Control system for controlling safety-critical and non-safety-critical processes

A control system for controlling safety-critical and non-safety-critical processes and/or plant components, the control system comprising:

• at least one first control unit configured to control the non-safety-critical process and/or the non-safety-critical plant components;
• at least one input/output unit which is connected to the first control unit via an internal input/output bus;
• at least one communication coupler, which is connected to the first control unit via an internal coupler bus and is configured to be connected to further decentralized units via a field bus;
• and
• at least one second control unit configured to control the safety-critical process and/or the safety-critical plant components, wherein:
• the second control unit includes at least two processors and a first dual-port RAM for providing safety-oriented functions, only one of the two processors being connected to the first dual-port RAM;
• the communication coupler includes a second dual-port RAM integrated therein;
• the second control unit is configured to communicate with the first control unit via the first dual-port RAM and the internal coupler bus;
• and
• the first control unit is configured to transmit data from the second control unit to the communication coupler via the internal coupler bus and the second dual-port RAM integrated in the communication coupler.