JP4851420B2 - Control program creation converter and control program conversion method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a control program creation converter for converting a control program created by combining functional blocks in which a function unit algorithm of a control device is defined into another control program using the same functional block but having a different description format And a control program conversion method.

  Conventionally, in a control design configuration tool (control program creation device) using a function block, a function block is placed on the screen of the control program creation device, and the connection partner is connected from a connection terminal corresponding to a parameter in the function block. A control line is designed by setting a connection line (link) to the connection terminal. A control program creation method using such a control program creation device is a method that is generally used in DCS (Distributed Control System) and PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) configuration tools. However, it is also commonly used in a fieldbus (Foundation Fieldbus) engineering tool that uses functional blocks (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Hereinafter, the conventional control program creation device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is referred to as an RT editor.

  It can be said that the control design using the functional blocks of the fieldbus is more complicated than the conventional distributed control system. The reason is that it is necessary to define more connection lines, such as many functional block parameters and a link to reflect the calculation result in the upper functional block (Backward-Calculation). is there. Such design complexity is one of the reasons that only a part of workers who have the knowledge can perform fieldbus control design work (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  Fieldbus control logic is considered to be made by combining various functional blocks from relatively simple logic such as a simple PID control loop to more complicated control logic, and functions to reduce work man-hours. It is required to incorporate control logic that combines blocks.

  Therefore, the inventors have proposed a control program creation device that can facilitate control design work and reduce the number of work steps (Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-285865). Hereinafter, this control program creation device is called an FB editor. The FB editor preliminarily creates a template connection pattern file by defining the parameters of a plurality of definition blocks each of which is a template of a plurality of functional blocks of a control device and the connection relationship between these definition blocks. The control program is generated by associating the functional block of the actual control device with the definition block in the connection pattern selected from the connection pattern file.

  Now, in addition to various differences (algorithm name, parameter name, etc.) between the conventional RT editor and the FB editor, there is a big difference that connection specifications between functional blocks of the PID controller are particularly different. That is, the conventional RT editor is designed not to create a complex control logic like the FB editor when constructing a normal PID control loop. It does not require a simple connection work.

  The PID control calculation is generally a sample value PID type that is calculated by a digital computer and is calculated discretely at each sample time. This calculation is obtained by output value = previous value + change (speed-type calculation result) (see, for example, Patent Document 3). This is because the bumpless / balanceless operation output can be realized by rewriting the previous value under various conditions. For example, in manual mode, by rewriting the previous value of the PID module output with the manual output value of the analog output (AO) module, the PID output is not changed from the manual output value when switching to the auto mode (bumpless). Conversely, in the transition from the auto mode to the manual mode, the output value of the AO module can be started from the PID output value without adjustment operation (balanceless). Hereinafter, this previous value rewriting operation is referred to as initialization.

  In the FB editor, the specification is such that all the connection relationships between functional blocks are clearly specified and connected by links. In this specification, an input connection method is generally used that defines a function block on the sender side to be captured in a function block on the parameter receiver side and an output parameter on the sender side.

  On the other hand, in the conventional RT editor, the input connection method is also used. However, when the function block for performing PID calculation is on the sender side, the function block on the receiver side and the input on the receiver side in the function block on the sender side. The output connection method that defines the parameters is used. According to this output connection method, the connection relation other than the output parameter of the PID calculation among the connections related to the PID control calculation is implicitly defined, so that it is not necessary to clearly indicate the connection. .

JP 2002-163003 A JP 10-177410 A Japanese Patent Publication No. 06-066041

According to the FB editor, the control design work can be facilitated and the number of work steps can be reduced in creating a complicated control loop as compared with the conventional RT editor.
However, some control systems only support control programs created with the RT editor, and there are control systems that cannot download control programs created with the FB editor. In this case, it is necessary to convert the control program created by the FB editor into a control program that can be read by the RT editor, but there is no such conversion means.

  In addition, it may be possible to create a new program by editing a control program created with a conventional RT editor with an FB editor. In this case, it is necessary to convert the control program created by the RT editor into a control program that can be read by the FB editor, but there is no such conversion means.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a control program created by combining functional blocks in which a function unit algorithm of a control device is defined is changed into another control program using functional blocks. It is an object of the present invention to provide a convertible control program creation converter and a control program conversion method.

