JP3102828B2 - Programming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a programming device for creating a program for operating a programmable controller in a function block diagram, and more particularly, to a programming device capable of designating display / non-display for each terminal of a function block. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a work site, a factory, or the like, a logical value that can be represented by two values such as numerical information such as the number of products passing through an outlet of a belt conveyor, pressure, temperature, and whether or not a certain switch is turned on. Sequence control is performed in accordance with information and the like. This sequence control is accompanied by a change or modification of the specification. For this reason, a programmable controller (hereinafter, referred to as a PC) capable of executing sequence control according to a program input by a user and freely changing or creating the program is widely used for sequence control.

The creation of a program for a PC is performed using a device generally called a programming device. The programming device is usually separate from the PC, and is used for changing or modifying a program or creating a new program.
Used by connecting to C.

As a PC programming language, a graphic representation program using graphic symbols such as relay symbols and logic symbols is often used. The drawing representation program is usually created by drawing graphic symbols on a display screen of a programming device and connecting the drawn graphic symbols.

As graphic symbols, there are graphic symbols called function blocks (hereinafter referred to as FBs) in addition to the above-mentioned relay symbols and logic symbols. The FB diagram, which is an illustration expression program using FB,
A program is expressed by connecting a FB, which is a function block that performs some processing such as logical operation, addition, subtraction, and multiplication / division, with an operand (terminal) serving as an input or output of the FB by a line. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a program based on the FB diagram.

In the example shown in FIG. 11, A and B are FB (F
1) Input, C and D are FB (F2) inputs, FB (F
Outputs of 1) and FB (F2) are inputs of FB (F3), and the output of FB (F3) is stored in E. As described above, the FB diagram illustrates the data and the flow of the data processing, and has an advantage that the data processing flow can be easily followed.

[0007] The programming device converts the program created in the illustrated representation into an intermediate language form and stores it in the program storage device. That is, the intermediate language is used in the programming device as a means for storing the program in the program storage device as an ideographic expression independent of the illustrated expression. As an intermediate language, for example, a functional FCL
There is a language called (Function Control Language). FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a basic form of the FCL.

[0008] In the FCL shown in FIG.
A function starts with "(", which is the initiator of the function, followed by the function name of the processing, followed by the delimiter (separator), followed by a blank character (blank).
Followed by the function arguments as needed for that function,
Finally, it ends with a function terminator ")". The function itself has a value, and the function argument can include other functions of the FCL, that is, a nest can be created.

The above-mentioned FB diagram is relatively simple to convert to FCL. For example, the FB diagram shown in FIG. 11 is as follows: (: = _ (F3_ (F1_A_B _) _ (F2_C_D
_) _) _ E_) where "_" is a blank character and "(: =" is a function that does not appear in the FB diagram indicating assignment to the operand "E".

When a program is created on the FB diagram or when a monitor display is performed, the number of FBs to be displayed and the number of terminals of the FBs are set by the user at a stage before these processes are performed. Defined). The programming device generally stores definition information set by a user in a function definition information storage device in the form of a table (function argument definition information table). FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a function argument definition information table stored in the function definition information storage device.

The function argument definition information table shown in FIG. 13 corresponds to the FB diagram shown in FIG.
B has two input arguments and one output argument. The programming device performs programming or monitor display by displaying the FB on the screen using the function argument definition information table. The FB diagram is converted to FCL and stored in the program storage device, and the terminals of the FB correspond to the arguments of the FCL. Hereinafter, the terminals of the FB will be described as arguments.

[0012]

However, a conventional programming device for performing programming with the FB diagram is:
When programming, F according to the defined information
Since all the arguments of B are displayed on the screen, the larger the number of arguments defined for one FB, the larger the area in which this FB is displayed, thereby reducing the amount of circuits that can be displayed on one screen. And there is a problem that the mounting density of the screen may be reduced.

In the FB, since the input and output operands are connected by lines, the area where the FB is displayed is determined according to the number of arguments. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of an FB having a large number of arguments (both input arguments and output arguments are eight). When such FB is displayed on the screen,
Since the number of FBs that can be displayed on one screen is reduced, and it is difficult to grasp the relationship with other FBs, it becomes difficult to perform programming and work efficiency is reduced.

