG. 17). It can be said that it means.

Further, the Δ angle 117 stores a value calculated by the following calculation formula (3) when the display supplement animation display is started.

Δ angle = (“target angle 113” − “current angle 114 at the start of animation”) / “Δt change time counter value” (3) Equation Δ angle 117 is per process during the display complement animation operation. It can be said that this means the rotation amount (angle change amount) of the needle. That is, every time the processing of FIG. 17 is executed, the display angle of the needle image is updated (rotated) by the Δ angle 117.

Since the Δ angle calculation process is performed at the start of display supplement animation display as described above, the “current angle 114 at the start of animation” is substantially the same as “current angle 114 at the time of execution of the calculation process”. It is synonymous.

The specific example of the item list 61 shown in FIG. 6 has been described above.

Returning to the explanation of FIG.

The item processing schedule unit 52 performs schedule management such as display state update processing of each item image by the item processing unit 53. That is, the item processing schedule unit 52 periodically calls the item processing unit 53, for example, and executes, for example, the processing shown in FIG. 14 described later (in other words, the processing shown in FIG. 14 is executed cyclically).

The item processing unit 53 executes processing related to update of the display content of the image for each item based on the item list 61 and data stored in the shared memory 63 described later.

Further, the item processing unit 53 draws (develops) each item image on the RAM 13. This drawing content (display content) may change depending on the acquired data for each item. For example, in the case of the above meter, the needle angle is displayed so as to be an angle corresponding to the latest acquired data. However, this display may be a display complement animation display in which the needle is moved gradually (stepwise) over the animation interval 101.

The parameter update execution timer processing unit 54 performs a predetermined setting related to the animation display when the display supplement animation display starts. For example, the processing of FIG. 15 is performed, and details will be described later.

The graphic controller 15 displays the drawing data on the RAM 13 on the display, so that the display operation screen is displayed. The drawing data is updated from time to time by the item processing unit 53, for example, every time processing shown in FIG.

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, 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 each item is sent to each 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 63.

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 63.

It should be noted that the process for obtaining the stored data in the allocated memory area and the process for storing the data in the shared memory 63 may be substantially the same as in the past, and will not be described in detail.

Here, a specific example of the shared memory 63 is shown in FIGS.

FIG. 10A shows an example of the data structure of the shared memory 63, and FIG. 10B shows an example of data storage.

In the example shown in FIG. 10A, the data stored in the shared memory 63 includes data items of a port 71, a device name 72, an address 73, and data 74. These data items may be substantially the same as those in the past. Therefore, a brief description will be given below.

The port 71 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 72 is identification information of a memory device in the connection device 4 of the communication partner. The address 73 is an address of a predetermined storage area (allocated memory area) in the memory device indicated by the device 52, and the data 74 stores data acquired from this allocated memory area. The address of the allocated memory area may be referred to as “allocated memory address”.

It should be noted that the port 71, the device name 72, and the address 73 may be regarded as corresponding to the “allocated memory address” or “monitoring memory” of each item. That is, each record shown in FIG. 10B 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 71, the device name 72, and the address 73, each record shown in FIG. 10B 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 61 is performed, the record data 74 corresponding to each item is referred to in the shared memory 63.

Hereinafter, processing examples of various processing function units such as the communication processing unit 55, the item processing unit 53, and the parameter update execution timer processing unit 54 will be described with reference to each flowchart.

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

For example, in the example of FIG. 6, each of the communication processing units 55-1 and 55-2 executes the processing of FIG. 12 cyclically (at regular intervals).

In the processing example of FIG. 12, first, based on the shared memory 63, the memory list 120 related to the connected device 4 in charge of itself 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 63, the memory list 120 related to the connected device 4-1 is generated by extracting all records in which the port 71 is WAY1.

FIG. 11A 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 71 is “WAY 1” are extracted from the shared memory 63, and information on the device name 72, the address 73, and the data 74 of each of the extracted records is obtained. By storing the data 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.

After that, 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 71 and the address 72. 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 connection device 4 to the memory read command (step S13), the communication processing unit 44 uses the data 74 in the record corresponding to the record to be processed in the shared memory 63 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.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are process flowcharts of the item processing unit 53. FIG.

Note that FIGS. 13 and 14 show one process flowchart divided into two parts, so that FIG. 13 and the like are not particularly distinguished.

