JPH1195817A - Sequencer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to easily prepare and change a control program. SOLUTION: This sequencer 10 for executing a prescribed control arithmetic operation to input data from a controlled system 14, outputting an arithmetic result to the controlled system as operation data and displaying and outputting the input data or the operation data to an external display device 20 is provided with an arithmetic control part 11 for executing the control arithmetic operation corresponding to the control program described in a sequence language loaded from the outside, a data register 17 for tentatively storing data to be displayed and outputted to the external display device 20, a decoder circuit 18 for converting the data stored in the data register 17 to display data and an output circuit 19 for sending out the display data converted in the decoder circuit 18 to the external display device 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sequencer for controlling the operation and state of a controlled object including devices provided in various facilities such as factories and buildings, and more particularly to a sequencer for controlling the state and the controlled object. The present invention relates to a sequencer for displaying and outputting data to an external display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a simple control device incorporated in various facilities to control the operation and state of various devices, for example, P
Sequencers represented by LC (Programmable logic controller) and the like are widely used. Generally, a control program incorporated in the sequencer is described in a sequence language represented by, for example, a ladder language capable of displaying graphics.

As described above, a control program is described in a control-specific sequence language instead of a general-purpose high-level language such as a basic language, C language, or C ++ language.
Even those who are unfamiliar with high-level languages can easily create control programs and load them into this sequencer.

[0004] Therefore, not only a technician of a maker that manufactures the sequencer but also a staff (user) of a facility such as a factory where the sequencer is installed can easily change the control contents.

[0005] In recent years, there has been a demand for improved control accuracy for controlled objects, and a need to display control details. Therefore, a sequencer in which a display device can be connected to the outside has been put to practical use. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a relationship between the sequencer 1, a control target 2 such as a device connected to the sequencer 1, and the display device 3.

The sequencer 1 fetches the process data PV output from the control target 2 and
A control operation is performed on V based on a control program, and the operation result is set as operation (amount) data MV on the control target 2.
Send to

Further, the sequencer 1 sends input data (process data PV) input from the control target 2 and output data (operation data MV) to be sent to the control target 2 to the display device 3 for display and output.

The display device 3 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
It is constituted by a 7-segment LED display 5 composed of a plurality of unit 7-segment displays 4, and numerically displays the received input data or output data.

In order to display input data and output data on a 7-segment LED display 5 composed of a plurality of unit 7-segment displays 4, an output section 6 is incorporated in the sequencer 1 as shown in FIG. I have. The output unit 6 incorporates hardware such as transistors and software.

The hardware is mainly output transistors, and the software is mainly binary code (binary code).
This is a program for executing conversion of input data or output data indicated by (code) into a 7-segment code (display data), conversion into a minus display, display of a decimal point, conversion into a multi-digit display, and the like.

When the three-digit seven-segment LED display 5 is directly driven, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, eight signal lines and a common line are provided for each unit seven-segment display 4. Since about eight output transistors are required, a total of 24 signal lines and output transistors are required.

As shown in FIG. 8, when a three-digit seven-segment LED display 5 performs dynamic display for each digit, three unit seven-segment displays 4 are sequentially selected. Some selection circuits 7 need to be incorporated in the display device 3 side or the sequence 1 side.

In this case, the hardware requires a selection circuit 7, eight signal lines, three digit switching signal lines, and eleven output transistors. The software is a 3-digit 7-segment LED shown in FIG.
In addition to the various processes required when the display 5 is directly driven, switching timing control for dynamic display is required.

[0014]

However, the above-described sequencer 1 also has the following problems to be improved. Usually, hardware such as transistors, output terminals, signal lines, and selection circuits 7 are provided with the following problems. The sequencer 1 is created by a manufacturer and shipped in a state where the sequencer 1 is assembled in advance.

However, since the software including the above-described code conversion for displaying the input data and the output data on, for example, the 7-segment LED display 5 of the display device 3 is regarded as a part of the control program for the control operation, A technician (user) of the facility where the sequencer 1 is installed creates a control program and the like at the same time and loads it into the sequencer 1.

However, as described above, since the program is described in the sequence language represented by the ladder language, the control program body can be created relatively easily for the user. However, describing the above-described display program in a control sequence language is rather cumbersome and complicated.

