JP2006134098A - Programmable display, display control program, and recording medium with the program recorded thereon - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable data for display on device monitors to be transferred between a plurality of devices connected to one programmable display. <P>SOLUTION: A device monitor part 212 of the programmable display 2 causes a display 24 to display the states (data) of the internal devices (memories) of PLCs 3, 4 serving as devices connected to the programmable display 2. A data transfer part 212b reads data on the address of the designated internal device of a designated device (e.g., PLC 3) and transfers the data to another designated device (e.g., PLC 4) to write the data in the designated internal device. If the devices have different communication protocols, a protocol conversion part 212a converts the communication protocol of the transferring device into the communication protocol of the destination device during the data transfer. The data transfer may be carried out between devices and a storage medium such as a memory card 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a programmable display capable of facilitating data transfer between connected devices, a display control program, and a recording medium recording the program.

  The programmable display has an interface with a host controller such as a programmable logic controller (PLC), and displays operation status of devices connected to the host controller and provides operation inputs for giving control instructions to the devices. This is an operation type display with a function to accept from the screen. In general, since the programmable display has a graphic display function, it can display an operation panel, a switch, an indicator lamp, and the like, and serves as an operation terminal in the control system.

  As such a programmable display device, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, there is a model having a device monitor function of displaying a device state by data such as a numerical value. Since the device monitor function displays the current state of the device, it is preferably used in system management.

Further, the above-mentioned PLC has improved processing capacity year by year, and it is required to perform a number of processes accordingly. As a result, there is a system form in which processing that was previously performed by one PLC is distributed to a plurality of PLCs. For this reason, the conventional programmable display which can connect only one PLC is insufficient to cope with the distributed processing as described above. As a technique for solving such inconvenience, Patent Document 2 discloses a programmable display to which a plurality of PLCs can be connected.
JP2003-80807 (published on March 19, 2003) Japanese Patent No. 3456692 (issued on October 14, 2003)

  As described above, when a plurality of PLCs can be connected to one programmable display, for example, when one PLC is mainly operated and this PLC becomes inoperable, the other one is replaced. It is possible to prepare as equipment. In this case, in order for the slave PLC to operate as the master, the slave PLC must have the same ladder program and data as the master PLC. Such ladder programs and data are temporarily fetched from the slave PLC into a personal computer or memory card and stored in the slave PLC.

  The device monitor function often displays basic setting values necessary for operating programmable displays such as system parameters, but the data displayed on the device monitor is taken into a personal computer or memory card. I can't. For this reason, it is necessary to write down the data displayed on the device monitor one by one and reset it to the slave PLC. The same applies to devices such as temperature controllers (temperature controllers) and inverters as well as such PLCs, and even when a plurality of such devices are connected to one programmable display, the device monitor As described above, it is not easy to transfer the data of the displayed master device to the slave device.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to realize transfer of data displayed on a device monitor between a plurality of devices connected to one programmable display. .

  The programmable display which concerns on this invention is the programmable display which displays the data which show the control state stored in the several connected apparatus, In order to solve the said subject, the said said data is read from the said apparatus. Monitor display means for displaying on the monitor, and data transfer means for transferring the data displayed by the monitor display means to a designated device.

  In the above configuration, since the data of the current control state in the device is displayed by the monitor display means, the data of the current control state can be monitored. Then, the data displayed on the monitor is transferred to the designated device by the data transfer means. Thereby, the current data of a certain device can be transferred to another device via the programmable display.

  In the programmable display, it is preferable that the data transfer means can designate an external storage medium as the transfer destination device, and transfers the data displayed by the monitor display means to the designated storage medium. . In such a configuration, current data of a certain device can be stored in the storage medium.

  In the programmable display, the device is preferably a programmable logic controller. Thereby, the current data can be transferred between the programmable logic controllers.

  The display control program of the present invention is a display control program for operating the programmable display, and causes a computer to function as each means. The display control program is provided by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Thereby, as described above, the current data in the device displayed on the monitor can be transferred to another device or transferred to a storage medium.

