IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,518,935
Granted Patent B2
US 12,518,935 · App. 18/925,705 · Granted Jan 6, 2026

Safety switching device

Inventor: Frank Preisser (Ostfildern, DE)
Assignee: Pilz GmbH & Co. KG
H01H9/54H01H9/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,518,935
App. No.
18/925,705
Granted
Jan 6, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A safety switching device includes a housing and circuitry arranged in the housing. The circuitry includes two switching elements that can be arranged in the safety circuit via a first, second, third and fourth terminal located on the housing and close the safety circuit redundantly when an actuation signal is applied to each switching element. A fifth terminal and a sixth terminal are provided on the housing, to which a first input signal and a second input signal can be applied, that correspond to the actuation signals of the switching elements, so that the safety circuit is closed when the first and second input signals are applied to the fifth and sixth terminals. The circuitry arranged in the housing includes an electrical element that extracts energy for its own operation from an electrical signal applied to at least one of the first, the third, the fifth and the sixth terminal.

Claims (33)

1 . A safety switching device for safety-related interruption of a safety circuit, the safety switching device comprising:

a housing; and

circuitry arranged in the housing,

wherein the circuitry includes two switching elements that can be arranged in the safety circuit via a first, second, third and fourth terminal located on the housing and close the safety circuit redundantly when an actuation signal is present at each switching element,

wherein a fifth terminal and a sixth terminal are provided on the housing, to which a first input signal and a second input signal can be applied, that correspond to the actuation signals of the switching elements, so that the safety circuit is closed when the first and second input signals are applied to the fifth and sixth terminals, and

wherein the circuitry includes an electrical element that is configured to extract energy for its own operation from an electrical signal applied to at least one of the first, the third, the fifth, and the sixth terminal.

2 . The safety switching device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical signal is either one of the first input signal and the second input signal.

3 . The safety switching device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical signal is a potential that is switched by the switching elements.

4 . The safety switching device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical signal is electrically isolated from the electrical element.

5 . The safety switching device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical element includes an operating indicator.

6 . The safety switching device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical element is an LED.

7 . The safety switching device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical element includes a first status indicator indicating a status of one of the switching elements.

8 . The safety switching device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical element is an electronic element configured to perform a safety-related task of the safety switching device.

9 . The safety switching device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical element is a microcontroller.

10 . The safety switching device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical element is electrically connected to one of the first, the third, the fifth, and the sixth terminal.

11 . The safety switching device of claim 1 , further comprising: an electrical component connected to the electrical element and establishing at least one of a voltage supply and a power supply for operating the electrical element.

12 . The safety switching device of claim 1 , further comprising:

an energy storage device that buffers the energy for operating the electrical element,

wherein the electrical signal charges the energy storage device.

13 . The safety switching device of claim 1 , wherein a seventh terminal is provided on the housing and configured to connect to a reference potential for the circuitry.

14 . The safety switching device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical element is powered exclusively from the energy extracted from the electrical signal.

15 . The safety switching device of claim 1 , wherein:

the housing has two side surfaces and a plurality of functional surfaces connecting the side surfaces, that together define an enclosed space in which the circuitry is arranged, and

a spacing of the side surfaces defines a maximum width of the housing and the terminals are arranged on one of the functional surfaces.

16 . The safety switching device of claim 15 , wherein the maximum width is equal to or less than 22.5 mm.

17 . The safety switching device of claim 1 , wherein:

the first, second, third, and fourth terminals located on the housing represent two safe outputs, each of which can interrupt the safety circuit, and

six further terminals are provided on the housing, that together form three further safe outputs.

18 . The safety switching device of claim 1 , wherein the first input signal is a coded signal and is provided by an output signal switching device of a protective device.

19 . The safety switching device of claim 18 , wherein:

the coded signal is an OSSD signal, and

the protective device is a contactless protective device.

20 . The safety switching device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the terminals of the safety switching device is a screw terminal or a spring terminal.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2025
From: PREISSER, FRANK
To: PILZ GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 069964/0142 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 102023129554.3 · Oct 26, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250140490A1 · May 1, 2025
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