FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]
SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT
DEVICE, SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION
SUPPORT METHOD, AND SYSTEM
CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT PROGRAM;
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION,
A CORPORATION ORGANISED AND
EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF
JAPAN, WHOSE ADDRESS IS 7-3,
MARUNOUCHI 2-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU,
TOKYO 1008310, JAPAN
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE
INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN
WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED.

2
DESCRIPTION
Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a system
5 construction support device, a system construction support
method, and a system construction support program that
support construction of a system composed of a plurality of
units.
10 Background
[0002] A programmable logic controller (hereinafter,
referred to as a PLC) system is constructed by combining
two or more units. That is, a user of the PLC system
selects necessary units from two or more types of units,
15 and combines the selected units to construct the PLC system.
Patent Literature 1 describes a PLC system construction
support tool that supports construction work of a PLC
system.
[0003] The PLC system construction support tool
20 described in Patent Literature 1 has a function of
calculating total values of specifications such as the
width, the weight, and the current consumption of each of
units constituting the PLC system and displaying the total
values on a screen each time the user selects a unit. The
25 PLC system construction support tool described in Patent
Literature 1 also has a function of displaying the units
constituting the PLC system in box graphics and displaying
information on the units in a text format.
30 Citation List
Patent Literature
[0004] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application
Laid-open No. 2002-108421

3
Summary
Technical Problem
[0005] The inventive technique described in Patent
5 Literature 1 displays all units in equal box forms
regardless of the types of the units, and displays
information sets on the units in a text format in their
respective box forms. For that reason, to know the types
of the units, it is necessary to refer to the information
10 sets displayed in the box forms imitating the units, and so
if the number of units increases, it takes much time to
grasp the information sets on the units. This has led to
some problem. For example, in a case where communication
with another device becomes unnecessary, there is a
15 possibility that it takes much time to find a unit to be
removed in spite of a situation that the user wants to
remove a unit having a function of such communication. The
units constituting the PLC system include many types, such
as an input unit, an output unit, a network unit for
20 communicating with other systems via a network, a CPU
(central processing unit) unit that controls each unit, and
a power supply unit that supplies electric power to each
unit. In addition, the input unit includes several types,
such as an input unit for inputting an analog signal, and
25 an input unit for inputting a digital signal. Further,
there are input units and output units with different
numbers of signals that can be handled at the same time.
When information on these various types of units is
displayed using textual information, an amount of
30 information increases, and a user’s load is increased of
work for confirming differences between the units from the
textual information.
[0006] The present invention has been made in view of

4
the above circumstances, and its object is to provide a
system construction support device that enables a user to
easily grasp specifications of the units constituting a
system composed of two or more units.
5
Solution to Problem
[0007] In order to solve the problems described above
and achieve the object, a system construction support
device according to the present invention comprises: an
10 operation receiving unit to receive an operation of a user;
and a display control unit to display, on a display unit, a
screen for supporting construction work of a system
constructed of a plurality of units, based on a content of
the operation received by the operation receiving unit.
15 When the operation receiving unit receives a predetermined
specific operation, the display control unit displays, on
the display unit, a unit specification image representing a
specification of each of the units constituting the system
in a graphic form, in association with a unit image that is
20 an image representing a unit.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0008] The system construction support device according
to the present invention has an advantageous effect that
25 the user can easily grasp the specifications of units
constituting the system composed of two or more units.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0009]
30 FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration
example of a system construction support device according
to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration

5
example of hardware by which the system construction
support device according to the embodiment can be
implemented.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of
5 displaying a PLC system editing screen display information
on a display unit by the system construction support device
according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of
specification images represented by various kinds of image
10 data held by a specification information holding unit of
the system construction support device according to the
embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of
displaying a unit list display information on the display
15 unit by the system construction support device according to
the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a
screen displayed in a PLC system editing area by the system
construction support device according to the embodiment.
20 FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a
screen displayed in a case where the system construction
support device according to the embodiment receives an
operation of designating one of unit specification images
from a user.
25 FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a modification of
specification information held by the system construction
support device according to the embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an
operation of displaying an explanation of a specification
30 in a case where the system construction support device
according to the embodiment detects that a mouse pointer is
positioned on the unit specification image.

