Status display device and screen creation device

The status display device simplifies the configuration for determining fluid presence and flow by focusing on direct connections and automatic input/output setting, addressing complexity in existing systems.

JP7763098B2Active Publication Date: 2025-10-31SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC JAPAN HLDG LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2021213345
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2021-12-27
Publication Date
2025-10-31
Estimated Expiration
2041-12-27

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The configuration for determining the piping status in existing piping status display devices becomes complicated when there are many devices in a system due to the exponential increase in conditions for determining the piping status.

Method used

A status display device that simplifies the configuration by displaying the connection relationship between fluid control and fluid flow components, determining the presence state based on direct connections, and automatically setting input/output information without human intervention.

Benefits of technology

Simplifies the configuration for determining the presence state of fluid inside fluid flow components and allows users to visually confirm fluid flow, reducing the complexity and effort required for determining and displaying fluid presence and flow.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

To simplify configuration for determining an existence status which is a status regarding existence of fluid inside a fluid distribution part.SOLUTION: A computer equipment (1) comprises: a display control unit (111) which displays a connection relation between a fluid control part and a fluid distribution part; a reference unit (112) which refers only to existence information of fluid on the output side of a connection part to which the fluid distribution part is directly connected; and a determination unit (113) which determines existence status of fluid inside the fluid distribution part based on only the existence information. The display control unit (111) displays on a screen the existence status determined by the determination unit (113).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1
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Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a status display device and a screen creation device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a piping status display device that includes an equipment status determination unit, a piping status determination unit, and a screen display editing unit, and that variably displays the status of a medium inside a plant piping based on process information. The equipment status determination unit determines the status of the equipment from the process information. The piping status determination unit determines the piping status from the process information and piping status determination information. The screen display editing unit edits and outputs display graphic information based on the piping status determination information and image information in a piping status display graphic file. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-187581 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the piping status display device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the piping status determination information used to determine the piping status refers to the status of devices indirectly connected to the piping to be determined. Therefore, in this piping status display device, when there are many devices in one system, the conditions for determining the piping status increase exponentially, which causes a problem in that the configuration for determining the piping status becomes complicated.

[0005] An object of one aspect of the present invention is to simplify the configuration for determining a presence state, which is a state related to the presence of a fluid inside a fluid flow component. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, a status display device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a display control unit that displays on a screen the connection relationship between a fluid control component, which is represented by an image as a fluid control device that controls the flow of a fluid, and a fluid flow component, which is represented by an image as a fluid flow member that circulates a fluid; a reference unit that references only presence information, which is information regarding the presence of fluid on the output side of another fluid flow component or a connecting component that is the fluid control component, to which the input side or input / output side of the fluid flow component is directly connected; and a determination unit that determines a presence state, which is a state regarding the presence of fluid inside the fluid flow component, based only on the presence information referenced by the reference unit; and the display control unit displays the presence state determined by the determination unit on the screen.

[0007] The determination unit determines the presence state, which is the state related to the presence of fluid inside the fluid flow component, from only the presence information, which is information related to the presence of fluid on the output side of the connection component to which the fluid flow component is directly connected. This allows the state display device to determine the presence state without referring to information related to the presence of fluid inside all the connection components to which the fluid flow component is indirectly connected via other components. This simplifies the configuration for determining the presence state.

[0008] The presence information may be the flow rate of the fluid on the output side of the connection part, and the presence state may be the flow rate of the fluid inside the fluid flow part, and the display control unit may change the display of the presence state displayed on the screen in accordance with changes in the flow rate of the fluid inside the fluid flow part determined by the determination unit.

[0009] The display control unit changes the display of the presence state displayed on the screen in accordance with changes in the flow rate of the fluid inside the fluid flow component, allowing the user to visually confirm the flow rate of the fluid inside the fluid flow component.

[0010] The determination unit may determine the existence state of the multiple fluid flow components that are connected to each other, and the display control unit may display on the screen how fluid flows through the multiple fluid flow components based on the existence state of the multiple fluid flow components determined by the determination unit.

[0011] The determining unit determines the presence state of each fluid flow component based on the presence information of the connecting components to which the fluid flow component is directly connected. This makes it possible to easily realize a configuration that allows a user to visually check how fluid flows through multiple fluid flow components.

[0012] A screen creation device according to one aspect of the present invention is a screen creation device that creates the screen displayed by the status display device, and may include a setting unit that sets input / output information indicating whether the fluid flow component is on the input side or output side for multiple connection parts that can be connected to the connection part and that the fluid flow component has, when the fluid flow component is directly connected to the output side or input side of the fluid control component in a drawing screen for creating the screen through user operation.

[0013] When a user directly connects a fluid flow component to a fluid control component on the drawing screen, the setting unit automatically sets the input / output information of the fluid flow component. Therefore, when a fluid flow component is directly connected to a fluid control component, the setting work of the input / output information of the fluid flow component is performed automatically without human intervention.

[0014] The setting unit may set the input / output information for the multiple connection parts of the fluid flow component when the fluid flow component is directly connected to another fluid flow component for which the input / output information is set on the drawing screen by user operation.

[0015] When a user directly connects a fluid flow component to another fluid flow component for which input / output information has been set on the drawing screen, the setting unit automatically sets the input / output information of the fluid flow component. Therefore, when a fluid flow component is directly connected to another fluid flow component, the setting of the input / output information of the fluid flow component is performed automatically without human intervention.

[0016] The connection parts include a first connection part, a second connection part, a third connection part, and a fourth connection part, and the fluid flow part has two of the connection parts, and when, by user operation on the drawing screen, one of the connection parts of the fluid flow part is directly connected to the output side of the first connection part and the input side of the second connection part, and the other of the connection parts of the fluid flow part is directly connected to the output side of the third connection part and the input side of the fourth connection part, the setting unit may set the one connection part and the other connection part to be the input / output side.

[0017] When both the input side of a connection part and the output side of another connection part are connected to one connection part and the other connection part of a fluid flow part, it is unclear whether the one connection part and the other connection part are the input side or the output side. In this case, the setting unit automatically sets the one connection part and the other connection part as the input / output side. Therefore, even when it is unclear whether the one connection part and the other connection part are the input side or the output side, the setting work for the one connection part and the other connection part is performed automatically without human intervention.

[0018] The screen creation device may further include a determination unit that determines whether only the input sides or only the output sides are connected between the plurality of fluid flow components for which the input / output information is set on the drawing screen in response to user operation, based on connection information indicating the connection between the fluid flow components, and a notification unit that notifies of the connection of only the input sides or only the output sides when the determination unit determines that only the input sides or only the output sides are connected between the plurality of fluid flow components.

