US 12,260,252 B2
Safety device and safety method for monitoring a machine
Christoph Hofmann, Waldkirch (DE); Thomas Neumann, Waldkirch (DE); and Sanketh Ramachandra, Waldkirch (DE)
Assigned to SICK AG, Waldkirch (DE)
Filed by SICK AG, Waldkirch (DE)
Filed on Dec. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/564,342.
Claims priority of application No. 21155211 (EP), filed on Feb. 4, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0244995 A1, Aug. 4, 2022
Int. Cl. G06F 3/00 (2006.01); G06F 9/50 (2006.01); G06F 11/34 (2006.01)
CPC G06F 9/5027 (2013.01) [G06F 11/3495 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A safety device for monitoring at least one machine, the safety device comprising:
at least one sensor for generating sensor data on the at least one machine; and
processing unit for receiving the sensor data, the processing unit being connected at least indirectly to the at least one sensor and to the at least one machine, wherein the processing unit is configured as a runtime environment having at least one computing node and is further configured to allow a plurality of logic units to run on the at least one computing node,
wherein at least one of the logic units comprises a safety functional unit for a safety relevant evaluation of the sensor data to output a safety signal when the safety functional unit determines there is a safety relevant event, safety signal being output to the at least one machine for triggering a safety response, the safety relevant event being associated with physical safety at or in a physical environment around the at least one machine, and
wherein the processing unit is further configured to dynamically generate copies of one or more of the logic units, resolve issues affecting the logic units and/or to assign one or more of the logic units to the at least one computing node;
wherein the runtime environment has at least one master unit that communicates with the at least one computing node and coordinates them;
wherein the runtime environment is configured to test whether at least one of the logic units is still working and/or to change resources assigned to the at least one of the logic units.