Simulation Device Input Output Map Interface Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Designing an interface between a controller and input/output devices for real machines is time-consuming and labor-intensive, both for operating and simulating real machines, as existing methods do not efficiently manage the data exchange and connection relationships between these components.
Innovation Solution
A simulation device and program that include a storage unit for input/output maps, a library of model programs, and a user input unit to create and execute model programs for controllers, input/output devices, and control target apparatuses, allowing for data exchange based on input/output maps and visualization of connections, reducing the effort required for interface design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If interface design between controller and input/output devices is performed manually using conventional methods, then the interface can be customized to meet specific requirements, but the time and effort involved becomes extremely troublesome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining connection relationships between controller ports and input/output device ports in an input/output map before simulation execution. This map is created and stored in advance, allowing the simulation device to automatically retrieve and apply these predefined connections during simulation, eliminating the need for manual interface design at runtime and significantly reducing the time and effort required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating a virtual representation of the input/output map that mirrors the actual connection relationships between physical ports. This virtual map is copied from the predefined configuration and used during simulation to establish data exchange paths, allowing the system to work with replicated connection information rather than manually recreating interfaces for each simulation scenario.
2Extent of automation
If automatic generation of logic circuit behavioral model description is implemented as in Patent Document 1, then circuit simulation can be automated, but it does not address the interface design problem for controller and input/output devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by creating a general-purpose input/output map structure that can represent connection relationships between any controller and any input/output devices. This universal map format works across different simulation scenarios and device types, making the automation approach broadly applicable rather than limited to specific circuit configurations, thus enhancing both automation extent and adaptability.
Data Source
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AI summary
An input/output map storage unit (36) stores an input/output map representing connection relationships between ports of controllers and ports of input/output devices. A model program execution unit (23) executes a model program for a controller, a model program for an input/output device and a model program for a control target apparatus that are selected from a library by a user through a user input unit (34). The model program execution unit (23), when executing the model program for the controller, performs data exchange between the model program for the controller and the program for the input/output device, based on the input/output map.