  As described above, the programmable display according to the present invention displays the data of the current control state in the device on the monitor and transfers the data displayed on the monitor to the designated device. When operating the device as the master (master) and when the master device is inoperable (slave), the current data of the master device is easily stored in the slave device in advance. Can be duplicated. Therefore, the system backup can be efficiently performed.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 as follows.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the control system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a programmable display 2, two PLCs 3 and 4, and a device 5.

  The programmable display device 2 is connected to the PLCs 3 and 4 via a serial cable 6 that can perform communication using a communication protocol unique to the PLCs 3 and 4.

  The PLCs 3 and 4 as devices connected to the programmable display 2 output data output from the input device 5 via the input unit according to a control program (sequence program such as a ladder program) created by the user. At the same time, the control data is given to the output device 5. As the input device 5, devices such as sensors (temperature sensors, optical sensors, etc.) and switches (push button switches, limit switches, pressure switches, etc.) are used. As the output device 5, an actuator, a relay, a solenoid valve, a display, or the like is used. These devices 5 are arranged in required parts of various target systems such as a production line. The device 5 may be a specific memory area in a memory unit 22 (to be described later) for storing data manually input from an input device such as a touch panel 23 (to be described later).

  The memories 3a and 4b (internal devices) in the PLCs 3 and 4 store data (word data and bit data) such as the state of the device 5 and the setting value of the device 5 in an area specified by the device address. In the memory, a word device is set as an area for storing word data such as numerical values as input / output data, and is designated by a word address (device address). The bit device is set as an area for storing bit data such as an on / off state, and is set by a bit address (device address). With such a setting, it is possible to control the devices 5 simply by accessing any word device or bit device in the memories 3a, 4a, or to individually retrieve information relating to the state. In the following description, the device address is appropriately referred to as an address.

In the internal device, in order to specify the type of internal device, X (input device for storing input data), Y (output device for storing output data), M (internal relay), T (timer), C ( Device codes such as a counter), R (shift register), and D (data register) are set. The above device code is assigned to the head of the address of each internal device. The programmable display 2 is provided with an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU, and a program (screen data) for input operation and display created by the user. ) To realize a display function for displaying an operation function peculiar to a programmable display and a control state of the PLCs 3 and 4. The programmable display 2 that is preferably used as the HMI of the control system 1 is based on screen data determined by combining processing instructions (tags) to be described later. The operation for controlling the state of the device 5 according to the operation on the screen is specified.

  This programmable display device 2 displays the state on the display screen via the PLC 3 connected to its own device by communication with the PLCs 3 and 4 via the serial cable 6 based on interface standards such as RS-232C and RS-422. For example, has a function of displaying the state of each device 5 on a display 24 described later. The programmable display 2 has a function of instructing the device 5 to control the state of the device in response to an operation on the touch panel 23 described later.

  The acquisition / change of the state of the device 5 may be instructed each time, or a cache is prepared in the programmable display 2 and the cache is accessed at the time of acquisition / change, and at predetermined time intervals or at predetermined intervals. Communication may be performed for each event to synchronize with the actual device address.

  This programmable display 2 acquires the state of each device 5 that displays the state on the display screen via the PLC 3 connected to the own device by communicating with the PLC 3 via the serial cable 6. 24 has a function of displaying the state of each device 5. The programmable display 2 has a function of instructing the device 5 to control the state of the device in response to an operation on the touch panel 23 described later.

  The acquisition / change of the state of the device 5 may be instructed each time, or a cache is prepared in the programmable display 4, and the cache is accessed at the time of acquisition / change, and at predetermined time intervals or at predetermined intervals. Communication may be performed for each event to synchronize with the actual device address of the device 5.

  In order to realize the above functions, the programmable display 2 includes an HMI processing unit 21, a memory unit 22, a touch panel 23, a display 24, an interface unit (I / F in the figure) 25, and a memory card interface unit (see FIG. A memory card I / F) 26.

  Hereinafter, each main part of the programmable display device 2 will be described in detail.

  The touch panel 23 is an input device provided for performing input on the display screen of the display 24. The display 24 is preferably a flat display such as a liquid crystal display or an EL display in order to configure the programmable display device 2 to be thin.

