The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 18, 2003
Filed:
May. 09, 2001
Hartmut Schuetz, Heroldsbach, DE;
Andrea Ringler, Pegnitz, DE;
Manfred Mueller, Erlangen, DE;
Johann Schinnerl, Graz, AT;
Siemens Aktiengellschaft, Munich, DE;
Abstract
A method for monitoring the output function of an output unit ( ). In particular, the output unit is a binary output unit of a safety-oriented programmable logic controller, which controls actuators ( ) of an external technical process. The output function of the output unit ( ) is monitored within a predetermined time interval by using bit patterns, which are produced by the external technical process, and by using bit patterns, which have not been transmitted by the output unit ( ) to the actuators ( ) of the external technical process. Therein, the number of output test bit patterns is reduced to a necessary minimum.