Intrinsic safety (is) barrier with associated energy limiting apparatus

A system comprising:

• at least one input/output (I/O) module comprising at least one I/O channel;
• and
• at least one intrinsic safety barrier, each intrinsic safety barrier comprising:
• a first hardware component comprising:
• at least one first input configured to receive at least one first data or power signal;
• at least one voltage clamping circuit configured to limit a voltage of the at least one first data or power signal;
• and
• at least one first output configured to provide the at least one voltage-limited first data or power signal to the at least one I/O module;
• and
• a second hardware component comprising:
• at least one second input configured to receive at least one second data or power signal from the at least one I/O module;
• at least one limiter circuit configured to limit an amount of energy in the at least one second data or power signal;
• and
• at least one second output configured to provide the at least one energy-limited second data or power signal.

A method comprising:

• coupling a first hardware component of an intrinsic safety barrier to a first device, the first hardware component comprising:
• at least one first input configured to receive at least one first data or power signal;
• at least one voltage clamping circuit configured to limit a voltage of the at least one first data or power signal;
• and
• at least one first output configured to provide the at least one voltage-limited first data or power signal to the first device;
• and
• coupling a second hardware component of the intrinsic safety barrier to the first device, the second hardware component comprising:
• at least one second input configured to receive at least one second data or power signal, the at least one second data or power signal comprising or based on the at least one voltage-limited first data or power signal;
• at least one limiter circuit configured to limit an amount of energy in the at least one second data or power signal;
• and
• at least one second output configured to provide the at least one energy-limited second data or power signal to one or more second devices.