6
Description of Embodiments
[0010] Hereinafter, a system construction support device,
a system construction support method, and a system
construction support program according to an embodiment of
5 the present invention will be described in detail with
reference to the drawings. Incidentally, the invention is
not necessarily limited by the embodiment. In addition, in
the following description, a specification means a type of
a signal handled by a unit that is a device constituting a
10 PLC system, a direction of the signal handled by the unit,
the number of signals that can be handled by the unit at
the same time, a capacity of a power supply that can be
supplied by the unit to another unit, and an amount of
current caused when the unit operates (hereinafter referred
15 to as “current consumption of a unit”). The type of the
signal means any of a digital signal in which an ON or OFF
state continues, an analog signal, a pulse signal, and a
signal conforming to a communication protocol, and the
direction of the signal means either an input signal or an
20 output signal. It is noted that the specifications
described above are enumerated as specifications used in
the description of the embodiment, but types of
specifications that can be handled by the system
construction support device are not limited to these
25 mentioned specifications.
[0011] Embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration
example of the system construction support device according
to the embodiment of the present invention. A system
30 construction support device 100 according to the present
embodiment includes a display unit 1, a control unit 2, and
a data holding unit 3.
[0012] The display unit 1 displays a screen for

7
supporting work of a user constructing a PLC system, in
accordance with an instruction of the control unit 2.
Examples of the screen displayed by the display unit 1
include a unit list display 11 and a PLC system editing
5 screen display 12 illustrated in FIG. 1. Another screen
other than the unit list display 11 and the PLC system
editing screen display 12 is also displayed on the display
unit 1 as appropriate.
[0013] The control unit 2 includes a unit list
10 generating unit 21, an association image generating unit 22,
a unit searching unit 23, a unit specification searching
unit 24, and an operation receiving unit 25. The unit list
generating unit 21 generates a screen to be displayed as
the unit list display 11, based on data held in the data
15 holding unit 3, and displays the screen generated on the
display unit 1. The association image generating unit 22
generates an image to be displayed in association with each
of units constituting the PLC system in the PLC system
editing screen display 12, based on the data held in the
20 data holding unit 3, and generates a screen to be displayed
as the PLC system editing screen display 12 using the
generated image. The association image generating unit 22
displays the generated screen on the display unit 1. The
unit searching unit 23 executes search processing on the
25 data held by the data holding unit 3 to acquire data of an
image representing a unit, necessary for generating the
unit list display 11 and the PLC system editing screen
display 12. The unit specification searching unit 24
executes search processing on the data held by the data
30 holding unit 3 to acquire information on the specifications
of the unit necessary for generating the unit list display
11 and the PLC system editing screen display 12. The
operation receiving unit 25 receives an operation of the

8
user.
[0014] In the control unit 2 having such a configuration,
when the operation receiving unit 25 receives a
predetermined specific operation, the unit list generating
5 unit 21 and the association image generating unit 22
execute the operation described above to display the unit
list display 11 and the PLC system editing screen display
12 on the display unit 1. The predetermined specific
operation is an operation of giving an instruction to start
10 editing the PLC system, and includes, for example, an
operation of selecting a new construction of the PLC system
on a menu screen displayed on the display unit 1, an
operation of selecting a modification of the PLC system
already constructed on the menu screen, and the like. Here,
15 the unit list display 11 and the PLC system editing screen
display 12 are screens for supporting user’s construction
work of the PLC system. The unit list generating unit 21
and the association image generating unit 22 serve as a
display control unit 20 that displays, on the display unit
20 1, the screens for supporting the construction work of the
PLC system, based on the operation received by the
operation receiving unit 25.
[0015] The data holding unit 3 includes a unit
information holding unit 31, a unit specification
25 information holding unit 32, and a specification
information holding unit 33. The unit information holding
unit 31 holds data (image data in FIG. 1) of a unit image
that is an image schematically representing each unit that
can be used for construction of the PLC in association with
30 a model name that is a name of each unit. The unit
specification information holding unit 32 holds information
on the specifications of each unit that can be used for
construction of the PLC in association with the model name

