WE CLAIM:
[Claim 1] A display screen generation apparatus connected to a programmable
logic controller (PLC) to which a plurality of equipments are connected, the display screen generation apparatus comprising:
an input unit to accept input from a user;
a communication unit to execute communication with the PLC;
a display unit to display a screen; and
a control unit including a display content setting unit, a layout setting unit, and a screen generation unit, the display content setting unit displaying a display content setting screen including a candidate list of a display item based on at least one of network configuration information, an equipment information file, and device allocation information to the display unit, and setting display content based on input information coming from the input unit, the network configuration information being created in advance and concerning a network configuration of the plurality of equipments and the PLC, the equipment information file concerning the plurality of equipments, the device allocation information concerning a device allocation of the plurality of equipments and the PLC, the layout setting unit displaying a layout setting screen including a candidate list of a screen layout to the display unit and setting a screen layout based on the input information coming from the input unit, the screen generation unit generating a display screen based on the display content which is set by the display content setting unit, the screen layout which is set by the layout setting unit, and information which is acquired via the communication unit and which concerns the PLC. [Claim 2] The display screen generation apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the control unit includes a screen type setting unit to set a display screen type indicating a type of a display screen, and the screen layout is information concerning an
arrangement of a screen frame corresponding to an on-screen screen type of the display
screen.
[Claim 3] The display screen generation apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the screen type is an input/output information screen, an operation information screen, or a command display screen,
wherein when the screen type is an input/output information screen, a candidate list of a display item which the display content setting unit displays on the display content setting screen includes a display item based on information acquired from the equipment information file,
wherein when the screen type is an operation information screen, a candidate list of a display item which the display content setting unit displays on the display content setting screen includes a display item based on information acquired from the network configuration information, and
wherein when the screen type is a command display screen, a candidate list of a display item which the display content setting unit displays on the display content setting screen includes a display item based on information acquired from the equipment information file, and the candidate list of the display item is linked to allocation information acquired from the device allocation information. [Claim 4] The display screen generation apparatus according to claim 1,.
wherein the display unit displays the display content setting screen, the layout setting screen, and the display screen on one screen. [Claim 5] The display screen generation apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the display content setting unit fixes setting of at least part of the display content based on the input information coming from the input unit and appearing on the display content setting screen, so that setting of display content which
is set fixedly cannot be changed.
[Claim 6] A factory automation system comprising:
the display screen generation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5;
a display to display the display screen generated by the display screen > generation apparatus;
a plurality of equipments; and
a PLC to which the plurality of equipments are connected. [Claim 7] A display screen generation method of generating a display screen in
a display apparatus connected to a programmable logic controller (PLC) to which a ) plurality of equipments are connected, the display screen generation method comprising:
an information acquisition step of acquiring at least one of network configuration information, an equipment information file, and device allocation information, the network configuration information being created in advance and 5 concerning a network configuration of the plurality of equipments and the PLC, the equipment information file concerning the plurality of equipments, the device allocation information concerning a device allocation of the plurality of equipments and the PLC;
a display content setting step of setting display content based on input information of a user coming via an input unit and appearing on a display content 3 setting screen which displays a candidate list of a display item based on at least one of network configuration information, an equipment information file, and device allocation information which are acquired in the information acquisition step; and
a layout setting step of setting a screen layout of the display screen based on the input information of the user coming via the input unit and appearing on a layout 5 setting screen which displays a candidate list of a screen layout.