  The interface unit 25 is a communication control unit for the programmable display 2 to communicate with the PLCs 3 and 4, and is connected to the serial cable 6. This interface unit 25 has the maximum number of ports that can be connected so that a plurality of PLCs can be connected, and PLCs 3 and 4 are connected to two of them, respectively. Therefore, other PLCs can be connected to the remaining ports besides the PLCs 3 and 4. Communication is performed with the PLCs 3 and 4 by communication via the serial cable 6 described above.

  The memory card interface unit 26 is a reader / writer that transmits / receives data to / from the HMI processing unit 21 and writes / reads data to / from the memory card 7. As the memory card 7, a small and large-capacity CF (registered trademark) card is suitable.

  The HMI processing unit 21 performs display control of a user screen, which will be described later, input operation control via the user screen, and communication control with the PLC 3. The HMI processing unit 21 will be described in detail later.

  The memory unit 22 includes memories such as an SRAM 22a, a DRAM 22b, and a FEPROM (Flash Erasable and Programmable ROM) 22c. Hereinafter, these memories will be described.

  The SRAM 22a is used to log data obtained from connected devices such as the PLCs 3 and 4 and to store setting value data (recipe data) to be given to the PLCs 3 and 4.

  The DRAM 22b is mainly used for operations at the time of arithmetic processing such as display control, and is also used for temporary storage of data exchanged with connected devices such as the PLCs 3 and 4. In particular, the DRAM 22b has a state memory area for reading and changing the state of the internal devices of the PLCs 3 and 4.

  The FEPROM 22c is a rewritable read-only flash memory, and plays a role of a hard disk drive in a general personal computer. A flash memory does not have a movable part and is resistant to impacts, and thus operates stably even in a poor ambient environment. The FEPROM 22c stores screen data, a communication protocol, protocol conversion data, and device registration data.

  The screen data is data of a plurality of screens (unit screens) displayed on the programmable display device 2, and is managed as a project file as a collection of screen data in the FEPROM 22c. Each screen data includes a base screen to be displayed on the display 24, component data, a processing instruction word to be described later assigned to each component, and the like. The screen data is created by a screen creation device equipped with screen creation software and transferred to the programmable display device 2. The programmable display 2 selects and displays one screen data from the above project file.

  A processing instruction word (tag) included in the screen data is created for each event to be executed on the base screen. This processing instruction is basically referenced for each execution event, the file number of the base screen on which the display control operation is to be executed, the event name that specifies the operation content to be executed on this base screen, and so on. One set of reference information including one or a plurality of data is provided.

  In the programmable display device 2 according to the present embodiment, as the tag, a display tag indicating a correspondence between an area (display range) on the base screen and a device address corresponding to display in the area, and an area on the screen An input tag indicating a correspondence between (input range) and an address corresponding to a touch input to the region is defined. Furthermore, in this embodiment, each tag can be associated with at least one of a plurality of unit screens.

  The display tag can display a predetermined graphic at a corresponding position on the base screen in conjunction with the operation of the touch panel 23. In other words, the display tag includes the file number of the base screen as the file number, the event name that specifies the display of the display target such as a graphic as the event name, the display coordinate range of the display target, and the file number that specifies the display target to be called , And an address for referring to the display target at the time of display.

  Further, the input tag enables the bit device set at a predetermined address position in the above-described state memory area provided in the DRAM 32b to be reversed in conjunction with, for example, a touch operation on the touch panel 23. That is, the input tag includes a file number of the unit screen as a file number, an event name that specifies an operation of the touch panel 23 as an event name, an input coordinate range that enables an input operation from the touch panel 23 as reference information, and The address to which data should be rewritten in conjunction with the touch operation on the touch panel 23 is included.

  The communication protocol is a protocol used in communication processing with devices (including PLCs 3 and 4) that can be connected to the programmable display 2, and is uniquely determined according to each device (manufacturer). This communication protocol includes a command code for instructing reading of data to the device. When the device is a PLC, this command code can be combined with an address associated with the control function to transmit data on the desired control function to the PLC.