As described above, the processing in FIG. 13 and the like is cyclically executed under the management of the item processing schedule unit 52.

In the processing example of FIG. 13 and the like, the item processing unit 53 first executes an initialization process of the item list 61 (step S21). For example, the processed flag 86 of all records in the item list 61 is set to “unprocessed”. Thereafter, the processes in steps S22 to S30 are repeatedly executed until step S31 described later becomes NO.

That is, in the item list 61, one of the records for which the processed flag 86 is “unprocessed” is set as a processing target record (step S22), and the record of the shared memory 63 linked to the processing target record (corresponding record) ) To obtain the data 74 (step S23). That is, the latest (this time) data is acquired. The acquired data 74 is temporarily stored as memory information 130 (data 131 shown in FIG. 11B).

Here, it is assumed that the process shown in FIG. 13 and the like is a process related to an item “not shown”. For items with “no display complement animation execution setting”, for example, an existing process (not shown) is performed to update the item display, but the present invention is not limited to this example.

Alternatively, as in the example described above, when the animation interval 101 is “0”, existing processing may be performed. In this example, for example, the determination “Is the animation interval 101“ 0 ”?” Is executed between steps S24 and S25. If the determination result is NO, the process proceeds to step S25. On the other hand, if the determination result is YES, for example, an angle corresponding to the data value of the current monitoring memory is obtained, and the current angle 114 is updated by this angle, and then processing (not shown) is performed. Control goes to step S29. Thus, in step S29, the hands are immediately displayed at an angle corresponding to the current acquired data value.

In the case of the processing example shown in FIG. 13 and the like, if the data 131 is different from the previous value 111 of the monitoring memory, it is determined that there is a data change (step S24, YES), and the process proceeds to step S25. In step S25, it is determined by referring to the animation operation flag 112 whether or not the display complement animation is being executed.

When the display complement animation is not being executed (step S25, NO), a predetermined process for starting a new display complement animation operation is executed (steps S27 and S28). When the display complementary animation is being executed (step S25, YES), the animation operation being executed is stopped / stopped (step S26), and the new animation is set with the stop position of the needle as a new start position. A predetermined process for starting the operation is executed (steps S27 and S28).

In the process of step S27, the display angle of the needle corresponding to the data 131 which is the latest acquired data (current value) is obtained. This process itself is an existing technique, and will be briefly described later with reference to FIG. The obtained display angle is stored in the target angle 113. Further, the previous value 111 of the monitoring memory is updated with the data 131. That is, the data 131 that is the current acquired data is stored as a new previous value.

Then, a parameter update execution timer start process is executed (step S28). The processing in step S28 is processing for calculating the Δt change time counter 115 and Δ angle 117 based on the current angle 114, the target angle 113, the animation interval 101 (change time ht), the parameter update time Δt, and the like. .

However, if the Δt change time counter 115 is calculated and stored once for each item, there is no need to calculate unless the setting of the change time ht and the parameter update time Δt is changed thereafter.

FIG. 15 is a detailed flowchart of step S28.

This processing may be executed by the item processing unit 53, for example, but may be executed by the parameter update execution timer processing unit 54 called from the item processing unit 53. In the latter case, the item processing unit 53 passes the ID (item No. 81) of the processing target item to the parameter update execution timer processing unit 54 at the time of calling. In the following description, the latter is taken as an example.

The parameter update execution timer processing unit 54 first updates the data storage contents of the parameter update execution item list 62 (steps S41 and S42).

Here, FIG. 11C shows a data configuration example of the parameter update execution item list 62. In the illustrated example, the parameter update execution item list 62 includes a registration number 141 and item numbers corresponding to the registration number. 142. Item No. In 142, the ID (item No. 81) of the item that is currently executing the display complement animation operation is registered. In the registration number 141, the item No. Item No. 142 registered in Is stored.

The parameter update execution timer processing unit 54 increments the registration number 141 by 1 (increment) (step S41), and sets the ID (item No. 81) of the processing target item to the item No. 142 is additionally stored (step S42).

Then, the predetermined information of the corresponding record is acquired from the item list 61 using the ID of the processing target item (step S43). The predetermined information is information necessary for the calculation process in step S44 described later, and is, for example, the target angle 113, the current angle 114, the animation interval 101 (change time ht), and the like. Further, the parameter update time Δt and the like are acquired. The parameter update time Δt is separately registered in advance.