The present invention relates to a control program creation converter for converting a first control program created by combining the functional blocks by taking the functions of the control device as functional blocks and converting them into another second control program using the functional blocks. In the above, the connection between the sender-side function block and the receiver-side function block is defined by the input connection method that defines the sender-side function block and the output parameter as connection information of the receiver-side function block. The control program reading means for reading the control program, and the output connection method for defining the function block on the receiver side and the input parameters as connection information of the function block on the sender side are used at predetermined locations in the connection and other locations. Change to the second control program using the input connection method. At this time, a priority connection definition table in which function blocks and parameters to be used with priority on the output connection method are defined, and between the function block on the sender side and the function block on the receiver side based on the priority connection definition table. Input / output connection method determination means for determining whether to use the input connection method or the output connection method as a connection method, and the first control program based on the determination result of the input / output connection method determination means Control program conversion means for converting into the second control program is provided.
Further, in one configuration example of the control program creation converter of the present invention, the control program conversion means uses the input connection method at a location determined to prioritize the input connection method among the connections, and the output connection method. The output connection method is used at a place where it is determined that priority is given.

In addition, the control program creation converter of the present invention uses a receiver-side function block and output connection method that defines input parameters as connection information of the sender-side function block between the sender-side function block and the receiver-side function block. The first control program that uses an input connection method for defining a function block on the sender side and output parameters as connection information of the function block on the receiver side at other locations as well as being used for a predetermined part of the connection. In the first control program, the control program reading means to be read and the conversion to the second control program in which the connection between the functional block on the sender side and the functional block on the receiver side is defined by the input connection method. Whether the input connection method is used for connection or the output connection method is used Input-output connection scheme determining means for determining, in which based on the determination result of the input-output connection scheme determination unit and a control program converting means for converting the first control program to said second control program.
Further, in one configuration example of the control program creation converter of the present invention, the control program conversion means converts a portion of the connection that is determined to use the output connection method to the input connection method. is there.

  In addition, the control program conversion method of the present invention uses a connection function between the sender side function block and the receiver side function block by an input connection method that defines a function block on the sender side and output parameters as connection information of the function block on the receiver side. A control program reading step for reading the first control program in which a connection is defined, and an output connection method for defining a function block on the receiver side and input parameters as connection information on the function block on the sender side are predetermined among the connections. Priority connection definition in which function blocks and parameters to be used with priority on the output connection method are defined in the conversion to the second control program that uses the input connection method at other locations and uses the input connection method at other locations. Refer to the table and connect between the functional block on the sender side and the functional block on the receiver side An input / output connection method determination step for determining whether to use the input connection method or the output connection method as an expression, and the first control program based on the determination result of the input / output connection method determination step And a control program conversion step for converting to a second control program.

Also, the control program conversion method of the present invention uses a receiver-side function block and an output connection method that defines input parameters as connection information of the sender-side function block between the sender-side function block and the receiver-side function block. The first control program that uses an input connection method for defining a function block on the sender side and output parameters as connection information of the function block on the receiver side at other locations as well as being used for a predetermined part of the connection. In the first control program, in the control program reading step to be read, and in the conversion to the second control program in which the connection between the functional block on the sender side and the functional block on the receiver side is defined by the input connection method Whether the input connection method is used for connection or the output connection method is used Input-output connection method determination step constant to one in which a control program converting step of converting the first control program based on the input-output connection scheme determining step of the determination result to the second control program.
In addition, the control program creation converter of the present invention shows a block type name conversion means that is an algorithm embedded in a function block, a parameter name conversion means for an input / output port that connects the function blocks, and a connection between the function blocks. Conversion means for adding or deleting the link so as to adapt the link connection method from the connection method of the first control program to the connection method of the second control program, and conversion for referring to these conversion means A definition table.

  The first control program in which the connection between the function block on the sender side and the function block on the receiver side is defined by the input connection method is converted into a second control program that uses both the input connection method and the output connection method. In this case, either the input connection or the output connection can be arbitrarily selected in the second control program. In the present invention, a priority connection definition table that defines function blocks and parameters to be used with priority given to the output connection method is provided, and based on this priority connection definition table, between the function block on the sender side and the function block on the receiver side. Since it is determined whether the input connection method or the output connection method is used as the connection method, and the control program is converted based on the determination result, the first control program is changed to the second control program. Can be converted. Therefore, the control program can be downloaded even to a system that supports only the second control program created by the conventional control program creation device.

