Engineering Tool Temporal Operator Region for Ladder Program Model Checking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional engineering tools require users to manually set initial values and parameters for control programs, making the operation check process time-consuming and lacking an efficient method for inputting control specifications for model checking programs.
Innovation Solution
An engineering tool with a display area for control specification descriptive expressions and a temporal-operator imparted region, allowing users to easily input and edit control specifications for control-target devices, using temporal operators to define operations and their timing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual setting of initial values and parameters is performed for operation check, then the control program can be checked, but the process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically generates initial values and parameters before the operation check begins, eliminating the need for manual setup. The control specification is analyzed in advance to derive all necessary test conditions, allowing the user to simply input the control program and receive automated comprehensive testing.
2Productivity
If model checking program is used for operation check, then checking efficiency is improved, but the method for inputting control specification becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing control program structure itself as the basis for generating the control specification. Instead of requiring users to create separate complex specification documents, the system analyzes the control program and automatically derives the specification, effectively copying and transforming the program structure into testable specifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The control program automatically generates its own test specifications through automated analysis. The system extracts control logic, state transitions, and operational requirements directly from the program code, enabling the program to self-describe its behavior for model checking without external specification input.
3Reliability
If exhaustive operation check is performed by manually setting all initial values and parameters, then all operations can be verified, but the time to create test conditions increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically varies initial values and parameters based on the control program's logic structure. By analyzing state variables, input conditions, and transition rules, the system generates comprehensive parameter sets that cover all possible operational scenarios, ensuring exhaustive verification without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an automated analysis intermediary that transforms the control program into a structured representation of all possible operations. This intermediary component systematically derives initial values and parameters by analyzing the program's control flow, state machine, and operational logic, ensuring complete coverage of test scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
An engineering tool includes a display area to display a ladder program, the display area being displayed on a display screen of a display device; and a cell, which is a temporal-operator imparted region. The cell, which is a temporal-operator imparted region, is a region that is displayed in the display area and in which a temporal operator is imparted to a program module of the ladder program. The engineering tool includes a control specification editing unit and a control-specification-descriptive-expression converting unit. The control specification editing unit creates the program module. The control-specification-descriptive-expression converting unit converts the program module into a mathematical expression that can be input to a model checking program.