9
of each unit. The information on the specifications of a
unit is “specification name” and “numerical value”. In the
example illustrated in FIG. 1, a specification name “Input”
represents a digital input, and “numerical value”
5 associated with “Input” means the number of signals that
can be handled by the unit. A specification name
“Consumption” means a current consumption of the unit. The
specification information holding unit 33 holds data (image
data in FIG. 1) of a specification image that is an image
10 representing each specification, in association with a
specification name.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration
example of hardware by which the system construction
support device 100 according to the present embodiment can
15 be realized. The hardware illustrated in FIG. 2 is, for
example, a personal computer, and includes a processor 101,
a memory 102, a display device 103, and an input device 104.
The processor 101 is a CPU, and is also called a central
processing device, a processing device, an arithmetic
20 device, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a digital
signal processor (DSP). The memory 102 is a nonvolatile or
volatile semiconductor memory, such as a random access
memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a flash memory, an
erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), or an
25 electrically erasable programmable read only memory
(EEPROM) (registered trademark), a magnetic disk, a
flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a mini disk,
a digital versatile disk (DVD), or the like. The display
device 103 is a liquid crystal monitor, a display, or the
30 like. The input device 104 is a keyboard, a mouse, or the
like.
[0017] The display unit 1 of the system construction
support device 100 is implemented by the display device 103.

10
The control unit 2 of the system construction support
device 100 is implemented by the processor 101 and the
memory 102. That is, the unit list generating unit 21, the
association image generating unit 22, the unit searching
5 unit 23, the unit specification searching unit 24, and the
operation receiving unit 25 of the control unit 2 are
implemented by the processor 101 reading a program for
implementing functions of these units from the memory 102
and executing the program, the program being held by the
10 memory 102 in advance. The data holding unit 3 of the
system construction support device 100 is implemented by
the memory 102. Incidentally, the input device 104 is used
when the user performs various kinds of operations on the
system construction support device 100. The operation
15 performed on the system construction support device 100 by
the user using the input device 104 is received by the
operation receiving unit 25 of the control unit 2.
[0018] Next, an operation of the system construction
support device 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
20 1 and FIGS. 3 to 9.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation
of displaying the PLC system editing screen display 12 on
the display unit 1 by the system construction support
device 100. When the user performs an operation of adding
25 a unit for constructing the PLC system, the system
construction support device 100 starts the operation
according to FIG. 3. In a case where the unit is added to
the PLC system, the user selects the unit to be added from
units described in the unit list display 11, and places the
30 selected unit in a PLC system editing area 13 in the PLC
system editing screen display 12. For example, the user
selects a unit to be added by designating a specific row of
the unit list display 11 with the mouse, and places the

11
selected unit in the PLC system editing area 13 by drag and
drop. Along with this, the system construction support
device 100 starts the operation according to FIG. 3.
[0020] When the operation of placing the unit in the PLC
5 system editing area 13, that is, the operation of adding
the unit is performed, the control unit 2 acquires, from
the data holding unit 3, information necessary for
displaying, in the PLC system editing area 13, an image
obtained by combining a unit image 14 representing the
10 added unit and a unit specification image 15 representing
the specifications of the added unit. This processing
corresponds to steps S1 to S3 of FIG. 3. Specifically,
first, the unit searching unit 23 of the control unit 2
searches the unit information holding unit 31 using a model
15 name of the unit selected by the user (here, “AAA-8BB/CC”
is selected as an example) as a key, and acquires data of a
unit image imitating the unit of AAA-8BB/CC ("Input.bmp" in
the case of “AAA-8BB/CC”) (step S1).
[0021] Next, the unit specification searching unit 24
20 acquires the specifications of the unit selected by the
user (step S2). In this step S2, the unit specification
searching unit 24 searches the unit specification
information holding unit 32 using the model name (AAA8BB/CC) of the above-mentioned unit selected by the user as
25 a key, and acquires a list of a specification name and a
numerical value of its specification associated with the
model name AAA-8BB/CC of the unit. In the example
illustrated in FIG. 1, the unit specification searching
unit 24 acquires “Input” and “8”, and “Consumption” and
30 “75”, which are associated with AAA-8BB/CC.
[0022] Next, the control unit 2 performs processing
indicated in step S3 repeatedly for the number of
specification lists acquired, that is, the number of lists