The FB diagram is in an expression format in which the flow of data is described as described above.
In comparison with the data which becomes the input of B, it is often less necessary to monitor the data which becomes the output of the FB. However, even at the time of monitoring, the data of all the arguments of the FB are displayed according to the defined information. Therefore, there is a problem that the number of data that can be monitored on a single screen is reduced as the number of arguments defined in the FB increases.

For some FBs, for example, the output data can be easily determined from the input data, and the input data has a constant data value. Therefore, such data does not actually need to be monitored, but since all such data is displayed, the FB
As the number of arguments defined in (1) is larger, the number of data that can be monitored on a single screen at high necessity is reduced. Therefore, the user has to select and monitor highly necessary data from a large number of displayed data, so that it is difficult to monitor the data, and a heavy burden is imposed on the monitoring work.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the display density can be effectively improved by designating data display / non-display for each FB argument. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which facilitates creation of a program, and monitoring work, thereby improving work efficiency.

[0017]

With reference to FIG. 1, a description will be given of means constituting a programming device 2 of the present invention. In the programming device 2 of the present invention, the argument definition information input means 3 for inputting definition information for designating display / non-display with respect to the FB argument, and the non-display and definition information are input by the argument definition information input means 3. Actual argument allocating means 6 for allocating actual arguments (constants) to the arguments, and display means based on the definition information input by the argument definition information input means 3 when programming and when monitoring the programmable controller 1. 4 is provided with control means 5 for displaying function blocks.

[0018]

When the definition information for designating display / non-display for each argument defined in the FB is input by the argument definition information input means 3, the programming device 2 of the present invention, based on the input definition information, The control means 5 displays F on the display means 4.
By displaying B, the mounting density on the screen is effectively improved. Also, by assigning the actual arguments to the arguments designated as non-display by the actual argument allocating means 6, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience that the arguments designated as non-display cannot be assigned actual arguments on the screen.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an appearance of the function definition information input device 3 of the programming device 2 according to the present embodiment. Here, the reference numeral 3 assigned to the function definition information input device is assigned because it corresponds to the argument definition information input means 3 in FIG. 1, and the same applies to the means corresponding to FIG. We will use the sign.

The function definition information input device 3 according to the present embodiment
Is for setting or changing definition information such as input arguments and output arguments in the FB set by other input means (not shown) and whether or not to display each argument. As shown in FIG. 2, an argument information display device 11 for displaying the definition information of the set arguments, an argument setting device 12 for setting arguments of the FB, and definition information for arguments such as display / non-display are selected. Selection device 1 for performing
3 and a function definition information setting device 14 for writing the definition information for each argument displayed on the argument information display device 11 to a function definition information storage device (not shown).

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an operation method of the function definition information input device 10 shown in FIG.
An operation method of the function definition information input device 3 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 3 by taking as an example a case of setting argument definition information in a newly created FB.

When a new FB is created, first, a new FB is created by the above-described input means, and the function definition information input device 3 is activated by operating a switch (not shown). The function definition information input device 3 displays, on the display screen 11 a of the argument information display unit 11, the definition information of the arguments in the FB set or specified by the input unit. The user operates the insertion key 11a, which is a key for newly inserting (adding) an argument into the display screen 11a, and newly inserts an argument into the display screen 11a (S1).

When an argument is inserted, the user operates one of the display key 13a and the non-display key 13b of the selection device 13 to select definition information indicating whether or not to display the information.
(c2) By operating one of the output keys 13d, the type of the argument as to whether or not the argument is an input is selected (S2).

When the definition information for the argument is selected and the setting key 12c of the argument setting device 12 is operated, the setting of the definition information for this argument is completed. When the user adds another argument to the newly created FB, step S1
Then, a series of operations are repeated from the operation of operating the insert key 12a again (S3), and when no argument is added, the execution key 14a of the function definition information setting device 14 is operated (S3, S4). When the execution key 14a is operated, the definition information of the argument displayed on the display screen 11a is written into the function definition information storage device, thereby completing the setting of the definition information for the newly created FB argument.

The procedure of the operation method described above is a case where a new FB is created. However, when adding an argument to the already created FB and changing the definition information of the argument, the corresponding FB is designated by the input means. , FB are selected by operating the upper key 11b and the lower key 11c of the argument information display device 11, and the delete key is used to delete the selected argument. 1
2b to change the definition information, select device 1
The definition information is changed by operating the corresponding key of No. 3. After performing such a key operation, the execution key 14a
Is operated, the changed FB definition information is written into the function definition information storage device, and the change of the FB definition contents is completed. At this time, when the cancel key 14b is operated, all the contents displayed on the display screen 11a are deleted.

