Robot Safety Input Circuit for Flexible Peripheral Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing industrial robots face challenges in flexibly configuring and using different types and quantities of safety peripherals due to fixed safety input signal interfaces, necessitating expensive safety relays and limiting adaptability to varying application requirements.
Innovation Solution
A safety control system with multiple input interface circuits that determine the type of connected safety input devices, generate test signals, and receive feedback to identify abnormalities, allowing flexible configuration without additional safety relays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed safety input signal interfaces are used, then the robot control system meets safety architecture standards, but the system cannot flexibly configure different types and quantities of safety peripherals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality by enabling the robot controller to automatically identify and adapt to different types of safety input devices (mechanical switches, electronic sensors, pressure sensors) through a unified interface. The controller performs automatic device type detection and selects appropriate test signals and evaluation criteria, eliminating the need for separate dedicated circuits for each device type while maintaining safety architecture compliance.
2Reliability
If dedicated safety relays are added to convert signals from pressure sensors or electronic safety signals, then the safety architecture is met, but the system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the safety relay function from the system by implementing safety signal processing directly within the robot controller. The controller internally generates test signals, receives feedback from safety input devices, and evaluates safety status without requiring external safety relays or intermediate conversion devices, thereby reducing component quantity while maintaining safety compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an automatic device type detection mechanism as an intermediary between the safety input device and the safety evaluation logic. This intermediary automatically identifies the device type (mechanical switch, electronic sensor, pressure sensor) and selects the appropriate test signal and evaluation criteria, enabling direct connection without dedicated safety relays or manual configuration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If fixed types and quantities of safety peripherals are accessed, then the safety control system is simple, but it cannot cope with flexible practical application requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the robot controller to automatically detect safety input device types, select appropriate test signals, and evaluate safety status without manual intervention. The system autonomously adapts to different device configurations (mechanical switches, electronic sensors, pressure sensors) and quantities, eliminating the need for manual configuration while maintaining operational simplicity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present application relates to the field of safety control and discloses a safety control method, a safety control circuit, and a safety control system for a robot. The safety control circuit includes a plurality of input interface circuits, and the plurality of input interface circuits may be connected to a plurality of safety input devices in one-to-one correspondence. The safety control method includes: determining first type information of each of the plurality of safety input device connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of input interface circuits; generating a test signal based on the first type information; transmitting the test signal to the corresponding one of the plurality of input interface circuits and receiving, from the corresponding one of the plurality of input interface circuits, a feedback signal of the each safety input device connected to the corresponding one of the plurality of input interface circuits to the test signal; determining whether the each safety input device is abnormal based on the feedback signal; and controlling the robot to execute a safety strategy in response to abnormality. In the present application, corresponding test signals are output according to the first type information of the safety input devices connected to different input interface circuits, there is no need to dispose additional dedicated safety relay as the intermediate transition, which may effectively reduce costs and flexibly configure the quantity and types of the connected safety input devices.