12
each consisting of a specification name and a numerical
value of its specification acquired in step S2.
[0023] In the case of the unit of AAA-8BB/CC, since two
lists including a set of “Input” and “8”, and another set
5 of “Consumption” and “75” are acquired in step S2, the
control unit 2 repeats the processing of step S3 twice.
[0024] In step S3, the unit specification searching unit
24 searches the specification information holding unit 33
using one of the specification names acquired in step S2 as
10 a key, and acquires data of a specification image
corresponding to the specification name. For example, the
unit specification searching unit 24 acquires “Input.ico”
in a case where the search key is “Input”. In a case where
two lists of “Input” and “8”, and “Consumption” and “75”
15 are acquired in step S2, the unit specification searching
unit 24 acquires the specification image “Input.ico”
corresponding to the specification “Input” in the first
step S3, and acquires the specification image “Consum.ico”
corresponding to the specification “Consumption” in the
20 second step S3.
[0025] Next, the control unit 2 combines the unit image
represented by the data acquired in step S1 with each
specification image represented by each data set acquired
in step S3 to generate an image for display (step S4), and
25 displays the generated image in the PLC system editing area
13 of the PLC system editing screen display 12 (step S5).
In step S4, the control unit 2 first generates a unit
specification image based on the data acquired in step S3
and the numerical value of the specification acquired in
30 step S2. Specifically, the control unit 2 generates the
unit specification image by converting the numerical value
of the specification into an image and combining this image
with the specification image represented by the data

13
acquired in step S3. Next, the control unit combines the
unit generated specification image with the unit image to
generate an image for display. In a case where the unit
selected by the user is AAA-8BB/CC, the control unit 2
5 generates the unit specification image 15 illustrated in
FIG. 1 and combines this unit specification image 15 with
the unit image 14 to thereby generate the image for display.
The processing of these steps S4 and S5 is performed by the
association image generating unit 22. In step S5, the
10 association image generating unit 22 displays the image at
a position designated by the user’s operation described
above (operation using drag and drop or the like) or a
position derived based on the designated position.
[0026] According to the method described above, the
15 system construction support device 100 can display an
association image that is an image in which the unit image
14 representing the unit selected by the user is combined
with the unit specification image 15, in the PLC system
editing area 13. FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which
20 the unit specification image 15 is superimposed on the unit
image 14, but the unit specification image 15 may be
displayed adjacent to the unit image 14 in such a manner
that the unit specification image 15 is set in line below
the unit image 14, for example. Any display format may be
25 used as long as the display is in a form such that one can
understand that the unit image 14 and the unit
specification image 15 are associated with each other. In
addition, for example, a unit that can input a digital
signal is generally prepared to have a separate setting
30 screen with which a sampling interval and the like can be
set. For that reason, in a case where the user performs an
operation of double-clicking the unit specification image
15 (that is an image representing a digital input in this

14
example) in the PLC system editing area 13, the system
construction support device 100 may make a transition to a
setting screen for the sampling interval.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of
5 the specification images represented by various kinds of
data held by the specification information holding unit 33.
The specification information holding unit 33 holds data
indicating the various specification images illustrated in
FIG. 4. The system construction support device 100
10 generates the unit specification image 15 illustrated in
FIG. 1 by using one or by combining two or more of the
specification images illustrated in FIG. 4, and displays
the unit specification image 15 in the PLC system editing
area 13 in association with a single unit image. By so
15 doing, the system construction support device 100 can
represent the specifications of one unit as an image. As a
result, the user can intuitively know the specifications of
the unit from the specification image associated with the
unit image. In FIG. 4, an example of nine specification
20 images numbered 01 to 09 are illustrated, but the
specification information holding unit 33 may hold data of
specification images other than these nine images. In
addition, a content of the specification image may be
anything as long as the specification of the unit can be
25 known from the image. Besides, it is preferable that these
specification images are defined in advance in accordance
with a standard or the like, and defined ones are used. If
the image is defined by the standard or the like, it is
easy to grasp the specifications of the unit on the PLC
30 system editing screen display 12 regardless of who is a
user using the function.
[0028] Here, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the same image as
the specification image represented by the various kinds of