As a result, each time the user creates a new control program for the sequencer 1 or changes the control content of the running sequencer 1, the display program is displayed in addition to the control program itself. Must be written in sequence language. Therefore, this sequencer 1
This requires a great deal of time and effort for the user.

Also, a 3-digit 7-segment LE shown in FIG.
When the D display 5 is directly driven, or when the three-digit 7
Even when the segment LED display 5 performs dynamic display for each digit, there is a problem that the hardware configuration of necessary signal lines and output transistors is complicated, and the manufacturing cost of the sequencer 1 itself is increased.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and a user can easily create a control program according to the control specification for a control target by using only a control main body as a control program incorporated therein. It is another object of the present invention to provide a sequencer which can be changed and is easy to use for a user.

[0020]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a predetermined control operation is performed on input data from a control object to output a calculation result as operation data to the control object, and the input data or operation data is externally displayed. Applied to sequencers that display and output to devices.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sequencer according to the present invention, comprising: an operation control unit for executing a control operation in accordance with a control program described in a sequence language loaded from the outside; A data register for temporarily storing data to be displayed and output to an external display device, a decoder circuit for converting the data stored in the data register into display data, and a display data converted by the decoder circuit to the external display device. And an output circuit for sending.

In the sequencer configured as described above, a specific control operation for the control target is executed by the arithmetic and control unit. Then, the input data and the operation data are written into the data register. Then, the data written in the data register is converted into display data by a decoder circuit and then sent to an external display device via an output circuit.

The data register, decoder circuit and output circuit do not need to be changed even if the sequence control program loaded in the operation control unit is changed. Therefore, the manufacturer of the sequencer has only to prepare in advance, assemble it into this sequencer, and then sell it. This means that as a user using this sequencer, in a control program that is created in a sequence language based on the control specifications for the control target and is loaded into the sequencer, it is sufficient to write input data and operation data to the data register, There is no need to create or load a program to display subsequent data.

Accordingly, the amount of work required when the user creates or modifies a new control program is reduced, so that the user can easily create and change the control program according to the control specifications.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in the above sequencer, an operation control unit for executing a control operation according to a control program described in a sequence language loaded from the outside, and output from the operation control unit to an external display device A data register for temporarily storing data to be displayed and output, and an output circuit for sending the data stored in the data register to a decoder circuit provided in an external display device for converting data into display data. is there.

In the sequencer configured as described above, only the data register and the output circuit are incorporated in the sequencer. The decoder circuit is incorporated in the external display device.

Even with such a configuration, the control program need only be loaded into the arithmetic and control unit, and there is no need for the user to create or load a display-related program. Still another aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned sequencer, wherein the sequencer executes a control operation in accordance with a control program described in a sequence language loaded from the outside, and is output from the operation control unit and displayed on an external display device. A data register for temporarily storing data and the number of display digits of the data, a decoder circuit for converting data stored in the data register into display data, and an external display device for converting the number of display digits and the display data converted by the decoder circuit to an external display device And an output circuit for sending the signal to

In the sequencer having such a configuration,
The data to be displayed on the external display device and the number of display digits of the data are temporarily stored in the data register. Therefore, since the control information for displaying data increases,
Since it is not necessary for the decoder circuit to determine the number of display digits from the data value, the configurations of the decoder circuit and the output circuit after this data register can be simplified.

[0029]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a sequencer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The sequencer 10 is composed of, for example, a PLC (programmable logic control circuit), and has an arithmetic control unit 11 therein. A control target 14 such as a device is connected to the arithmetic control unit 11 via an input interface 12 and an output interface 13. Further, an input interface 15 to which a control program is input from a program loader 16 as necessary is connected to the arithmetic control unit 11.

The arithmetic control unit 11 stores a control program that satisfies the control specifications for the control target 14 and is described in, for example, a sequence language represented by a ladder language. Therefore, the arithmetic control unit 11 controls the control target 1
4 fetches process data PV (input data) output at a constant cycle via the input interface 12,
A control operation determined by the control specification is executed on the input data, and the operation result is stored in operation data MV (output data).
To the control target 14 via the output interface 13.

The arithmetic control unit 11 has a data register 17 having a plurality of registers 17a as shown in FIG.
Is connected. The output side of the data register 17 is connected to a decoder circuit 18 and an output circuit 19.