[0019] When a user connects fluid flow components on the drawing screen, if only the input sides or only the output sides of the fluid flow components are connected, the user will be notified that only the input sides or only the output sides are connected, allowing the user to take appropriate action, such as reviewing the connections between the fluid flow components as necessary. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to simplify the configuration for determining the presence state, which is the state related to the presence of fluid inside the fluid flow component. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a computer device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is a diagram showing an example of a fluid control component and a fluid circulation component displayed on a display unit provided in the computer device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a diagram showing an example of a system diagram showing the connection relationships between fluid control components and fluid circulation components displayed on a display unit provided in the computer device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a process performed by a control unit included in the computer device shown in FIG. 1 to determine a display color for a fluid flow component. [Figure 5] 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a process in which a control unit determines a presence state of an output side of a connection part, among the processes shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a process performed by a control unit included in the computer device shown in FIG. 1 to display a video showing a state in which a liquid flows through a fluid flow component. [Figure 7] 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a moving image display process executed by a control unit among the processes shown in FIG. 6. [Figure 8]FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a computer device and a PC according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 9 is a diagram showing an example of a drawing screen displayed on a display unit included in the PC shown in FIG. 8. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 shows an example of a system diagram showing the connection relationship between fluid control components and fluid circulation components displayed on a display unit provided in the computer device shown in FIG. 1, and is a diagram for explaining the direction of fluid flowing through pipe components. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] [Embodiment 1] <Configuration of Computer Equipment 1> 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a computer device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The computer device 1 (status display device) is configured to operate as a Human Machine Interface (HMI) device by executing an HMI application program, and also to execute other application programs.

[0023] Examples of HMI devices include programmable displays that monitor and control control targets, or control systems such as SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition). HMI application programs are application programs that realize various functions performed by HMI devices, such as communicating with external devices, displaying data acquired from the external devices, and accepting operations by operators using input devices.

[0024] 1, computer equipment 1 includes a control unit 11, a display unit 12, a touch panel 13, a user memory 14, an interface unit 15, and an internal memory 16. Based on a screen file (described later), control unit 11 specifies an operation for displaying the state of a device 3 connected to a programmable logic controller (PLC) 2. Based on the screen file, control unit 11 also specifies an operation for controlling the state of device 3 in response to a user's operation on touch panel 13. Control unit 11 controls each unit of computer equipment 1.

[0025] The control unit 11 has a display control unit 111, a reference unit 112, a determination unit 113, a setting reception unit 114, and a storage control unit 115. The display control unit 111 controls the display of the display unit 12. The reference unit 112 references information stored in a device memory (not shown) and an internal memory 16 of the PLC 2 via the interface unit 15. The storage control unit 115 controls the storage of information in the internal memory 16 and the device memory. The determination unit 113 and the setting reception unit 114 will be described later.

[0026] The display unit 12 displays a screen based on a screen file, which is screen data in a file format created by the user, and also displays the status of the device 3. A screen file is created by combining multiple objects, each of which has processing specification information that specifies various processes related to display and operation, with multiple objects for which processing specification information is not set. The user memory 14 stores the screen file. The interface unit 15 is a communication unit that enables the computer device 1 to communicate with the PLC 2. The internal memory 16 temporarily stores information managed and / or transmitted within the computer device 1.

[0027] The PLC 2 is a control device that reads out the state of the device 3 at predetermined scan times in accordance with a sequence program created by the user and issues control instructions to the device 3. The device 3 is an input device such as an actuator, relay, or valve, or an output device such as a sensor or switch.

[0028] <Fluid control parts and fluid circulation parts> Fig. 2 is a diagram showing examples of fluid control components and fluid circulation components displayed on the display unit 12 of the computer device 1 shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 2, a tank component T0, a pump component P0, and a valve component VO are examples of fluid control components, and a pipe component Q0 is an example of a fluid circulation component.

[0029] The fluid control component is an image of a fluid control device that controls the flow of a fluid such as a liquid or gas, and the fluid distribution component is an image of a fluid distribution member that distributes a fluid. The fluid control device is a tank, pump, valve, or the like that is monitored by the computer device 1. The fluid distribution member is a pipe, or the like that is monitored by the computer device 1.

[0030] <About Tank Part T0> 2A and 2B are diagrams showing the tank component T0. The tank component T0 is a component that is connected to a fluid flow component. The tank component T0 has an input-side connection portion T1 and an output-side connection portion T2. ​​Hereinafter, the input-side connection portion refers to the connection portion on the side where the fluid flows in, and the output-side connection portion refers to the connection portion on the side where the fluid flows out.

[0031] Presence information regarding the presence of fluid in the tank part T0 is stored in a memory area identified by a device address in the device memory of the PLC 2. The presence information regarding the presence of fluid in the tank part T0 stored in the device memory is, for example, information regarding the storage amount or storage ratio of the fluid.

[0032] The display control unit 111 may display the presence or absence of fluid in the tank part T0 by the display color of the tank part T0. Furthermore, the display control unit 111 may display the amount or storage ratio of fluid stored in the tank part T0 by the display element T3 of the tank part T0, as shown in (A) and (B) of Figures 2. The display element T3 of (A) of Figure 2 indicates that the amount of fluid stored in the tank part T0 is zero, and the display element T3 of (B) of Figure 2 indicates that the amount of fluid stored in the tank part T0 is a predetermined amount that is not zero.

[0033] The properties of the tank part T0 are set in the screen file stored in the user memory 14. The properties of the tank part T0 are set so that the reference unit 112 references information on the amount or storage ratio of the fluid stored in the tank part T0 from the device memory. The PLC 2 stores in the device memory a numerical value indicating the position of the fluid level in the tank detected by a liquid level sensor provided in the tank. The reference unit 112 recognizes the amount or storage ratio of the fluid stored in the tank part T0 based on the numerical value stored in the device memory. Note that the amount of fluid stored in the tank can be measured by various methods, not limited to a liquid level sensor.

[0034] The determination unit 113 determines whether or not there is fluid in the output side connection unit T2 based on the amount or storage ratio of fluid stored in the tank component T0 referenced by the reference unit 112. The presence or absence of fluid in the output side connection unit T2 is linked to the amount or storage ratio of fluid stored in the tank component T0. The amount of fluid stored in the tank component T0 is 0 when there is no fluid in the tank component T0, and is non-zero when there is fluid in the tank component T0.

[0035] Furthermore, information on the connection state or non-connection state of the input side connection part T1, the connection state or non-connection state of the output side connection part T2, the presence or non-existence of fluid in the input side connection part T1, and the presence or non-existence of fluid in the output side connection part T2 is stored as internal information in the internal memory 16 by the storage control part 115. The reference part 112 refers to this information on the connection state or non-existence and information on the presence or non-existence of fluid from the internal memory 16.

[0036] <About valve parts V0> 2(C) and 2(D) are diagrams showing the valve component V0. The valve component V0 is a component that is connected to a fluid flow component. The valve component V0 has a first connection portion V1 and a second connection portion V2. Of the first connection portion V1 and the second connection portion V2, one that is connected to the output side connection portion of the fluid flow component becomes the input side connection portion, and the other becomes the output side connection portion. Presence information regarding the presence of fluid in the valve component V0 is stored in the internal memory 16 by the memory control unit 115. The presence information regarding the presence of fluid in the valve component V0 that is stored in the internal memory 16 is, for example, information regarding the presence or absence of fluid.

[0037] Furthermore, information on whether the valve component V0 is open or not and / or the valve opening degree of the valve component V0 is stored in the device memory as the open / closed state of the valve component V0. The valve opening degree of the valve component V0 is expressed as a numerical value. The display control unit 111 may display the open / closed state of the valve component V0 by the display color of the valve component V0, as shown in (C) and (D) of FIG. 2. (C) of FIG. 2 shows that the valve component V0 is closed when the display color of the valve component V0 is black, and (D) of FIG. 2 shows that the valve component V0 is open when the display color of the valve component V0 is white.

