JP3341064B2 - Control program creation 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 control program creating apparatus for creating a control program including a plurality of control commands.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in a control device such as a programmable controller, a user program (hereinafter, referred to as a control program) including control instructions in a ladder language or the like has been increased in capacity, and the program itself has also become more sophisticated. ing.

For this reason, as a means for facilitating the design, debugging, and maintenance of a control program, the control program is managed by being modularized by subroutines, and the control program is divided by paragraphs of the control program and insertion of comments. Measures have been taken to make it easier to understand.

[0004]

However, even if the control program is divided as described above by modularization or paragraph division, the control program designer or maintainer can control the control program as a whole. Since it is necessary to manage the
There is a problem that a large number of man-hours are required during maintenance.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a control program creating device capable of reducing the number of man-hours required for debugging a control program.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control program creating apparatus for creating a control program comprising a plurality of control instructions, wherein a normal control instruction for inputting a normal control instruction is provided. Instruction input means, lower control program entry instruction input means for inputting a lower control program entry instruction indicating an entry of a control program lower than the control program currently being created, and specifying the lower control program entry instruction,
The lower control program creation request input means for inputting a lower control program creation request for requesting creation of a control program lower than the control program currently being created, and the normal control instruction input means and the lower control program entry instruction input means A program creating means for creating a program by each instruction, the lower control program entry instruction included in the control program created by the program creating means, and the lower control program entry instruction issued by the lower control program creation request input means; Is specified and a lower-level control program creation request is input, the program creation means is interrupted to create the control program currently being created, and a lower-level control program is created from the control program. control When the program creation is completed, characterized by comprising a programming control means for resuming the creation of higher control program of the interrupted, the.

[0007]

[0008]

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a program is normally created by a normal control instruction or a lower control program entry instruction input. If there is a lower-level control program entry instruction in the created control program and a lower-level control program creation request is input, the creation of the currently created control program is interrupted,
A lower-level control program is created from the control program, and when the lower-level control program is created, the interrupted upper-level control program is resumed.

[0010]

[0011]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a control program creating apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an embodiment of a control program creating apparatus according to the present invention, together with a programmable controller (hereinafter, referred to as "PLC") as a control apparatus.

The control program creation device 1 creates a ladder program consisting of a plurality of ladder instructions as a control program consisting of a plurality of control instructions.
And a CPU 11, a system program memory 12, an input device 13 such as a keyboard, an output device 14 such as a display, an external storage device 15, an internal memory 16, and an interface 17. It is externally connected to the PLC 2 via the connection cable 3 connected to the interface 17.

The CPU 11 executes a system program stored in the system program memory 12 to execute program creation means, program creation control means,
5 which functions as a program transfer means and which will be described later with reference to FIG.
Is performed.

The input device 13 includes a normal control command input means,
It functions as a lower control program entry command input means and a lower control program creation request input means. Although not shown, various ladder command input keys for inputting a normal ladder command, and a current ladder command input key described later with reference to FIG. A lower ladder program entry instruction input key for inputting a lower ladder program entry instruction indicating an entry of a ladder program lower than the ladder program being created, and a lower ladder program creation request input key for instructing a lower ladder program creation request By pressing, each command is input into the apparatus.

The external storage device 15 stores upper and lower ladder programs created by the CPU 11 as program storage means in a ladder program area. The internal memory 16 may have a function as this program storage means.

The PLC 2 is generally constructed, and includes a microprocessor 21, an I / O memory 22,
A system program memory 23 and a work memory 24
, User program memory 25, and interface 2
6 are connected by a bus 27.

FIG. 2 shows a lower ladder program entry instruction input into the apparatus by the input device 13.

This lower ladder program entry instruction L
Indicates “LOW” indicating an entry of a lower ladder program.
An instruction word L1 of "R" and an operand L2 indicating "000" which is a program number of the lower ladder program.

FIG. 3 shows a specific example of the upper and lower ladder programs created using the lower ladder program entry instruction shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3, one ladder program is composed of upper and lower ladder programs A to D. Ladder program A is the uppermost ladder program, and ladder programs B and C are ladder programs A and D. Indicates that the ladder program D is a lower ladder program D having the ladder program B as a calling source.

The existence of the lower ladder program B in the upper ladder program A is determined by the contact a
And the program number “00” of the lower ladder program B
The lower ladder program entry circuit A1 composed of a lower ladder program entry instruction L1 "LOWER 000" having "0" as an operand is substituted for the lower ladder program entry C2. C program number "0"
This is substituted by the presence of a lower ladder program entry circuit C2 consisting of a lower ladder program entry instruction L2 "LOWER 010" with "10" as an operand.

Further, the existence of the lower order ladder program D in the lower order ladder program B is based on the a contact instruction S3 and the program number “0” of the lower order ladder program D.
02 "is substituted by the presence of a lower ladder program entry circuit C3 comprising a lower ladder program entry instruction L3" LOWER002 "having an operand of" 02 ".