The arithmetic and control unit 11 controls the externally connected display device 2 among various input data such as rotation speed, speed, temperature, flow rate, voltage, current, power and the like input from the control object 14.
0 of the input data to be displayed and output, and the output data to be displayed and output on the display device 20 among the various types of calculated output data.
7a. Therefore, this data register 17
The input data or output data temporarily stored in each of the registers 17a is automatically updated to the latest data in synchronization with the control cycle for the control target 14.

Which input data or which output data is to be assigned to which register 17a among the plurality of registers 17a in the data register 17 shown in FIG. 2 is determined in advance.

Each data temporarily stored in each register 17a of the data register 17 is converted by the decoder circuit 18 into display data corresponding to the display mode of the display device 20.
For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the display device 20 includes a three-digit 7-segment LED display 21 including three unit 7-segment displays 21a and a 7-segment display 21a for each unit.
, Each data of the register 17a includes digit data D ₁ indicating a display digit,
It is converted into the segment data D ₂ indicating the numerical value of each digit. Specifically, the decoder circuit 18 is formed by an LSI such as a gate array or an ASIC.

The digit data D converted by the decoder circuit 18
_The display data composed of ₁ and the segment data D ₂ is sent to the next output circuit 19. The output circuit 19 outputs the digit data D.
₁ and the segment data D ₂ to the drive circuit 2 of the display device 20
2 comprises a plurality of output transistors for outputting via a signal cable and a plurality of output terminals.

The output circuit 19 outputs the display data composed of the digit data D ₁ and the segment data D ₂ converted by the decoder circuit 18 and the write signal W to the drive circuit 22 of the display device 20.
Send to The drive circuit 22 incorporates a drive power supply,
Based on the digit data D ₁ is input from the sequencer 10 and the segment data D ₂ and the write signal W, by driving each segment of each unit 7 segment displays 21a, displaying numbers.

In the sequencer 10 configured as described above, a technician (user) of the facility where the sequencer 10 is installed is controlled by a control object 14 such as a device incorporated in the facility.
According to the control specification, a control program for controlling the control target 14 is created using a sequence language, and the created control program is loaded into the arithmetic control unit 11 of the sequencer 10 using the program loader 16.

In this case, the operation control unit 11 is prepared in a sequence language on the basis of the control specification for the control target 14.
The control program to be loaded into the data register 17 is such that input data and operation data to be displayed on the display device 20 are written into each register 17a of the data register 17.

Then, the arithmetic and control unit 11 loaded with the control program executes the control of the control target 1 in accordance with the control program.
4 and, if necessary, input data and output data to the designated register 17 of the data register 17.
Set to a. Each register 17a of the data register 17
Are automatically converted into display data by the decoder circuit 18 and output to the display device 2 via the output circuit 19.
0 to be displayed and output.

Therefore, a user who uses the sequencer 10 operates a control program in which input data (process data) and output data (operation data) are described until the input data (process data) and the output data (operation data) are written in the data register based on the control specifications for the control target 14. It only needs to be loaded into the control unit 11,
There is no need to create or load a program to display subsequent data.

Accordingly, the amount of work required when the user creates or modifies a new control program is reduced, so that the user can easily create and change the control program according to the control specifications.

Further, the number of output transistors, the number of output terminals, and the number of signal lines required in the output circuit 19 can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost of the entire sequencer 10 can be reduced. (Second Embodiment) FIG. 3 is a view showing a main part of a sequencer 10a according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The data register is composed of a plurality of registers 17a incorporated in the sequencer 10a according to the second embodiment. At 17, each data to be displayed on the display device 20 is written into a block 23 comprising three adjacent registers 17a as shown.

Specifically, the register 17a at the head of each block 23 stores the unit segment display 21 of the corresponding data.
a indicates the number of digits to be used, the central register 17a of each block 23 indicates the position of the decimal point of the corresponding data, and data to be displayed (data without the decimal point) is set in the final register 17a of each block 23. .

In this case, when the user creates a control program for controlling the control target 14, the input data from the control target 14 and the output data to be transmitted to the control target 14 are displayed on the display device 20. Each of the data is divided into the number of digits, the decimal point position, and the data with the decimal point removed, and each register 17a of each block 23 is divided.
It can be described as setting to.