Then, based on the predetermined information acquired in step S43, the new Δt change time counter 115 and Δ angle 117 are set. Further, initial setting of the Δt elapsed counter 116 is also performed (step S44).

That is, first, the Δt change time counter value is calculated by the above equation (1) using the animation interval 101 (change time ht) and the parameter update time Δt, and this is overwritten and stored in the Δt change time counter 115.

Further, based on the target angle 113, the current angle 114, and the calculated Δt change time counter value, the Δ angle is calculated by the above equation (3), and this is overwritten and stored in the Δ angle 117. The current angle 114 at the time of the calculation process is the “current angle 114 at the start of animation”. Further, the target angle 113 is updated to an angle corresponding to the current value (latest value) as described above.

In step S44, the Δt elapsed counter 116 is further set to an initial value (= 0). Further, when the animation operation flag 112 is turned on, the processing in step S44 is completed.

The detailed example of the process of step S28 has been described above with reference to FIG.

Hereinafter, a detailed example of the process of step S26 will be described with reference to FIG.

This processing may be executed by the item processing unit 53, for example, but may be executed by the parameter update execution timer processing unit 54 called from the item processing unit 53. In the latter case, the item processing unit 53 passes the ID (item No. 81) of the processing target item to the parameter update execution timer processing unit 54 at the time of calling. In the following description, the latter is taken as an example.

The parameter update execution timer processing unit 54 first updates the data storage content of the parameter update execution item list 62 (steps S51 and S52). That is, after the registration number 141 is decremented by −1 (step S51), the ID of the processing target item (item No. 81) is changed to the item No. It deletes from 142 (step S52).

Then, in the item list 61, the record of the item to be processed is referred to (step S53), and the animation operation flag 112 of the corresponding record is turned OFF (step S54).

The detailed example of the animation stop process in step S26 shown in FIG. 16 has been described above. As described above, when the data value of the monitoring memory is changed for the item for which the display complement animation is being executed, the display complement animation being executed is stopped or stopped by the processing of FIG. Then, the execution of a new display complement animation, in which the position of the needle at this time point, that is, the stop position is regarded as the start position, is started.

Returning to the explanation of FIG.

Whether the process for starting a new display-complementary animation operation has been performed by the processes in steps S27 and S28 or not (that is, even if step S24 is NO), the current angle 114 is finally determined. A process of displaying the needle at an angle is executed (step S29). Note that the processing in step S29 is confirming, and basically the needle angle should not change. Then, the processed flag 86 of the processing target item is set to “processed” (step S30), and the processing related to the processing target item is completed. If there is still an unprocessed item (step S31, YES), the process returns to step S22, a new process target item is determined from the unprocessed items, and the same processing as described above is executed. Become.

FIG. 17 is a process flowchart of the parameter update execution timer processing unit 65 and shows the main process executed cyclically.

For example, the cyclic main process is realized by an interrupt process using the timer function of the CPU. In this example, first, the parameter update time Δt is set in the timer. Thereby, in this example, the process of FIG. 17 is cyclically performed with a period of Δt.

In the process of FIG. 17, first, a process index (not shown) is cleared (step S61). Then, each time the processes in steps S62 to S67 are executed, the process index is incremented by +1 (step S68), and it is checked whether or not an unprocessed list remains (step S69). Steps S62 to S67 are repeatedly executed until there is no unprocessed list. Hereinafter, each process of steps S62 to S67 will be described.

First, the processing target item ID is acquired from the parameter update execution item list 62 (its item No. 142) (step S62). For example, the item ID to be processed corresponds to the current value of the processing index. For example, in the case of immediately after clearing, the item No. The top item ID in the item ID group registered in 142 is acquired as the processing target item ID.

Then, the item list 61 is searched using the acquired item ID (item No.) to obtain a corresponding record (step S63). First, the Δt elapsed counter 116 and the current angle 114 in the corresponding record are updated as follows (step S64).

Δt elapsed counter 116 = Δt elapsed counter 116 + 1
That is, the value of the Δt elapsed counter 116 is updated with “current value + 1”.

Current angle 114 = current angle 114 + Δ angle 117
That is, the value of Δ angle 117 is updated by “current value + Δ angle 117”.

