Circuit Arrangement With Internal Data Sensor for Safety Monitoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current safety-critical automation tasks in machines require continuous monitoring and control, but standard hardware is inadequate for ensuring safe system states during errors or emergencies without interrupting processes, necessitating the use of fault-tolerant systems and external test systems, which are costly.
Innovation Solution
A circuit arrangement with both internal and external data sensors that can create safety signals, allowing for the monitoring and adjustment of control functions, enabling safe system states to be achieved using standard hardware by uncovering random errors and facilitating time-critical tests and interventions, such as emergency stops, without the need for external test systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated fault-tolerant hardware and external test systems are used for safety-critical automation tasks, then reliability and safety monitoring capability are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the safety monitoring function with the standard control hardware by integrating an internal data sensor within the electronic computing device. This merging eliminates the need for separate dedicated safety hardware while maintaining safety monitoring capability, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic computing device is designed to serve dual purposes: standard control functions and safety-critical monitoring functions. The internal data sensor enables the same hardware to perform both control and safety monitoring, making the system multi-functional and eliminating the need for separate dedicated safety systems
2Measurement precision
If external test systems are integrated for safety testing, then measurement precision and error detection capability are improved, but ease of manufacture and integration complexity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The internal data sensor is integrated directly into the electronic computing device's control function, eliminating separate external test systems. This integration simplifies manufacturing while maintaining error detection capability, as the safety monitoring is embedded within the existing hardware architecture rather than requiring additional external components
Solution Approach 2:
The control function performs self-monitoring through the internal data sensor, which continuously checks the operational state and generates safety signals when errors are detected. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external test systems and complex integration, as the system monitors and tests itself autonomously
3Device complexity
If standard hardware is used for safety-critical tasks, then cost is reduced, but reliability and safety guarantee capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enhances specific critical components within the standard hardware by adding the internal data sensor to the electronic computing device. This local quality improvement focuses safety monitoring resources on the most critical control functions, allowing standard hardware to achieve safety-critical reliability where it matters most without requiring expensive dedicated safety hardware throughout the entire system
Solution Approach 2:
The internal data sensor continuously monitors the control function's operational state and provides feedback through safety signals to the safety device. This feedback mechanism enables standard hardware to detect and respond to errors in real-time, guaranteeing safety even when using cost-effective standard components rather than expensive dedicated safety hardware
4Loss of time
If time-critical safety interventions are implemented, then response time is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety monitoring function is merged into the control function itself, with the internal data sensor integrated within the electronic computing device. This merging eliminates communication delays between separate safety and control systems, enabling time-critical safety interventions to be executed directly within the same hardware platform without adding external complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The control function performs self-monitoring and self-testing through the internal data sensor, which continuously checks operational state and can immediately trigger safety interventions when errors are detected. This self-service capability eliminates the need for external test systems and complex inter-system communication, achieving time-critical response while maintaining simple integrated architecture
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a circuit arrangement (14) for controlling a machine (12), comprising at least one first electronic computing unit (18) with a control function (20) for generating a control signal (28) for the machine (12), wherein the first electronic computing unit (18) has at least one internal data sensor (22) for generating a first safety signal (30) for a safety device (16) for the machine (12), wherein an external data sensor (26) is provided which is coupled to the internal data sensor (22), wherein the external data sensor (26) is configured to generate a second safety signal (32) for the safety device (16). The invention further relates to a machine system (10) and a method.