[0038] The properties of the valve part V0 are set in the screen file stored in the user memory 14. The properties of the valve part V0 are set so that the reference unit 112 references information on the open / closed state of the valve part V0 from the device memory.

[0039] The reference unit 112 references the presence or absence of fluid in the output-side connection portion of the fluid flow component connected to one of the first connection portion V1 and the second connection portion V2, which serves as the input-side connection portion, and the open / close state of the valve component V0. The determination unit 113 determines the presence or absence of fluid in the other of the first connection portion V1 and the second connection portion V2, which serves as the output-side connection portion, based on the presence or absence of fluid referenced by the reference unit 112 and the open / close state of the valve component V0.

[0040] In addition, the reference unit 112 refers to the internal memory 16 for information on whether the first connection portion V1 is connected or not, whether the second connection portion V2 is connected or not, whether there is fluid in the first connection portion V1, and whether there is fluid in the second connection portion V2.

[0041] Furthermore, the setting reception unit 114 receives a change in the setting of the open / closed state of the valve component V0 based on a user's operation on the touch panel 13. The memory control unit 115 reflects the setting change received by the setting reception unit 114 in the information stored in the device memory.

[0042] <About pump part P0> 2(E) and 2(F) are diagrams showing pump component P0. Pump component P0 is a component that is connected to a fluid flow component. Pump component P0 has an input side connection part P1 and an output side connection part P2. Presence information regarding the presence of fluid in pump component P0 is stored in internal memory 16 by memory control unit 115. Presence information regarding the presence of fluid in pump component P0 that is stored in internal memory 16 is, for example, information regarding the presence or absence of fluid.

[0043] The operating state of the pump component P0 is also stored in the device memory. The display control unit 111 may display the operating state or non-operating state of the pump component P0 by the display color of the pump component P0, as shown in (E) and (F) of Figure 2. (E) of Figure 2 shows the pump component P0 in a state where it is not operating when the display color of the pump component P0 is white, and (F) of Figure 2 shows the pump component P0 in an operating state when the display color of the pump component P0 is black.

[0044] The properties of the pump component P0 are set in the screen file stored in the user memory 14. The properties of the pump component P0 are set so that the reference unit 112 references information on the operating status of the pump component P0 from the device memory.

[0045] The reference unit 112 references the presence or absence of fluid in the output-side connection part of the fluid flow component to which the input-side connection part P1 is directly connected. The determination unit 113 determines the presence or absence of fluid in the output-side connection part P2 based on the presence or absence of fluid referenced by the reference unit 112 and the operating state of the pump component P0. The reference unit 112 also references information from the internal memory 16 regarding the connection state of the input-side connection part P1, the connection state of the output-side connection part P2, the presence or absence of fluid in the input-side connection part P1, and the presence or absence of fluid in the output-side connection part P2.

[0046] Furthermore, the setting reception unit 114 receives a setting change for the operating state of the pump component P0 based on a user's operation on the touch panel 13. The memory control unit 115 reflects the setting change received by the setting reception unit 114 in the information stored in the device memory.

[0047] <About pipe part Q0> 2(G), (H), and (I) are diagrams showing a pipe part Q0. The pipe part Q0 is a part that is connected to a fluid control part or a fluid circulation part. The pipe part Q0 has a first connection part Q1 and a second connection part Q2. Of the first connection part Q1 and the second connection part Q2, one that is connected to the output side connection part of the fluid control part or the fluid circulation part becomes the input side connection part, and the other becomes the output side connection part.

[0048] By connecting multiple pipe parts Q0 to the first connecting portion Q1 and the second connecting portion Q2, the multiple pipe parts Q0 may be branched or merged. Presence information regarding the presence of fluid in the pipe parts Q0 is stored in the internal memory 16 by the storage control unit 115. The presence information regarding the presence of fluid in the pipe parts Q0 stored in the internal memory 16 is, for example, information regarding the presence or absence of fluid.

[0049] The display control unit 111 may display whether or not there is fluid in the pipe part Q0 by the display color of the pipe part Q0, as shown in (G) and (H) of Fig. 2. (G) of Fig. 2 shows a state in which there is no fluid in the pipe part Q0 when the display color of the pipe part Q0 is white, and (H) of Fig. 2 shows a state in which there is fluid in the pipe part Q0 when the display color of the pipe part Q0 is black.

[0050] 2(I), when fluid is present in the pipe part Q0, the display control unit 111 may display arrows indicating the direction of fluid flow near the first connection part Q1 and the second connection part Q2. The direction of fluid flow is determined as follows. The reference unit 112 references presence information regarding the presence of fluid at the output connection point of the fluid control part or fluid flow part to which the first connection part Q1 is directly connected, and presence information regarding the presence of fluid at the output connection point of the fluid control part or fluid flow part to which the second connection part Q2 is directly connected. The determination unit 113 determines the direction of fluid flow based on the presence information referenced by the reference unit 112.

[0051] When there is fluid in the pipe part Q0, the display control unit 111 may display a moving image showing the fluid flowing through the pipe part Q0. For example, the moving image may show a black area in the pipe part Q0 gradually increasing in size in the direction of the fluid flow. Alternatively, the moving image may show multiple shapes, such as circles or triangles, moving inside the pipe part Q0 in the direction of the fluid flow.

[0052] Consider a case where one pipe part Q0 is connected to the output connection parts of multiple pipe parts Q0. In this case, the display control unit 111 may change the display color of the one pipe part Q0 to a color generated by mixing the display colors of the multiple pipe parts Q0 to which the one pipe part Q0 is connected.

[0053] The properties of the pipe part Q0 are set in the screen file stored in the user memory 14. The properties of the pipe part Q0 are set so that the reference unit 112 references information on the presence or absence of fluid in the pipe part Q0 from the internal memory 16. The properties of the pipe part Q0 also set a first display color of the pipe part Q0 when fluid is present in the pipe part Q0, a second display color of the pipe part Q0 when no fluid is present in the pipe part Q0, the thickness of the pipe part Q0, and a video showing the fluid flowing.

[0054] For the animation showing the state of fluid flow, the presence or absence of animation, the duration of animation, etc. are set. If animation is set to be present, after the entire pipe part Q0 is covered with a black area, the memory control unit 115 stores in the internal memory 16 that there is fluid in the pipe part Q0.

[0055] The reference unit 112 references the presence or absence of fluid in the output-side connection portion of a fluid control component or fluid circulation component connected to one of the first connection portion Q1 and the second connection portion Q2, which serves as the input-side connection portion. The determination unit 113 determines the presence or absence of fluid in the other of the first connection portion Q1 and the second connection portion Q2, which serves as the output-side connection portion, based on the presence or absence of fluid referenced by the reference unit 112. The reference unit 112 also references information from the internal memory 16 regarding the connection state of the first connection portion Q1, the connection state of the second connection portion Q2, the presence or absence of fluid in the first connection portion Q1, and the presence or absence of fluid in the second connection portion Q2.

