Phoenix Contact: Flexible I/O Distribution without a Safety Controller

The company's SafetyBridge technology makes it possible to distribute safe I/O modules in a network without the need for a safety controller. SafetyBridge technology allows the input and output modules to exchange safety-related signals with one another. Since the modules process the safety function themselves, the standard control system and network are only used as a transport medium. By eliminating the safety controller and safe fieldbus system, SafetyBridge technology can reduce the cost of a safety system. The safety logic operations are directly processed in the intelligent safety output module. The safety modules can be distributed throughout an automation system using Phoenix Contact’s Inline Modular I/O. SafetyBridge easily integrates into PROFIBUS, PROFINET, INTERBUS, and EtherNet/IP protocols over Phoenix Contact, Siemens Step 7 and Allen-Bradley RSLogix 5000 control suites. The Safeconf software makes it easy to parameterize the safety input and output channels and generate the safety logic, even for those without programming experience. Pre-configured function blocks are available for almost any application.

The standard control only has to copy non-safety I/O data bidirectionally between the input and output modules. Consequently, the control does not handle any safety-oriented tasks.