Independent safety processor for disabling the operation of high power devices
AssigneeRockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
InventorsAlan J. Campbell, David G. Fullington
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drive for delivering a high-power signal to a load includes a power circuit and a drive circuit. The power circuit is operable to provide a high power signal to the load in response to a control signal. The control circuit is operable to generate the control signal for activating the power circuit. The control circuit includes an application processor and a safety circuit. The application processor is operable to generate the control signal during a normal mode of operation. The safety circuit is operable to inhibit the generation of the control signal during a safe-off mode of operation. The safety circuit includes a safety processor independent from the application processor and operable to monitor the safety circuit.
Claims21
A drive for delivering a high-power signal to a load, comprising:
- a power circuit operable to provide a high power signal to the load in response to a control signal;
- and
- a control circuit operable to generate the control signal for activating the power circuit, comprising:
- an application processor operable to generate the control signal during a normal mode of operation;
- and
- a safety circuit operable to inhibit the generation of the control signal during a safe-off mode of operation, the safety circuit including a safety processor independent from the application processor and operable to monitor the safety circuit.
A motor control system, comprising:
- a motor operable to rotate responsive to at least one high power driven signal;
- and
- a motor driven operable to generate the at least one high power driven signal responsive to at least one control signal, the motor driven comprising:
- an application processor operable to generate the control signal during a normal mode of operation;
- and
- a safety circuit operable to inhibit the generation of the control signal during a safe-off mode of operation, the safety circuit including a safety processor independent from the application processor and operable to monitor the safety circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.