Control system for controlling safety-critical and non-safety-critical processes

US9244454B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• ABB AG · US

Inventors

• Heinrich Neupärtl · Lampertheim, DE
• Gernot Gaub · Hockenheim, DE
• Jürgen Stoll · Ergolding, DE
• Brigitte Blei · Berlin, DE
• Yauheni Veryha · Mannheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 23, 2012
• Grant date: Jan 26, 2016
• Expiry date: Aug 8, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05B2219/25431
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A control system controls safety-critical and non-safety-critical processes and/or system components. The system includes a first control unit for controlling the non-safety-critical process and/or the non-safety-critical system components, at least one input/output unit connected to the first control unit, a communication coupler, which is connected to the first control unit via an internal coupler bus, and a second control unit for controlling the safety-critical process and/or the safety-critical system components. For providing safety-related functions, the second control unit includes a first dual-port RAM and at least two processors, only one of which is connected to the first dual-port RAM. The second control unit communicates with the first control unit via the first dual-port RAM and the internal coupler bus, and the first control unit transmits data from the second control unit to the communication coupler via the internal coupler bus and a second dual-port RAM integrated into the communication coupler.