  Further, when the first control program that uses both the input connection method and the output connection method is converted into the second control program that uses only the input connection method, in the present invention, in the first control program, the sender Since it is determined whether the input connection method or the output connection method is used for the connection between the functional block on the side and the functional block on the receiver side, the control program is converted based on this determination result. The first control program can be converted into a second control program. Therefore, the first control program created by the conventional control program creation device can be edited by the second control program creation device to create a new program.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Here, the FB editor first proposed by the inventors will be described. Since a conventional RT editor is disclosed in Patent Document 1, description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the FB editor (control program creation device) according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The FB editor 1000 creates a connection pattern that creates a template by defining, for each control logic, parameters of a plurality of definition blocks each of which is a template of a plurality of functional blocks of a control device and a connection relationship between these definition blocks. A pattern creating unit 1001, a storage unit 1002 for storing functional block data and connection pattern files of the control device in advance, and a connection for reading a connection pattern file selected from the connection pattern files stored in the storage unit 1002 A pattern reading unit 1003, a control program editing unit 1004 that creates a control program by associating a functional block selected from the functional blocks stored in the storage unit 1002 and a definition block of the selected connection pattern, and an FB editor 1000 users Having an input unit 1005 for providing instructions to location, and a display unit 1006 for displaying information to the user of the FB editor 1000.

  The functional block defines, for example, an algorithm or parameter for a minimum functional unit in an actual control device such as a sensor or a valve positioner. The connection pattern is a template in which the parameters of each functional block and the connection relationship between the functional blocks are defined for each control logic (for example, PID control or cascade control). Note that the functional blocks used in the connection pattern are function blocks that are defined for general use so that they can be used as long as the algorithms and parameters are the same even when the manufacturer of the control device is different. The function block used in is called a definition block.

2 and 3 are diagrams for explaining a control program creation method using the FB editor 1000 of FIG. 1, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of control program creation by the FB editor 1000, and FIG. It is a flowchart which shows this operation | movement.
First, the connection pattern creation unit 1001 creates a connection pattern 100, which is a control loop template, in advance (step S1 in FIG. 3). The created connection pattern 100 file is stored in the storage unit 1002.

  In the example of FIG. 2, the connection pattern 100 is a template that defines an algorithm of a PID control loop. The analog input (AI) definition block 101 -AI, a definition block 101 -PID that performs PID calculation, and an analog output (AO) And a definition block 101-AO. Ports 102 indicating parameters relating to the input / output terminals of each definition block 101 are connected by a link 103, and a connection relationship of parameters of the definition block 101 is defined. In the example of FIG. 2, for example, the OUT parameter of the definition block 101-AI and the IN parameter of the definition block 101-PID are connected.

In order to create such a connection pattern 100, a definition block 101, a port 102, and a link 103 are created on the screen in accordance with a user instruction, and attributes of the definition block 101, the port 102, and the link 103 are set. That's fine.
The connection pattern file stored in the storage unit 1002 includes information such as block data, port data, and link data.

  The block data indicates information of each definition block in the connection pattern, and is generated for each definition block. The block data includes a definition block name, a block type, port data of each port provided in the definition block, and the like. Examples of the block type include AI, PID, AO, and CS (selector). By setting this block type, the algorithm of the definition block 101 is selected, and a settable port type (parameter type) is selected.

The port data includes a port type and the like. Examples of the port type include IN, OUT, CAS_IN, BKCAL_IN, and BKCAL_OUT.
The link data indicates information of each link in the connection pattern, and is generated for each link. The link data includes the name of the definition block on the input side, the port type on the input side, the name of the definition block on the output side, the port type on the output side, and the like. By this link data, the above-described input connection method is realized.

  Next, the connection pattern reading unit 1003 of the FB editor 1000 reads the file of the connection pattern 100 selected by the user from the storage unit 1002, and the control program editing unit 1004 reads the connection pattern 100 read by the connection pattern reading unit 1003. It is displayed on the control logic edit window 104 on the screen of the display unit 1006 (step S2 in FIG. 3).

