Patent EP0531435B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0531435B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Graphical programming interface for machine/process controllers
Assignee: Allen Bradley Co LLC
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Filing: 1991-05-23
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Granted: 1996-08-28
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Expires: 2011-05-23
Abstract
Abstract A programming computer (10) is employed to construct programs in high-level graphical languages prior to compilation and transfer via file (11) to controllers (21, 31, 32) for industrial or commercial equipment (19, 20). A process editor (Figs. 5-19), a hardware editor (Figs. 20-31) and a program editor (Figs. 32-43) are activated and user inputs are made to define both process and hardware I/O points (Figs. 16-19) and to link them to variables in a controller program (Fig. 35). Each editor task has a tree graph window (43), a graph editing window (33), and a palette (45) with rotating panels (45a, 45b) of graphical editing tools (89). The hardware editor (Figs. 20-31) displays two-layered icons (145, 150 in Figs. 25-29) to graphically simulate the controller hardware. Languages for the controller program (175, 176 in Fig. 33) include function block (Fig. 38), sequential function chart (Fig. 42) and ladder diagram (Fig. 43).
Inventors
- 👤 William G. Onarheim
- 👤 Horace Dudley
- 👤 Barbara E. Meyer
- 👤 Michael J. Viste
- 👤 David J. Morley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 03:48
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/05; G05B19/056; G05B19/042; G05B19/0426; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/20; G05B2219/23; G05B2219/23002; G05B2219/23157; G05B2219/23255; G05B2219/23258; G05B2219/23273; G05B2219/23291
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
445 words
A method of constructing a graphical representation of a controller program in preparation for conversion of the controller program into a form for execution by a controller, the method comprising: activating several graphical editing tasks (Fig. 2) for display of objects (39, 39a) on a screen of the programming computer (10), wherein each graphical editing task controls display of objects in an editing window (33) that occupies a portion of the screen; characterized by: during activation of a process graphical editing task (61, 64 - 67 in Fig. 3b), in response to a plurality of user inputs, constructing in the editing window (33) a graph (Fig 5, 7 and 10) of an industrial or commercial process to be controlled by one or more controllers, and visually representing a plurality of input signals and output signals (Fig. 11 - 15) for the industrial or commercial process, said process input and output signals, which are to be monitored and controlled are provided with identifications or tags (Fig 11 - 15) and are listed in groups (127 - 130 in Fig. 16 - 19) for easier matching with the controller hardware; during activation of a hardware graphical editing task (62, 68 - 73 in Fig. 3 b), used to diagram the configuration of the controller hardware, making one or more user inputs for visually associating the visual representations of the input signals and output signals (Fig. 30) from the process graphical editing task with a visual representation (Fig. 29) for controller hardware to be programmed to control the industrial or commercial process by moving (169, 170 in Fig. 31) the identifications or tags to graphic positions for inputs and outputs for the controller hardware, which inputs and outputs are identified by respective system I/O addresses (171 in Fig. 31); during activation of a program graphical editing task (63, 74 - 79 in Fig 3b) used to diagram one or more programs (Fig. 32, 33) for processor units in the controller hardware, making one or more user inputs to visually associate the visual representations of the input signals and output signals (Fig. 30) from the process graphical editing task with visual representations for input and output program variables (185 in Fig. 35, 36) in a program for the controller hardware by visually connecting (Fig. 35 - 39) the process and hardware inputs and outputs by their identifications or tags to the input and output variables in the controller program; and compiling (229 in Fig. 34) the resulting graphical processor program into an operational program for a controller processor, wherein, when the program is compiled, the program variables are linked to hardware inputs and outputs at their system I/O addresses.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 1, wherein, in response to further user inputs, visual representations of a group (192 in Fig. 37) of hardware inputs and outputs associated with the controller hardware are connected to visual representations for the input and output program variables (185 in Fig. 37) in the program for the controller hardware.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the inputs and outputs for the controller hardware are identified (148 in Fig. 25) by respective system I/O addresses (171); and the visual representations of the input and output program variables (185) are associated with the inputs and outputs (192) for the controller hardware at their respective system I/O addresses.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
72 words
The method of anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the input signals and output signals to be monitored and controlled are identified with alphanumeric names (Fig. 11 - 15); and wherein the input signals and output signals to be monitored and controlled are visually associated with the inputs and outputs for the controller hardware by moving (Fig. 31) the alphanumeric names to graphic positions for inputs and outputs for the controller hardware.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the input and output program variables (185) in the controller program are visually connected (Fig. 37) to the alphanumeric names for the inputs and outputs (192) for the controller hardware.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
153 words
The method of anyone of the preceding claims, wherein: activating the process graphical editing task to direct display of a tree graph window (43) and a graph editing window (33) concurrently on the screen of the programming computer (10); during the process graphical editing task, storing in the memory of the programming computer (10) a plurality of graphs (38) for viewing in the graph editing window (33); during the process graphical editing task, directing display of a tree graph (50) in the tree graph window (43) with branches of the tree graph showing a hierarchical relationship of the plurality of graphs for viewing in the graph editing window; and during the process graphical editing task, operating a user input device on the programming computer (10) to select a particular branch of the tree graph (50) to display a selected graph in the graph editing window (33) on the screen of the programming computer.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
107 words
