JPH04229303A - Signal tracing control system for pc - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accurately confirm the variation state of a desired signal of a sequence program. CONSTITUTION:The RAM 23 of a PMC is provided with a program storage area 1 where the sequence program is stored and a trace signal storage area 2 where a signal to be traced among signals of the sequence program is stored. A program execution means 3 executes the sequence program in the program storage area 1 in order. When trace instructions 1a and 1b in addresses (n) and (n+1) are executed, a tracing execution means 4 stores the ON/OFF states of signals included in the trace instructions in specific bit areas 2a and 2b in the trace signal storage area 2.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a PC signal trace control system, and more particularly to a PC signal trace control system for tracing a desired signal during execution.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art When developing or maintaining a sequence program for a PC, it is necessary to know the state of change in signals in each part in order to investigate the cause of a malfunction. Changes in these signals are displayed on a display device of the PC or a numerical control device connected to the PC. However, if the signal changes quickly or occurs infrequently, it may be difficult to confirm with the human eye.

[0003] Therefore, a so-called trace control method is used in which the change state of a desired signal is memorized at fixed time intervals and slowly reproduced on the screen of a display device.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional trace control method, the trace timing is performed at a fixed period, for example, every execution cycle of a sequence program, so as shown in FIG. Even if it turned off temporarily, all trace results would be 1, and the change could not be detected. this is,
This is because signals often change during the execution of a program, whereas in the past, tracing was performed regardless of this. The present invention has been made in view of these points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a signal trace control system for a PC that can accurately determine the state of change of a desired signal.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a signal trace control method for a PC that traces the change state of a signal of a sequence program.
program storage means for storing the sequence program; trace signal storage means for storing the signal to be traced; program execution means for sequentially executing the sequence program in the program storage means; There is provided a signal trace control system for a PC, comprising: trace execution means for storing a signal included in a trace command of a sequence program in the trace signal storage means.

[0006]

[Operation] The program execution means sequentially executes the sequence programs in the program storage means. If the executed sequence program includes a trace command, the trace execution means stores the signal in the trace signal storage means. Therefore, all desired signal change states are stored.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the overall hardware of a numerical control device (CNC) for implementing the present invention. PMC (Programmable Machine Controller) 20
is built into a numerical control device (CNC) 10. The processor 11 is a central processor for controlling the entire numerical control device (CNC) 10, and is connected to the RO via the bus 19.
The system program stored in M13 is read out, and according to this system program, the numerical control device (CNC
)10 overall control.

[0009] The shared RAM 12 is shared by the CNC 10 and the PMC 20.
This is a RAM for exchanging data with the shared RAM 12, and exchanging data with each other via this shared RAM 12. It also stores data necessary for access from both sides at the same time. The RAM 14 stores temporary calculation data, display data, etc. The CMOS 15 is configured as a nonvolatile memory, and stores tool correction amounts, pitch error correction amounts, machining programs, parameters, and the like. The CMOS 15 is backed up by a battery (not shown) and serves as a non-volatile memory even when the power of the numerical control unit (CNC) 10 is turned off, so its data is retained as is. The CMOS 15 also stores parameters necessary for the PMC 20 side.

The graphic control circuit 16 converts digital data such as the current position of each axis, alarms, parameters, image data, etc. into image signals and outputs the image signals. This image signal is sent to the display device 31 of the CRT/MDI unit 30,
It is displayed on the display device 31. Parameters, ladder diagrams, etc. on the PMC 20 side can also be displayed on the display device 31. At this time, the data is sent from the PMC20 to the shared RA.
It is sent via M12.

The interface 17 receives data from the keyboard 32 in the CRT/MDI unit 30 and passes it to the processor 11. Further, data to the PMC 20 side can also be input from the keyboard 32, and the data is sent to the PMC 20 side via the shared RAM 12.

The interface 18 is an interface for external equipment, and external equipment 40 such as a paper tape reader, paper tape puncher, paper tape reader/puncher, printer, etc. is connected thereto. A machining program is read from the paper tape reader, and the machining program edited in the numerical control device (CNC) 10 can be output to the paper tape puncher.

A PMC (programmable machine controller) 20 includes a processor 21 for the PMC, and the processor 21 is connected to a shared RAM 12 by a bus 25, and the shared RAM 12 is coupled to a bus 19 of the CNC 10. Further, a ROM 22 is coupled to the bus 25. A management program and a sequence program for controlling the PMC 20 are stored in the ROM 22 . In the embodiment of the present invention, the sequence program is created in ladder language. Further, in place of the ROM 22, a ROM cassette interface may be provided, a sequence program may be stored in the ROM cassette, and the sequence program may be connected to the ROM cassette interface. By doing so, the sequence program can be easily upgraded or changed.