  Then, the control program editing unit 1004 selects a functional block from the list 105 of usable functional blocks of each control device according to the user's instruction, and the definition block 101 of the connection pattern 100 on the control logic editing window 104 The function block of the control device is associated (step S3 in FIG. 3).

  In order to associate the definition block 101 with the functional block of the control device, a desired functional block may be moved onto the definition block 101 to be associated on the screen of the display unit 1006. In the example of FIG. 2, a function block with a control device name “DST — 02” and a function block name “AI” is associated with the definition block 101-AI, and a function block with a control device name “AVP — 08” is associated with the definition block 101-PID. A function block with a name “PID” is associated, and a function block with a control device name “AVP — 08” and a function block name “AO” is associated with the definition block 101-AO. The association between the functional block and the definition block is realized when the control program editing unit 1004 generates association data. The association data associates the control device name and function block name with the definition block name.

The control program editing unit 1004 repeatedly associates the definition block 101 with the functional block of the control device until there is no unprocessed definition block 101 (NO in step S4 in FIG. 3).
When the association between the definition block 101 and the functional block of the control device is completed, the processing of the FB editor 1000 ends, and a control program including a connection pattern file and association data between the functional block and the definition block is stored in the storage unit 1002. Is done.

[Description of control program creation converter]
Next, the control program creation converter of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control program creation converter.
The control program creation converter 1 converts the control program read unit 2 that reads the control program created by the FB editor 1000 and the control program read by the control program read unit 2 into a control program that can be read by the RT editor (not shown). Use of the control program conversion unit 3 that performs control, the control program output unit 4 that outputs the control program converted by the control program conversion unit 3 for the RT editor, the storage unit 5 that stores programs and data, and the control program creation converter 1 An input unit 6 for a user to give an instruction to the apparatus and a display unit 7 for displaying information to the user.

  The control program conversion unit 3 includes a block type conversion unit 30 that converts a block type of the control program, a parameter conversion unit 31 that converts a parameter of the control program, and a connection between the functional block on the sender side and the functional block on the receiver side. An input / output connection method determination unit 32 for determining whether to use an input connection method or an output connection method as a method, and conversion of the input / output connection method of the control program based on the determination result of the input / output connection method determination unit 32 And an input / output connection setting unit 33.

  The storage unit 5 converts the block type of the control program created by the program 50 for realizing various functional means such as the control program reading unit 2, the control program conversion unit 3 and the control program output unit 4 and the FB editor 1000. Priority is given to the output connection method when converting to a block type conversion table 51 for conversion, a parameter conversion table 52 for converting the parameters of the control program created by the FB editor 1000, and a control program readable by the RT editor. A priority connection definition table 53 defining function blocks to be used and parameters is stored.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the block type conversion table 51, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the parameter conversion table 52, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of the priority connection definition table 53.
As shown in FIG. 5, the block type conversion table 51 associates the block type 510 used in the FB editor with the block type 511 used in the RT editor. According to the block type conversion table 51 of FIG. 5, when the block type is “PID” in the description format of the FB editor, the block type is “FF_PID” in the description format of the RT editor.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the parameter conversion table 52 associates the block type 520 used in the FB editor, the parameter 521, and the parameter 522 used in the RT editor, and the correspondence between the parameters 521 and 522. Is defined for each block type used in the FB editor. According to the parameter conversion table 52 of FIG. 6, when the block type is “PID” and the parameter is “CAS_IN” in the description format of the FB editor, the parameter may be “SP” in the description format of the RT editor. I understand.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the priority connection definition table 53 associates the receiver-side block type 530, receiver-side parameters 531 and connection parameter names 532 used in the RT editor, giving priority to the output connection method. The block type 530 and the parameter 531 to be used are defined. According to the priority connection definition table 53 of FIG. 7, when the receiver side block type is “FF_PID” and the input parameter is “SP” in the RT editor description format, the output connection (CODSTN) is given priority. You can see that it is used. In the RT editor, an output connection is required for initialization. Accordingly, when the block type on the receiver side is “FF_PID” as in the example of FIG. 7, it is defined in the priority connection definition table 53 that the output connection method should be used preferentially.