15
data held by the specification information holding unit 33
may be displayed on the unit list display 11. That is, the
specifications may be indicated by images. In this way,
the specifications of the unit described in the unit list
5 display 11 can be intuitively known. Work can therefore be
easy of searching for the unit of specifications desired by
the user from the units described in the unit list display
11. This leads to an advantage in that a burden can be
reduced on PLC system editing work that is work for
10 constructing the PLC system.
[0029] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation
of displaying the unit list display 11 on the display unit
1 by the system construction support device 100. When an
operation of starting construction of the PLC system is
15 performed by the user, the system construction support
device 100 starts the operation according to FIG. 5.
[0030] In a case where the system construction support
device 100 displays the unit list display 11 on the display
unit 1, first, the unit list generating unit 21 of the
20 control unit 2 requests information on model names of all
the units that can be used in construction of the PLC from
the unit searching unit 23, and the unit searching unit 23
acquires a unit model name list that is a list of model
names of all the units existing in the unit information
25 holding unit 31 (step S11).
[0031] Next, the control unit 2 repeats processing
indicated in steps S12 to S14 for the number of units
acquired, that is, the number of model names of the units
included in the unit model name list acquired in step S11.
30 [0032] In step S12, the unit specification searching
unit 24 selects a model name of one unit in the unit model
name list acquired in step S11, searches the unit
specification information holding unit 32 with the model

16
name as a key, and acquires a list of a specification name
and a numerical value of the specification, corresponding
to the unit model name used as the key. The processing of
this step S12 is similar to the processing of step S2 of
5 FIG. 3 described above. In step S12 repeatedly executed,
when selecting the model name of the unit as the search key,
the unit specification searching unit 24 selects a model
name of a unit that has not been selected in the past.
[0033] In step S13 executed subsequently to step S12,
10 the control unit 2 repeats processing indicated in steps
S131 and S132 for the number of specification lists
acquired, that is, the number of lists consisting of a
specification name and a numerical value of the
specification, acquired in step S12.
15 [0034] In step S131, the unit specification searching
unit 24 searches the specification information holding unit
33 using one of the specification names acquired in step
S12 as a key, and acquires data of the specification image
corresponding to the specification name. The processing of
20 this step S131 is similar to the processing of step S3 of
FIG. 3 described above.
[0035] In the next step S132, the unit specification
searching unit 24 combines the specification image
represented by the data acquired in step S131 with an image
25 obtained by imaging “numerical value” of the specification
corresponding to the specification name used as the key in
step S131 among “numerical values” of the specifications
acquired in step S12, to generate an image to be displayed
on the unit list display 11 (step S132). In step S131
30 repeatedly executed, when selecting the specification name
as the search key, the unit specification searching unit 24
selects a specification name that has not been selected in
the past.

17
[0036] In step S14, the unit list generating unit 21
generates a unit list item that is one item included in the
unit list display using the unit model name list acquired
in step S11 and the image generated in combining processing
5 in step S132. The unit list item is a model name and a
specification displayed on one row of the unit list display
11 illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0037] Upon completion of repetitive processing
indicated in steps S12 to S14, the unit list generating
10 unit 21 generates a unit list by arranging a plurality of
the unit list items generated in step S14 repeatedly
executed, and displays the unit list as the unit list
display 11 (step S15).
[0038] With the method described above, the
15 specification image of the unit can be displayed on the
unit list display 11 and the PLC system editing screen
display 12. Here, in order to support work of a user
searching for units with the same specifications, a
configuration may be used in which a user can select
20 whether to display the specification image of each unit or
not to display. That is, the system construction support
device 100 provides the user with an environment that makes
work easier by enabling the user to select a display format
in accordance with the user’s preference.
25 [0039] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a
screen displayed in the PLC system editing area 13 by the
system construction support device 100. The display
example illustrated in FIG. 6 is an example in a case where
seven units are selected by the user and arranged in the
30 PLC system editing area 13, whereby unit images 51 to 57
are displayed together with the unit specification images.
Specifically, a unit specification image 511 is displayed
to overlap the unit image 51, a unit specification image

