US 11,809,697 B2
Procedure for configuring a modular safety switching device
Jochen Bauknecht, Ostfildern (DE); and Florian Rotzinger, Ostfildern (DE)
Assigned to Pilz GmbH & Co. KG, Ostfildern (DE)
Filed by Pilz GmbH & Co. KG, Ostfildern (DE)
Filed on Aug. 18, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/405,771.
Claims priority of application No. 102020122870.8 (DE), filed on Sep. 1, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0066628 A1, Mar. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. G06F 3/04847 (2022.01); G05B 19/042 (2006.01); G06F 3/0482 (2013.01)
CPC G06F 3/04847 (2013.01) [G05B 19/0428 (2013.01); G06F 3/0482 (2013.01); G05B 2219/24024 (2013.01)] 4 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for configuring a modular safety switching apparatus having a plurality of electronic modules selected from a plurality of available electronic module types and arranged in at least one module row, the method comprising:
receiving, via a graphic user interface of a software-based configuration tool, a selection of safety functions of the safety switching apparatus and logic requirements to be met by the safety switching apparatus;
generating a configuration of the safety switching apparatus via the configuration tool by automated selection of the electronic modules from the plurality of available electronic module types in order to implement the selected safety functions of the safety switching apparatus and logic requirements to be met by the safety switching apparatus, wherein:
the configuration tool generates for each of the electronic modules of the modular safety switching apparatus an alphanumeric identifier that forms at least part of a configuration data set, wherein the alphanumeric identifier specifies the relevant electronic module and its mounting position in the module row of the modular safety switching apparatus; and
for at least some of the electronic modules of the modular safety switching apparatus, the configuration tool generates an additional alphanumeric identifier that forms at least part of the configuration data set, wherein the additional alphanumeric identifier specifies a position of at least one detent potentiometer of one of the electronic modules;
storing the configuration of the safety switching apparatus as the configuration data set in a configuration database; and
assembling the safety switch apparatus according to the stored configuration.