Failsafe data output system and automation system having the same

US6826433B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Herbert Barthel · Herzogenaurach, DE
• Johannes Birzer · Stulln, DE
• Heiner Fuchs · Erlangen, DE
• Hartmut Von Krosigk · Erlangen, DE
• Hartmut Schuetz · Heroldsbach, DE
• Andreas Schenk · Erlangen, DE
• Armin Trauth · Landau, DE
• Karl Weber · Witten, DE
• Joerg-Peter Zaech · Nuremberg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 7, 2000
• Grant date: Nov 30, 2004
• Expiry date: Nov 7, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05B2219/25428
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An apparatus for and a method of operating an automation system. A processing unit subjects useful information which is received via a telegram to a user designated logic operation and drives an output channel in accordance with a result of the logic operation. The processing unit monitors a time sequence of process data transmitted with the useful information and drives the output channel only when the time sequence lies within predetermined tolerances. A monitoring unit monitors the processing unit and shifts the output channel to a safe condition as soon as a malfunction of the processing unit is detected. The output channel may include a readback channel which reads back a signal applied to the output channel whereby the monitoring unit compares the applied signal and the readback signal and shifts the output channel to a safe state if the applied signal and the readback signal differ.