The Δ angle 117 is calculated from the above equation (3), and may be a positive value or a negative value. Therefore, the update of the current angle 114 may increase the angle or decrease the angle. That is, the current angle 114 is updated by adding / subtracting the change amount (Δ angle 117) for each animation execution cycle Δt with respect to the current angle 114 at the start of the display complement animation.

Next, it is determined whether or not “Δt change time counter 115 ≦ Δt elapsed counter 116” is satisfied by incrementing Δt elapsed counter 116 by +1 as described above (step S65). That is, it is determined whether or not the change time ht has elapsed since the start of the display complement animation. In other words, it is determined whether or not the animation operation end time has come. It should be noted that “≦” in step S65 may be replaced with “=”.

When “Δt change time counter 115 ≦ Δt elapsed counter 116” is satisfied (step S65, YES), parameter update execution timer stop processing is executed (step S66). The process of step S66 is the same as the process of step S26, and executes the process of FIG. Therefore, the description here is omitted.

On the other hand, if “Δt change time counter 115> Δt elapsed counter 116” still remains (NO in step S65), the current angle 114 updated in step S64 is used to display the needle at this angle (step S65). S67). That is, the display position of the needle is moved (rotated) by a Δ angle of 117 minutes.

Even when step S65 is NO, the process of step S67 is performed after the process of step S66. In this case, basically, “current angle 114 = target angle 113” should be obtained, and the display position of the hand should be a position corresponding to the latest data value in the monitoring memory. In this case, since this item has been deleted from the parameter update execution item list 62 by the process of FIG. 16, it is excluded from the display complement animation operation target in the next main process.

Finally, the process index is incremented by +1 (step S68), the determination of step S69 is performed as described above, and the process ends when step S69 becomes NO. For example, when the processing index reaches the maximum value (= the number of registrations 141), step S69 becomes NO.

Here, FIG. 18 shows a display example when step S25 is YES.

In the example of FIG. 18, it is assumed that the animation interval is 200 milliseconds (ms), and the angle of the needle at the start of the first display complementary animation operation is an angle indicating the data value “0” shown in FIG. It shall be. Then, it is assumed that the data value has changed from “0” to “100”. Thus, when the display-complementary animation operation of this example is started, the needle image is moved from the angle (0 degrees) corresponding to “0” to the angle (180 degrees) corresponding to ′ 100 ”as shown in FIG. It gradually moves (rotates) as shown in FIG. However, it is assumed that the data value changes from ‘100’ to ‘50’ in the middle of the animation operation (here, 150 (ms) has elapsed from the start).

In this case, since step S24 is YES and step S25 is YES, the processing of step S26 is executed, and the movement of the needle stops at this point (at the time 150 (ms) has elapsed from the start). Then, the next display complement animation operation is started immediately. As shown in FIG. 18C, the needle is gradually moved (rotated) over 200 milliseconds from the stop position to an angle (90 degrees) corresponding to the data value '90'.

Needless to say, the data value is the data value of the monitoring memory.

Further, the display color of the needle may be a predetermined fixed color or may be changed according to the data value.

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 19, the data value is registered in advance in blue for the range of 0-30, green for the range of 31-70, and red for the range of 71-100. (Not shown). In this case as well, the animation interval is 200 milliseconds (ms).

Thus, at the position (angle) corresponding to the data value “0” shown in FIG. 19A, the display color of the needle is blue. In this state, it is assumed that the data value is changed to “100” as in FIG.

In this case, as described with reference to FIG. 18, the needle moves gradually (rotates) over 200 milliseconds from an angle of 0 degrees to an angle of 180 degrees by the display complement animation operation. During this animation operation, each time a new current angle 114 is determined, a data value corresponding to the current angle is obtained, and a color corresponding to the data value is determined. The needle is displayed with this color and the current angle 114. For example, if the data value is “50”, it is displayed in green.

Here, in the case of the above-described example, regardless of whether the amount of change in the data value of the monitoring memory is large or small, the processing of FIG. The display angle of the needle was changed each time. However, when the change amount of the data value in the monitoring memory is small, the Δ angle 117 may be very small. Therefore, it may appear that the display angle of the needle is changed with an excessive frequency as viewed from the user's eyes.

Thus, as described above, the update process of the current angle 114 in the process of FIG. 17 is normally performed every Δt. For example, for an item in which the Δ angle 117 is less than a predetermined threshold, the update process of the current angle 114 is performed, for example. You may make it perform every "2x (DELTA) t" (it is set as a modification). Of course, not only every “2 × Δt” but also every “3 × Δt”, for example. Note that an arbitrary value is registered in advance as the threshold value.