Next, the operation of the control program creation converter 1 will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control program creation converter 1.
First, the control program reading unit 2 selects a control program from the control programs created by the FB editor 1000 and stored in the storage unit 1002 of the FB editor 1000 in accordance with an instruction from the user who operates the input unit 6. Then, this control program is read and stored in the storage unit 5 (step S10 in FIG. 8).

  Subsequently, the block type conversion unit 30 of the control program conversion unit 3 refers to the block type conversion table 51 and describes the description format of the FB editor for all block types described in the control program stored in the storage unit 5. The block type is converted into a block type in the RT editor description format (step S11).

  The parameter conversion unit 31 of the control program conversion unit 3 refers to the parameter conversion table 52 and sets parameters in the description format of the FB editor for all parameters (ports) described in the control program stored in the storage unit 5. The parameters are converted into the description format parameters of the RT editor (step S12).

  The input / output connection method determination unit 32 of the control program conversion unit 3 determines whether or not the function block on the parameter receiver side has an input connection function in the control program after the block type and parameters are converted in steps S11 and S12. Determination is made (step S13). Whether the functional block of the RT editor description format has an input connection function is defined in advance by definition information (not shown) stored in the storage unit 5. The input / output connection method determination unit 32 can determine whether the functional block has an input connection function by referring to the definition information.

  When the receiver-side function block has an input connection function, the input / output connection method determination unit 32 uses the input connection method or the output connection as the connection method between the receiver-side function block and the sender-side function block. It is determined whether to use the method (step S14).

  The input / output connection method determination unit 32 usually sets connection information between functional blocks in preference to the input connection method. That is, in the control program after the block type and parameters are converted in steps S11 and S12, the input / output connection method determination unit 32 determines that the combination of the receiver side block type and the input parameter on the receiver side is the priority connection definition table 53. If not registered, it is determined that the input connection method is used preferentially (NO in step S14).

  If it is determined that the input connection method is prioritized, the input / output connection setting unit 33 sets connection information between the function block on the sender side and the function block on the receiver side using the input connection method (step S15). When the input connection method is used, the function block on the sender side to be captured and the output parameter on the sender side may be defined as connection information on the function block on the receiver side.

  Also, the input / output connection method determination unit 32 sets the combination of the block type on the receiver side and the parameter on the receiver side in the priority connection definition table 53 in the control program after the block type and parameters are converted in steps S11 and S12. If registered, it is determined that the output connection method is used preferentially (YES in step S14).

  The input / output connection setting unit 33 uses the output connection method when it is determined in step S13 that the function block on the receiver side has no input connection function, or when it is determined in step S14 that the output connection method is given priority. Connection information between the function block on the sender side and the function block on the receiver side is set (step S16). When the output connection method is used, the function block on the receiver side and the input parameter on the receiver side may be defined as connection information on the function block on the sender side.

  If the type of the functional block on the sender side is “PID”, for example, the connection between the PID calculation output and the functional block on the receiver side may be explicitly defined using the output connection function of this block. Other connections between the sender side functional block and the receiver side functional block are implicitly defined.

The input / output connection method determination unit 32 and the input / output connection setting unit 33 perform steps S13 to S16 for each set of the sender-side functional block and the receiver-side functional block described in the control program.
When all connection settings are completed (YES in step S17), the conversion of the control program ends.

The control program output unit 4 outputs the converted control program stored in the storage unit 5 to the RT editor in accordance with an instruction from the user who operates the input unit 6 (step S18).
Thus, the process of the control program creation converter 1 is completed.

FIG. 9A is a diagram schematically showing an example of a control program created by the FB editor 1000 in functional block representation, and FIG. 9B is a control program after the control program of FIG. 9A is converted. It is a figure which shows typically by functional block expression.
The example of FIG. 9A shows a control program for a PID control loop composed of functional blocks 200 and 201.

  When the control program shown in FIG. 9A is converted by the control program creation converter 1, the block type and parameters are converted as shown in FIG. 9B. That is, the block type “PID” of the functional block 200 is “FF_PID” in the converted functional block 300, and the block type “AO” of the functional block 201 is “FF_AO” in the converted functional block 301.

  In addition, the parameter “OUT” of the functional block 200 is converted to “OP”, and the parameter “CAS_IN” of the functional block 201 is converted to “SP”. Note that the control program conversion unit 3 uses the control device name “AVP — 01” and the function block name “PID — 1” of the functional block 200 in the converted functional block 300 as they are. The same applies to the control device name and function block name of the function block 201.

