Safety Communication System for Emergency Stop Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing security communication systems in automation technology face challenges in reliably signaling critical system states and localizing the source of emergency stop signals in spatially extended plants, where multiple sensors are required for safety, but existing systems lack robustness and efficiency in signal transmission and localization.
Innovation Solution
A security communication system with an evaluation unit and series-connected subscribers, each equipped with sensors and electronic circuits that modulate signals to indicate system status, allowing the evaluation unit to trigger safety functions and locate critical system state sources, using a signal output, input, and ground connection, with optional transistors and logic modules for signal modulation and error detection, enabling robust signal transmission over long distances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple sensors are provided in spatially extended plants to ensure optimum accessibility in the event of danger, then safety coverage is improved, but system complexity and difficulty of signal transmission increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the safety monitoring function into multiple independent sensor units distributed throughout the plant, each capable of independent operation. Each sensor unit includes its own evaluation circuit that locally determines safety status, segmenting the overall system into modular components that can be independently installed and maintained while collectively providing comprehensive safety coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary communication bus that connects all sensor units to the central evaluation unit. This communication bus acts as a mediator, transmitting safety signals between distributed sensors and the central control system, thereby reducing the complexity of direct wiring while enabling reliable signal transmission across the entire plant.
2Reliability
If multiple sensors are provided to ensure optimum accessibility in the event of danger, then safety coverage is improved, but the difficulty of localizing the source of emergency stop signals increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each sensor unit is equipped with a unique local identification characteristic or position indicator that enables the central evaluation unit to distinguish between different sensors. This local quality differentiation allows the system to not only detect safety issues but also precisely identify which specific sensor triggered the alarm, thereby localizing the source of emergency stop signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where each sensor unit continuously reports its status to the central evaluation unit through the communication bus. This feedback loop enables real-time monitoring and precise tracking of which sensor is in the critical state, allowing the system to localize the source of emergency signals by analyzing the feedback information from individual sensor units.
3Reliability
If a robust signal transmission system is implemented to ensure reliable signaling over long distances, then signal reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical wiring systems with an electronic communication bus that transmits signals electrically. This substitution eliminates the need for physical cable connections between each sensor and the evaluation unit, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining or improving signal transmission reliability through electronic signal processing and error detection capabilities.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a safety communication system (1) comprising an analyzing unit (10) and a number of nodes (20, 30, 40) which are connected in series and each of which comprises a sensor (23, 33, 43). The invention also relates to a method for signaling system states. The analyzing unit (10) has a signal output (11), a signal input (12), a ground connection (15) and a device for providing a specified signal for the emergency stop units (20, 30, 40). Each node (20, 30, 40) has a signal input (21, 31, 41), a signal output (22, 32, 42), a ground connection (25, 35, 45) for a reference potential, a sensor (23, 33, 43), and an electronic switch (24, 34, 44). Each electronic switch (24, 34, 44) is designed to modulate the specified signal in order to signal the system state of the respective sensor (23, 33, 43). The analyzing unit (10) is designed to analyze the modulated specified signal and to control a safety function in response to the analysis result.