Programming programmable logic controllers using exertion influence in establishing matrix parameters

• US 8,694,135 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2011
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sick AG (Sick)
• Original Assignee: Sick AG (Sick)
• Inventors: Koepcke, Oliver, Weddingfeld, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Booker, Kelvin
• Application Number:
  US13/050,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20110230983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 700/86
• US Class Current: 700/86
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/425 Teaching successive positions by numerical control, i.e. commands being entered to control the positioning servo of the tool head or end effector
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23008 Computer aided software engineering, program generation, case tools, CASE
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23258 GUI graphical user interface, icon, function bloc editor, labview
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23291 Process, graphic programming of a process, text and images

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for the generation of a program for a programmable logic controller having a programming input unit for the selection and compilation of a plurality of symbols, a generation unit for the generation of a program code for the programmable logic controller from an arrangement of symbols compiled at the display unit of the programming input unit. In accordance with the invention an investigation unit for investigating the resulting possible influences of input signals of the programmable logic controller, onto output signals of the programmable logic controller at the actuator outputs from the arrangement of symbols generated by the program code or compiled at the display unit of the programming input unit is provided. In accordance with the invention an implementing unit for implementing the possible exertion of influence in a matrix and a display unit for the display of the matrix are also provided. The invention further relates to a programming device for a programmable logic controller having such an apparatus for the generation of a program, a corresponding method for programming a programmable logic controller and a corresponding computer program product.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the generation of a program for a programmable logic controller having a plurality of inputs and outputs and comprising:

a programming input unit having a display unit (10) for the selection and compilation of a plurality of symbols, which includes symbols for at least;

(i) transmitter inputs via which input signals from transmitters can be delivered to the programmable logic controller,

(ii) actuator outputs via which output signals can be delivered from the programmable logic controller to the actuators,

(iii) predefined program modules, and

(iv) signal connection paths;

a generation unit for the generation of a program code for the programmable logic controller from a compiled arrangement of symbols at the display unit (10) of the programming input unit,

an investigation unit for investigating the possible exertion of influences of input signals, which are delivered from the transmitter inputs (G1, G2, G3, G4, G5) to the programmable logic controller, on output signals, which are delivered by the programmable logic controller at the actuator outputs (A1, A2, A3), resulting from the generated program code or from the arrangement of symbols compiled at the display unit (10) of the programming input unit, wherein the exertion of influence specifies which input signals into the programmable logic controller can have an influence, in accordance with the program code or the arrangement of symbols compiled at the display unit (10), on which output signals of the programmable logic controller;

an implementing unit for implementing the possible exertion of influence in a matrix; and

a display unit for the display of the matrix (18) comprising an output unit.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein it is an apparatus for the generation of a program for a memory programmable safety controller.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the transmitter inputs (G1, G2, G3, G4, G5) and the actuator outputs (A1, A2, A3) are displayed at the display unit (10) of the program input unit and/or are indicated to the display unit for the display of the matrix (18) by symbols for the transmitters and actuators.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the programming input unit is configured such that the selection and compilation of the symbols can be carried by means of a drag and drop process.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein a first selector for the formation of a selection of the actuator outputs (A1, A2, A3) to be displayed in the matrix and/or a second selector for the formation of a selection of transmitter inputs (G1, G2, G3, G4, G5) to be displayed in the matrix is/are provided.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the display unit of the programming input unit and the display unit for the display of the matrix include a common display (10).

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the display unit (10) for the display of the matrix (18) further comprises a printer.

8. A programming device for a programmable logic controller having an apparatus for the generation of a program comprising:

a programming input unit having a display unit (10) for the selection and compilation of a plurality of symbols, which includes symbols for at least transmitter inputs, actuator outputs, predefined program modules and signal connection paths;

a generation unit for the generation of a program code for the programmable logic controller from a compiled arrangement of symbols at the display unit (10) of the programming input unit;

an investigation unit for investigating the possible exertion of influences of input signals, which are delivered from the transmitter inputs (G1, G2, G3, G4, G5) to the programmable logic controller, on output signals, which are delivered by the programmable logic controller at the actuator outputs (A1, A2, A3), resulting from the generated program code or from the arrangement of symbols compiled at the display unit (10) of the programming input unit, wherein the exertion of influence specifies which input signals into the programmable logic controller can have an influence, in accordance with the program code or the arrangement of symbols compiled at the display unit (10), on which output signals of the programmable logic controller;

an implementing unit for implementing the possible exertion of influence in a matrix and

a display unit for the display of the matrix (18) comprising an output unit; and

said programming device further comprises an interface for the connection of the programmable logic controller to be programmed and for the transfer of the generated program code to the programmable logic controller.

9. A method for programming a programmable logic controller having the following steps:

selection and compilation of symbols at a display unit (10) of a programming input unit which includes symbols in accordance with a desired programming at least for;

(i) transmitter inputs via which input signals of transmitters are delivered to a programmable logic controller,

(ii) actuator outputs via which the output signals are delivered from the memory programmable logic to the actuators,

(iii) predefined program modules and

(iv) signal connection paths;

generation of a program code for the programmable logic controller from the compiled arrangement of symbols at the display unit (10) of the program input unit; and

transfer of the program code to a programmable logic controller,

wherein

the possible exertion of influences of input signals, which are delivered from the transmitter inputs (G1, G2, G3, G4, G5) to the programmable logic controller, on output signals, which are delivered from the programmable logic controller to the actuator outputs (A1, A2, A3), resulting from the generated program code or from the arrangement of symbols compiled with the program code or at the display of the program input unit (10) are determined, displayed and output in the form of a matrix (18), wherein the exertion of influence specifies which input signals of the programmable logic controller can have what influence, in accordance with the program code or the arrangement of symbols compiled with at the display unit (10), on which output signals of the programmable logic controller.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9, wherein it is a method for programming a memory programmable safety controller.

11. A method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the transmitter inputs (G1, G2, G3, G4, G5) and the actuator outputs (A1, A2, A3) are displayed at the display unit (10) of the programming input unit and/or the display unit for the display of the matrix by symbols for the transmitters and actuators.

12. A method in accordance with claim 9, wherein only selected transmitter inputs (G1, G2, G3, G4, G5) are displayed in the matrix (10) and/or only selected actuator outputs (A1, A2, A3) are displayed in the matrix (18).

13. A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the transmitter inputs, which are displayed in the matrix, are selected in accordance with whether safety relevant signals are transferred via said transmitter inputs to the memory programmable safety controller to be programmed.

14. A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the actuator outputs, which are displayed in the matrix, are selected in accordance with whether safety relevant signals are transferred via said actuator outputs from the memory programmable safety controller to be programmed.