Control system for controlling safety-critical processes

US8509927B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG · DE

Inventors

• Joachim Schmidt · Schlangen, DE
• Steffen Horn · Steinheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 9, 2010
• Grant date: Aug 13, 2013
• Expiry date: Jun 15, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05B19/0428
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention relates to a control system for controlling safety-critical processes in an automated system by using a communications network with a communications master for controlling the communications on the network and a plurality of network subscribers. At least a few of the network subscribers are constructed as decentralized, secure network subscribers, and each has a separate, decentralized safety controller for controlling a safety-relevant application. Each of the decentralized, secure network subscribers has a unique safety address. The decentralized, secure network subscribers themselves execute the safety functions and/or safety logic operations relevant to them. The decentralized, secure network subscribers communicate with each other in a fail-safe way in which each executes automatic, fail-safe point-to-point communications with another of the decentralized, secure network subscribers, in order to be able to provide safety functions covering the decentralized, secure network subscribers.