Safety Gate Isolating CAN Bus Signals Between Safe and Dangerous Regions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
CAN bus and industrial Ethernet signals from safe and dangerous regions experience communication deadlocks due to poor isolation, preventing direct communication across regions in explosive environments.
Innovation Solution
A safety gate with optoelectronic isolators is implemented to isolate and process CAN bus signals between safe and dangerous regions, allowing signal coupling through processors in CAN gateways, enabling communication as if on the same physical medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If CAN bus and industrial Ethernet signals from safe and dangerous regions are directly connected after isolation, then communication between regions is enabled, but communication deadlocks occur due to poor isolation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (safety gate with optoelectronic isolators and processors) between the safe region and dangerous region. This intermediary device receives signals from one region, processes them through isolation mechanisms, and transmits to the other region, thereby enabling communication while preventing deadlocks through proper signal isolation and conditioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct electrical mechanical connection with optoelectronic isolation mechanisms. Instead of direct electrical coupling that causes deadlocks, the system uses optoelectronic converters and isolators to transform electrical signals into optical signals and back, eliminating the mechanical/electrical conflict while maintaining communication functionality.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If voltage tolerance isolation is applied to separate safe and dangerous regions, then explosion proof requirements are met, but direct communication between regions is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The safety gate acts as an intermediary device that bridges the isolated safe and dangerous regions. It receives signals from one region, processes them through voltage tolerance isolation mechanisms, and transmits to the other region, thereby maintaining both explosion proof protection and communication capability simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the signal parameters (voltage levels, signal types) through processing stages in the safety gate. Signals are converted, conditioned, and re-transmitted with appropriate parameter transformations that satisfy both explosion proof requirements and communication functionality, allowing seamless data exchange across isolated regions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures isolated communication between CAN bus signals from safe and dangerous regions, preventing deadlocks and allowing seamless data exchange while maintaining explosion-proof standards.
Implementation Method 1
The optoelectronic isolators are disposed between the first region and the second region. An isolation device driving terminal and an output terminal on one side of a respective optoelectronic isolator are respectively connected to the transmitting terminal and the receiving terminal of a respective second CAN controller.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relate to a bus network having a safety gate of a substantial safety isolation type. The bus network comprises a first region, a second region, and signal isolators. The first region has disposed therein a first bus and has distributed therein one or more first processing devices, one or more first transceivers, one or more first controllers, and one or more gateways. The second region has disposed therein a second bus and has distributed therein one or more second processing devices and one or more second transceivers. The signal isolators are disposed between the first region and the second region. An isolation device driving terminal and an output terminal on one side of the signal isolator are respectively connected to a transmitting terminal and a receiving terminal of a second controller. An output terminal and an isolation device driving terminal on the other side of the signal isolator are respectively connected to a transmitting terminal and a receiving terminal of a second transceiver.