18
521 is displayed to overlap the unit image 52, and a unit
specification image 531 is displayed to overlap the unit
image 53. In addition, a unit specification image 541 is
displayed to overlap the unit image 54, a unit
5 specification image 551 is displayed to overlap the unit
image 55, a unit specification image 561 is displayed to
overlap the unit image 56, and a unit specification image
571 is displayed to overlap the unit image 57. In FIG. 6,
for explanation, the unit specification image 521
10 associated with the unit image 52 is illustrated to be
enlarged. The unit specification image 521 of the example
illustrated in FIG. 6 represents that the unit indicated by
the unit image 52 has four analog signal input terminals
and current consumption is 200 mA. As illustrated in FIG.
15 6, the unit specification image 521 represents the
specifications of the unit indicated by the unit image 52
in a graphic form. The same also applies to unit
specification images associated with the other units.
Accordingly, the system construction support device 100
20 enables the user to intuitively conceive the specifications
of the unit from the graphic form represented by the unit
specification image, and the user can easily grasp the
specifications of each unit. In addition, the unit images
51 to 57 have designs imitating the respective units such
25 that the types of the respective units can be visually
discriminated. Therefore, the system construction support
device 100 enables the user to easily grasp the types of
the units from the unit images.
[0040] To make it easier to grasp the specifications of
30 the unit, for example, in a case where the user performs an
operation of designating one of the unit specification
images currently being displayed in the PLC system editing
area 13, the system construction support device 100 may

19
display a specification explanation display corresponding
to the designated unit specification image. The user
designates a unit specification image by, for example,
performing an operation of situating a mouse pointer on the
5 unit specification image. That is, in a case where the
user performs an operation of situating the mouse pointer
on the unit specification image, the system construction
support device 100 displays the specification explanation
corresponding to the unit specification image pointed by
10 the mouse pointer. A screen display example at this time
is illustrated in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating
an example of a screen displayed in a case where the system
construction support device 100 receives an operation of
designating one of the unit specification images from the
15 user. As illustrated in FIG. 7, when detecting that a
mouse pointer 41 is positioned on a unit specification
image, the system construction support device 100 displays
a specification explanation display 42 corresponding to the
unit specification image pointed by the mouse pointer 41,
20 in the PLC system editing area 13. In this case, the
specification information holding unit 33 illustrated in
FIG. 1 holds the specification information of a
configuration illustrated in FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a diagram
illustrating a modification of the specification
25 information held by the system construction support device
100. The specification information illustrated in FIG. 8
is constructed to include “specification explanation” and
“unit” in addition to “specification name” and “image data”
illustrated in FIG. 1. The “specification explanation” is
30 an explanation of what a specification represented by the
“specification name” is. “Unit” is a unit of a “numerical
value” of the specification in the information held by the
unit specification information holding unit 32.

20
[0041] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation
of the system construction support device 100 displaying
the specification explanation in a case where the system
construction support device 100 detects that the mouse
5 pointer is positioned on the unit specification image.
[0042] When detecting that the mouse pointer is
positioned on the unit specification image displayed in the
PLC system editing area 13, the control unit 2 of the
system construction support device 100 searches the
10 specification information holding unit 33 using the
specification name of the specification image constituting
the unit specification image corresponding to the position
of the mouse pointer as a key, and acquires the
specification explanation and the unit as specification
15 explanation data (step S21). Next, based on the acquired
explanation data and a “numerical value” associated with
the specification name of the specification image
corresponding to the position of the mouse pointer, the
control unit 2 generates and displays the specification
20 explanation display 42 illustrated in FIG. 7 (step S22).
The processing of steps S21 and S22 is performed by the
association image generating unit 22.
[0043] In this way, even in a case where the
specifications expressed by the unit specification image is
25 no longer known, the contents of the specifications can be
easily confirmed. Incidentally, an example has been
described in a case where the unit specification image
includes one specification image, that is, a case where the
unit specification image is generated by using one of the
30 data sets held in the specification information holding
unit 33, but in a case where the unit specification image
is constructed to include plural specification images, the
specification explanation display may be displayed for one