The above-described modification example of “2 × Δt” is realized by adding the following process to the process of FIG. 17, for example.

That is, first, in the process of step S61, a process of counting up (+1 increment) an animation execution counter (not shown) is added. Further, the following processing (not shown) is added immediately before step S67.

That is, the Δ angle 117 of the processing target item is acquired, and it is determined whether or not this is less than the threshold value. If it is equal to or greater than the threshold (Δangle 117 ≧ threshold), the process proceeds to step S67. On the other hand, if it is less than the threshold (Δangle 117 <threshold), the process proceeds to step S67 if the count value of the animation execution counter is an even number, and the process in step S67 is not performed if the count value is an odd number. When the process of step S64 is not executed, the process directly proceeds to the process of step S68.

For example, with the above-described processing, regarding the item whose Δ angle 117 is less than the threshold value, the display of the needle is changed only once every two times of the processing of FIG. The current angle 114 is updated every time in step S64, but the updated current angle 114 is not reflected on the display once every two times. That is, the number of updates of the needle display angle is half of the normal number.

However, this is an example, and is not limited to this example. For example, the update process of the current angle 114 may be executed once every two times. However, in this case, for an item for which the Δ angle 117 is less than the threshold, the update process of the current angle 114 is “current angle 114 = current angle 114+ (2 × Δ angle 117)” or the like.

Further, when the amount of change in the data value of the monitoring memory is very small, the display complement animation itself may not be executed. That is, a second threshold value that is smaller than the above-described threshold value is registered in advance, and if the determination in step S24 is YES, it is determined whether or not the amount of change in the data value of the monitoring memory is greater than or equal to the second threshold value. A process (not shown) to be added is added. And when the variation | change_quantity of the data value of the monitoring memory is more than a 2nd threshold value, it transfers to step S25. On the other hand, if the amount of change in the data value of the monitoring memory is less than the second threshold, the current angle 114 update process (not shown) is executed, and the process proceeds to step S29. The current angle 114 update process (not shown) is, for example, a process of obtaining an angle corresponding to the current value (latest value) of the data value in the monitoring memory, and overwriting and storing this angle in the current angle 114.

FIG. 20 is a functional block diagram of the programmable display of this example.

The programmable display 1 in the illustrated example includes a screen data storage unit 201, a target position / angle calculation unit 202, a display supplement animation control unit 203, a display color storage unit 204, and the like.

The illustrated support device 210 (drawing editor device 5) includes a setting unit 211.

The setting unit 211 is a functional unit added to an existing function that supports creation of arbitrary screen data, and is a functional unit that arbitrarily sets the “animation interval (change time ht), for example. The display complement animation display of this method can be executed over the time that the developer or user feels appropriate.

The screen data storage unit 201 stores screen data having each item in which an arbitrary allocated memory area in the connected device 4 is set. Each of these items includes a graphic expression item that displays the value of the data in the allocated memory area by the position / angle of the graphic.

The target position / angle calculation unit 202 obtains a target position / angle, which is the position / angle of the graphic corresponding to the data value after the change, when the data value of the allocated memory area is changed with respect to the graphic expression item.

The display complement animation control unit 203 moves the position / angle of the graphic stepwise from the start position / angle, which is the position / angle corresponding to the data value before the change, to the target position / angle, with respect to the graphic expression item. Rotate animation display. In the case of the meter example, the current angle of the needle is updated step by step to display such as rotating the needle stepwise (gradually).

Here, the display complement animation control unit 203 includes, for example, a change amount calculation unit 203a, a figure position / angle update unit 203b, an animation display unit 203c, and the like.

The change amount calculation unit 203a, for example, arbitrarily sets an animation execution time (such as ht), an execution period (such as Δt), the start position / angle, and the target position / angle (target angle 113) set in advance. ) And the number of executions (Δt change time counter 115 and the like) and the number of executions (Δt 117). The start position / angle is, for example, the current angle 114 at the start of the animation, for example, the position / angle corresponding to the data value before the change.

The figure position / angle update unit 203b updates the current position / angle of the figure using the change amount at each execution cycle. For example, in the case of a meter, the current angle 114 is updated.