[0056] <Connection between fluid control parts and fluid circulation parts> Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a system diagram showing the connection relationships of fluid control components and fluid circulation components displayed on the display unit 12 of the computer device 1 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3(A) is a diagram showing a state in which a tank component TA0 and a tank component TB0 are connected via a pipe component QA0. Fig. 3(B) is a diagram showing a state in which the tank component TA0 and the tank component TB0 are connected via a plurality of pipe components and a plurality of valve components.

[0057] 3A, the first connection portion QA1 of the pipe part QA0 is connected to the output connection portion TA2 of the tank part TA0, and the second connection portion QA2 of the pipe part QA0 is connected to the input connection portion TB1 of the tank part TB0. In this case, the screen file stored in the user memory 14 has the connection state of the input connection portion TA1 set to "no" and the connection state of the output connection portion TA2 set to "yes." Furthermore, the first connection portion QA1 becomes the input connection portion, and the second connection portion QA2 becomes the output connection portion.

[0058] In the above screen file, the connection state of the first connection part QA1 and the connection state of the second connection part QA2 are both set to "Yes" as information for the pipe part QA0. In the above screen file, the connection state of the input side connection part TB1 is set to "Yes" as information for the tank part TB0, and the connection state of the output side connection part TB2 is set to "No".

[0059] The display control unit 111 displays the connection relationship between the tank part TA0, the pipe part QA0, and the tank part TB0 on ​​the screen of the display unit 12. The reference unit 112 references presence information regarding the presence of fluid in the tank part TA0 from the device memory. Based on the presence information referenced from the device memory, the reference unit 112 recognizes the storage amount or storage ratio of the fluid in the tank part TA0.

[0060] The determination unit 113 determines a presence state that fluid is present at the output side connection part TA2 of the tank part TA0 based on the storage amount or storage ratio of the fluid in the tank part TA0 recognized by the reference unit 112. The memory control unit 115 stores, in the internal memory 16, presence information that fluid is present at the output side connection part TA2 of the tank part TA0 for the presence state determined by the determination unit 113.

[0061] The reference unit 112 references presence information indicating that a fluid is present at the output side connection portion TA2 of the tank part TA0 to which the first connection portion QA1 of the pipe part QA0 is directly connected from the internal memory 16. The determination unit 113 determines, based on the presence information referenced in the internal memory 16 by the reference unit 112, a presence state indicating that a fluid is present at the first connection portion QA1 and the second connection portion QA2 of the pipe part QA0.

[0062] The display control unit 111 changes the display color of the pipe part QA0 from white to black. The storage control unit 115 stores presence information indicating that fluid is present at the first connection portion QA1 and the second connection portion QA2 of the pipe part QA0 in the internal memory 16. Because the storage control unit 115 stores the presence information of the pipe part QA0 in the internal memory 16, it is possible to reduce the settings and communications regarding the presence information of the pipe part QA0 between the computer device 1 and the PLC 2.

[0063] Furthermore, the reference unit 112 references the presence information indicating that a fluid is present in the tank part TB0 from the device memory. Based on the presence information referenced by the reference unit 112, the determination unit 113 determines that a fluid is present in the output side connection part TB2 of the tank part TB0.

[0064] The display control unit 111 displays the amount of fluid stored in the tank part TB0 using the display element TB3 of the tank part TB0. The storage control unit 115 stores presence information indicating the amount of fluid stored in the tank part TB0 in the internal memory 16 based on values ​​from a liquid level sensor and the like that are written in real time to the device memory. The display control unit 111 also displays arrows indicating the direction of fluid flow near the first connection part QA1 and the second connection part QA2.

[0065] As shown in Figure 3(B), the first connection portion QB1 of the pipe component QB0 is connected to the output connection portion TA2 of the tank component TA0, and the first connection portion VA1 of the valve component VA0 is connected to the second connection portion QB2 of the pipe component QB0. As a result, the first connection portion QB1 becomes the input connection portion and the second connection portion QB2 becomes the output connection portion. Also, the first connection portion VA1 becomes the input connection portion and the second connection portion VA2 of the valve component VA0 becomes the output connection portion.

[0066] The second connection portion VA2 of the valve part VA0 is connected to the first connection portion QA1 of the pipe part QA0, and the second connection portion QA2 of the pipe part QA0 is connected to the first connection portion VB1 of the valve part VB0. As a result, the first connection portion QA1 becomes the input side connection portion and the second connection portion QA2 becomes the output side connection portion. Also, the first connection portion VB1 becomes the input side connection portion and the second connection portion VB2 of the valve part VB0 becomes the output side connection portion.

[0067] The second connection part VB2 of the valve part VB0 is connected to the first connection part QC1 of the pipe part QC0, and the second connection part QC2 of the pipe part QC0 is connected to the input side connection part TB1 of the tank part TB0, so that the first connection part QC1 is the input side connection part and the second connection part QC2 is the output side connection part.

[0068] In this case, the information of each part stored in the screen file indicates that the connection status of the input connection part TA1 of the tank part TA0 and the output connection part TB2 of the tank part TB0 is set to "no", and the connection status of the first connection part QB1, the second connection part QB2, the first connection part VA1, the second connection part VA2, the first connection part QA1, the second connection part QA2, the first connection part VB1, the second connection part VB2, the first connection part QC1, the second connection part QC2, and the input connection part TB1 is set to "yes".

[0069] The display control unit 111 displays the connection relationships among the tank part TA0, pipe part QB0, valve part VA0, pipe part QA0, valve part VB0, pipe part QC0, and tank part TB0 on ​​the screen of the display unit 12. The reference unit 112 references presence information from the internal memory 16 indicating that fluid is present at the output side connection part TA2 of the tank part TA0, to which the first connection part QB1 of the pipe part QB0 is directly connected. The determination unit 113 determines, based on the presence information referenced by the reference unit 112, an existence state indicating that fluid is present at the first connection part QB1 and the second connection part QB2 of the pipe part QB0. The memory control unit 115 stores the presence information indicating that fluid is present at the first connection part QB1 and the second connection part QB2 of the pipe part QB0 in the internal memory 16.

[0070] The reference unit 112 references presence information indicating that a fluid is present at the second connecting portion QB2 of the pipe part QB0 to which the first connecting portion VA1 of the valve part VA0 is directly connected from the internal memory 16. The determination unit 113 determines, based on the presence information referenced by the reference unit 112, a presence state indicating that a fluid is present at the first connecting portion VA1 of the valve part VA0.

[0071] The reference unit 112 also references information from the device memory that the valve component VA0 is open, and the determination unit 113 determines, based on the information referenced by the reference unit 112, that a fluid is present in the second connecting portion VA2 of the valve component VA0. The display control unit 111 displays the valve component VA0 in white. The memory control unit 115 stores, in the internal memory 16, the presence information that a fluid is present in the first connecting portion VA1 and the second connecting portion VA2 of the valve component VA0.