The method of anyone of the preceding claims, wherein: the process graphical editing task directs display of an editing window (45) that occupies a portion of the screen; and wherein the process graphical editing task directs display of a first palette panel (45a) with a plurality of selectable functions of the type for adding objects in the editing window (45) and wherein the process graphical editing task directs display of a second palette panel (45b, 45d) with a plurality of selectable functions of the type for adding inputs and outputs on the objects (98 - 101) with inputs and outputs (95, 96) in the editing window (33).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the process graphical editing task includes and displays a third third palette panel (45c, 45f) with a plurality of selectable locations for objects (102 - 107) selected with the first palette panel (45a); and comprising the step of making selections on the third palette panel (45c, 45f) to display objects with specific locations in the editing window (33).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 7 or 8, wherein the process graphical editing task includes and displays a fourth palette panel (45e) with a plurality of selectable electrical functions for inputs and outputs selected with the second palette panel (45b, 45d); and comprising the step of making selections on the fourth palette panel (45e) to display objects with specific electrical functions in the editing window (33).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the process graphical editing task includes and displays as part of the first and second palette panels (45a; 45b, 45d) a pair of oppositely pointing scrolling arrows (86, 87), and comprising the step of selecting one of the scrolling arrows (86, 87) to display one of the first and second palette panels and hide the other one of the first and second palette panels from display.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
122 words
The method of anyone of the preceding claims, wherein: during activation of the hardware graphical editing task and in response to a first plurality of user inputs, the step of displaying a graphical image of an electronic controller chassis (145) on the screen, wherein the graphical image has portions (139) corresponding to respective positions for I/O modules; and in response to a second plurality of user inputs, the step of displaying of a graphical image of an I/O module (150) on the screen and superimposing (Fig. 25 - 29) said graphical image of the I/O module (150) on said graphical image of the electronic controller chassis (145) to simulate positioning of an I/O module (150) in an actual electronic controller chassis (145).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
101 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the first plurality of user inputs is further comprised of: positioning a cursor over a palette (136) of selections to select one of a plurality of electronic controller chassis (140, 141); operating one or more buttons on the user input device to select a particular controller chassis (145) for display on the screen; positioning the cursor over the display of the particular controller chassis (145); and operating one or more buttons on the input device to display a second image of the electronic controller chassis which includes portions (139) identifying respective positions for I/O modules.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein the second plurality of user inputs is further comprised of: operating the user input device to open a menu (148) that includes a command (151) to add an I/O module; and operating the user input device to select the command (151) to add an I/O module (150) in the location with the lowest available I/O module address in the electronic controller chassis (145).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 11, further comprising the step, in response to further user inputs, of displaying multiple menus (152, 153, 155), one menu (152) having options for defining the I/O module as including inputs or outputs, another menu (153) having options for the voltage level of such inputs or outputs, and another menu (155) having options for selecting a specific I/O module according to the options selected from the first and second menus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
466 words
A programming computer for constructing a graphical representation of a controller program, for conversion of the controller program into a form for execution by a controller, the programming computer comprising: means (13 - 18) for activating several graphical editors (Fig. 2), wherein each graphical editor controls display of objects (39, 39a) in an editing window (33) that occupies a portion of a screen of the programming computer (10); characterized by: means (13 - 18) responsive to a plurality of user inputs, during the operation of a process graphical editor (61,64 - 67 in Fig. 3b), for constructing in the editing window (33) a graph (Fig. 5, 7 and 10) of an industrial or commercial process to be controlled by one or more controllers, for visually representing a plurality of input signals and a plurality of output signals (Fig. 11 - 15) for the industrial or commercial process, and for providing said process input and output signals, which are to be monitored and controlled, with identifications or tags (Fig. 11 - 15) and listing said process input and output signals in groups (127 - 130 in Fig. 16 - 19) for easier matching with the controller hardware; means (13 - 18) responsive to one or more user inputs during operation of a hardware graphical editor, (62, 68 - 73 in Fig. 3b) used to diagram the configuration of the controller hardware, for visually associating the visual representations of the input signals and the output signals (Fig. 30) from the process graphical editor with a visual representation (Fig. 29) for the controller hardware to be programmed to control the industrial or commercial process and for moving (169, 170 in Fig. 31) the identifications or tags to graphic positions for inputs and outputs for the controller hardware, which inputs and outputs are identified by respective system I/O addresses (171 in Fig. 31); means (13 - 18) responsive to one or more user inputs during operation of a program graphical editor, (63, 74 - 79 in Fig. 3b) used to diagram one or more programs (Fig. 32, 33) for processor units in the controller hardware, for visually associating the visual representations of the input signals and output signals (Fig. 30) from the process graphical editor with visual representations for input and output program variables (185 in Fig. 35, 36) in a program for the controller hardware by visually connecting (Fig. 35 - 39) the process and hardware inputs and outputs by their identifications or tags to the input and output variables in the controller program; and means (13 - 18) for compiling (229 in Fig. 34) the resulting graphical processor program into an operational program for a controller processor, wherein when the program is compiled, the program variables are linked to hardware inputs and outputs at their system I/O addresses.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
The programming computer of claim 15, further comprising means (13 - 18) for connecting visual representations of a group (192 in Fig. 37) of hardware inputs and outputs associated with the controller hardware to visual representations for the input and output program variables (185 in Fig. 37) in the program for the controller hardware.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
71 words
The programming computer of claim 15 or 16, further comprising: means (13 - 18) for identifying (148 in Fig. 25; 163, 164 in Fig. 29) the inputs and outputs for the controller hardware by respective system I/O addresses (171 in Fig. 31); and means for linking (Fig. 37) the input and output program variables (185) with the inputs and outputs (192) for the controller hardware at their respective system I/O addresses.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
68 words
The programming computer of anyone of the claims 15 to 17, further comprising: means (13 - 18) for identifying (Fig. 11 - 15) the input signals and output signals to be monitored with alphanumeric names; and means (13 - 18) for visually associating the process input signals and output signals by moving (Fig. 31) the alphanumeric names to graphic positions for inputs and outputs for the controller hardware.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
The programming computer of claim 18, further comprising means (13 - 18) for visually associating the input and output program variables (185) in the controller program with the alphanumeric names for the inputs and outputs (192) for the controller hardware.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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