  The protocol conversion data stores data necessary for protocol conversion processing by a protocol conversion unit 212a described later. This data may be in any format as long as the communication protocol can be mutually converted between devices connectable to the programmable display 2. Here, the protocol conversion data includes, for example, a data transfer format indicating the format of data transmitted by the serial cable 6 and a command conversion table indicating the correspondence between command codes used in the devices (including PLCs 3 and 4). Contains.

  Specifically, the data transfer format described above depends on the data content actually transmitted such as the data content itself to be read / written, the size of the data, and the address to be read / written in the data string transmitted by the serial cable 6. It is a skeleton-like data string in which the changing part is undefined, and only the usage is defined in the undefined part. If the command area is undefined, if the data transfer format extracted from the actually transmitted data string is common among multiple commands, the command area is also undefined and A common data transfer format may be used.

  Further, in the command conversion table, correspondence of command codes transmitted between each device and the programmable display 2 is stored for all two combinations of each device.

  The device registration data is information about a device connected to display a control state on the programmable display 2 or give a control instruction. This device registration data includes information such as the manufacturer and model that can identify the device. For example, the device registration data that is prepared in advance in the programmable display 2 as a connectable device is actually connected by the user. Is selected and set.

  The display control function of the HMI processing unit 21 displays the screen data, sets various data on the user screen, transmits the set data to the PLC 3, and displays the data received from the PLC 3 on the user screen. This display control system program is realized by causing an arithmetic processing means such as a CPU provided in the programmable display 2 to execute the display control system program. This display control function extracts the display tag related to the unit screen currently being displayed from the screen data, and reads the contents of the device address related to each display tag at a predetermined cycle for the display tag. The part of the expression format specified by the tag is displayed in the specified area on the screen in a form corresponding to the read value.

  Next, details of the HMI processing unit 21 will be described.

  The display control function realized in the HMI control unit 211 includes a display control unit 211 and a device monitor unit 212 as shown in FIG.

  The display control unit 211 executes a process of displaying parts on the base screen using the above-described base screen data and part data included in the screen data. In addition, the display control unit 211 uses the data display parts (meter display, numerical display, graph display, etc.) for the device data acquired from the PLCs 3 and 4 to designate a specified area on a predetermined base screen. To display. In the display, the user screen is drawn on the display 24 using a VRAM or the like based on the screen data.

  The display control unit 211 reads out the numerical data (setting value data) stored in the SRAM 22a and transmits it to the PLCs 3 and 4. The set value data is stored in the SRAM 22a in association with individually assigned device addresses such as parts corresponding to the device 5 to be controlled, and is read out via the device address corresponding to the designated device 5. Also, by backing up the set value data to an IC card memory (not shown) or the like, a large number of set value data can be stored, or the set value data can be used by other devices outside the control system 1.

  The display control unit 211 reads the necessary information from the state information indicated by the bit device or the word device set in the memory in the connected device such as the PLCs 3 and 4 to the memory unit 22 in a timely manner. The instruction word is repeatedly read out and the operation having the contents specified by the event name of each processing instruction word is executed while referring to the status information on the connected device side. As a result, a display operation that changes according to a change in the state of the bit device or the word device is executed.

  The device monitor unit 212 serving as a monitor display means displays in order to monitor the state (device data) of the internal devices of the connected devices (PLCs 3 and 4) in operation. When the address of the internal device to be displayed is designated in order to monitor and display the state of the internal device, the device monitor unit 212 receives the data of the address designated from the internal device of the device to be monitored as the DRAM 22b ( The data is read into the aforementioned state memory area of the temporary storage means) and the read data is displayed there.

  In order to shift to the device monitoring process by the device monitor unit 212, for example, when two or three points on a predetermined diagonal are touched among four corners on the display screen, a menu bar (not shown) is displayed by the display control unit 211. Is displayed, and the device monitor mode is selected by selecting the device monitor mode from the menu bar. Alternatively, an operation button for shifting to the device monitor mode may be provided in advance on the screen created by the user, and the device monitor mode may be shifted by operating the operation button.