Further, a RAM 23 is coupled to the bus 25, and input/output signals are stored in the RAM 23, and the contents thereof are rewritten as the sequence program is executed. The I/O control circuit 24 is connected to the bus 25 and outputs the output signal stored in the RAM 23 to the I/O unit 2.
6, convert it into a serial signal and send it. It also converts the serial input signal from the I/O unit 26 into a parallel signal and sends it to the bus 25. The signal is stored in RAM 23 by processor 21.

The processor 21 receives a shared RA from the CNC 10.
Receive command signals such as M function command and T function command via M12, temporarily store them in RAM23, and then transfer the commands to ROM.
22 and is processed according to the sequence program stored in the I/O unit 26 via the I/O control circuit 24.
Output to. This output signal controls hydraulic equipment, pneumatic equipment, and electromagnetic equipment on the machine side.

The processor 21 also has an I/O unit 2.
Input signals such as a limit switch signal on the machine side and a signal from an operation switch on a machine operation panel are received from 6, and the input signals are temporarily stored in the RAM 23. Input signals that do not need to be processed by the PMC 20 are sent to the processor 11 via the shared RAM 12. Other signals are processed by the sequence program, some signals are sent to the CNC side, and other signals are sent to the I/O control circuit 24 as output signals.
It is output from the unit 26 to the machine side.

On the other hand, the sequence program can include instructions for controlling the movement of each axis. When these instructions are read by the processor 21, the shared R
The signal is sent to the processor 11 via the AM 12, and controls the servo motor. Similarly, a spindle motor etc. can also be controlled by commands from the PMC side. ROM2
The sequence program stored in the RAM 23 and the input/output signals stored in the RAM 23 can be displayed on the display device 31 of the CRT/MDI unit 30. In addition, the signals traced during the execution of the sequence program are also displayed on the display device 3.
1 is displayed.

Next, a signal tracing control method by the PMC 20 in the CNC 10 will be explained. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of the signal trace control method of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is RAM2
This is a program storage area secured within 3, in which the ladder program is stored. 2 is a trace signal storage area for storing signals to be traced in this ladder program.

The program execution means 3 sequentially executes the programs in the program storage area 1. Now, when the trace instructions 1a and 1b at addresses n and n+1 are executed, the trace execution means 4 stores the on/off state of the signal included in the trace instruction in a predetermined bit area 2a in the trace signal storage area 2, 2b. This is done every time a trace instruction is executed.

In this way, the trace execution means 4 stores program signals containing trace instructions in the trace signal storage area 2 one after another. Then, by displaying the contents of this trace signal storage area 2 on the display device 31 later, it is possible to check the change state of the signal.

FIG. 3A shows a conventional method for displaying instructions in a ladder diagram displayed on the display device 31. On the other hand, FIG. 3(b) shows a method for displaying trace instructions according to the present invention. In this embodiment, for example, when it is desired to trace signal E and signal F, the symbols of the signals are represented by white outlines. When checking the trace results on the screen, this white signal blinks according to the on/off state.

Here, the normal instruction shown in FIG. 3(a) is coded as follows. RD C WRT D On the other hand, the coding of the trace instruction shown in FIG. 3(b) is shown as follows. R.D. T E WRT. T F That is, only the signals instructed to be traced by the program are stored in the trace signal storage area 2 by the trace execution means 4, and are later confirmed on the display device 31.

Signals change in most cases when a program is executed. However, with conventional trace control methods, the
For example, tracing was performed every execution cycle of a sequence program. Therefore, when a signal change occurs within a period, it is not possible to know that the change has occurred. In contrast, in this embodiment, by including a trace instruction in the execution program of the desired signal,
Since tracing is performed when the program is executed, changes in the signal can be accurately captured, as can be seen from the signal tracing time chart in FIG.

[0024]

As explained above, in the present invention, if a trace instruction is included in the sequence program executed by the program execution means, the trace execution means stores the signal in the trace signal storage means. , all desired signal changes are stored. Therefore, it is possible to accurately know the change state of the desired signal.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a signal trace control method of the present invention.

[Fig. 2] Numerical control device (CNC) for implementing the present invention
) is a block diagram of the entire hardware.

FIG. 3 is a display example of a ladder diagram on a display screen.

FIG. 4 is a time chart of the signal trace control method of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a time chart of a conventional signal trace control method.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Program storage area 2 Trace signal storage area 3 Program execution means 4 Trace execution means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A signal trace control system for a PC (programmable controller) that traces change states of signals of a sequence program, comprising: a program storage means in which the sequence program is stored; and a trace signal in which the signal to be traced is stored. storage means; program execution means for sequentially executing sequence programs in the program storage means; and trace execution for storing signals included in trace instructions in the sequence program executed by the program execution means in the trace signal storage means. A signal trace control method for a PC, comprising: means.