Programmable safety controller
Processing performance, integration and diagnostics
The needs of automation systems are evolving with the rapidly growing complexity of automated production lines. More data needs to be exchanged over input/output and other function interfaces, and CPU cycles must become shorter. Systems should also be highly synchronized and operate in a deterministic manner.
The closer the interaction between humans and machines, the higher the safety requirements become. Sensors and actuators must ensure increasingly accurate and widespread process and environment monitoring, while IC designs must deliver reliable performance across wider operating ranges. Improved diagnostics are also in high demand as they allow earlier maintenance warnings and minimize line stops.
Our products and solutions
To facilitate and accelerate development and certification processes for safety-critical services and functions, ST offers a wide range of hardware and software solutions.
This includes a comprehensive set of certified software libraries and documentation for manufacturers to acquire functional safety certifications. We developed the X-CUBE-STL design package to meet the IEC 61508 Safety Integrity Level (SIL2/SIL3) standards with STM32 MCUs and MPUs. ST offers various smart power solutions for safer automation, including the following product families: Intelligent power switches, including ICs with galvanic isolation for driving actuators, Current limited terminations implementing efficient and supply-free digital inputs for smart sensors and DC/DC converters supplying accurate power to critical circuits in safe applications.
ST is an independent device manufacturer, and our ICs are built to state-of-the-art industrial standards for semiconductor design and manufacturing processes. We focus on helping customers design and develop safe applications in the shortest time to market, through quality-management processes, product reliability, technical performance, and diagnostic features. Our selected products for safe automation are certified by authorities such as TÜV, UL, and VDE.
Strategic partnership
Several ST Authorized Partners pioneering functional safety have extended their specific expertise to STM8 and STM32 MCUs with software, tools, trainings, and other services. Together, we help designers across all project phases, from the mapping of safety requirements, through hardware and software design and validation, to the certification phase.