  When the device monitor unit 212 shifts to the device monitor mode as described above, the device selection window 101 shown in FIG. 2 is displayed. The device selection window 101 is a screen for selecting a device to be device-monitored for devices connected to the programmable display 2. The device selection window 101 includes a list display unit 101a that displays a list of device names (and model names), and a confirm button 101b for confirming a device selected from the list display unit 101a. When each display part of the list display part 101a is touched, the device monitor part 212 accepts selection of a device displayed on the display part. In addition, when the confirmation button 101b is touched in a state where the device selection is accepted, the device monitor unit 212 sets the device selected as the target device for performing the device monitor process.

  When a device is selected by the device selection window 101, the device monitor unit 212 displays the monitor menu window 102 shown in FIG. In addition, the device monitor unit 212 displays the above-described monitor menu window 102 in a displayable number (for example, two or three). In view of the ease of viewing the monitor menu window 102, it is preferable to display a maximum of two. If the monitor menu window 102 cannot be displayed in one display screen, the device monitor unit 212 may switch and display it.

  The monitor menu window 102 includes a random monitor button 102a, a batch monitor button 102b, a write button 102c, an end button 102d, an arrow button 102e, and the like. The random monitor button 102a and the batch monitor button 102b are buttons that are touched when selecting the random monitor 102a and the batch monitor, respectively. The write button 102c is a button to be touched when writing data to the monitored address. The arrow button 102e is a button to be touched when the monitor menu window 102 is moved in the arrow direction (up / down / left / right).

  The random monitor is a monitor mode that displays a predetermined number of data of an arbitrary internal device, and the batch monitor is a monitor mode that displays a predetermined number of data of continuous internal devices. When the random monitor is selected by operating the random monitor button 102a, the device monitor unit 102 displays the random monitor window 103 shown in FIG. 4, and when the collective monitor is selected by operating the collective monitor button 102b, FIG. The collective monitor window 104 shown in FIG.

  The random monitor window 103 includes a monitor display section 103a, a menu button 103b, a change button 103c, a write button 103d, a display format button 103e, a delete button 103f, an arrow button 103g, a transfer button 103h, and the like. On the other hand, the collective monitor window 104 includes a monitor display unit 104a, a menu button 104b, a change button 104c, a write button 104d, a display format button 104e, an arrow button 104g, a transfer button 104g, and the like.

  The monitor display unit 103a is a display unit that displays a predetermined number (eight in this case) of arbitrary data, displays addresses of internal devices on the left side, and displays data corresponding to each address on the right side. On the other hand, the monitor display unit 104a is a display unit that displays a predetermined number (8 in this case) of continuous data, displays the address of the internal device on the left side, and displays data corresponding to each address on the right side. Yes. In the monitor display portions 103a and 104a of FIGS. 4 and 5, the word device data is displayed. In the case of a bit device, the word device data is displayed as “on” or “off”.

  When the device monitor unit 212 displays the random window 103 for the first time, for example, the device monitor unit 212 generates a random address based on random number data stored in advance in the FEPROM 22c, and generates a predetermined number of data based on the address inside the device. Read from device and display. Further, when displaying the collective monitor window 104 for the first time, the device monitor unit 212 reads a predetermined number of data from the head address as a default and displays it.

  The menu buttons 103 b and 104 b are buttons that are touched when the display is returned to the monitor menu window 102. The change buttons 103c and 104c are buttons that are touched when changing the internal device and address to be monitored. The write buttons 103d and 104d are buttons that are touched when data is written to the monitored internal device. The display format buttons 103e and 104e are buttons to be touched when selecting a display format (binary, octal, decimal, hexadecimal) for the data of the word device. The delete button 103f is a button to be touched when deleting an address not to be monitored from the monitor display unit 103a. The arrow buttons 103g and 104f are buttons that are touched when the random monitor window 103 and the collective monitor window 104 are moved in the directions of the arrows (up, down, left and right), respectively. The transfer buttons 103h and 104g are buttons to be touched when transferring the monitored data from the monitored device to another device.

  When the change button 103c is touched, the device monitor unit 212 displays a window, a bit device, or a word device for selecting a row number (“1” to “8” in FIG. 4) on which an address for changing the monitor is displayed. A window for selecting, a window for selecting the type of internal device, and a window for inputting an address to be newly displayed on the monitor are displayed, and the internal device and address to be monitored are changed in accordance with the input to each window. Further, when the change button 104c is touched, the device monitor unit 212 displays a window for selecting the type of internal device and a window for inputting a start address to be newly displayed on the monitor. Change the internal device and address to be monitored according to.