FIG. 3 also shows a display screen on the output device 14 such as a display in the ladder program creation process. The upper and lower ladder programs A to D are shown in FIG. 3 in principle. As shown on the output device 14 on separate screens. That is,
Since the upper and lower ladder programs A to D are separately provided as programs, the upper and lower ladder programs A to D are in principle stored on the same screen on the output device 14 such as a display, except for the case where the program is called. And the lower ladder programs A to D are not displayed simultaneously.

FIG. 4 shows a storage state of the ladder program including the upper and lower ladder programs A to D shown in FIG. 3 in the external storage device 15.

In the external storage device 15, the upper and lower ladder programs A to D are stored not as separate files but as one file. One ladder program area 15a is divided into By linking the operand of the lower ladder program entry instruction L in the program and the program number of the lower ladder program, the upper and lower ladder programs A to D are stored in the respective divided areas by associating the upper and lower ladder programs. I am trying to do it.

With this storage, when this user program is transferred to the PLC 2, all the ladder programs A to D in one ladder program area 15a are transferred.

Next, the process of creating and transferring a ladder program by the CPU 11 of the control program creating apparatus according to the present invention thus configured will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 shows a process of creating and transferring a ladder program by the CPU 11.

In the present apparatus, first, the CP
U11 is activated (step 100), and it is determined whether the creation of the ladder program is completed (step 110). If the creation of the ladder program is not completed (step 11)
0 “N”), a normal ladder command or a lower ladder program entry command is input using the normal ladder command input key of the input device 13 or the lower ladder program entry command input key, and a ladder program is created. As shown in FIG. 4, the program is stored in a corresponding area of the ladder program area 15a of the external storage device 15 (step 120).

At the time of the ladder program creation processing in step 120, the CPU 11 determines whether or not there is an unrequested lower ladder program entry instruction for which a lower ladder program creation request has not yet been input (step 130). It is determined whether or not a lower ladder program creation request is input by the device 13 (step 140).

Here, when it is determined that there is no unrequested lower ladder program entry instruction in the ladder program being created (step 130 "No"), the ladder program is not changed from the normal ladder program programming. Until the creation is completed (Step 110 “N”)
Continue creating the ladder program (step 12
0).

Even if there is a lower ladder program entry instruction in the ladder program currently being created ("YES" in step 130), if it is determined that a lower ladder program creation request has not been input (step 130). 1
40 "N"), similarly, continue creating the ladder program and store it in the external storage device 15 (step 12).
0).

In other words, in this case, even if there is a lower ladder program entry instruction in the ladder program currently being created, no lower ladder program creation request has been input, so that the lower ladder program is now being created. The ladder program entry instruction is still input, the lower ladder program is not created, the lower ladder program entry instruction is followed by the input of the normal ladder instruction or lower ladder program entry instruction, and the ladder program is created. If you want to continue.

FIG. 3 illustrates this case. For example, in creating the upper ladder program A, lower ladder program entry instructions L1 and L2 are input, and subsequently, those lower ladder program entry instructions L1 and L2 are designated. Without inputting a request to create a lower ladder program
This is a case where the creation of the upper ladder program A is continued.

On the other hand, there is a lower ladder program entry instruction in the ladder program currently being created (step 130 "Y"), and a lower ladder program creation request is input by designating the lower ladder program entry instruction. In this case (step 140), the CPU 11
Then, even if a normal ladder instruction or a lower ladder program entry instruction is input, the respective ladder programs are not input to the upper ladder program currently being created, but are input to a lower ladder program, whereby the lower ladder program is input. A lower ladder program for the ladder program entry instruction is created, and the created lower ladder program is stored in a corresponding area of the ladder program area 15a of the external storage device 15 as shown in FIG. 4 in association with the upper ladder program ( Step 150).

That is, in this case, a lower ladder program entry instruction is input during the creation of the upper ladder program, and immediately thereafter, the lower ladder program entry instruction is designated and a lower ladder program creation request is input. When creating a program and its lower-level programs in parallel, and when entering a lower-level ladder program entry instruction, continue creating a higher-level ladder program without entering a lower-level ladder program creation request. After the creation of the upper ladder program is completed, the lower ladder program is sequentially created after the creation of the upper ladder program which specifies the lower ladder program entry instruction in the upper ladder program and inputs a lower ladder program creation request. There are cases.

FIG. 3 illustrates this case. In the former case, for example, in creating the upper ladder program A,
When the lower ladder program entry instructions L1 and L2 are input, a lower ladder program creation request is input by designating the lower ladder program entry instructions L1 and L2, and the creation of the lower ladder programs B and C is continued. After the creation of the lower ladder programs B and C is completed, the creation of the upper ladder program A is restarted.

In the latter case, for example, in the creation of the upper ladder program A, the lower ladder program entry instructions L1 and L2 are input, and subsequently the lower ladder program creation request is designated by designating those instructions L1 and L2. , The creation of the upper ladder program A is continued, and after the creation of the upper ladder program A is completed, the lower ladder program entry request L1, L2 in the upper ladder program A is designated and the lower ladder program creation request is issued. Is input to create lower-order ladder programs B and C.

