Method for operating safety control in an automation network, and automation network having such safety control allowing mixed safety integrity levels

US10732594B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Beckhoff Automation GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Jens Sachs · Petershagen, DE
• Frank Schiller · Amberg, DE
• Holger Büttner · Verl, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 30, 2017
• Grant date: Aug 4, 2020
• Expiry date: Dec 17, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05B2219/33273
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method operates a safety control in an automation network having a master subscriber which carries out the safety control, at least one first slave subscriber which is assigned a first safety integrity level, and at least one second slave subscriber which is assigned a second safety integrity level. The first safety integrity level and the second safety integrity level differ from each other. A first safety code determination method is assigned to the first slave subscriber and a second safety code determination method is assigned to the second slave subscriber. The first safety code determination method and the second safety code determination method differ from each other. The master subscriber and the first slave subscriber use the first safety code determination method for interchanging a safety data block. The master subscriber and the second slave subscriber use the second safety code determination method for interchanging a safety data block.