Safety Circuit Interconnection via Hierarchical Matrices
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of industrial automation arrangements makes it difficult to clearly represent and interconnect safety circuits, leading to a lack of clarity in project planning and the often required proof of a functioning safety concept.
Innovation Solution
A method for logically interconnecting safety circuits using safety matrices, where lower-level and higher-level safety circuits are described in separate matrices, generating an overall matrix that clearly shows the interconnections and dependencies, which can be largely automatically generated and edited.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If safety circuits are planned in parallel in complex industrial automation arrangements, then the coverage of safety monitoring is improved, but the clarity of representation and interconnection becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex safety circuit system into hierarchical levels (higher-level safety circuits and lower-level safety circuits) and represents each level separately in the safety matrix. This segmentation allows comprehensive safety monitoring while maintaining clarity by organizing the large number of safety circuits into manageable groups that can be planned and approved as distinct units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to the safety circuit representation by organizing circuits into different levels (higher-level and lower-level) within the safety matrix. This dimensional organization transforms the flat, complex interconnection problem into a structured hierarchical system where relationships are clearly defined across levels, improving both coverage and clarity.
2Ease of manufacture
If safety circuits are divided into small shutdown groups (island solutions), then the ease of approval by authorities is improved, but the device complexity for manual configuration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple small shutdown groups (island solutions) into a unified safety matrix structure that maintains their individual identities as lower-level safety circuits while establishing clear hierarchical relationships with higher-level safety circuits. This merging approach preserves the approval advantages of small groups while eliminating the complexity of manual cross-configuration through automated matrix generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety matrix serves multiple functions simultaneously: it represents individual small shutdown groups for approval purposes, establishes hierarchical relationships between different safety levels, and provides a comprehensive overview of all safety circuit interconnections. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate manual configuration processes while maintaining the benefits of segmented safety groups.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manually configured cross-communication is used to connect island solutions, then the flexibility of individual safety circuit planning is improved, but the loss of time for project planning increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by automatically generating the overall safety matrix from the hierarchical relationships between higher-level and lower-level safety circuits before final project planning. This preliminary matrix generation establishes all necessary cross-communication connections in advance, preserving the flexibility of individual safety circuit designs while eliminating the time-consuming manual configuration process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the structured information from approved small shutdown groups (island solutions) as templates or copies to automatically generate the comprehensive safety matrix. This copying approach maintains the flexibility and approval status of individual safety circuits while rapidly creating the overall interconnection plan without manual configuration time.
Data Source
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AI summary
The method involves describing a subordinate of a set of protection circuits (SK) and a super-ordinate of the set of protection circuits in respective safety matrices (BM-M, NA-M, SK-M), and generating an overall matrix from the safety matrices of the subordinate and the super-ordinate of the protection circuits. The overall matrix is utilized to provide an indication of a connection of the set of protection circuits. Each of the set of protection circuits is recorded in a project description of an industrial automation arrangement. An independent claim is also included for a configuration device for an industrial automation arrangement.