The animation display unit 203c displays a figure according to the updated current position / angle for each execution cycle. For example, in the case of the meter, the hands are displayed at the updated current angle 114.

The figure position / angle update unit 203b updates the current position / angle by, for example, adding / subtracting the change amount for each execution cycle to the start position / angle. In the case of the meter example described above, the current angle is updated by the calculation formula of “current angle 114 = current angle 114 + Δangle 117” described above. The initial value of the current angle 114 on the right side of this calculation formula is the current angle 114 at the start of animation execution.

Further, for example, when the number of times of updating the current position / angle reaches the number of execution times, the display complement animation control unit 203 ends the display complement animation display.

Further, for example, when the data value of the allocation memory area changes during the animation display operation, the display supplement animation control unit 203 stops the animation display operation and newly starts the current position / angle at the time of the stop. Start a new animation display operation with the position / angle. Thereby, for example, the display described in FIG. 18 is performed.

Further, for example, when the data value of the allocation memory area has a change amount less than a preset threshold value, the animation display unit 203c does not perform every execution cycle but m times (m; integer) of the execution cycle. ) (For example, every m × Δt), a process of displaying a graphic in accordance with the updated current position / angle is executed. In this regard, a processing example when m = 2 has already been described.

For example, when the graphic expression item is a meter as an example, the display complement animation control unit 203 performs animation display for rotating the needle by determining / updating the angle of the needle of the meter.

Here, the display color storage unit 204 stores an arbitrary color associated with each numerical value range related to the position / angle of the figure in advance.

For example, when the graphic display unit 203c displays the graphic at the current position / angle, the animation display unit 203c displays the graphic in a color corresponding to the current position / angle.

Finally, an example of a method for calculating the angle of the meter needle will be described with reference to FIG. This calculation method itself is an existing technology, and therefore will be briefly described below.

21. As shown in FIG. 21 (a), the calculation formula for the display angle of the meter needle is as follows.

Display angle = {monitor memory value / (maximum value−minimum value)} × (end angle−start angle)
The “monitoring memory value” in the above calculation formula uses the data 74, the maximum value and minimum value use the maximum value 100 and minimum value 99, the end angle and start angle use the end angle 98 and start angle 97, respectively.

Note that the maximum value 100, the minimum value 99, the end angle 98, and the start angle 97 correspond to, for example, those shown in FIG. 21B on the item image.

Further, the item image of the meter shown in FIG. 21 (b) includes, for example, background image data and needle image data shown in FIG. 21 (c). In this method, during the display complement animation operation, the angle of the needle image data is determined and changed every Δt.

In the above description, the meter is used as a specific example. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and may be a bar graph, for example. In the case of a meter, the data value in the monitoring memory is converted into an angle as described above. In the case of a bar graph, the data value is converted into a position. The position is, for example, XY coordinate data of the tip of the bar.

In the case of a meter, the needle is gradually moved (rotated) from the current angle to the target angle as described above. In the case of a bar graph, the tip of the bar is gradually moved from the current position to the target position, although not particularly shown. I will let you. The target angle is an angle corresponding to the changed numerical value as described above, and the target position has substantially the same meaning.

As described above, the programmable display of this example and its display complement animation display method are particularly items of a type that displays a value depending on the position and angle of a figure such as a meter or a bar graph, in other words, a predetermined monitoring target. The present invention relates to items that display numerical values in a form that is easy to understand visually. And especially when there is a change in the numerical value of the monitoring target, it does not immediately switch from the display before the change (current value) to the display corresponding to the value after the change, but from the angle or position before the change (current value). Executes an animation display that gradually moves to a later angle or position. In this description, such animation display is referred to as display complement animation display as described above.

The programmable display device acquires data at regular intervals for determining / updating the display contents, but as described above, it is necessary to acquire data by communicating with the external connection device 4. For this reason, in consideration of the time required for communication, it is necessary to make the above-mentioned fixed period longer than a certain level, and it is difficult to acquire data in a short period. For example, for this reason, the data value acquired at the time of arbitrary data acquisition processing may be significantly different from the data value acquired at the previous data acquisition processing (previous value).

For example, the data value may be gradually changed on the connected device 4 side, but the latest data value may be acquired in a state where the data value has changed greatly on the programmable display 1 side due to the above-mentioned fixed period problem. However, even in such a case, it is difficult to shorten the data acquisition cycle for the above reason. Alternatively, even if it can be realized, the communication load becomes high, and there arises a problem that it affects the execution of other functions of the programmable display 1. Therefore, in any case, it is actually difficult to shorten the data acquisition cycle.

