Safety controller and method for controlling an automated installation

Abstract

A safety controller for controlling an automated installation which has a plurality of sensors and a plurality of actuators, comprises a control unit to which a plurality of control input signals are supplied by the sensors. The control unit produces a plurality of control output signals in an automatic mode on the basis of the control input signals in accordance with a user program running in said control unit. The plurality of control output signals is used to actuate the plurality of actuators. The safety controller also has a diagnosis evaluation unit to which a number of diagnoses input signals are supplied. The diagnosis evaluation unit takes the diagnosis input signals as a basis for ascertaining which of a plurality of operating states is present at a defined instant of time. The diagnosis evaluation unit produces an operating state data record which represents an ascertained operating state. The safety controller also has an interface for a display unit in order to display diagnosis reports. The operating state data record includes a plurality of diagnosis data and a Boolean status indicator. The control unit actuates at least one actuator on the basis of the Boolean status indicator contained in the operating state data record.