Electrical device e.g. intelligent sensor, for use in automation system, has selector switch selecting standard or exception effective path, where paths include function units for implementation of different safety requirement stages

摘要

The device e.g. field device (24) such as intelligent sensor, has a voltage sensor for detecting a level of supply voltage supplied by an internal voltage source i.e. battery, during an operation. A selector switch is controllable by the sensor, when a preset threshold valve falls below a limit. The switch selects a standard effective path or an exception effective path, where the effective paths include function units for implementation of different safety requirement stages e.g. safety integrity level (SIL) 3 for the standard effective path and SIL2 for the exception effective path. An independent claim is also included for a method for operating an electrical device.