Systems and methods for safety input devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10338557-B2
Application number	US-201715627066-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 19, 2017
Priority date	Jun 19, 2017
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

Abstract

A system includes a safety controller that, in operation, interrupts power to industrial automation devices or puts the system into a safe state upon command of a human operator. The system also includes an emergency stop switch circuit actuatable by a human operator and a human machine interface in data communication with the safety controller and the emergency stop switch circuit. The human machine interface includes integrated safety circuitry that, in operation, detects a change of state of the emergency stop switch circuit and provides a signal to the safety controller to interrupt power to the industrial automation devices or put the system into a safe state.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a safety controller that, in operation, interrupts power to industrial automation devices or puts the system into a safe state upon command of a human operator;
an emergency stop switch circuit actuatable by a human operator;
a human machine interface in data communication with the safety controller and the emergency stop switch circuit, and comprising integrated safety circuitry that, in operation, detects a change of state of the emergency stop switch circuit and provides a signal to the safety controller to interrupt power to the industrial automation devices or put the system into a safe state; and
a live-man switch circuit coupled to the integrated safety circuitry, wherein the integrated safety circuitry, in operation, provides a signal to the safety controller to interrupt power to the industrial automation devices or put the system into a safe state based upon a signal from either the emergency stop switch circuit or from the live-man switch circuit.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the safety controller comprises memory circuitry storing a profile for the integrated safety circuitry and, in operation, recognizes the integrated safety circuitry to permit interruption of power to the industrial automation devices or put the system into a safe state.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the human machine interface comprises a wireless device that, in operation, communicates with the safety controller wirelessly.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the human machine interface comprises a wired device that, in operation, communicates with the safety controller via a wired connection.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the human machine interface comprises an on-machine monitor supported by a machine that also supports the safety controller.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the safety controller and the integrated safety circuitry communicate via time-stamped encrypted packets.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the time-stamped encrypted packets conform to International Electrotechnical Commission standard 61508.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the integrated safety circuitry comprises one or more data processors that, in operation, determine actuation of the emergency switch circuit.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the human machine interface comprises a display that displays information to an operator as well as receives operator input.

10. A system comprising:
a human machine interface that, in operation, is in data communication with a safety controller and to an emergency stop switch circuit, the human machine interface comprising integrated safety circuitry that, in operation, detects a change of state of the emergency stop switch circuit and provides a signal to the safety controller to interrupt power to the industrial automation devices or put the industrial automation devices into a safe state;
wherein the safety controller and the integrated safety circuitry communicate via time-stamped encrypted packets.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the human machine interface comprises a wireless device that, in operation, communicates with the safety controller wirelessly.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the human machine interface comprises a wired device that, in operation, communicates with the safety controller via a wired connection.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the human machine interface comprises an on-machine monitor supported by a machine that also supports the safety controller.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the integrated safety circuitry comprises one or more data processors that, in operation, determine actuation of the emergency switch circuit.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the human machine interface comprises a display that displays information to an operator as well as receives operator input.

16. A method comprising:
receiving, in integrated safety circuitry of a human machine interface, a stop signal from an emergency stop circuit actuated by a human operator;
communicating a safety signal from the integrated safety circuitry to a safety controller of an automation system based upon the received stop signal; and
interrupting power to automation devices or putting the automation system into a safe state via the safety controller based upon the safety signal;
wherein the safety signal is communicated from the integrated safety circuitry to the safety controller via time-stamped encrypted packets.

17. The method of claim 16 , comprising processing the stop signal via a plurality of processing circuits of the integrated safety circuitry to determine whether to communicate the safety signal to the safety controller.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the human machine interface comprises a wireless device that, in operation, communicates with the safety controller wirelessly.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the human machine interface comprises a wired device that, in operation, communicates with the safety controller via a wired connection.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the human machine interface comprises a display that displays information to an operator as well as receives operator input.

Assignees

• Rockwell Automation Tech Inc

Inventors

• Dotson Gary D

Classifications

• G05B19/048

  Monitoring; Safety · CPC title

• G05B2219/39447

  Dead man switch · CPC title

• G05B19/0428 Primary

  Safety, monitoring (G05B19/0423 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G05B2219/50198

  Emergency stop · CPC title

• H01H19/64

  Encased switches adapted for ganged operation when assembled in a line with identical switches, e.g. stacked switches · CPC title