Multi-device connections for input/output (i/o) terminals

An apparatus comprising:

• multiple circuit paths configured to generate multiple electrical signals to be used to communicate with multiple devices, wherein each of the circuit paths is configured to use electrical energy from a different one of multiple independent power supplies;
• and
• an input/output (I/O) terminal configured to be coupled to a common electrical conductor that is coupled to the multiple devices, the I/O terminal configured to pass the electrical signals to the common electrical conductor;
• wherein the apparatus is configured to use each of the electrical signals to one of:
• receive input data from one of the multiple devices or provide output data to one of the multiple devices.

A system comprising:

• an input/output (I/O) module comprising an I/O terminal;
• multiple field devices;
• and
• an electrical conductor coupled to the I/O terminal and the field devices;
• wherein:
• the I/O module further comprises multiple circuit paths configured to generate multiple electrical signals to be used to communicate with the multiple devices, wherein each of the circuit paths is configured to use electrical energy from a different one of multiple independent power supplies;
• the I/O terminal is configured to pass the electrical signals to the electrical conductor;
• and
• the I/O module is configured to use each of the electrical signals to one of:
• receive input data from one of the multiple devices or provide output data to one of the multiple devices.