  The converted function block 301 on the receiver side does not have an input connection function. Therefore, the input / output connection setting unit 33 sets the connection 302 between the function blocks 300 and 301 using the output connection function of the function block 300 on the sender side. By using the output connection function of the functional block 300, the connection 303 between the feedback output BKCAL_OUT of the functional block 301 and the feedback input BKCAL_IN of the functional block 300 is implicitly defined.

FIG. 10A schematically shows another example of the control program created by the FB editor 1000, and FIG. 10B schematically shows the control program after the control program of FIG. 10A is converted. FIG.
The example of FIG. 10A shows a control program for cascade PID control including functional blocks 204 and 205.

  When the control program shown in FIG. 10 (A) is converted by the control program creation converter 1, the block type and parameters are converted as in FIG. 9 (A), resulting in FIG. 10 (B).

  At this time, since the function block 305 on the receiver side after conversion has an input connection function, it is possible to select not only the output connection method but also the input connection method. However, the block type “FF_PID” and the input parameter “SP” of the functional block 305 on the receiver side are registered in the priority connection definition table 53. For this reason, the input / output connection setting unit 33 sets the connection 306 between the function blocks 304 and 305 by using the output connection function of the function block 304 on the sender side. Similar to the example of FIG. 9B, the connection 307 between the feedback output BKCAL_OUT of the function block 305 and the feedback input BKCAL_IN of the function block 304 is implicit by using the output connection function of the function block 304. Defined in Note that although the connection parameter name is actually connected using CODSTN (FIG. 7), since CODSTN is included in the parameter OP, it is shown as OP in the connection diagram of FIG.

  As described above, in the conventional RT editor, either input connection or output connection may be arbitrarily selected. Therefore, in this embodiment, function blocks and parameters to be used with priority on the output connection method. Whether to use the input connection method or the output connection method as the connection method between the function block on the sender side and the function block on the receiver side based on this priority connection definition table Since the control program is converted based on the determination result, the control program created by the FB editor 1000 can be converted into a control program that can be read by the RT editor. In addition, the block type, parameter name, and the like are also converted as appropriate. Therefore, the control program can be downloaded through the RT editor even for a system that supports only the control program created by the RT editor.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control program creation converter according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
The control program creation converter 1a of the present embodiment converts the control program created by the RT editor into a control program that can be read by the FB editor 1000. The control program creation converter 1a includes a control program reading unit 2a that reads a control program created by the RT editor, and a control program that converts the control program read by the control program reading unit 2a into a control program that can be read by the FB editor 1000. It has the conversion part 3a, the control program output part 4a which outputs the control program which the control program conversion part 3a converted to the FB editor 1000, the memory | storage part 5a, the input part 6, and the display part 7a.

  The control program conversion unit 3a includes a block type conversion unit 30a that converts the block type of the control program, a parameter conversion unit 31a that converts the parameters of the control program, and a function block on the sender side in the control program created by the RT editor. Based on the determination result of the input / output connection method determination unit 32a and the input / output connection method determination unit 32a for determining whether the input connection method or the output connection method is used for the connection between the receiver and the functional block on the receiver side And an input / output connection setting unit 33a for converting the input / output connection method of the control program.

  The storage unit 5 stores a program 50a for realizing various functional means such as a control program reading unit 2a, a control program conversion unit 3a, and a control program output unit 4a, a block type conversion table 51a, and a parameter conversion table 52a. ing.

  In order to convert the block type, the block type in the description format of the FB editor may be searched using the block type in the description format of the RT editor as a key. Therefore, the configuration of the block type conversion table 51 a may be the same as that of the block type conversion table 51.

  FIG. 12 shows the configuration of the parameter conversion table 52a. As shown in FIG. 12, the parameter conversion table 52a associates the block type 523 used in the RT editor, the parameter 524, and the parameter 525 used in the FB editor, and the correspondence between the parameters 524 and 525. Is defined for each block type used in the RT editor.

Next, the operation of the control program creation converter 1a will be described. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control program creation converter 1a.
First, the control program reading unit 2a reads the control program selected by the user from the control programs created by the RT editor, and stores this control program in the storage unit 5a (step S20 in FIG. 13).

