Safety Controller Programming Interface Terminal Assignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for programming safety controllers to safely switch electrical consumers on and off lack transparency and accuracy in terminal assignment and logic linking, leading to potential errors due to separate screens for hardware and logic views.
Innovation Solution
A method where terminal designations and occupancy areas are displayed in a third sub-area of the programming interface, allowing for simultaneous terminal assignment and logic linking by moving a selected symbol over the occupancy area, generating information about the connection, and using unique identifiers for clarity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If terminal assignment and logic programming are done on separate screens, then hardware view and logic view can be displayed separately, but transparency and accuracy of terminal assignment are reduced leading to potential errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the terminal assignment function and logic programming function into a single integrated programming interface. The terminal assignment sub-area is combined with the logic programming sub-area on the same screen, allowing users to perform both terminal assignment and logic linking in one view. This integration eliminates the errors caused by separate screens while maintaining the distinct functional areas through spatial organization.
2Productivity
If manual setting switches are used for programming, then programming can be done without digital computer, but programming becomes impractical for larger safety controllers
Solution Approach 1:
The programming interface is designed to handle multiple functions within a single system: it supports both terminal assignment and logic programming, works with various transmitter and actuator types, and accommodates different programming complexities. The interface displays multiple sub-areas (transmitter/actuator symbols, terminal designations, logic circuit diagram) that can be used together or independently, making it universally applicable to larger safety controllers while maintaining programming efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If terminal assignment and logic linking are done in separate steps, then each function can be performed independently, but the process becomes multi-step and more error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines terminal assignment and logic linking into a single integrated process within one programming interface. Users can assign terminals and create logic connections simultaneously in the same view, eliminating the need to switch between separate screens or steps. This reduces the number of operations required while maintaining the clarity of each function through dedicated sub-areas.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for programming a safety controller (1), designed for safely switching an electrical load on and off in accordance with a safety regulation, wherein a programming interface (32) is displayed on a screen (30), in a first sub-area (34) of the programming interface (32) a plurality of encoder and/or actuator symbols (36) are displayed, each assigned to a encoder or actuator type, an encoder or actuator symbol (36) is selected, an instance (40, 58) of the encoder or actuator symbol (36) is moved to a second sub-area (42) of the programming interface (32) and anchored there, wherein in the second sub-area (32) already selected instances (40, 58) of encoder and actuator symbols (36) are logically linked on the basis of a logic circuit diagram (66), is intended to enable terminal assignment and logic linking of encoders and actuators in a way that avoids errors as much as possible and is therefore safe.In a third sub-area (48) of the programming interface (32), terminal designations (50) of terminals (4, 5, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18) of the safety controller (1) are displayed with their respective assigned occupancy areas (52), the instance (40, 58) of the selected encoder or actuator symbol (36) is moved over one of the occupancy areas (52) before being moved to the second sub-area (42), and information is generated that an encoder or actuator type assigned to the selected encoder or actuator symbol (36) is connected to the terminal (4, 5, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18) assigned to one of the occupancy areas (52).