Data display/input method for CNC apparatuses used as online terminals

• US 6,338,003 B1
• Filed: 11/13/1997
• Issued: 01/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fanuc Ltd (Fanuc Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fanuc Ltd (Fanuc Corporation)
• Inventors: Horiuchi, Atsushi, Kashiwagi, Issei, Ookuma, Chikara, Kamiguchi, Masao
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bahta, Kidest
• Application Number:
  US08/952,407
• Time in Patent Office: 1,517 Days
• Field of Search: 700/169, 700/170, 700/174, 700/175, 700/177, 700/180, 700/182, 700/83, 340/825.06, 318/578
• US Class Current: 700/169
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/409 characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31145 Ethernet
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31422 Upload, download programs, parameters from, to station to, from server
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31448 Display at central computer, slave displays for each machine unit
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35324 Two, more pictures separated on screen, display
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35481 Display, panel
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36163 Local as well as remote control panel
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36165 Common program panel for host and cnc, at cnc place, for data from host, cnc
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

A data display/input method for a CNC apparatus without necessity of using a personal computer which has been served as a relaying device between the CNC apparatus and a host computer and also as a display device, and also capable of constructing an FA network system at low cost. A display screen of the CNC apparatus is split into first and second display areas so that information transferred from the host computer to the CNC apparatus is displayed in the first display area while information inputted to the CNC apparatus by the operator is displayed in the second display area. Display attributes in the CNC apparatus are switched in accordance with display attributes specified by the information transferred to the CNC apparatus from the host computer, whereby restrictions on a data display of the CNC apparatus are removed, permitting text data and graphic data to be displayed.

Claims

1. A data display/input method for a CNC apparatus in a factory automation system having a network connecting a host computer and the CNC apparatus to each other, comprising:

transmitting display contents and input/output information, created in the host computer, from the host computer to the CNC apparatus as a terminal equipment of the network, the input/output information comprising display attributes and formats associated with the display contents;

displaying the display contents on a screen of a display/input device of the CNC apparatus, in accordance with the input/output information provided by the host computer; and

displaying data manually input to the CNC apparatus on the same screen of the display/input device on which the display contents are displayed according to the format provided by the host computer.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting the data manually input to the CNC apparatus to the host computer.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the input/output information comprises information of a display area, a display position, display colors, a control of the screen of the display/input device of the CNC apparatus, and a display position and a format of data manually input to the CNC apparatus.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the input/output information comprises specifications of contents and functions of function keys to be displayed on the screen of the display/input device of the CNC apparatus.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the display contents comprise character information and graphic information, and said displaying the display contents comprises decoding the character information and the graphic information and displaying the decoded information on the screen of the display/input device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting display contents comprises transmitting the display contents page by page.

7. The method according to claim, 2, wherein said transmitting the data manually input comprises transmitting the data manually input to the CNC apparatus page by page.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein a frame for displaying the display contents and a frame for displaying information on a program subject to control of the CNC apparatus and a current position of a servomotor connected to the CNC apparatus are selectively switchable by means of soft keys of the display/input device.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the display contents comprising emergency information and the input/output information comprising a code for changing a display color of the emergency information to be displayed on the screen of the display/input device of the CNC apparatus; and

said displaying the display contents on the screen of the display/input device in accordance with the input/output information comprises changing the display in accordance with an operating status of the CNC apparatus.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

splitting a display screen of the CNC apparatus into first and second display areas, wherein the data transferred from the host computer to the CNC apparatus is displayed in the first display area while the data manually input to the CNC apparatus is displayed in the second display area.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

splitting a display screen of the CNC apparatus into first and second display areas; and

displaying the data created in, and transferred from, the host computer to the CNC apparatus in the first display area and displaying the data manually input to the CNC apparatus in the second display area.

12. A data display/input method for a CNC apparatus in a factory automation system having a network connecting a host computer and the CNC apparatus to each other, comprising:

monitoring a status of the CNC apparatus as a terminal equipment of the network within the CNC apparatus; and

simultaneously transmitting data indicating at least two kinds of statuses of the CNC apparatus from the CNC apparatus to the host computer, the simultaneously transmitted data comprising a program number which the CNC apparatus currently recognizes, a current position of a servomotor connected to the CNC apparatus, information of commands issued from the CNC apparatus, information of a cutting load on the servomotor or a spindle motor, and information of an alarm and time of the transmission,

wherein said monitoring a status comprises monitoring the statuses of the CNC apparatus at every predetermined period, and said simultaneously transmitting data comprises transmitting the information monitored to the host computer within the predetermined period.

13. A data display/input method for a CNC apparatus in a factory automation system having a network connecting a host computer and the CNC apparatus to each other, comprising:

monitoring a status of the CNC apparatus as a terminal equipment of the network within the CNC apparatus; and

simultaneously transmitting data indicating at least two kinds of statuses of the CNC apparatus from the CNC apparatus to the host computer, the simultaneously transmitted data comprising a program number which the CNC apparatus currently recognizes, a current position of a servomotor connected to the CNC apparatus, information of commands issued from the CNC apparatus, information of a cutting load on the servomotor or a spindle motor, and information of an alarm and time of the transmission,

wherein said monitoring a status comprises monitoring the statuses of the CNC apparatus at every predetermined period, and said simultaneously transmitting data comprises storing the information monitored for a plurality of predetermined periods and transmitting the information monitored to the host computer in response to a request from the host computer.