# US 12,072,682 B2 · Support device and storage medium

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- Number: US 12,072,682 B2
- Document ID: US12072682B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/615,951
- Filed: 2020-03-10
- Published: 2022-10-13
- Granted: 2024-08-27
- Earliest claimed: 2019-06-07
- Assignees: OMRON Corporation
- Applicants: Omron Corporation
- Inventors: Kenjiro Nagao
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12072682B2

## CPC

- G05B 19/0426: {Programming the control sequence}
- G05B 19/056: {Programming the PLC}
- G06F 8/34: Graphical or visual programming
- G05B 2219/23011: Sequence control design using pc, cad of control system CADCS
- G06F 9/451: Execution arrangements for user interfaces
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A support device that supports development of a sequence program executed by a control device includes an operation reception module that receives an operation on the support device, and setting module that sets a switching option of a display mode for a call instruction selected from call instructions of a unit program in the sequence program in accordance with the operation received. When the sequence program is displayed, the call instruction is switched to an image of a circuit configuration represented by a sequence logic defined by a corresponding unit program based on the option set and displayed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A support device that supports development of a sequence program executed by a control device that controls a control target, the support device comprising:
a storage unit;
an operation reception unit configured to receive an operation on the support device; and
a setting unit configured to set a switching option of a display mode for at least one call instruction selected from call instructions of a unit program in the sequence program in accordance with the operation received, wherein
when the sequence program is displayed, the at least one call instruction is switched to an image of a circuit configuration represented by a sequence logic defined by a corresponding unit program based on the option set and displayed.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The support device according to claim 1, further comprising a monitor configured to acquire a circuit output state indicating an execution state of the sequence program from the control device and visualize the execution state of the sequence program in the control device based on sequence circuit information defining a circuit configuration of the sequence program and the circuit output state acquired.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The support device according to claim 2, wherein
the circuit output state includes a circuit output state indicating an execution state of the at least one unit program selected, and
the monitor visualizes the circuit output state indicating the execution state of the at least one unit program in the image of the circuit configuration of the unit program.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The support device according to claim 3, further comprising an editor configured to edit the sequence program, wherein
the editor edits the sequence logic defined by the unit program based on an operation of changing the image of the circuit configuration of the unit program.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The support device according to claim 1, wherein
the option set for the at least one call instruction is enabled or disabled in accordance with the operation received.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The support device according to claim 1, further comprising an editor configured to edit the sequence program, wherein
the setting unit sets the switching option when the sequence program is edited.

### Claim 7

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a method for supporting development of a sequence program executed by a control device that controls a control target, the method comprising:
receiving an operation on the computer;
setting a switching option of a display mode for at least one call instruction selected from call instructions of a unit program in the sequence program in accordance with the operation received; and
switching, when the sequence program is displayed, the at least one call instruction to an image of a circuit configuration represented by a sequence logic defined by a corresponding unit program based on the option set and displaying switched the image of a circuit configuration.