Safety switching arrangement for outputting a switching signal

Abstract

A safety switching arrangement is proposed for outputting a switching signal for at least one switch or the safety-oriented interruption of a circuit which can be used to control the disconnection of the power supply for a load. In at least one embodiment, the safety switching arrangement includes at least one evaluation circuit which emits a respective unsafe drive signal for the at least one switch at a respective output. The safety switching arrangement also includes a programmable logic unit which can be supplied with the drive signal(s) at a respective input and is connected to the at least one switch in order to drive the at least one switch with a safe drive signal. The programmable logic unit is in the form of a testing and monitoring device which can test and monitor the correct function of the respective switch during operation. At least one embodiment of the invention finally has a safe non-floating first terminal of the at least one switch, which terminal is connected to a respective feedback input of the programmable logic unit in order to monitor the potential state of said terminal. The relevant potential state during error-free operation corresponds to the safe drive signal for the at least one switch.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.