Fail-Safe Safety Control With Virtual Functional Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety devices require significant hardware upgrades and development efforts to expand functionality, limiting their flexibility and increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a safety device with a fail-safe processor unit that utilizes virtual functional elements controlled by a terminal device, allowing functionality expansion through data transmission and verification, ensuring tamper-proof and fail-safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If hardware upgrades are performed to expand functionality, then functionality is improved, but device complexity and development effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of functional elements through software rather than physical hardware. Virtual functional elements are generated and activated in a terminal device based on configuration data, allowing functionality expansion without adding physical components to the safety device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical hardware expansion approach with a software-based system. Instead of physically upgrading hardware to add functionality, the system uses a fail-safe processor unit that generates virtual functional elements through data transmission and software configuration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If hardware upgrades are performed to expand functionality, then functionality is improved, but development effort and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the safety device dynamically configurable through software. The fail-safe processor unit can generate different virtual functional elements based on configuration data, allowing the device to adapt its functionality without physical reconfiguration or hardware changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The fail-safe processor unit serves multiple functions: it monitors safety conditions, generates virtual functional elements, and manages configuration data. This universal component replaces the need for multiple specialized hardware modules, reducing development effort and manufacturing complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If virtual functional elements are implemented, then adaptability is improved, but safety verification requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a verification and confirmation mechanism where the fail-safe processor unit sends verification signals to the terminal device to confirm that virtual functional elements are correctly implemented. This feedback loop ensures safety verification without preventing functionality expansion.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a safety device (1) comprising a safety device (2) having a fail-safe processor unit (6). An end device with a control module is associated with the safety device (2), the control module being configured to establish data transmission between itself and the fail-safe processor unit (6). By means of this data transmission, a configuration with functionalities of the safety device (2) is transferred from the fail-safe processor unit (6) to the control module, and, depending on the configuration in the end device, at least one virtual functional element for the safety device (2) is activated by means of the control module. The invention further relates to a method for operating a safety device.