ISIS: a fail-safe interface realised in smart power technology

Abstract

ISBN: 0769506461Actuators of safety critical systems must be driven by fail-safe signals. Under a failure in the system such a signal has to be either on the correct state or on the safe state. This paper describes a fail-safe interface able to generate the fail-safe signals required in this context. The circuit is realised in a smart-power technology allowing one to deliver fail-safe signals having the power characteristics required in a railway system. It can replace traditional fail-safe interfaces realised by means of bulky and expensive discrete components