  When the write buttons 103d and 104d are touched, the device monitor unit 212 is a window for selecting a row number (“1” to “8” in FIGS. 4 and 5) in which an address for writing data is displayed. Each window displays a window for selecting "on" data or "off" data when the internal device of the row is a bit device, and a window for inputting data when the internal device of the selected row is a word device. Data is written to the specified address of the internal device being monitored in response to the input to. Further, when the display format buttons 103e and 104e are touched, the device monitor unit 212 selects a line number in which an address for writing data for selecting a display format is displayed, and a window for selecting a data display format. Is displayed, and the data is displayed in the display format selected according to the input to each window. Further, when the delete button 103f is touched, the device monitor unit 212 displays a window for selecting a line number to delete the display, and deletes the display of the data selected according to the input to each window.

  Next, the data transfer function of the device monitor unit 212 will be described. The device monitor unit 212 includes a protocol conversion unit 212a and a data transfer unit 212b in order to realize this data transfer function.

  When the communication protocol of the transfer source device is different from the communication protocol of the transfer destination device, the protocol conversion unit 212a changes the communication protocol of the transfer source device to the communication protocol of the transfer destination device based on the protocol conversion data. Convert. When the protocol conversion unit 212a acquires the transfer source data in a state where the transfer source and transfer destination devices are designated by the data transfer unit 212b described later, the protocol conversion unit 212a converts the data into the above-described data transfer format included in the protocol conversion data. Applying the command, data content itself, data size, address, etc. indicated by the data string, and extracting the command code by referring to the command conversion table corresponding to the specified transfer source and transfer destination Select the command code to be used. When the command to be transmitted to the transfer destination device, the data content itself, the data size, the address (address of the designated transfer destination device), and the like are determined, the protocol conversion unit 212a transfers the data by referring to the data transfer format. Generate a data string to be sent to the destination device.

  The data transfer unit 212b serving as a data transfer unit performs processing for transferring the word device data received from the designated transfer source device to the designated transfer destination device. More specifically, the data transfer unit 212 changes the data of the device and address designated as described later to the designated address from the data that is read and temporarily stored in the DRAM 22b for monitoring, for example. Extract based on and transfer to specified device and address.

  The data transfer unit 212b compares the transfer source device with the transfer destination device based on the device registration data stored in the FEPROM 22c, and the communication protocol conversion is unnecessary because both devices are the same model. If it is determined that there is a transfer process, the transfer process is performed as it is. Otherwise, the protocol conversion unit 212a is caused to perform a communication protocol conversion process. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the data transfer unit 212b provides a transfer information setting window 105 for setting information necessary for data transfer by the user as a user interface.

  The transfer information setting window 105 includes radio buttons 105a and 105b, a transfer destination device setting column 105c, an address setting column 105d, a transfer source device setting column 105e, a start address setting column 105f, an end address setting column 105g, and a transfer destination device 105h. A head address setting field 105i and a transfer button 105j.

  The radio button 105a is a button that is selected when data of one word is transferred, and the radio button 105b is a button that is selected when data of a plurality of words is transferred. The data transfer unit 212b accepts only the settings of the transfer destination device setting field 105c and the address setting field 105d when the radio button 105a is selected and transfers one word, and when the radio button 105b is selected and transfers a plurality of words, Only the settings of the transfer source device setting field 105e, the start address setting field 105f, the end address setting field 105g, the transfer destination device setting field 105h, and the start address setting field 105i are accepted.

  The transfer destination device setting column 105c is a column for setting a transfer destination device to which data is transferred, and displays the connected device name (manufacturer name and model) acquired from the device registration data in the form of a list box or the like. Then, the user selects and sets the transfer destination device. The address setting field 105d is provided for setting an address in the internal device of the transfer destination device in which one word to be transferred is stored.

  The address in the internal device of the transfer source device from which one word to be transferred is read is directly selected and specified by the user from the monitor display unit 104a. However, an address setting field such as a first address setting field 105f described later is provided. The user may be allowed to make input settings.