[0072] Furthermore, the reference unit 112 references, from the internal memory 16, presence information indicating that a fluid is present at the second connecting portion VA2 of the valve part VA0 to which the first connecting portion QA1 of the pipe part QA0 is directly connected. The determination unit 113 determines a presence state indicating that a fluid is present at the first connecting portion QA1 and the second connecting portion QA2 of the pipe part QA0 based on the presence information referenced by the reference unit 112. The memory control unit 115 stores, in the internal memory 16, the presence information indicating that a fluid is present at the first connecting portion QA1 and the second connecting portion QA2 of the pipe part QA0.

[0073] The reference unit 112 references presence information indicating that a fluid is present at the second connection portion QA2 of the pipe part QA0 to which the first connection portion VB1 of the valve part VB0 is directly connected from the internal memory 16. The determination unit 113 determines, based on the presence information referenced by the reference unit 112, a presence state indicating that a fluid is present at the first connection portion VB1 of the valve part VB0.

[0074] Furthermore, the reference unit 112 references information that the valve component VB0 is closed from the device memory, and the determination unit 113 determines an existence state in which there is no fluid in the second connection portion VB2 of the valve component VB0 based on the information referenced by the reference unit 112. The display control unit 111 displays the valve component VB0 in black. The memory control unit 115 stores in the internal memory 16 the existence information that there is fluid in the first connection portion VB1 of the valve component VB0 and that there is no fluid in the second connection portion VB2.

[0075] Furthermore, the reference unit 112 references, from the internal memory 16, presence information indicating that there is no fluid in the second connection portion VB2 of the valve component VB0 to which the first connection portion QC1 of the pipe component QC0 is directly connected. The determination unit 113 determines, based on the presence information referenced by the reference unit 112, a presence state in which there is no fluid in the first connection portion QC1 and the second connection portion QC2 of the pipe component QC0. The memory control unit 115 stores, in the internal memory 16, the presence information indicating that there is no fluid in the first connection portion QC1 and the second connection portion QC2 of the pipe component QC0.

[0076] The reference unit 112 references the presence information indicating that there is no fluid in the tank part TB0 from the device memory. The determination unit 113 determines, based on the presence information referenced by the reference unit 112, that there is no fluid in the output side connection part TB2 of the tank part TB0.

[0077] The display control unit 111 displays the absence of fluid in the tank part TB0 by the display element TB3 of the tank part TB0. The storage control unit 115 stores in the internal memory 16 the presence information that the tank part TB0 has no fluid.

[0078] As described above, the display control unit 111 displays the connection relationship between the fluid control components and the fluid flow components on the screen of the display unit 12. Furthermore, when the determination unit 113 determines a presence state, which is a state related to the presence of fluid inside the fluid flow component, the reference unit 112 refers only to the presence information. The presence information is information related to the presence of fluid on the output side of another fluid flow component or a connection component that is a fluid control component, to which the input side or input / output side of the fluid flow component is directly connected. Furthermore, the determination unit 113 determines the presence state based only on the presence information referenced by the reference unit 112, and the display control unit 111 displays the presence state determined by the determination unit 113 on the screen of the display unit 12.

[0079] The determination unit 113 determines the presence state, which is the state related to the presence of fluid inside the fluid flow component, from only the presence information, which is information related to the presence of fluid on the output side of the connection component to which the fluid flow component is directly connected. This allows the computer device 1 to determine the presence state without referring to information related to the presence of fluid inside all the connection components to which the fluid flow component is indirectly connected via other components. This simplifies the configuration for determining the presence state.

[0080] Furthermore, when determining the fluid presence state of a certain fluid flow component, the presence information on the output side of the connection component to which the fluid flow component is directly connected is referenced by the reference unit 112 from the device memory via the internal memory 16. This eliminates the need to set the reference destination of the presence information referenced by the reference unit 112 in the device memory, making it easy to set and change the reference destination. Furthermore, because the presence information on the output side of the connection component to which the fluid flow component is directly connected can link individual fluid flow components, the effort required to set and change the reference destination can be reduced when using a large number of fluid flow components.

[0081] The presence information referenced by the reference unit 112 may be the flow rate of the fluid on the output side of the connection component, and the presence state determined by the determination unit 113 may be the flow rate of the fluid inside the fluid flow component. In this case, the display control unit 111 changes the display of the presence state displayed on the screen of the display unit 12 according to a change in the flow rate of the fluid inside the fluid flow component determined by the determination unit 113.

[0082] For example, the display control unit 111 may change the display color of the pipe parts QA0, QB0, and QC0 in accordance with changes in the flow rate of the fluid inside the pipe parts QA0, QB0, and QC0. Furthermore, the display control unit 111 may change the speed at which multiple shapes such as circles or triangles move inside the pipe parts QA0, QB0, and QC0 in the direction of fluid flow.

[0083] In this way, the display control unit 111 changes the display of the presence state displayed on the screen of the display unit 12 according to changes in the flow rate of the fluid inside the fluid flow component, so that the user can visually confirm the flow rate of the fluid inside the fluid flow component.

[0084] <Determining the display color of fluid flow parts> Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a process in which the control unit 11 included in the computer device 1 shown in Fig. 1 determines the display color of a fluid flow component. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a process in which the control unit 11 determines the presence state of the output side of a connection component, among the processes shown in Fig. 4.

[0085] 4, the determination unit 113 determines the state of existence of the output-side connection part of the connection part connected to the input-side connection part of the fluid circulation part (S1) based on the reference information referenced by the reference unit 112. The subroutine processing of step S1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

[0086] 5, based on the presence or absence of the connection state of the input side connection part of the fluid flow component referred to by the reference unit 112, the determination unit 113 determines whether or not a connection part is connected to the input side connection part of the fluid flow component (S11). If the determination unit 113 determines that a connection part is not connected to the input side connection part of the fluid flow component (NO in S11), it turns off the flag for the fluid flow component (S12). The storage control unit 115 stores information that the flag is off in the internal memory 16. Then, the process proceeds to step S2, which will be described later.

[0087] Consider a case where the determination unit 113 determines that a connection part is connected to the input side connection part of the fluid circulation part (YES in S11). In this case, based on the fluid presence information of the output side connection part of the connection part referenced by the reference unit 112, the determination unit 113 determines whether or not there is fluid in the output side connection part of the connection part (S13). If the determination unit 113 determines that there is no fluid in the output side connection part of the connection part (NO in S13), the process proceeds to step S12.

[0088] When the determination unit 113 determines that there is fluid in the output side connection part of the connection part (YES in S13), it determines whether or not the connection part is a valve part (S14) based on the information on the type of the connection part referenced by the reference unit 112. When the determination unit 113 determines that the connection part is a valve part (YES in S14), it determines whether or not the valve part is in an open state based on the information on the open / closed state of the valve part referenced by the reference unit 112 (S15).

[0089] If the determination unit 113 determines that the valve component is in a closed state (NO in S15), the process proceeds to step S12. If the determination unit 113 determines that the valve component is in an open state (YES in S15), the process proceeds to step S18, which will be described later.

[0090] If the determining unit 113 determines that the connection part is not a valve part (NO in S14), it determines whether or not the connection part is a pump part (S16) based on the information on the type of the connection part referenced by the reference unit 112. If the determining unit 113 determines that the connection part is a pump part (YES in S16), it determines whether or not the pump part is in an operating state based on the operating state of the pump part referenced by the reference unit 112 (S17).

