Shared Safety I/O Layout for Compact Electric Logic Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric logic control devices face challenges in providing a flexible and reliable input/output facility, especially in small frequency converters where space is limited, leading to increased device size when additional safety-related functionality is added.
Innovation Solution
The proposed input/output facility arrangement includes a digital input/output connection that supports both safety-related and non-safety-related inputs/outputs, with a non-safety logic controller module and a safety logic controller module or interface. This arrangement ensures data isolation and combines digital output signals using an AND-operator, allowing for flexible allocation of input signals and reducing the required space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate safety-related and non-safety-related input/output facilities are implemented, then functional safety requirements are met, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines safety-related and non-safety-related input/output facilities into a single shared digital input/output connection, allowing both types of signals to be transmitted through the same physical interface while maintaining functional safety through logical separation and isolation mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The digital input/output connection is designed to serve multiple functions by accommodating both safety-related and non-safety-related signals simultaneously, making the interface universal and eliminating the need for separate dedicated connections for each signal type
2Reliability
If separate safety-related and non-safety-related input/output facilities are implemented, then signal isolation is ensured, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary isolation mechanism between the safety-related and non-safety-related signal paths within the shared digital input/output connection, allowing signals to be transmitted while maintaining functional separation and isolation without requiring completely separate physical facilities
3Reliability
If additional safety-related functionality is added to small frequency converters, then functional safety is improved, but available space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges safety-related and non-safety-related input/output facilities into a single shared digital connection, eliminating the need for separate physical interfaces and thereby saving space in compact frequency converter designs while maintaining functional safety
Data Source
AI summary
A field of electric logic control devices and electric machines, such as electric motors and electric generators for industrial applications, and more particularly to an input/output facility arrangement in an electric logic control device and to an electric logic control device. The an input/output facility arrangement in an electric logic control device, the arrangement including a digital input/output connection arranged both for safety related input/output and for non-safety related input/output, a non-safety logic controller module, a safety logic controller module or a safety logic interface, and data isolation, wherein the digital output signals from the non-safety logic controller module and from the safety logic controller module or from the optional safety logic controller module are combined with an AND-operator, wherein the safety logic controller module or the optional safety logic controller module is configured to communicate signalling to/from the digital input/output connection, and the digital input/output connection includes an isolation between the non-safety logic controller module and the safety logic controller module or the optional safety logic controller module.