Safety Controller Active Data Lock Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety controllers in automation technology are susceptible to errors due to uncontrolled access to memory, which can lead to unsafe processing of incomplete or incorrect data, posing a safety risk in machine tools and other applications.
Innovation Solution
A controller with at least two data channels and a data transmission means that employs an active data lock to ensure data validity before transmission to a higher-order device, preventing colliding accesses and ensuring data integrity through redundant processing and bi-directional data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If memory means are made accessible to higher-order devices for data reading, then data transmission capability is improved, but safety risks increase due to uncontrolled access to incomplete or incorrect data
Solution Approach 1:
A data lock mechanism is introduced as an intermediary between the memory means and the higher-order device. This data lock controls and regulates access to the data, ensuring that only complete and correct data can be read by the higher-order device, thus preventing unsafe processing while maintaining data transmission capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary validation of data completeness and correctness before allowing access to the memory means. The data lock is configured to prevent reading operations until data validation is successfully completed, ensuring that only verified safe data is made accessible to higher-order devices
2Reliability
If data lock mechanisms are implemented to control data transmission, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The data lock functionality is merged with the existing memory means and data transmission interface. Rather than adding a completely separate safety subsystem, the patent integrates the locking mechanism into the existing controller architecture, thereby improving safety while minimizing the increase in device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a SPC comprising at least one data processing means for realizing a first data channel 1 and a second data channel 2, and comprising a data transmission means 3 which is connected to data channels 1,2 in a manner such that, using data transmission means 3, data may be transferred from at least one data channel 1, 2 to a higher-order device 5 that is connectable to the controller.The object of the present invention is to further increase the safety of safety controllers. This aim is achieved by providing an active data lock 4, using which it is possible to influence the data transmission—which may be realized using data transmission means 3—to higher-order device 5. As a result, only error-free data are sent via higher-order device 5 to external I/O assemblies.