Although not limited to such an example, for example, in the case of a meter display, it is desirable that the display is such that the needle moves (rotates) smoothly in an analog manner. However, in particular, when the amount of change in the data value is large, the needle has moved momentarily in the past, and smooth display content update (needle rotation) like an actual meter cannot be expressed. In this case, the user may miss the moment when the needle angle changes.

On the other hand, in this method, by performing the above display complement animation operation, the communication load is not increased, and the display content of the item that displays the value by a graphic such as a graph or a meter is updated. The effect of being able to show smoothly is acquired. In addition, an effect that the user does not miss the instantaneous change can be obtained.

In addition, since the user can arbitrarily set the time (animation interval) required for the display-complementary animation operation, it is possible to provide an animation operation that matches the user's sense.

As described above, in this description, “/” means “or” or “or”. Thus, for example, “or / and” means “or or and”. Similarly, for example, “position / angle” means “position or angle”. Similarly, for example, the above “current position / angle” means “current position or current angle”. Similarly, for example, the above “target position / angle” means “target position or target angle”. Similarly, for example, the above “start position / angle” means “start position or start angle”.

Claims (9)

1. In the programmable display connected to the connected device,
   Screen data having an item in which an arbitrary allocated memory area in the connected device is set, wherein the screen data has a graphic expression item that displays at least the value of the data in the allocated memory area by the position or angle of the graphic. Screen data storage means for storing;
   With respect to the graphic expression item, when the data value of the allocated memory area changes, a target position / angle calculation means for obtaining a target position or angle that is a position or angle of the graphic according to the changed data value;
   Display complementary animation control means for performing animation display for moving or rotating the figure stepwise from the start position or start angle, which is a position or angle according to the data value before the change, to the target position or target angle;
   A programmable display device comprising:
2. The display complement animation control means includes:
   Based on the animation execution time, the execution cycle, the start position or start angle, and the target position or target angle, which are arbitrarily set in advance, the position or angle per one of the stepwise movements or rotations Change amount calculation means for obtaining the change amount and the number of executions,
   Graphic position / angle update means for updating the current position or current angle of the graphic using the amount of change for each execution cycle;
   Animation display means for displaying the graphic according to the updated current position or current angle for each execution cycle;
   The programmable display according to claim 1, further comprising:
3. The graphic position / angle update means updates the current position or current angle by adding or subtracting the change amount for each execution cycle with respect to the start position or start angle. The programmable display according to claim 2.
4. 3. The programmable display device according to claim 2, wherein the display complement animation control means ends the animation display when the number of times of updating the current position or current angle of the graphic reaches the number of execution times. .
5. The display complementary animation control means stops the animation display operation when the data value of the allocation memory area changes during the animation display operation, and newly starts the current position or current angle at the time of the stop. 5. The programmable display device according to claim 1, wherein a new animation display operation with a position or a start angle is started.
6. Display color storage means for storing an arbitrary color associated with each numerical range relating to the position or angle of the figure in advance;
   The programmable display device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the animation display means displays the figure in a color corresponding to the current position or the current angle.
7. The display complement animation control means performs the animation display for rotating the needle by determining and updating the angle of the needle of the meter when the graphic expression item is a meter. The programmable display according to any one of 1 to 4.
8. When the data value in the allocation memory area has a change amount less than a preset threshold value, the animation display means does not execute every execution cycle but every m times (m: integer) the execution cycle. 3. The programmable display device according to claim 2, wherein a process of displaying the graphic in accordance with the updated current position or current angle is executed.
9. Programmable display computer connected to the connected device
   Screen data having an item in which an arbitrary allocated memory area in the connected device is set, wherein the screen data has a graphic expression item that displays at least the value of the data in the allocated memory area by the position or angle of the graphic. Screen data storage means for storing;
   With respect to the graphic expression item, when the data value of the allocated memory area changes, a target position / angle calculation means for obtaining a target position or angle that is a position or angle of the graphic according to the changed data value;
   Display complement animation control means for performing animation display for moving or rotating the figure stepwise from the start position or start angle, which is a position or angle corresponding to the data value before the change, to the target position or target angle;
   Program to function as.
   

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