[0091] If the determination unit 113 determines that the pump component is not in an operating state (NO in S17), the process proceeds to step S12. If the determination unit 113 determines that the pump component is in an operating state (YES in S17), the process proceeds to step S18, which will be described later. If the determination unit 113 determines that the connection component is not a pump component (NO in S16), the process turns on a flag for the fluid flow component (S18). The storage control unit 115 stores information that the flag is on in the internal memory 16. When the process of the subroutine ends, the process proceeds to step S2, which will be described later in the main routine.

[0092] After the process of step S1, the determination unit 113 determines whether the flag is on or not based on the information of the flag referenced by the reference unit 112 (S2). If the determination unit 113 determines that the flag is on (YES in S2), the display control unit 111 sets the display color of the fluid flow component to the first display color (S3). After the process of step S3, the determination unit 113 determines a presence state that fluid is present in the output side connection portion of the fluid flow component (S4).

[0093] If the determination unit 113 determines that the flag is off (NO in S2), the display control unit 111 changes the display color of the fluid flow component to the second display color (S5). After the processing of step S5, the determination unit 113 determines that there is no fluid in the output side connection portion of the fluid flow component (S6).

[0094] In the process of step S13, if the output-side connection portions of multiple connection components are connected to the input-side connection portion of the fluid flow component, the determination unit 113 determines whether or not fluid is present in each of the output-side connection portions of the multiple connection components. If the determination unit 113 determines that fluid is present in at least one of the output-side connection portions of the multiple connection components, the process proceeds to step S14. In this case, the processes from step S14 onwards are executed for the output-side connection portion of the connection component determined to have fluid present.

[0095] <About the video showing fluid flowing through pipe components> Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a process in which the control unit 11 included in the computer device 1 shown in Fig. 1 displays a moving image showing a state in which a liquid flows through a fluid flow component. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a moving image display process executed by the control unit 11 among the processes shown in Fig. 6.

[0096] 6, the display control unit 111 determines whether or not there is a video (S21) based on the information on the setting of whether or not there is a video referenced by the reference unit 112. If the display control unit 111 determines that there is no video (NO in S21), the process ends.

[0097] If the display control unit 111 determines that there is a video (YES in S21), the determination unit 113 executes the process of step S22, which is the same process as the process of step S1 in Fig. 4. After executing the process of step S22, the determination unit 113 determines whether or not the flag is on, similar to step S2 (S23).

[0098] If the determination unit 113 determines that the flag is on (YES in S23), it determines whether or not there is fluid in the input-side connection portion of the fluid flow component based on the fluid presence information of the output-side connection portion of the connection component referenced by the reference unit 112 (S24). If the determination unit 113 determines that there is fluid in the input-side connection portion of the fluid flow component (YES in S24), it ends the processing. If the determination unit 113 determines that there is no fluid in the input-side connection portion of the fluid flow component (NO in S24), the display control unit 111 executes video display processing (S25).

[0099] The subroutine processing of step S25 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 7. The display control unit 111 determines whether the moving image display processing for the fluid flow component has been completed (S31). If the display control unit 111 determines that the moving image display processing has not been completed (NO in S31), it changes a portion of the fluid flow component to the first display color at a predetermined speed (S32). The predetermined speed is the speed at which the area of ​​the fluid flow component that is the first display color increases. After processing step S32, the process proceeds to processing step S31.

[0100] When the display control unit 111 determines that the moving image display process is completed (YES in S31), the entire fluid flow component is changed to the first display color (S33). After the display control unit 111 changes the entire fluid flow component to the first display color, the determination unit 113 determines that a fluid is present in the output side connection portion of the fluid flow component, and ends the process (S34).

[0101] In the main routine, when the determination unit 113 determines that the flag is off (NO in S23), it determines (S26) whether or not there is fluid in the input side connection part of the fluid flow component based on the presence or absence of fluid in the input side connection part of the fluid flow component referenced by the reference unit 112. When the determination unit 113 determines that there is no fluid in the input side connection part of the fluid flow component (NO in S26), it ends the processing.

[0102] If the determining unit 113 determines that fluid is present at the input side connection portion of the fluid flow component (YES in S26), the display control unit 111 changes the display color of the fluid flow component to the second display color (S27). After the display control unit 111 changes the display color of the fluid flow component to the second display color, the determining unit 113 determines that fluid is not present at the output side connection portion of the fluid flow component (S28). The control unit 11 executes the processes of steps S21 to S28 for multiple fluid flow components that are connected to each other.

[0103] As described above, the determination unit 113 determines the state of existence of the plurality of fluid flow components that are connected to each other. Then, the display control unit 111 displays on the screen of the display unit 12 how the fluid flows through the plurality of fluid flow components, based on the state of existence of the plurality of fluid flow components determined by the determination unit 113.

[0104] The determining unit 113 determines the presence state of each fluid flow component from the presence information of the connecting component to which the fluid flow component is directly connected. This makes it possible to easily realize a configuration that allows a user to visually check how fluid flows through multiple fluid flow components.

[0105] The display control unit 111 can also link the flow of fluid through multiple fluid flow components with each individual fluid flow component, eliminating the need for a user program to adjust the display timing from one fluid flow component to another. Furthermore, the animation display on the fluid flow component begins when fluid is present in the input connection of the fluid flow component, and is executed at a predetermined speed. When the animation display on the fluid flow component is completed, the fluid presence status of the output connection of the fluid flow component is changed from a no-fluid state to a fluid-present state. This allows for automatic animation display of a series of multiple fluid flow components.

[0106] [Embodiment 2] Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described below. For the sake of convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those described in Embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of the configurations of the computer device 1 and the PC 4 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0107] <Configuration of PC4> As shown in FIG. 1, a PC (Personal Computer) 4 includes a control unit 21, a display unit 22, an operation unit 23, a storage unit 24, and an interface unit 25. The PC 4 is a screen creation device that creates a screen to be displayed by the computer device 1. The control unit 21 controls each part of the PC 4. The control unit 21 has a setting unit 211, a determination unit 212, and a notification unit 213. Details of each part included in the control unit 21 will be described later.

[0108] The display unit 22 displays a drawing screen for the user to create a screen. The operation unit 23 is, for example, a keyboard for the user to input data or a mouse for the user to perform operations. The storage unit 24 stores the processing contents in the PC 4 and also stores a screen file including one or more drawing screens created by the user. The interface unit 25 is a communication unit for the PC 4 to communicate with the computer device 1. The interface unit 25 transmits the screen file stored in the storage unit 24 to the computer device 1.

[0109] <Regarding setting changes of fluid control components and fluid flow components> When the user operates the operation unit 23 to create a drawing screen, the tank component T0, the valve component V0, the pump component P0, and the pipe component Q0 shown in FIG. 2 are displayed on the display unit 22 of the PC 4.

[0110] The setting unit 211 accepts setting changes of the above-described properties of the tank component T0, the valve component V0, the pump component P0, and the pipe component Q0 based on the operation of the operation unit 23 by the user. The setting unit 211 reflects the accepted setting changes in the information of the screen file stored in the storage unit 24.

