Intelligent graphic operation panel and highlighting contol method

An intelligent graphic operation panel comprising a memory in which a plurality of pieces of display screen data for displaying screens used for display of various states and signals inputs are previously registered for respective screens and in which component data for the display screen data are also previously registered for respective components;

• a display device for displaying a screen corresponding to required display screen data among the registered display screen data for the plurality of screens;
• input means for designating a form of input with respect to an operation switch for signal input in the display screen being displayed on the display device;
• and control means for executing a required display operation on the display device in accordance with an instruction from an external control device connected thereto and an inner process and for transmitting information on the operation switch for signal input in the display screen being displayed on the display device to the external control device,
• wherein the display screen data for each screen includes, in correspondence with the relevant display screen, either part of or all of information, which are:
• component data corresponding to one or a plurality of components contained in a relevant screen;
• first fixed display element information for displaying a display element whose display content does not change, among the display elements displayed on the relevant screen other than said one or the plurality of components;
• first variable display element information for displaying a display element whose display content changes, among the display elements displayed on the relevant screen other than said one or the plurality of components;
• first input element information that effects correspondence between the input means and the operation switch for signal input contained in the relevant component, among the display elements displayed on the relevant screen other than said one or the plurality of components;
• screen unit operation program information in which operation procedures for achieving a function of these display elements, with respect to the display element displayed on the relevant screen other than said one or the plurality of components, while the relevant screen is being allocated on the display device and during an operation period of the intelligent graphic operation panel;
• and
• screen arrangement information having stored locations in the memory of the first fixed display element information, the first variable display element information, the first input element information and the screen unit operation program information that are contained in the relevant screen,
• wherein the component data contained in the display screen data includes, in correspondence with the relevant component, part of or all of the information, which are;
• second fixed display element information for displaying a display element whose display content does not change, among the display data relative to the relevant component;
• second variable display element information for displaying a display element whose display content changes, among the display data relative to the relevant component;
• second input element information that effects correspondence between the input means and the operation switch for signal input contained in the relevant component;
• component unit operation program information in which required operation procedures for achieving a function of the relevant component itself, while the relevant component is being allocated on the display device and during the operation period of the intelligent graphic operation panel are described;
• component arrangement information having stored locations in the memory of the second fixed display element information, the second variable display element information, the second input element information and the component unit operation program information that are contained in the relevant component;
• and
• component position data indicative of a display position of the relevant component on the screen, and
• wherein the control means interprets the screen unit operation program and the component unit operation program which are contained in the relevant screen data in accordance with an instruction from the external control device or an inner process, to execute a process corresponding to a result of the interpretation.