Further, since the data to be displayed has already been divided into three elements, the decoder circuit 18 uses the value of each register 17a as it is as the display data for the number of digits to be used and the position of the decimal point, and removes the decimal point. It is only necessary to convert the data into segment data. Therefore, the circuit configuration of the decoder circuit 18 can be simplified.

In the sequencer 10a according to the second embodiment having the above-described configuration, data to be displayed on the display device 20, for example, input from the control target 14, and the polarity of (+) (-) such as temperature and the like. Data with decimal points,
Even in the case of data in which the value fluctuates greatly and the number of digits changes accordingly, as shown in a display example surrounded by a dotted line in FIG. Very easy for people to see.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a sequencer 10b according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those of the sequencer 10 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description of the overlapping parts will be omitted.

In the sequencer 10b of the third embodiment, the decoder circuit 18 is incorporated in the display device 20. That is, each register 17 of the data register 17
Each data temporarily stored in a is directly transmitted to the decoder circuit 18 of the display device 20 via the output circuit 19. The decoder circuit 18 of the display device 20 converts each input data into display data and applies the display data to the drive circuit 22. As a result, the input data from the control target 14 and the output data to the control target 14 are displayed on the display device 20.

In the sequencer 10b of the third embodiment configured as described above, similarly to the sequencer 10 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the control program written in the arithmetic and control unit 11 includes input data and operation data. It is sufficient to write the data into the data register 17, and there is no need to create or load a portion for displaying the corresponding data thereafter.

Therefore, the sequencer 1 of the first embodiment
As in the case of Oa, the amount of work when the user newly creates or modifies the control program is reduced, so that the user can easily create and change the control program according to the control specifications.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Display device 20 in each embodiment
Adopted a 7-segment LED display 21,
The display device is not limited to the segment LED display 21 but may be another type of display device such as a dot matrix display.

[0053]

As described above, in the present invention,
The range of the control program written by the user to the arithmetic and control unit that performs the actual control of the control target is displayed until the data to be output to the display device is written to the data register, and the data processing from the data register to the display device is shared. Is incorporated in the sequencer in advance.

Therefore, the user of the facility that actually uses the sequencer can easily create or change the control program according to the control specifications for the control target, and can provide a user-friendly sequencer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a sequencer according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a relationship between storage contents of a data register and a display state of the sequencer according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a main part of a sequencer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a sequencer according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between a general sequencer, a control target, and a display device.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a display device adopting a seven-segment system.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a problem of a conventional sequencer.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a problem of the conventional sequencer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 10a, 10b ... sequencer 11 ... operation control unit 14 ... controlled object 16 ... program loader 17 ... data register 17a ... register 18 ... decoder circuit 19 ... output circuit 20 ... display device 21 ... 7 segment LED display 21a ... unit segment Display 22 ... Drive circuit 23 ... Block

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A sequencer that executes a predetermined control operation on input data from a control target, outputs a calculation result as operation data to the control target, and displays and outputs the input data or operation data to an external display device. An arithmetic control unit that executes the control operation according to a control program described in a sequence language loaded from the outside; and a data register that temporarily stores data output from the arithmetic control unit and displayed and output to the external display device. A sequencer comprising: a decoder circuit for converting data stored in the data register into display data; and an output circuit for sending the display data converted by the decoder circuit to the external display device. 2. A sequencer for executing a predetermined control operation on input data from a control target, outputting a calculation result as operation data to the control target, and displaying and outputting the input data or operation data to an external display device. An arithmetic control unit for executing the control operation in accordance with a control program described in a sequence language loaded from the outside; and a data register for temporarily storing data output from the arithmetic control unit and displayed and output to the external display device And an output circuit for sending the data stored in the data register to a decoder circuit for converting data provided in the external display device into display data. 3. A sequencer for executing a predetermined control operation on input data from a control target, outputting a calculation result as operation data to the control target, and displaying and outputting the input data or operation data to an external display device. An arithmetic control unit for executing the control operation in accordance with a control program described in a sequence language loaded from the outside; data output from the arithmetic control unit and displayed on the external display device; and display digits of the data. A data register for temporarily storing numbers, a decoder circuit for converting data stored in the data register into display data, and an output for sending the display digits and display data converted by the decoder circuit to the external display device. Sequencer with a circuit.