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:
Oct. 09, 2012
Filed:
Jul. 14, 2008
William Henry Lueckenbach, Charlottesville, VA (US);
Edwin Thurnau, McGaheysville, VA (US);
Marcel Van Helten, Wasserliesch, DE;
William Henry Lueckenbach, Charlottesville, VA (US);
Edwin Thurnau, McGaheysville, VA (US);
Marcel Van Helten, Wasserliesch, DE;
GE Intelligent Platforms, Inc., Charlottesville, VA (US);
Abstract
A method, apparatus, and system for controlling a process are provided. The control device apparatus includes an input section configured to receive input signals from a controlled process, a first output section communicatively coupled to the input section wherein the first output section is configured to transmit the received input signals to a controller, and a second output section communicatively coupled to the controller, the second output section is configured to transmit control signals from the controller to the controlled process. The apparatus further includes a safety logic block communicatively coupled to the input section in parallel with the received input signals that are transmitted to the controller, the safety logic block is configured to generate a safety output signal using the received input signals, the safety logic block is further configured to transmit the safety output signal to the controlled process independent of the control signals.