21
specification image corresponding to the position of the
mouse pointer, or the specification explanation display may
be displayed for all the specification images constructed
of the unit specification image. In a case where the unit
5 specification image corresponding to the position of the
mouse pointer is constructed of the plural specification
images and the specification explanation display is
performed for all the specification images, the control
unit 2 repeatedly searches the specification information
10 holding unit 33 using specification names of the plural
specification images constructed of the unit specification
image as keys in step S21 described above, and acquires the
explanation data set corresponding to each of the
specification names. Then, in step S22 described above,
15 the control unit 2 generates and displays the specification
explanation display based on the plural explanation data
sets.
[0044] As described above, the system construction
support device 100 according to the present embodiment
20 holds the data of the unit images representing the units
that can be incorporated in the PLC system, and the data of
the specification images representing the specification of
the units, and in the case of displaying the unit image
corresponding to the unit selected by the user, displays
25 the unit image in association with the specification image
representing the specification of the selected unit. By
doing so, the user can be informed of the specification of
the unit corresponding to the unit image displayed, using
the specification image. That is, the user can know the
30 specification of the unit from the specification image.
The system construction support device can therefore be
implemented that enables the user to easily confirm the
specifications of the units constituting the PLC system.

22
[0045] In the embodiment described above, an example has
been described in which the user uses the system
construction support device 100, and selects a unit from
units displayed in the unit list display 11 to add the unit
5 to the PLC system, but this is not a limitation to the
invention. The system construction support device 100 has
a function of correcting data of a PLC system already
constructed in the past, a function of newly constructing a
PLC system using the data of the PLC system already
10 constructed in the past, and the like. Also in a case
where the user uses these functions, the system
construction support device 100 displays unit images
representing units constituting the PLC system already
constructed in the past and unit specification images
15 representing the specifications of the units in association
with each other, in the PLC system editing area 13. In
this case, when receiving an operation of giving an
instruction to start using the function of using the data
of the PLC system already constructed in the past, the
20 system construction support device 100 displays a display
similar to the PLC system editing screen display 12
illustrated in FIG. 1, on the display unit 1.
[0046] Incidentally, in the embodiment described above,
the unit specification image is displayed in association
25 with the unit image that is the image imitating the unit,
for all the units constituting the PLC system, but the unit
specification image may be displayed for some of the units.
For example, for the units whose specification can be
easily conceived from the unit image, such as the network
30 unit and the CPU unit, it is not necessary to display the
unit specification image in association with the unit image.
[0047] In addition, in the embodiment described above,
an example has been described of a system construction

23
support device that supports system construction of the PLC
system, but the invention is not limited to this example.
The system construction support device according to the
present invention can support construction of a system as
5 long as the system is a system constructed of two or more
units. For example, the system construction support device
according to the present invention can also be applied to a
case of supporting construction of a servo system composed
of a motor, an amplifier, a controller, and so on. In this
10 case, the motor, the amplifier, the controller, and so on
correspond to the units described above.
[0048] The configuration described in the above
embodiment shows an example of contents of the present
invention, and can be combined with other publicly known
15 techniques and partially omitted and/or modified without
departing from the scope of the present invention.
Reference Signs List
[0049] 1 display unit; 2 control unit; 3 data holding
20 unit; 11 unit list display; 12 PLC system editing screen
display; 13 PLC system editing area; 14, 51 to 57 unit
image; 15, 511, 521, 531, 541, 551, 561, 571 unit
specification image; 20 display control unit; 21 unit
list generating unit; 22 association image generating
25 unit; 23 unit searching unit; 24 unit specification
searching unit; 25 operation receiving unit; 31 unit
information holding unit; 32 unit specification
information holding unit; 33 specification information
holding unit; 41 mouse pointer; 42 specification
30 explanation display; 100 system construction support
device.

24
We Claim:
1. A system construction support device comprising:
an operation receiving unit to receive an operation of
5 a user; and
a display control unit to display, on a display unit,
a screen for supporting construction work of a system
constructed of a plurality of units, based on a content of
the operation received by the operation receiving unit,
10 wherein
when the operation receiving unit receives a
predetermined specific operation, the display control unit
displays, on the display unit, a unit specification image
representing a specification of each of the units
15 constituting the system in a graphic form, in association
with a unit image that is an image representing a unit.
2. The system construction support device according to
claim 1, wherein
20 the display control unit displays, on the display unit,
the unit specification image in a state of being
superimposed on the unit image or in a state of being
adjacent to the unit image.
25 3. The system construction support device according to
claim 1 or 2, wherein
when the operation receiving unit receives an
operation of designating the unit specification image being
displayed on the display unit, the display control unit
30 displays, on the display unit, contents of the
specifications represented by the unit specification image
designated by the operation received by the operation
receiving unit.

