Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Generic control system – apparatus or process – Having operator control interface
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-06
2004-03-23
Patel, Ramesh (Department: 2121)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Generic control system, apparatus or process
Having operator control interface
C700S017000, C700S018000, C700S086000, C700S087000, C700S088000, C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S615000, C345S595000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06711448
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a setting display apparatus for a programmable controller which can be connected to an external unit such as a programmable controller and, more particularly, to a setting display apparatus for a programmable controller designed to improve means for preparing and editing an on-screen display program stored in the setting display apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
(1) General Description of the Related Art
Programmable controllers (hereinafter referred to as “PLC”) are being used for sequential control of devices to be controlled.
Also, a setting display apparatus is used to display the state of data stored in a data storage of a PLC. The setting display apparatus is used to set data in the data storage of the PLC as well as to display the state of data stored in data storage. The setting display apparatus has a plurality of frames of image. An operator changes the frames by operating the device or a signal is supplied from the PLC to change one frame to another.
One PLC may be connected to one setting display apparatus for management of the PLC. Also, a plurality of PLCs may be connected to one setting display apparatus by a network to enable management of the plurality of PLCs through the one setting display apparatus.
Also, one setting display apparatus may be connected to one of a plurality of PLCs to be controlled by using a detachable connector when necessary.
For example, this method is often used for management of PLCs incorporated in robot controllers or the like.
A monitoring system for management of a multiplicity of mechanical components, e.g., one disclosed as “PC Monitoring System” in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 5-313714 is known in which wireless communication is performed between one PLC and one portable monitoring apparatus. The states of input/output operations of a plurality of mechanical components controlled by the PLC can be monitored with the portable monitoring apparatus.
In this conventional art, the method of monitoring with the portable monitoring apparatus simply displays a list of ON/OFF states of the inputs and outputs and, therefore, a program for display on a screen of the portable monitoring apparatus may use only simple display contents common to the mechanical components.
A method for reducing image memory, e.g., the one disclosed as “Display Method for Operation Display of Programmable Controller” in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 6-266419 is known in which a switchable display area where display contents can be changed is provided for the purpose of reducing the amount of image data in an operation display device. The switchable display area is overlaid on a fixed-frame area displayed on a display screen of the operation display device. The number of a fixed frame, the kind of display to be changed, etc., are designated from a PLC.
In short, this method is intended to reduce kinds of image to be stored in the operation display device by using an overlaying technique. With respect to this method, however, no mention has been made of kinds of image to be sequentially selected and designated.
Also, a method for reducing the amount of data to be transmitted, e.g., the one disclosed with respect to “Transmission Device between Man-machine Interface Device and Programmable Controller” in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 6-35513 is known in which, to enable the amount of data transmitted between a man-machine interface device and a PLC to be reduced, frame contents to be displayed are separated into a variable display content group 1 representing the difference of operation monitoring targets and a variable display content group 2 indicating the states of the operation monitoring targets. The former display content group is transmitted by initial communication while the latter display content group is transmitted each time communication is performed.
According to this method, the PLC generates a frame number and display data on the basis of operation inputs to the man-machine interface. However, no concrete means for this process has been disclosed.
Also, a method for improving the degree of freedom of data setting, e.g., the one disclosed with respect to “Display Device and Programming Device” in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 8-272571 is known in which a frame layout memory is provided in a display device to enable placement of a data setting area at an arbitrary position on a screen after placement of a data display area. Frame numbers and layout information are stored in the frame layout memory.
According to this method, a PLC transmits display data on the basis of an operation input to the display device. However, no concrete means for changing frames to be displayed has been disclosed.
(2) Description of Configuration of Related Art (
FIG. 22
)
FIGS. 22A and 22B
are diagrams showing examples of monitoring communication operations in a conventional setting display apparatus
2200
and a PLC
2210
.
FIG. 22A
is a diagram for explaining monitoring processes from the setting display apparatus
2200
of consecutive ten items, data registers D
0
to D
9
in a device memory
2211
of the PLC
2210
, other consecutive five items, data registers D
50
to D
54
in the device memory
2211
, and other consecutive three items, auxiliary relays M
0
to M
2
in the device memory
2211
.
Referring to
FIG. 22A
, the setting display apparatus
2200
is connected to the PLC
2210
, reads out monitoring information from the PLC
2210
, and displays the monitoring information. A display
2201
displays letters, figures, values in a data memory
2212
described below, ON/OFF states of a bit memory
2213
described below, etc. Current value display components
2202
and lamp display components
2203
are provided on the display
2201
.
Arrow
2204
represents transmitted data concerning the current value display components
2202
, which is transmitted from the setting display apparatus
2200
to the PLC
2210
. Arrow
2205
represents received data concerning the current value display components
2202
, which is received from the PLC
2210
by the setting display apparatus
2200
. Arrow
2206
represents transmitted data concerning the lamp display components
2203
, which is transmitted from the setting display apparatus
2200
to the PLC
2210
. Arrow
2207
represents received data concerning the lamp display components
2203
, which is received from the PLC
2210
by the setting display apparatus
2200
.
The PLC
2210
controls a machine which needs to be controlled. The device memory
2211
is, for example, a static random-access memory (SRAM) for storing data. The device memory
2211
includes the data memory
2212
and the bit memory
2213
. The data memory
2212
stores the contents of the data registers in the device memory
2211
. The bit memory
2213
stores information on the ON/OFF states of devices such as auxiliary relays in the device memory
2211
.
FIG. 22B
is a diagram for explaining monitoring processes from the setting display apparatus
2200
of consecutive ten items, data registers D
10
to D
19
in the device memory
2211
of the PLC
2210
, other consecutive five items, data registers D
60
to D
64
in the device memory
2211
, and other consecutive three items, auxiliary relays M
10
to M
12
in the device memory
2211
.
In
FIG. 22B
, current value display components
2252
and lamp display components
2253
are provided on the display
2201
. Arrow
2254
represents transmitted data concerning the current value display components
2252
, which is transmitted from the setting display apparatus
2200
to the PLC
2210
. Arrow
2255
represents received data concerning the current value display components
2252
, which is received from the PLC
2210
by the setting display apparatus
2200
. Arrow
2256
represents transmitted data concerning the lamp display components
2253
, which is transmitted from the setting display apparatus
2200
to the PLC
2210
. Arrow
2257
represents received data concerning the lamp display components
2253
, wh
Isobe Michiaki
Misawa Ryosuke
Mitsubishi Denki & Kabushiki Kaisha
Patel Ramesh
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
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