A detection device for safety apparatuses for the control of industrial machines or plants comprises a reading head adapted to be associated with the receiving device of the safety apparatus to receive a presence signal provided with the identification code following the positioning of one of the movable actuators at a predetermined minimum distance from said reading head, a processing circuit integrated in said head and adapted to generate a plurality of output signals corresponding to respective command or signalling functions for one or more parts of the machine or plant, wherein the processing circuit is adapted to associate to each of said identification signals a personalized combination of said output signals for the execution of respective combinations of said functions differentiated for one or more of said movable actuators.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve the new problem of appropriately protecting a control apparatus and a controller system including the control apparatus against a security event. The execution content of a security protection process performed by a security-monitoring device is determined in accordance with the action state of this control apparatus and/or a notification issued through a control arithmetic operation by the control apparatus.

A cascade of safety switches includes safety switches for the monitoring of accesses of an automation system, at least one connection unit for the arrangement between two safety switches, and a terminator for the termination of the cascade of safety switches. Each safety switch has a first conductor and a second conductor. The first conductor includes conductor cores for transmitting signals and for receiving voltage. The second conductor includes conductor cores for receiving signals and for forwarding the voltage. The connection unit has a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit is provided for receiving the signals of a subsequent safety switch and for forwarding the signals of the subsequent safety switch to an upstream safety switch and the second circuit is provided for connecting the connection unit to a voltage source and to a conductor core for receiving the voltage of the subsequent safety switch.

An apparatus includes one or more channels. Each channel includes circuitry configured to receive an input current from a universal input/output (UIO) and provide an output to a field device in a hazardous or potentially hazardous zone, the circuitry further configured to limit energy to the field device by limiting at least one of a voltage, a current, or a power of the output. Each channel also includes terminals configured to connect the circuitry to one or more cables coupling the field device to the apparatus. Each channel is configured to provide an intrinsically safe barrier between the field device and a controller that controls operation of the field device.

A cascade of safety switches includes safety switches for the monitoring of accesses of an automation system, at least one connection unit for the arrangement between two safety switches, and a terminator for the termination of the cascade of safety switches. Each safety switch has a first conductor and a second conductor. The first conductor includes conductor cores for transmitting signals and for receiving voltage. The second conductor includes conductor cores for receiving signals and for forwarding the voltage. The connection unit has a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit is provided for receiving the signals of a subsequent safety switch and for forwarding the signals of the subsequent safety switch to an upstream safety switch and the second circuit is provided for connecting the connection unit to a voltage source and to a conductor core for receiving the voltage of the subsequent safety switch.