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.

A program modification support device supports modifications of programs realizing functions of a process control system comprising a first process control device and a second process control device. The program modification support device includes a selector configured to select, from data used in a first program among the programs, data required to be maintained for continuing a first function when switching from the first process control device to the second process control device is performed, the first program being for realizing the first function required to be continued when the switching is performed.

The invention relates to a system (1), comprising at least two asynchronous computers (2-i), on each of which at least one application (A) is executed, which provides control data (SD) for at least one actuation system (3), wherein the provided control data (SD) are transmitted by a control-authorized computer (2-i) that assumes a master computer status (M-RS) to the actuation system (3) for the control thereof, wherein the computers (2-i) of the system (1) cyclically exchange state data (ZD) and performance data (LD) with each other by means of a data interface in a data exchange (DAS), wherein the computers (2-i) each determine, on the basis of the state and performance data (ZD.sub.opp, LD.sub.opp) received from other computers (2-j) and on the basis of the computer's own state and performance data (ZD.sub.own, LD.sub.own, in a master/slave selection (MSA) performed on the computer (2-i), a computer status (RS) as a control-authorized or non-control-authorized computer (2-i) to be assumed by the particular computer (2-i) itself.

A system for controlling a process having a first control device for processing first data, and a first communication interface of a first communication unit designed for receiving the first data, and a second control device for processing second data, and a second communication interface of a second communication unit, designed for receiving the second data. The first communication unit comprises a third communication interface and the second communication unit comprises a fourth communication interface. The third communication interface is connected to the second communication interface and the first processor processes or compares the second data received by the third communication interface with the first data received by the first communication interface. The fourth communication interface is connected to the first communication interface, and the second processor processes or compares the second data received by the second communication interface with the first data received by the fourth communication interface.

A plurality of safety monitoring units are set on a plurality of loops of a safety monitoring system. A default test program is executed by each of the safety monitoring units. A length of test time of performing the default test program of each safety monitoring unit is compared with a length of verification time to diagnose any abnormality of the safety monitoring unit. When the safety monitoring unit is diagnosed as being abnormal, an abnormality notification is issued, a power switch is immediately turned off to stop the operations of the robot.

A control device (1) includes a master-information processing unit (10), and a slave-information processing unit (20) including an information processing CPU (220) that performs information processing through a general-purpose OS, and a distribution control CPU (210) that measures an operating state of the information processing CPU (220) through a real-time OS. The master-information processing unit (10) acquires, from the slave-information processing unit (20), information indicating the operating state of the information processing CPU (220) in the slave-information processing unit (20), determines, based on the acquired information, whether to request the slave-information processing unit (20) to perform information processing, and transmits, when determining to request the slave-information processing unit (20) to perform the information processing, a signal requesting the information processing to the slave-information processing unit (20). The information processing CPU (220) in the slave-information processing unit (20) performs the information processing upon receiving the signal requesting the information processing.

A control device (1) includes a master-information processing unit (10), and a slave-information processing unit (20) including an information processing CPU (220) that performs information processing through a general-purpose OS, and a distribution control CPU (210) that measures an operating state of the information processing CPU (220) through a real-time OS. The master-information processing unit (10) acquires, from the slave-information processing unit (20), information indicating the operating state of the information processing CPU (220) in the slave-information processing unit (20), determines, based on the acquired information, whether to request the slave-information processing unit (20) to perform information processing, and transmits, when determining to request the slave-information processing unit (20) to perform the information processing, a signal requesting the information processing to the slave-information processing unit (20). The information processing CPU (220) in the slave-information processing unit (20) performs the information processing upon receiving the signal requesting the information processing.

A safety system for safeguarding a machine is provided, said safety system having at least one safe sensor for producing safe data, wherein the safe sensor also produces non-safe data and/or a non-safe sensor for producing non-safe data is provided, wherein the safety system furthermore has a non-safe evaluation unit for processing the non-safe data and a safe evaluation unit that is configured to test the non-safe evaluation unit in that an evaluation result of the processing of the non-safe data is checked with reference to the safe data, The safe data have a lower accuracy and/or are more rarely available in comparison with the evaluation results.

A system for controlling a process having a first control device for processing first data, and a first communication interface of a first communication unit designed for receiving the first data, and a second control device for processing second data, and a second communication interface of a second communication unit, designed for receiving the second data. The first communication unit comprises a third communication interface and the second communication unit comprises a fourth communication interface. The third communication interface is connected to the second communication interface and the first processor processes or compares the second data received by the third communication interface with the first data received by the first communication interface. The fourth communication interface is connected to the first communication interface, and the second processor processes or compares the second data received by the second communication interface with the first data received by the fourth communication interface.

A programmable safety unit for monitoring and controlling safety functions of a hazardous environment, for example an environment including hazardous machines, processes, materials, and so forth and safety equipment associated with the hazardous environment. A safety unit is adapted for external mounting, and includes a programmable safety module and a connection part that are interconnectable enabling mounting/demounting and replacement of the programmable safety module and/or the connection part. The safety unit further includes at least two connections that are programmable as safe inputs and/or outputs for direct connection to at least a number of the safety functions or equipment of the hazardous environment, and for example the machines and/or processes.