Patent · US Active

Protocol converter and automation system

US11778073B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by

3References

19Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Beckhoff Automation GmbH · DE

Inventors

Holger Büttner · Verl, DE
Jens Sachs · Petershagen, DE
Robert Zutz · Verl, DE
Daniel Schlotthauer · Berlin, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Oct 18, 2022
Grant date	Oct 3, 2023
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Oct 18, 2042

Classification

Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
CPC primaryH04L2012/4026
WIPO fieldDigital communication
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In an automation system, a protocol converter is provided between a first network and a second network for converting safety-related messages between the first and second networks that use different network protocols for message exchange. In the protocol converter, a single-channel filter connected to a single-channel interface determines messages having a first safety communication protocol from messages received from the interface over the first network and messages having a second safety communication protocol received over the second network. An at least dual-channel safety module connected to the single-channel filter then converts the messages with the first safety communication protocol determined by the single-channel filter into messages with the second safety communication protocol, or converts the messages with the second safety communication protocol determined by the single-channel filter into messages with the first safety communication protocol.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.