Processor generating control programs for a programmable controller

A terminal for generating a program usable by a programmable controller for automatic control of an industrial process including safety devices, operating modes, successive steps of the program each comprising at least one action of the automatic control which must be executed when the step is active, and transitions between the successive steps, each of said transitions being controlled by a corresponding logic circuit including detection means, said terminal comprising:

• a display device;
• a keyboard on which data can be entered by an operator, said keyboard having at least one first set of function keys, a second set of keys respectively assigned to graphic symbols which represent at least electric contacts, coils, function blocks and electrical connections in a contact type representation, a third set of keys assigned to graphic symbols which represent at least the steps and the transitions in a sequential type representation, and a fourth set of alphanumeric keys for entering parameters associated to the graphic symbols;
• and
• a processor having means for scanning the keyboard, means for displaying on the display device the data introduced on the keyboard so as to form on the display device a diagrammatic representation of the automatic control, and means for generating said program from said diagrammatic representation, wherein said diagrammatic representation is effected according to a sequence comprising the following phases:
• a first phase during which there is formed on the display device, using the corresponding keys of the keyboard, a representation of the safety devices and operating modes of the process;
• a second phase during which there is formed on the display device, using the corresponding keys of the keyboard, a sequential type graphic representation defining the chaining of the steps and transitions of the automatic control;
• a third phase during which there is formed on the display device, by means of the corresponding alphanumeric keys, a literal type display of logic expressions defining the actions of the automatic control which must be carried out when the steps which are associated therewith are active, said sequence further comprising an additional phase during which a literal type display is formed of logic expressions defining logic circuits associated with each of the transitions.

A terminal for generating a program usable by a programmable controller for automatic control of an industrial process including operating modes, successive steps of the program each comprising at least one action of the automatic control which must be executed when the step is active, and transitions between the successive steps, each of said transitions being controlled by a corresponding logic circuit including detection means, said terminal comprising:

• a display device;
• a keyboard on which data can be entered by an operator, said keyboard having at least one first plurality of function keys, a second plurality of keys respectively assigned to graphic symbols each representing an element of a diagrammatic representation of the automatic control;
• and
• a processor having means for scanning the keyboard, means for displaying on the display device the graphic symbols introduced on the keyboard so as to form on the display device the diagrammatic representation, and means for generating said program from the data entered on the keyboard for obtaining said diagrammatic representation,
• said second plurality of keys comprises a first set of keys respectively assigned to graphic symbols which represent at least electrical contacts, coils, function blocks and electrical connections in a contact type representation and a second set of keys assigned to graphic symbols which represent at least the steps and the transitions in a sequential type representation, and
• said diagrammatic representation comprises at least three distinct parts:
• one first part comprising a contact type representation of the operating modes of the process, this first part being obtained by using said first set of keys;
• the second part comprising a sequential type representation of the steps and the transitions of the automatic control, this second part being obtained by using at least said second set of keys, and
• a third part comprising a contact type representation defining the actions of the automatic control which must be executed when the steps which are associated therewith are active, this third part being obtained by using at least said first set of keys.