[0111] <About the drawing screen displayed by the display unit 22> Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a drawing screen displayed by the display unit 22 provided in the PC 4 shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 9(A) is a diagram showing a state in which another fluid flow component is connected to a fluid flow component, and Fig. 9(B) is a diagram showing a state in which a plurality of fluid control components and a plurality of fluid flow components are connected. The user can create a drawing screen such as that shown in Fig. 9 by operating the operation unit 23. In Fig. 9(A) and (B), it is assumed that there is no fluid in any of the fluid control components and fluid flow components.

[0112] Consider a case where a user operates the operation unit 23 to connect the first connection portion QB1 of the pipe part QB0 to the output side connection portion TA2 of the tank part TA0, as shown in (A) of Fig. 9. In this case, the setting unit 211 sets the first connection portion QB1 as the input side connection portion and sets the second connection portion QB2 of the pipe part QB0 as the output side connection portion. Regarding the content described below, the setting unit 211 stores the set content in a screen file stored in the storage unit 24.

[0113] Also, consider a case where the second connection portion QE2 of the pipe part QE0 is connected to the input side connection portion TD1 of the tank part TD0 by the user operating the operation unit 23. In this case, the setting unit 211 sets the first connection portion QE1 of the pipe part QE0 as the input side connection portion and sets the second connection portion QE2 as the output side connection portion.

[0114] In this way, the setting unit 211 considers a case where a fluid flow component is directly connected to the output side or input side of a fluid control component on a drawing screen for creating a screen by a user operating the operation unit 23. In this case, the setting unit 211 sets input / output information indicating whether it is the input side or the output side for a plurality of connection parts that the fluid flow component has and that can be connected to a connection part.

[0115] When the user directly connects a fluid flow component to a fluid control component on the drawing screen, the setting unit 211 automatically sets the input / output information of the fluid flow component. Therefore, when a fluid flow component is directly connected to a fluid control component, the setting work of the input / output information of the fluid flow component is performed automatically without human intervention.

[0116] Furthermore, consider a state in which the pipe part QB0 is connected to the tank part TA0, and the pipe part QE0 is not connected to the tank part TD0. In this state, the second connection part QB2 is set as the output side connection part, and input / output information is not set for the first connection part QE1 and the second connection part QE2. In this state, when the user operates the operation part 23 to connect the first connection part QE1 to the second connection part QB2, the setting part 211 sets the first connection part QE1 as the input side connection part and sets the second connection part QE2 as the output side connection part.

[0117] In this way, the setting unit 211 considers a case where a fluid flow component is directly connected to another fluid flow component for which input / output information is set on the drawing screen by a user operating the operation unit 23. In this case, the setting unit 211 sets input / output information for a plurality of connection parts of the fluid flow component.

[0118] When the user directly connects a fluid flow component to another fluid flow component for which input / output information has been set on the drawing screen, the setting unit 211 automatically sets the input / output information of the fluid flow component. Therefore, when a fluid flow component is directly connected to another fluid flow component, the setting of the input / output information of the fluid flow component is performed automatically without human intervention.

[0119] Also, consider a case where the first connection part QD1 of the pipe part QD0 is connected to the second connection part QB2 set as the output-side connection part and the first connection part QE1 set as the input-side connection part. In this case, the setting unit 211 sets the first connection part QD1 and the second connection part QD2 of the pipe part QD0 as connection parts whose connection status is undetermined, based on the fact that nothing is connected to the second connection part QD2.

[0120] Furthermore, consider a state in which a pipe part QF0 is connected to a tank part TC0 and a pipe part QC0 is connected to a tank part TB0, as shown in (A) of Fig. 9. In this state, consider a case in which the user operates the operation unit 23 to connect the pipe part QF0 and the pipe part QC0 to the pipe part QD0, as shown in (A) and (B) of Fig. 9.

[0121] In this case, the setting unit 211 sets the second connection portion QF2 of the pipe part QF0 as the output side connection portion, and sets the first connection portion QC1 of the pipe part QC0 as the input side connection portion. When the user operates the operation unit 23 to connect the second connection portion QF2 and the first connection portion QC1 to the second connection portion QD2, the setting unit 211 sets the first connection portion QD1 and the second connection portion QD2 of the pipe part QD0 as input / output side connection portions. An input / output side connection portion means a connection portion on the side where a fluid flows in or out.

[0122] Here, the connection parts, which are other fluid flow components or fluid control components to which the input side or input / output side of the fluid flow component is directly connected, include a first connection part, a second connection part, a third connection part, and a fourth connection part, and each fluid flow component has two connection parts. In this case, by the user operating the operation unit 23, one connection part of the fluid flow component is directly connected to the output side of the first connection part and the input side of the second connection part on the drawing screen. Also, the other connection part of the fluid flow component is directly connected to the output side of the third connection part and the input side of the fourth connection part. In this case, the setting unit 211 sets the one connection part and the other connection part as the input / output side.

[0123] When both the input side of a connection part and the output side of another connection part are connected to one connection part and the other connection part of a fluid flow part, respectively, it becomes unclear whether the one connection part and the other connection part are the input side or the output side. In this case, the setting unit 211 automatically sets the one connection part and the other connection part as the input / output side. Therefore, even when it becomes unclear whether the one connection part and the other connection part are the input side or the output side, the setting work for the one connection part and the other connection part is performed automatically without human intervention.

[0124] 9A, consider a state in which a pipe part QF0 is connected to a tank part TC0 and a pipe part QC0 is connected to a tank part TB0. In this state, when the user operates the operation unit 23 to connect only the second connection part QF2 to the second connection part QD2, the setting unit 211 sets the first connection part QD1 as the output side connection part and sets the second connection part QD2 as the input side connection part.

[0125] On the other hand, when the user connects only the first connector QC1 to the second connector QD2 through operation of the operation unit 23, the setting unit 211 sets the first connector QD1 as the input-side connector and the second connector QD2 as the output-side connector. In this way, the settings for the input and output sides change depending on the order in which the fluid flow components are connected.

[0126] When the user operates the operation unit 23 to complete the connection of all parts, that is, when the drawing is complete, the setting unit 211 automatically classifies the connections of all parts as either input-side connections, output-side connections, or input / output-side connections. As shown in (B) of FIG. 9, for pipe parts other than pipe part QD0, an arrow indicating the fluid flow direction is displayed near the connection, and the fluid flow direction is determined. For pipe part QD0, a star-shaped mark is displayed near the connection, indicating that the fluid flow direction is not determined.

[0127] <Regarding the Determination Unit 212 and the Notification Unit 213> The determination unit 212 determines whether only the input sides or only the output sides are connected between a plurality of fluid flow components for which input / output information is set on the drawing screen, based on connection information indicating the connection between the fluid flow components, in response to a user operation of the operation unit 23. Furthermore, when the determination unit 212 determines that only the input sides or only the output sides are connected between a plurality of fluid flow components, the notification unit 213 notifies that only the input sides or only the output sides are connected.

[0128] The determination unit 212 refers to the connection information indicating the connections between the fluid flow components set by the setting unit 211 from the screen file stored in the storage unit 24. By referring to the connection information, the determination unit 212 can determine whether only the input sides or only the output sides are connected between the multiple fluid flow components for which input / output information is set.

