Manufacturer: beckhoff 

The EK1914 EtherCAT coupler combines the functionalities of the EK1100 EtherCAT coupler with standard and safe digital I/Os. This results in a compact design that is especially suitable for applications with a low number of I/Os.

Like the EK1100, the EK1914 can be extended with all EL/ES terminals. The EK1914 has four digital inputs and four digital outputs, as well as two fail-safe inputs and two fail-safe outputs. The safe input and output signals are exchanged with a TwinSAFE Logic-capable component via FSoE.

The EK1914 has safety parameters to adapt the functionality specifically to the respective safety-oriented requirements (e.g., 1-channel evaluation vs. 2-channel evaluation of the inputs, testing of the individual channels).

In addition, standard outputs can be activated for the EK1914. As a result, corresponding standard outputs are available in parallel with and internally ANDed with the safe outputs of the EK1914. The safe output signals, which are controlled by a TwinSAFE Logic, thus issue the safe release for the standard signals, which can then be triggered by the non-safety oriented control system independently of the cycle of the safety controller and FSoE. This allows faster switching times of the outputs, provided that the safety controller issues the necessary release for the output.

The safety parameters are not stored directly on the component, but are transmitted to the input terminal via a TwinSAFE Logic-capable component when the safety application is started. This simplifies service procedures, because in this case the component can simply be replaced. The safety-relevant parameters are transferred to the new component when the safety application is restarted.