The lower ladder program is created while being linked with the program number of the lower ladder program set as the operand of the lower ladder program entry instruction L.

When the creation of the lower ladder program is completed (step 160 "Y"), the process returns to the ladder program which is the ladder program which called the lower ladder program and which is higher than the lower ladder program (step 170). The creation of the ladder program is continued (step 130).

Finally, when it is determined that there is no unrequested lower ladder program entry instruction in the uppermost ladder program ("NO" in step 130) and that the creation of the ladder program has been completed (step 11).
0 “Y”), indicating that the creation of all the upper and lower ladder programs has been completed, so that the CPU 11 stores the ladder program in the corresponding area of the ladder program area 15 a of the external storage device 15 as shown in FIG. The ladder program including the upper and lower ladder programs is collectively converted into an object and transferred to the PLC 2 (step 180).

In the lower ladder program creation processing in step 150, there is a lower ladder program entry instruction in the lower ladder program, and a lower ladder program creation request is input by designating the lower ladder program entry instruction. In this case, the process proceeds to step 150 according to the determinations in steps 130 and 140, a ladder program lower than the lower ladder program is created, and stored in the external storage device 15. .

Referring to FIG. 3, the lower ladder program entry instruction L3 is input during the creation of the lower ladder program B, and the lower ladder program entry instruction L3 is designated and a lower ladder program creation request is input. In this case, a lower ladder program D is created in the lower ladder program B.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, there is an unrequested lower-order ladder program entry instruction in the ladder program currently being created, and the lower-order ladder program creation instruction is specified by specifying the unrequested lower-order ladder program entry instruction. If a request is input, the creation of the ladder program currently being created is interrupted, a ladder program lower than the ladder program is created, and if the creation of the lower ladder program is completed, the ladder program is interrupted. Since the creation of the higher-order ladder program is restarted, the ladder program can be arbitrarily divided into upper-order and lower-order ladder programs and configured hierarchically.

For this reason, for example, by dividing the main sequence into a high-order ladder program and the detailed sequence into a low-order ladder program, debugging and maintenance of the ladder program can be narrowed down.
The man-hours spent on it can be reduced.

The upper and lower ladder programs are programs that are easy to understand and easy to manage not only by the designer but also by a third party because the program amount is reduced.

Further, since the ladder program is divided into blocks and programmed into upper and lower ladder programs, the lower ladder program can be changed without affecting the upper ladder program.

[0049]

As described above, in the present invention, an instruction called a lower ladder program entry instruction is newly provided,
If there is a lower ladder program entry instruction in the ladder program currently being created, and a lower ladder program creation request is input by specifying the lower ladder program entry instruction, the ladder program currently being created is created. Interruption, creating a ladder program lower than the ladder program, and when the creation of the lower ladder program is completed, to resume the creation of the interrupted upper ladder program,
The ladder program can be divided into upper and lower ladder programs arbitrarily and configured hierarchically.

For this reason, for example, by dividing the main sequence into a high-order ladder program and the detailed sequence into a low-order ladder program, debugging and maintenance of the ladder program can be narrowed down.
The man-hours spent on it can be reduced.

Further, the upper and lower ladder programs are programs that are easy to understand and manage not only by the designer but also by a third party because the program amount is reduced.

Further, since the ladder program is divided into blocks and programmed into upper and lower ladder programs, the lower ladder program can be changed without affecting the upper ladder program.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a control program creation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a ladder program entry instruction.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of upper and lower ladder programs created using the lower ladder program entry instruction shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a storage state of the ladder program shown in FIG. 3 in an external storage device 15;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a ladder program creation process by the CPU.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 control program creation device 11 CPU (program creation means, program creation control means, program transfer means) 13 input device device (normal control instruction input means, lower control program entry instruction input means, lower control program creation request input means) 15 external Storage device (program storage means)

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-62-255730 (JP, A) JP-A-3-240803 (JP, A) JP-A-5-341815 (JP, A) JP-A-6-67712 (JP) , A) JP-A-6-75608 (JP, A) JP-A-5-507376 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G05B 19/05

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A control program creating apparatus for creating a control program including a plurality of control instructions, comprising: a normal control instruction input means for inputting a normal control instruction; and an entry of a control program lower than the control program currently being created. A lower control program entry instruction input means for inputting a lower control program entry instruction to be indicated, and a lower control program creation request for designating the lower control program entry instruction and requesting creation of a control program lower than the control program currently being created Control program creation request input means for inputting a command, a program creation means for creating a program in accordance with each command input by the normal control command input means and the lower control program entry command input means, and a control created by the program creation means Program The low order control program entry instructions are there in the,
When the lower control program creation request is input by designating the lower control program entry instruction by the lower control program creation request input means, the program creation means interrupts the creation of the control program currently being created. Program creation control means for creating a lower-level control program from the control program and, when the creation of the lower-level control program is completed, restarting the interrupted creation of the upper-level control program. Characteristic control program creation device.