# US 2019/0170296 A1 · Method for signaling the position of a safety device, and safety switching system

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2019/0170296 A1
- Document ID: US20190170296A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/321,182
- Filed: 2017-07-19
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-07-29
- Assignees: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
- Applicants: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
- Inventors: Simon DAVIS
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170296A1

## CPC

- F16P 3/10: in which the operation of locking the door or other member causes the machine to start
- G05B 9/02: electric
- G05B 19/048: Monitoring; Safety
- F16P: SAFETY DEVICES IN GENERAL; {SAFETY DEVICES FOR PRESSES}
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)

## Abstract

A method for signaling the position of a safety device with respect to a safety zone to be monitored with regard to the safety device, as well as a safety switch system suitable for carrying out the method. For monitoring the safety zone, the position of the safety device with respect to the safety zone is detected with a detection device, and the safety zone is divided into a first subzone and at least a second subzone. If the position of the safety device is detected within the first subzone, this is recognized as the first condition; if the position of the safety device is detected in the area of the second subzone, this is recognized as a second condition; and if the position of the safety device is not detected within the first subzone or in the area of the second subzone, this is recognized as a third condition. Furthermore, recognition of the third condition is signaled by a safety-oriented release signal for releasing of a predetermined safety-oriented reaction and/or recognition of the first and/or second condition(s) is signaled by an information signal with data pertaining to the respective condition to a display device, in particular a display device in a wireless connection.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for signaling the position of a safety device with respect to a safety zone to be monitored with regard to the safety device, characterized in that
for monitoring the safety zone, the position of the safety device is detected with a detection device, and the safety zone is divided into a first subzone and at least one second subzone as well as
in response to a detected position of the safety device within the first subzone this is recognized as the first condition, in response to detection of the safety device in the area of a second subzone, this is recognized as a second condition, and a third condition is recognized when the safety device is not detected either within the first subzone or in the area of at least one second subzone and in that
recognition of the third condition is signaled by a safety-oriented release signal for releasing of a predetermined safety-oriented reaction and/or
recognition of the first and/or second condition(s) is signaled by an information signal with data pertaining to the respective condition to a display device, in particular in wireless connection.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A safety switch system having a safety switch, which has a safety device and a detection device, in particular for carrying out the method according to claim 1,
wherein the detection device is equipped to detect the position of the safety device within a safety zone which is divided into one first subzone and at least one second subzone and
wherein the safety switch is equipped to recognize at least three conditions as a function of the position of the safety device with respect to the safety zone, wherein in response to detection of the position of the safety device within the first subzone this can be recognized as the first condition, in response to detection of the position of the safety device in the area of a second subzone, this can be recognized as the second condition, and it can be recognized as the third condition if the safety device cannot be detected either within the first subzone or in the area of the second subzone, and wherein the recognition of the third condition can be signaled by a safety-oriented release signal for releasing of the predetermined safety-oriented reaction and/or
recognition of the first and/or second condition(s) can be signaled by an information signal with data pertaining to the respective condition to a display device in wireless connection in particular.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The safety switch system according to claim 2 wherein the safety switch has coding and is equipped so that this coding can be transmitted wirelessly together with the information signal between the safety switch and the display device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The safety switch system according to claim 2, wherein the safety switch and the display device each have an NFC transmission/receiving unit.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The safety switch system according to claim 2, wherein the safety switch is equipped to update the information signal in predetermined intervals that can be transmitted between the safety switch and the display device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The safety switch system according to claim 5, wherein the display device is equipped to compare an information signal updated at a first point in time with an information signal updated at a subsequent second point in time and to display the result of this comparison.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The safety switch system according to claim 2, wherein the safety switch is coupled to a safety-oriented reaction device for releasing of a safety-oriented reaction and/or is designed to generate an approval signal for inducing approval of a safety-critical process in response to the first and/or second condition(s).