In the display screen 11a of FIG. 2, the argument OP1 is an input argument to be displayed, and indicates that it is the currently selected argument. The argument O
P2 indicates a non-display input argument, argument OP3 indicates a non-display input argument, argument OP4 indicates a non-display output argument, argument OP5 indicates a non-display output argument, and argument OP6 indicates an output argument to be displayed. I have.

The function definition information storage device stores the argument definition information for each FB input by the function definition information input device 3 as a function argument definition information table. FIG.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a function argument definition information table stored in a function definition information storage device. This function argument definition information table corresponds to the FB displayed on the display screen 11a shown in FIG. . As shown in FIG. 4, the function argument definition information table according to the present embodiment includes an argument column 21 in which the names of arguments are stored, a display information column 22 in which definition information of each argument is stored, and an argument type column 23. It is configured.

The control means 5 causes the display means 4 to display the FB according to the function argument definition information table for each FB stored in the function definition information storage device. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of the FB using the function argument definition information table shown in FIG.

Although the FB shown in FIG. 4 has six arguments, the arguments designated to be displayed are only the argument OP1 (input) and the argument OP6 (output). For this reason,
As shown in FIG. 5, only the arguments OP1 and OP6 are displayed on the FB.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing another display example of the FB. This FB corresponds to the FB shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, A, B, O,
And P are displayed, and it is understood that display is designated only for these arguments.

The display area of the FB increases as the number of defined arguments increases. However, definition information for designating display / non-display for each argument is input, and the FB is displayed according to the definition information. By doing so, the screen of the display means 4 (hereinafter, the screen refers to the screen of the display means 4 unless otherwise specified)
The area where the FB is displayed can be narrowed. As a result, only arguments having high necessity can be selected and displayed on the screen, so that the mounting density can be effectively improved. In addition, since the mounting state of the FB is easily grasped by improving the mounting density, it is easy to create a program, and the work efficiency can be improved. In addition, at the time of monitoring, by selecting and displaying data having high necessity, it becomes easy to grasp the operation state of the PC1, so that the work of monitoring the PC1 becomes easy.
Work efficiency in monitoring work can also be improved.

As described above, various operations can be facilitated by switching the display / non-display of the FB argument as required. However, the argument defined as non-display is different from the argument defined as display. However, there is an inconvenience that an actual argument substituted as a constant on the screen cannot be allocated. For example, in the FB of the function argument definition information table shown in FIG.
Only arguments OP1 and OP6 can be assigned actual arguments.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of a program stored in a program storage device (not shown) in this embodiment. In this embodiment, the FB diagram is stored in the program storage device using the FCL. FIG. 7 shows the actual arguments A and OP6 corresponding to the arguments OP1 and OP6 of the FB shown in FIG.
The case where F is assigned on the screen is shown. In FIG. 7, "FUNC" is the name of the FB, and other items separated by blanks are the arguments of the FB. In this way, the actual arguments (A, F) can be assigned to the arguments OP1 and OP6 set to be displayed on the screen, but the other arguments OP2, OP3, OP4, and OP5 are not displayed from the screen. No arguments can be assigned.

In this embodiment, in order to avoid the above-mentioned inconvenience, there is provided an actual argument allocating device 6 for allocating actual arguments to the arguments defined as non-display. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an appearance of the actual argument assignment device 6 according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 8, the actual argument allocating device 6 has an argument display device 31 on which an argument defined as non-display is displayed.
And an actual argument input device 32 for inputting an actual argument to be assigned to an argument, and an actual argument setting device 33 for setting an actual argument to be assigned to the argument.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a method of operating the actual argument allocating device 6. The operation method of the actual argument allocation device 6 will be described with reference to FIG. When assigning an actual argument to a non-displayed argument, first, the input means specifies an FB in which the argument to which the actual argument is to be assigned is defined, and activates the actual argument assignment device 6. When the actual argument assignment device 6 starts,
Display the argument defined as non-display of the specified FB screen 3
1a, the user can select the up key 31b and the down key 3
By operating 1c, an argument to which an actual argument is to be assigned is selected (S11). Here, the display screen 31a of FIG.
This shows a case where P2 is selected.