  Subsequently, the block type conversion unit 30a of the control program conversion unit 3a refers to the block type conversion table 51a, and describes the RT editor description format for all block types described in the control program stored in the storage unit 5a. The block type is converted to the block type in the description format of the FB editor (step S21).

  The parameter conversion unit 31a of the control program conversion unit 3a refers to the parameter conversion table 52a, and sets the parameters in the RT editor description format for all parameters described in the control program stored in the storage unit 5a. Conversion into parameters in the description format (step S22).

  The input / output connection method determination unit 32a of the control program conversion unit 3a performs connection between the function block on the sender side and the function block on the receiver side in the control program after the block type and parameters are converted in steps S21 and S22. It is determined whether the input connection method is used (step S23).

  When it is determined that the input connection method is used, the input / output connection setting unit 33a uses the input connection method as it is to connect information between the function block on the sender side and the function block on the receiver side (in the FB editor). Link data) is set (step S24).

  Further, when it is determined that the output connection method is used, the input / output connection setting unit 33a converts the output connection method into the input connection method, and connects the functional block on the sender side and the functional block on the receiver side. Information is set (step S25). Further, the input / output connection setting unit 33a, when there is a connection that is implicitly defined as the connection 303 in FIG. 9B regarding the functional block using the output connection method, Setting is made by the input connection method (step S26).

The input / output connection method determination unit 32a and the input / output connection setting unit 33a perform the processing of steps S23 to S26 for each set of the sender side functional block and the receiver side functional block described in the control program.
When all connection settings are completed (YES in step S27), the conversion of the control program ends.

  The control program output unit 4a outputs the converted control program stored in the storage unit 5a to the FB editor 1000 in accordance with an instruction from the user who operates the input unit 6a (step S28). Thus, the process of the control program creation converter 1a is completed. In the above example, the FB editor has been described as assuming that the normal connection method is the input connection method. However, a design that changes the link connection specification and adopts another connection form is also conceivable. It goes without saying that it belongs to the range.

  As described above, since both the input connection and the output connection are used in the conventional RT editor, in this embodiment, the function block on the sender side and the function on the receiver side in the program created by the RT editor are used. Since it is determined whether the input connection method or the output connection method is used for the connection between the blocks, and the control program is converted based on this determination result, the control program created by the RT editor is It can be converted into a control program that can be read by the FB editor. In addition, the block type, parameter name, and the like are also converted as appropriate. Therefore, for example, a new program can be created by editing a control program created by the RT editor with the FB editor.

  Note that the FB editor, the control program creation converters 1 and 1a, and the RT editor of the first and second embodiments are respectively a computer having a CPU, a storage device, and an external interface, and hardware thereof. It can be realized by a program for controlling resources. In these computers, a program for realizing the control program conversion method of the present invention is provided in a state of being recorded on a recording medium such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or a memory card. The CPU writes the program read from the recording medium to the storage device, and executes the processes described in the first and second embodiments according to the program.

  In the first and second embodiments, the control program creation converters 1 and 1a are described as separate from the FB editor and the RT editor. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the control program creation converter 1 is not limited thereto. , 1a may be provided on the same computer as the FB editor or RT editor.

  The present invention can be applied to a technique for converting a control program using functional blocks of a control device.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control program creation apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the outline of control program creation by the control program creation apparatus of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control program creation apparatus of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control program creation converter which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the block type conversion table in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the parameter conversion table in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the priority connection definition table in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control program creation converter which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically the example of the control program created with the control program creation apparatus of FIG. 1, and the control program after conversion. It is a figure which shows typically the other example of the control program created with the control program creation apparatus of FIG. 1, and the control program after conversion. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control program creation converter which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the parameter conversion table in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control program creation converter which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1a ... Control program creation converter, 2, 2a ... Control program reading part, 3, 3a ... Control program conversion part, 4, 4a ... Control program output part, 5, 5a ... Storage part, 6, 6a ... Input part, 7, 7a ... display unit, 30, 30a ... block type conversion unit, 31, 31a ... parameter conversion unit, 32, 32a ... input / output connection method determination unit, 33, 33a ... input / output connection setting unit, 50, 50a ... program , 51, 51a ... Block type conversion table, 52, 52a ... Parameter conversion table, 53 ... Priority connection definition table.

