Sequence Program Display with IEC-to-Symbol Name Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing ladder program notation does not conform to IEC standards, which hinders compatibility and interoperability between different programming environments, while users familiar with conventional electrical circuit notation face challenges in transitioning to standardized variable names.
Innovation Solution
A sequence program display device that includes a name storage unit for mapping variable names conforming to IEC standards to symbol names following electronic circuit notation, a program acquisition unit for acquiring sequence programs, a name replacement unit for replacing variable names with symbol names, and a program display unit for displaying the sequence program using symbol names.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If variable names conforming to IEC standards are used, then compatibility between programs is improved, but user operability deteriorates for users familiar with conventional electrical circuit notation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dual naming system where both IEC standard variable names and conventional electrical circuit notation symbol names coexist. A correspondence table maps between these two naming conventions, allowing the system to translate between them. This intermediary mapping mechanism enables compatibility with IEC standards while maintaining user familiarity with traditional notation, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If symbol names following electronic circuit notation are used, then user operability is maintained, but conformity to IEC standards deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The correspondence table serves as an intermediary that links conventional symbol names with IEC standard variable names. When users input or view symbol names familiar to them, the system automatically translates them to their IEC standard equivalents through this mapping table, ensuring standard conformity is achieved without compromising user operability.
Solution Approach 2:
The correspondence table between symbol names and variable names is prepared in advance. This preliminary mapping allows the system to automatically perform name conversion during program creation and editing, ensuring that IEC standard conformity is achieved proactively rather than requiring manual conversion later, thus maintaining both user operability and standard compliance.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a sequence program display device in which a correspondence between variable names conforming to a first notation and symbol names conforming to a second notation is stored and, through execution by one or more processors, a sequence program in which variable names conforming to the first notation are written is obtained, the variable names included in the sequence program are replaced by symbol names conforming to the second notation, and the sequence program with the symbol names conforming to the second notation is displayed.