PLC Development Environment with Graphical-Textual Program Translation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing development environments for graphical programming of programmable logic controllers (PLCs) limit users to graphical representation and programming, lacking flexibility and efficiency, especially for users unfamiliar with textual programming.
Innovation Solution
A method and development environment that allows seamless translation between graphical and textual representations of control programs, enabling users to switch between graphical and textual programming, with a translation module converting graphical diagrams into textual intermediate representations for review and editing, facilitating error detection and correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If graphical programming is used exclusively, then ease of operation is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to difficulty in error detection and program review
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a textual intermediate representation as a mediator between graphical programming and final control program generation. This intermediate textual form allows users to review, search, and edit program logic more efficiently than purely graphical interfaces, thereby improving productivity while maintaining the ease of graphical programming for initial development.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a textual dimension to the traditionally graphical programming approach. By converting graphical diagrams into textual intermediate representations, users gain the ability to leverage text-based editing capabilities (search, replace, diff tools) while retaining the visual intuition of graphical programming, thus resolving the productivity limitation.
2Ease of operation
If graphical programming is used exclusively, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability deteriorates by limiting programming methods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the development environment universal by supporting both graphical and textual programming modes. Users can choose graphical programming for visual clarity and ease of operation, or textual programming for precision and flexibility, or combine both approaches. The system adapts to different user preferences and task requirements through the translation module that converts between graphical diagrams and textual intermediate representations.
3Ease of operation
If graphical diagrams are used for programming, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of information increases during error detection and review
Solution Approach 1:
The textual intermediate representation serves as an information-preserving intermediary that maintains the complete program logic in a searchable and editable textual format. This allows users to review program details with full information retention, unlike graphical interfaces where text search and precise editing are limited.
4Ease of manufacture
If graphical programming is used exclusively, then ease of manufacture is improved, but device complexity increases due to limited processing capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the program logic from purely graphical representation into a textual intermediate form that can be processed more efficiently. This separation allows the system to handle program review, error detection, and editing operations with reduced computational complexity compared to manipulating large graphical diagram structures directly.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for generating a control program for an automation system includes receiving input data for a control program of an automation system by a development environment, generating the graphical diagram of the graphical programming language based on the input data with the aid of a graphical editor unit, displaying the graphical diagram in the graphical editor unit, translating the graphical diagram into a textual intermediate representation of the graphical diagram by a translation module, displaying the textual intermediate representation of the graphical diagram in a textual editor unit, and generating the control program based on the textual intermediate representation of the graphical diagram, and/or based on the graphical diagram.