  The transfer source device setting column 105e is a column for setting a device that is a data transfer source, and displays the connected device name acquired from the device registration data in the form of a list box or the like to the user. Select and set the device. The start address setting column 105f is a column for setting the start address in the internal device of the transfer source device from which the first word of a plurality of words to be transferred is read. The end address setting column 105g is a column for setting the final address in the internal device of the transfer source device from which the last word of the plurality of words to be transferred is read. The transfer destination device setting column 105h is provided for setting a transfer destination device in the same manner as the transfer destination device setting column 105c described above. The start address setting column 105i is a column for setting the start address in the internal device of the transfer destination device in which the first word of a plurality of words to be transferred is stored.

  In the case of 1-word transfer and multi-word transfer, as a device of a transfer destination device, a device connected to display a control state or give a control instruction to a programmable display 2 such as a PLC. However, a storage medium such as the memory card 7 (especially an external memory device) may be designated. In this case, the data transfer unit 212b also adds data on a drive registered in advance as a storage medium interface to the list of connected device names displayed in the transfer destination device setting fields 105c and 105h. However, when a storage medium (drive) such as the memory card 7 is designated as the transfer destination device, single or plural data to be transferred is written as one file on the storage medium, so that the start address setting field 105i The start address cannot be set.

  In the case of 1-word transfer or multi-word transfer, as a transfer source device, a device such as a PLC can be designated as in the above case, but a storage medium such as a memory card 7 can be designated. Good. In this case, the data transfer unit 212b also adds data about the drive to the list of connected device names displayed in the transfer source device setting field 105e. However, when a storage medium (drive) such as the memory card 7 is designated as the transfer source device, a plurality of data to be transferred are read from the storage medium as one file, and therefore the start address is set in the start address setting field 105f. Cannot be set.

  Further, when a storage medium is designated as the transfer destination device, the format of data to be written (stored) in the storage medium may be set in the transfer information setting window 105. For example, as a data storage format that can be set, a binary format, a CSV (Comma Separated Value) format, or the like is prepared in advance, and the user may select from these formats.

  Further, when the transfer button 105j is touched, the data transfer unit 212b reads the data at the specified address from the specified transfer source device, and communicates to the protocol conversion unit 212a as necessary as described above. The protocol is converted into the protocol of the transfer destination device, and is transmitted to the address specified by the specified transfer destination device by a communication program (communication driver) that implements the communication protocol of the transfer destination device.

  The HMI control unit 211 is a functional block part realized by a display control system program (display control program) stored in the FEPROM 22c or the like being executed by an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU. The display control system program can be recorded on a recording medium configured to be separable from the programmable display 2 and is installed in the programmable display 2 from the recording medium.

  The above recording media include tape systems such as magnetic tapes and cassette tapes, magnetic disk systems such as floppy disks and hard disks, optical disk systems such as CD-ROM, MO, MD, and DVD, IC cards (including memory cards), optical A card system such as a card is preferred. In addition, the program medium may be a medium that carries a fixed program including a semiconductor memory such as a mask ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash ROM, or the like.

  Further, if the control system 1 is configured to be connectable to a communication network including the Internet, the control system 1 may be a medium that dynamically carries the program so as to download the program from the communication network. However, when the program is downloaded from the communication network in this way, the download program is stored in advance in a computer connected to the programmable display 2 or installed from another recording medium. Also good.

  Here, data transfer during device monitoring between different devices in the control system 1 configured as described above will be described.

  First, when the user selects a random monitor or a collective monitor from the monitor menu window 102, a random monitor window 103 or a collective monitor window 104 is displayed, and each monitor mode is entered. In this state, the user touches the transfer button 103h or the transfer button 104g to shift to the data transfer mode. In this state, when the user sets information related to data transfer in the transfer information setting window 105 and touches the transfer button 105j, the transfer process starts.