Claims (7)

In a control program creation converter for converting a first control program created by combining the functional blocks by regarding the function of the control device as a functional block, to another second control program using the functional block,
The first control program in which the connection between the function block on the sender side and the function block on the receiver side is defined by the input connection method that defines the function block on the sender side and output parameters as connection information on the function block on the receiver side A control program reading means for reading
An output connection method that defines a function block on the receiver side and input parameters as connection information of a function block on the sender side is used for a predetermined part of the connection and the input connection method is used for the other part. A priority connection definition table in which functional blocks and parameters to be used with priority on the output connection method are defined in the conversion to the control program of 2;
Input / output connection method determination that determines whether to use the input connection method or the output connection method as a connection method between the sender-side functional block and the receiver-side functional block based on this priority connection definition table Means,
A control program creation converter comprising control program conversion means for converting the first control program into the second control program based on the determination result of the input / output connection method determination means. The control program creation converter according to claim 1,
The control program conversion means uses the input connection method at a location determined to prioritize the input connection method among the connections, and uses the output connection method at a location determined to prioritize the output connection method. A control program creation converter characterized by that. In a control program creation converter for converting a first control program created by combining the functional blocks by regarding the function of the control device as a functional block, to another second control program using the functional block,
As the connection information of the sender-side functional block, the output-side connection method that defines the receiver-side functional block and the input parameters is used for a predetermined part of the connection between the sender-side functional block and the receiver-side functional block. A control program reading means for reading the first control program using an input connection method for defining a function block on the sender side and output parameters as connection information on the function block on the receiver side in other locations;
In the conversion to the second control program in which the connection between the functional block on the sender side and the functional block on the receiver side is defined by the input connection method, the input connection method is included in the connection in the first control program. An input / output connection method determination means for determining whether the output connection method is used, or
A control program creation converter comprising control program conversion means for converting the first control program into the second control program based on the determination result of the input / output connection method determination means. In the control program creation converter according to claim 3,
The control program conversion means converts the portion of the connection that is determined to use the output connection method to the input connection method. In the control program conversion method for converting the first control program created by combining the functional blocks by regarding the function of the control device as a functional block, into another second control program using the functional block,
The first control program in which the connection between the function block on the sender side and the function block on the receiver side is defined by the input connection method that defines the function block on the sender side and output parameters as connection information on the function block on the receiver side A control program reading step for reading
An output connection method that defines a function block on the receiver side and input parameters as connection information of a function block on the sender side is used for a predetermined part of the connection and the input connection method is used for the other part. 2 is referred to the priority connection definition table in which the function blocks and parameters to be used with priority given to the output connection method are referred to, and between the function block on the sender side and the function block on the receiver side. An input / output connection method determination step for determining whether to use the input connection method or the output connection method as a connection method;
A control program conversion method comprising: a control program conversion step for converting the first control program into the second control program based on the determination result of the input / output connection method determination step. In the control program conversion method for converting the first control program created by combining the functional blocks by regarding the function of the control device as a functional block, into another second control program using the functional block,
As the connection information of the sender-side functional block, the output-side connection method that defines the receiver-side functional block and the input parameters is used for a predetermined part of the connection between the sender-side functional block and the receiver-side functional block. A control program reading step for reading the first control program using an input connection method for defining a function block on the sender side and output parameters as connection information on the function block on the receiver side in other locations;
In the conversion to the second control program in which the connection between the functional block on the sender side and the functional block on the receiver side is defined by the input connection method, the input connection method is included in the connection in the first control program. An input / output connection method determination step for determining whether the output connection method is being used, or
A control program conversion method comprising: a control program conversion step for converting the first control program into the second control program based on the determination result of the input / output connection method determination step. In a control program creation converter for converting a first control program created by combining the functional blocks by taking the functions of the control device as functional blocks, and converting them into another second control program using the functional blocks,
A block type name conversion means that is an algorithm embedded in a functional block;
Parameter name conversion means for input / output ports that connect functional blocks,
Conversion means for adding or deleting the link so that the connection method of the link indicating the connection between the functional blocks is adapted from the connection method of the first control program to the connection method of the second control program;
A definition table for conversion referred to by these conversion means, and
A control program creation converter comprising:

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