When an argument is selected, a ten-key (not shown) is operated to input an actual argument to be assigned to the selected argument (S12). The actual argument input by the ten keys is displayed on the display panel 32 a of the actual argument input device 32.

When an actual argument is input, if it is desired to assign an actual argument to another argument, the process returns to step S11 and the upper key 31b and the lower key 31c are operated again to select the argument to which the actual argument is to be assigned. A series of operations are repeatedly performed (S13). Conversely, when there is no assignment of an actual argument to another argument, the setting key 33 of the actual argument setting device 33 is set.
a is operated (S13, S14). When the setting key 33a is operated, actual arguments are assigned to the program information storage device and written, and the assignment of the actual arguments ends. On the other hand, if you want to cancel the actual argument assigned to the argument, enter the
1b, after specifying with down key 31c, cancel key 33b
Operate.

Since the actual argument allocating device 6 can allocate an actual argument to an argument defined as non-display, the above-mentioned inconvenience can be determined. That is, actual arguments can be assigned to the arguments OP2, OP3, OP4, and OP5 of the FB shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the program stored in the program storage device by the actual argument allocation device 6. The program (FB) stored in the program storage device corresponds to the FB shown in FIG. 4, and as shown in FIG.
2, OP3, OP4, and OP5 are assigned actual arguments B, C, D, and E, respectively.

In this embodiment, the function definition information input device 6 and the actual argument allocating device 6 are provided. However, the input of the argument definition information and the assignment of the actual argument to the argument are performed using a touch panel, a mouse, or the like. It may be performed. When a touch panel, a mouse, or the like is used, the number of keys, display panels, and the like can be reduced, so that the operation can be prevented from being complicated due to the large number of keys, display panels, and the like.

In this embodiment, the argument defined as non-display is not displayed on the screen (edit). However, for example, display / non-display of the argument defined as non-display is performed by a specific switch or the like. The display may be switched and displayed. Therefore, in this case, since the actual argument can be assigned on the screen to the argument designated as non-display, the necessity of mounting the actual argument allocating device 6 as in the present embodiment can be avoided.

[0043]

As described above, the programming device of the present invention displays / displays the arguments defined for each FB.
Since the definition information for designating non-display is added and the FB argument is displayed according to the added definition information, the mounting density on the screen can be improved, and the programming work and the monitor work can be facilitated, and the work efficiency can be improved.

Further, since an actual argument can be assigned to an argument defined as non-display, it is possible to avoid inconvenience caused by not displaying the argument.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle diagram showing a configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an appearance of a function definition information input device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation method of the function definition information input device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a function argument definition information table stored in a function definition information storage device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of FB according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of the FB according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of a program stored in a program storage device when an actual argument is assigned to an argument displayed in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the appearance of the actual argument assignment device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating the actual argument allocation device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of a program stored in a program storage device when an actual argument is assigned to an argument defined as non-display according to the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a program using an FB diagram.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a basic form of FCL.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a conventional function argument definition information table.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of FB.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Programmable controller (PC) 2 Programming device 3 Function definition information creation means 4 Display means 5 Control means 6 Actual argument assignment means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hitohito 1 Fuji-Facom Control Co., Ltd. 1, Fuji-cho, Hino-shi, Tokyo (72) Inventor Koichi Takahashi 1-1-1, Tanabe-Nitta, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Fuji Fuji (56) References JP-A-57-134752 (JP, A) JP-A-4-23102 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G05B 19 / 04-19/05

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] A program for operating a programmable controller (1) is created in a function block diagram, and a programming device (2) having a monitor function for monitoring the programmable controller (1) is provided for each terminal of the function block. Argument definition information input means (3) for inputting definition information for specifying whether or not to display, and a function block on a display means (4) based on the definition information input by the argument definition information input means (3). And a control means (5) for displaying a program. 2. A programming device (2) having a monitor function for monitoring a programmable controller (1) by creating a program for operating the programmable controller (1) in a function block diagram. Argument definition information input means (3) for inputting definition information for specifying whether or not to display, and actual arguments are allocated to terminals to which the definition information has been input by the argument definition information input means (3). Real argument allocating means (6); and control means (5) for displaying a function block on a display means (4) based on the definition information input by the argument definition information input means (3). Characteristic programming device. 3. The control means (5) performs the display based on the definition information input by the argument definition information input means (3) when performing programming and when monitoring the programmable controller (1). 3. The programming device according to claim 1, wherein the function block is displayed on the means (4).