  When the transfer is instructed, the data transfer unit 212b reads the data from the specified address of the specified transfer source device (for example, PLC3), and converts the communication protocol from the relationship with the specified destination device. It is determined whether it is necessary. When the data transfer unit 212b determines that communication protocol conversion is necessary, the protocol conversion unit 212a performs communication protocol conversion processing. Data to be transferred is subjected to communication protocol conversion as necessary, transmitted to a specified transfer destination device (for example, PLC 4) by the data transfer unit 212b, and written to a specified address of the internal device.

  For example, when a drive (memory card interface unit 26) corresponding to the memory card 7 is designated as the transfer destination device, data to be transferred from the transfer source device is written to the memory card 7. Conversely, when the above drive is specified as the transfer source device, the data read from the memory card 7 is written to the specified address in the internal device of the transfer destination device such as PLC3 or PLC4.

  As described above, in the present control system 1, the programmable display device 2 includes the data transfer unit 212b, whereby the data in the device monitor can be transferred by designating the transfer destination. Therefore, it becomes easy to save data in the device monitor. For example, when using PLC3 as a master and PLC4 as a slave of two PLCs 3 and 4 as shown in FIG. It can be copied to PLC4.

  In addition, by designating the transfer destination device and the transfer source device as a storage medium (drive) such as the memory card 7, the device data is stored in the storage medium, or the data stored in the storage medium is written into the device. be able to. If the data format to be stored in the storage medium is selected as, for example, a binary format, it is preferable from the viewpoint of data protection because it cannot be viewed from the storage medium by a computer. Alternatively, if the data format to be stored in the storage medium is selected as, for example, CSV format, the data causing the problem at the site can be stored in the storage medium and viewed with application software such as spreadsheet software. It can be used for analysis.

  Furthermore, since the device monitor unit 212 displays a plurality of monitor windows (the random monitor window 103 or the collective monitor window 104) at the same time as long as it can be displayed on the display screen, it is possible to simultaneously monitor a plurality of devices.

  In the present embodiment, the PLC (PLC 3, 4) is exemplified as a device that can be connected to the programmable display device 2 (device that can be monitored), but other devices such as a temperature controller and an inverter are also connected. Can be treated as equipment. When using another device, the transfer information setting window 105 is provided so that information for transfer can be set according to the device.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope shown in the claims. That is, embodiments obtained by combining technical means appropriately changed within the scope of the claims are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  The programmable display of the present invention displays current data stored in a device on a monitor and transfers the data displayed on the monitor to another designated device, thereby transferring the current data of a device to another Since it can be copied to the device and system backup can be easily performed, it can be suitably used for a control system in which a plurality of devices are connected to a programmable display.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control system containing the programmable display which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the apparatus selection window displayed in order to select the connection apparatus used as a monitoring object when performing a device monitor with the said programmable display. It is a figure which shows the monitor menu window displayed in order to select a monitor mode when performing the said device monitor. It is a figure which shows the random monitor window displayed when performing a device monitor in the random monitor mode selected from the said monitor menu window. It is a figure which shows the collective monitor window displayed when performing device monitoring in the collective monitor mode selected from the said monitor menu window. It is a figure which shows the transfer information setting window displayed in order to perform various settings regarding transfer, when performing data transfer between the connection apparatuses via a programmable display in the said random monitor mode and collective monitor mode.

Explanation of symbols

2 Programmable display 3, 4 PLC (equipment, programmable logic controller)
3a, 4a Memory 7 Memory card (storage medium)
21 HMI processing unit 22b DRAM
22c FEPROM
105 Transfer information setting window 212 Device monitor section (monitor display means)
212a Protocol conversion unit 212b Data transfer unit (data transfer means)

Claims (5)

In a programmable display that displays data indicating the control state stored in a plurality of connected devices,
Monitor display means for reading out the current data from the device and displaying the monitor;
A programmable display device comprising: data transfer means for transferring the data displayed by the monitor display means to a designated device.   2. The data transfer unit according to claim 1, wherein an external storage medium can be specified as the transfer destination device, and the data displayed by the monitor display unit is transferred to the specified storage medium. The programmable display of description.   The programmable display according to claim 1, wherein the device is a programmable logic controller.   A display control program for operating the programmable display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the display control program causes a computer to function as each means.   The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the display control program of Claim 4.

Images