System for designing visual information to be displayed on monitor unit used in combination with programmable controller
First Claim
1. A system for designing visual information reproduced on a monitor unit utilized in combination with a programmable logic controller (PLC), said system comprising:
- an image design tool operating on a personal computer equipped with a first display; and
said monitor unit connected to said PLC which executes a program for controlling an operation of a device coupled to said PLC, said monitor unit including a second display which is different from said first display, a memory, and a control section for controlling the operation of said monitor unit;
said second display giving thereon task information to be performed by the device managed by the PLC, and including a touch screen for entry of a specific instruction to be carried out by the PLC for control of said device,said image design tool creating a source display code for displaying said visual information on said second display,said image design tool being provided with a conversion means for translating said source display code into a corresponding bitmapped image and exporting said bitmapped image to said memory of said monitor unit for immediate reproduction of said visual information on said second display,said image design tool having means for drawing, on said first display, a plurality of rectangular frames to be included in said visual information, each rectangular frame being written in said source display code which is translated by said conversion means into said bitmapped image which is exported to said memory in said monitor unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for designing visual information on a monitor unit which enables the use of the monitor unit manufactured at a reduced cost but assures rapid reproduction of the intended visual information. The monitor unit is utilized in combination with a programmable logic controller (PLC) for monitoring a task to be performed by I/O devices managed by the PLC. The monitor unit includes a display, a controller section, and a memory. The system includes an image design tool operating on a personal computer for creating a source display code of the visual information to be reproduced on the display. The image design tool has a conversion means which translates the source display code into a corresponding bitmapped image and exports the bitmapped image to the monitor unit for immediate reproduction of the visual information on the display. Consequently, the monitor unit can be dispensed with a costly component of translating the source image code into the bitmapped image, yet effecting rapid reproduction of the visual information on the display directly from the bitmapped image transferred from the image design tool.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A system for designing visual information reproduced on a monitor unit utilized in combination with a programmable logic controller (PLC), said system comprising:
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an image design tool operating on a personal computer equipped with a first display; and said monitor unit connected to said PLC which executes a program for controlling an operation of a device coupled to said PLC, said monitor unit including a second display which is different from said first display, a memory, and a control section for controlling the operation of said monitor unit; said second display giving thereon task information to be performed by the device managed by the PLC, and including a touch screen for entry of a specific instruction to be carried out by the PLC for control of said device, said image design tool creating a source display code for displaying said visual information on said second display, said image design tool being provided with a conversion means for translating said source display code into a corresponding bitmapped image and exporting said bitmapped image to said memory of said monitor unit for immediate reproduction of said visual information on said second display, said image design tool having means for drawing, on said first display, a plurality of rectangular frames to be included in said visual information, each rectangular frame being written in said source display code which is translated by said conversion means into said bitmapped image which is exported to said memory in said monitor unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification