National Instruments Corporation

Michelle C Denny

Joseph E Peck

Jeffrey J Kellam

Improved process control systems may include shared safety control and process control components/elements, facilitating the sharing of sensors, actuators, and input/output (I/O) interface circuitry between the safety functionality of the system and the general operational (i.e. normal) functionality of the system. Components and/or circuitry corresponding to safety operations of the system may be designed to permit inputs to be monitored during normal operations at all times as there is typically no safety risk associated with monitoring. The components and/or circuitry corresponding (or dedicated) to the safety operations of the system may operate to prevent normal operational control of various designated outputs/actuators when there is a need to activate safety functions. When there is no need to activate safety functions, these same components and/or circuitry may allow normal operational control of the designated outputs/actuators. The safety portion or segment of the system may have priority control over the outputs/actuators, and may permit normal functionality and signal propagation to the actuators/outputs when it is safe to do so.

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Austin, TX, United States of America

Michelle C Denny