Apparatus for processing signals between a controller and field devices

An apparatus for processing signals transmitted between a controller and one field device or multiple field devices, comprising:

• a carrier, which comprises a control interface, a field interface, and one slot or multiple slots, the control interface being configured for connection of one electrical line channel or multiple electrical line channels of the controller, the field interface being configured for connection of input and/or output signal lines, I/O signal lines, of the one field device or the multiple field devices, and the one slot is, or each of the multiple slots are, configured for releasable mechanical connection of a module in a plug-in direction and, in the mechanically connected state, for the electrical connection of the respective module to the line channel or one of the line channels and to the I/O signal lines of the field device or one of the field devices;
• and
• at least one module, which is configured for the releasable mechanical connection to the carrier at the slot or one of the slots, and which is configured, in the mechanically connected state, to process signals from the electrically connected line channel and to output the signals at the electrically connected I/O signal lines and/or to process signals from the electrically connected I/O signal lines and to output the signals at the electrically connected line channel,
• wherein, in the mechanically connected state, the respective slot electrically connects the module at a first point of the module and, at the first point, has a mechanical degree of freedom transverse to the plug-in direction between module and carrier,
• wherein the mechanical degree of freedom of the first point is determined by the mechanical connection of the slot at a second point of the module, which second point is different from the first point, and
• wherein for the electrical connection, the respective slot comprises spring contacts arranged in a row parallel to a direction of the mechanical degree of freedom.