25
4. The system construction support device according to
any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
the specifications represented by the unit
5 specification image include a type and a direction of a
signal handled by the unit, the number of signals that can
be handled by the unit, a capacity of a power supply that
can be supplied by the unit to another unit, and a current
consumption of the unit.
10
5. The system construction support device according to
any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising:
a unit information holding unit to hold a plurality of
types of the unit images;
15 a specification information holding unit to hold a
plurality of types of specification images each
representing one of the specifications of the unit;
an operation receiving unit to receive an operation
performed by a user;
20 a unit searching unit to acquire, from the unit
information holding unit, a unit image representing the
unit selected by the unit selecting operation when the
operation receiving unit receives the unit selecting
operation that is an operation of selecting the unit; and
25 a unit specification searching unit to acquire, from
the specification information holding unit, the
specification images corresponding to the specifications of
the unit selected by the unit selecting operation received
by the operation receiving unit, wherein
30 the display control unit
combines the specification images acquired by the unit
specification searching unit to generate the unit
specification image, and combines the generated unit

26
specification image with the unit image acquired by the
unit searching unit to display a combination result on a
screen for supporting the construction work.
5 6. The system construction support device according to
claim 5, wherein
the display control unit displays a list of selectable
units together with the unit specification images on the
display unit when the operation receiving unit receives the
10 unit selecting operation.
7. A system construction support method executed by a
system construction support device that supports
construction work of a system constructed of a plurality of
15 units, the system construction support method comprising:
a step of receiving an operation of giving an
instruction to start construction work of the system; and
a step of displaying, on a display unit, a unit
specification image representing a specification of the
20 unit constituting the system in a graphic form, in
association with a unit image that is an image representing
the unit.
8. The system construction support method according to
25 claim 7, comprising:
a step of receiving an image designation operation
that is an operation of designating the unit specification
image being displayed on the display unit; and
a step of displaying, on the display unit, a content
30 of the specification represented by the unit specification
image designated by the received image designation
operation.

27
9. The system construction support method according to
claim 7 or 8, comprising:
a step of receiving a unit selecting operation that is
an operation of selecting the unit;
5 a step of acquiring a unit image representing a unit
selected by the received unit selecting operation from a
unit information holding unit to hold a plurality of types
of the unit images;
a step of acquiring a specification image
10 corresponding to a specification of the unit selected by
the received unit selecting operation from a specification
information holding unit to hold a plurality of types of
specification images each representing one of the
specifications of a unit;
15 a step of combining the acquired specification images
to generate the unit specification image; and
a step of combining the generated unit specification
image with the acquired unit image to display a combination
result on a screen for supporting the construction work.
20
10. The system construction support method according to
claim 9, wherein
in the step of receiving the unit selecting operation,
a list of selectable units is displayed together with the
25 unit specification images on the display unit.
11. A system construction support program causing a
computer to execute:
a step of receiving an operation of giving an
30 instruction to start construction work of a system
constructed of a plurality of units; and
a step of displaying, on a display unit, a unit
specification image representing a specification of each of

28
the units constituting the system in a graphic form, in
association with a unit image that is an image representing
the unit.
5 12. The system construction support program according to
claim 11, causing the computer to execute:
a step of receiving an image designation operation
that is an operation of designating the unit specification
image being displayed on the display unit; and
10 a step of displaying, on the display unit, a content
of the specification represented by the unit specification
image designated by the received image designation
operation.
15 13. The system construction support program according to
claim 11 or 12, causing the computer to execute:
a step of receiving a unit selecting operation that is
an operation of selecting the unit;
a step of acquiring a unit image representing a unit
20 selected by the received unit selecting operation from a
unit information holding unit to hold a plurality of types
of the unit images;
a step of acquiring a specification image
corresponding to a specification of the unit selected by
25 the received unit selecting operation from a specification
information holding unit to hold a plurality of types of
the specification images each representing one of the
specifications of a unit;
a step of combining the acquired specification images
30 to generate the unit specification image; and
a step of combining the generated unit specification
image with the acquired unit image to display a combination
result on a screen for supporting the construction work.

29
14. The system construction support program according to
claim 13, wherein
in the step of receiving the unit selecting operation,
5 a list of selectable units is displayed together with the
unit specification images on the display unit.