Method and device for configuring a hardware component

A device for configuring a hardware component, in particular of a configurable input/output module having at least one module input for module input signals and/or at least one module output for module output signals, in order to connect at least one function module, comprising:

• a data processing system and a display apparatus connected thereto, which are designed to execute a configuration program in order to configure the hardware component and to display a graphical user interface of the configuration program,
• wherein the graphical user interface provides a plurality of function blocks that each have at least one input for input signals and one output for output signals, and wherein each of the function blocks can be selected by means of the graphical user interface in order to use them to configure the hardware component, and
• wherein the data processing system and/or the display apparatus connected thereto are designed to interconnect a first and a second function block so as to form a combined function block having at least one input for input signals and one output for output signals such that at least one of the inputs or outputs of the first function block and at least one of the inputs or outputs of the second function block form at least two of the inputs/outputs of the combined function block.

A configuration program for configuring a hardware component, in particular of a configurable safe input/output module having at least one module input for module input signals and/or at least one module output for module output signals, in order to connect at least one function module,

• wherein the configuration program can be executed on a data processing system and is designed to display a graphical user interface on a display apparatus that is connected to the data processing system,
• wherein the graphical user interface provides a plurality of function blocks that each have at least one input for input signals and one output for output signals, and wherein each of the function blocks can be selected by means of the graphical user interface in order to use them to configure the hardware component,
• wherein the configuration program comprises commands that prompt the data processing system and/or the display apparatus connected thereto to interconnect a first and a second function block so as to form a combined function block having at least one input for input signals and one output for output signals such that at least one of the inputs or outputs of the first function block and at least one of the inputs or outputs of the second function block form at least two of the inputs/outputs of the combined function block.