[0129] Furthermore, the notification unit 213 may notify the connection of only the input sides or only the output sides via the display unit 22, or may notify by sound output from a sound output unit such as a speaker (not shown) provided in the PC 4. Furthermore, the notification unit 213 may display the connection of only the input sides or only the output sides on the display unit 22 as warning information, or may display it as an error on the display unit 22.

[0130] When warning information is displayed on the display unit 22, the notification unit 213 does not have to prohibit the user from operating the operation unit 23. Furthermore, when the user attempts to end the creation of the drawing screen by operating the operation unit 23 while warning information is still displayed on the display unit 22, the notification unit 213 may display an error on the display unit 22 and prohibit the user from ending the creation of the drawing screen.

[0131] Furthermore, consider a case where the drawing screen is re-edited by the user operating the operation unit 23, and the determination unit 212 determines that only the input sides or only the output sides are not connected among a plurality of fluid flow components. In this case, the notification unit 213 cancels the display of the warning information or error on the display unit 22, and allows the user to operate the operation unit 23 to end the creation of the drawing screen.

[0132] When a user connects fluid flow components on the drawing screen, if only the input sides or only the output sides of the fluid flow components are connected, the user will be notified that only the input sides or only the output sides are connected, allowing the user to take appropriate action, such as reviewing the connections between the fluid flow components as necessary.

[0133] <Direction of fluid flowing through pipe part QD0> 10 shows an example of a system diagram showing the connection relationships between fluid control components and fluid flow components displayed on the display unit 12 of the computer device 1 shown in FIG. 1, and is a diagram for explaining the direction of fluid flowing through the pipe component QD0. The connection relationships between the fluid control components and fluid flow components shown in FIG. 10 are the same as the connection relationships between the fluid control components and fluid flow components shown in FIG. 9(B). The following explanation of FIG. 10 describes the flow of fluid on the screen when a screen created by a user operating the operation unit 23 on the drawing screen shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the display unit 12 of the computer device 1.

[0134] 10A, when there is fluid in the tank part TA0 and no fluid in the tank part TC0, the fluid flows from the tank part TA0 to the tank part TB0 and the tank part TD0. Therefore, for the pipe part QD0, the fluid flows from the first connecting part QD1 to the second connecting part QD2.

[0135] 10B, when there is no fluid in the tank part TA0 but there is fluid in the tank part TC0, the fluid flows from the tank part TC0 to the tank part TB0 and the tank part TD0. Therefore, the fluid flows from the second connection part QD2 to the first connection part QD1 for the pipe part QD0. In other words, when there is fluid in the output side connection part of either the tank part TA0 or the tank part TC0, the direction of the fluid flow for the pipe part QD0 is determined to be one direction.

[0136] As shown in Figure 10(C), when there is fluid in the tank parts TA0 and TC0, the fluid flows from the tank parts TA0 and TC0 to the tank parts TB0 and TD0. In this way, when there is fluid in the output side connections of both the tank parts TA0 and TC0, the fluid may flow into the two connections of the pipe part QD0. For this reason, the direction of the fluid flow for the pipe part QD0 is not determined.

[0137] [Software implementation example] The functions of the computer equipment 1 and PC 4 (hereinafter referred to as "devices") can be realized by a program that causes a computer to function as the device, and a program that causes a computer to function as each control block of the device (particularly each part included in the control unit 11 and the control unit 21).

[0138] In this case, the device includes a computer having at least one control device (e.g., a processor) and at least one storage device (e.g., a memory) as hardware for executing the program. The control device and storage device execute the program, thereby realizing the functions described in each of the above embodiments.

[0139] The program may be non-transitory and may be recorded on one or more computer-readable recording media. The recording media may or may not be included in the device. In the latter case, the program may be supplied to the device via any wired or wireless transmission medium.

[0140] Furthermore, some or all of the functions of the control blocks can be realized by logic circuits. For example, an integrated circuit in which a logic circuit that functions as each of the control blocks is formed is also included in the scope of the present invention. In addition, the functions of the control blocks can also be realized by, for example, a quantum computer.

[0141] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0142] 1 Computer equipment (status display device) 4 PC (screen creation device) 111 Display control unit 112 Reference section 113 Decision Section 211 Setting section 212 Judgment section 213 Notification Department T0, TA0~TD0 Tank parts (fluid control parts) V0, VA0, VB0 Valve parts (fluid control parts) P0 Pump parts (fluid control parts) Q0, QA0~QF0 Pipe parts (fluid flow parts)

Claims

1. a display control unit that displays on a screen the connection relationship between a fluid control component, which is an image of a fluid control device that controls the flow of a fluid, and a fluid circulation component, which is an image of a fluid circulation member that allows the fluid to flow; a reference unit that refers only to presence information that is information about the presence of fluid on the output side of another fluid flow component or a connection component that is a fluid control component, to which an input side or an input / output side of the fluid flow component is directly connected; a determination unit that determines a presence state, which is a state related to the presence of a fluid inside the fluid flow component, based only on the presence information referred to by the reference unit, the display control unit displays the presence state determined by the determination unit on the screen; A status display device characterized in that, when the fluid flow component has two connection parts, and one of the connection parts of the fluid flow component is connected to the input side of the connection component and the output side of a connection component other than the connection component, the input / output side of the fluid flow component is one of the connection parts of the fluid flow component.

2. The status display device described in Claim 1, characterized in that the display control unit changes the display of the fluid flow component depending on the existence state determined by the determination unit.

3. the determination unit determines the presence states of the plurality of fluid flow components that are connected to each other; 3. The status display device according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit displays on the screen the state of fluid flowing through the plurality of fluid flow components based on the presence state of the plurality of fluid flow components determined by the determination unit.

4. A screen creation device for creating the screen displayed by the status display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising: A screen creation device characterized by having a setting unit that sets input / output information indicating whether the fluid flow component is the input side or the output side for multiple connection parts that can be connected to the connection part, when the fluid flow component is directly connected to the output side or the input side of the fluid control component on a drawing screen for creating the screen by user operation.

5. The screen creation device according to claim 4, characterized in that when the fluid flow component is directly connected to another fluid flow component for which the input / output information is set on the drawing screen by user operation, the setting unit sets the input / output information for the multiple connection parts of the fluid flow component.

6. The connection parts include a first connection part, a second connection part, a third connection part, and a fourth connection part, the fluid flow component has two of the connection portions, By a user's operation on the drawing screen, one of the connection portions of the fluid flow component is directly connected to the output side of the first connection component and the input side of the second connection component, When the other connection portion of the fluid flow component is directly connected to the output side of the third connection component and the input side of the fourth connection component, 6. The screen creation device according to claim 4, wherein the setting unit sets the one connection unit and the other connection unit as input / output sides.

7. a determination unit that determines whether only input sides or only output sides of the plurality of fluid flow components for which the input / output information is set are connected on the drawing screen by a user operation, based on connection information that indicates the connection between the fluid flow components; The screen creation device described in claim 4 or 5, further comprising a notification unit that notifies the user that only the input sides or only the output sides are connected between the plurality of fluid flow components when the determination unit determines that only the input sides or only the output sides are connected between the plurality of fluid flow components.

Citation Information

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