Fieldbus connecting system for actuators or sensors

A modular connecting system for connecting an external device to at least one fieldbus cable of a fieldbus system, the connecting system comprising:

• a fieldbus plug to be removably connected to the at least one fieldbus cable;
• said fieldbus plug having:
• a fieldbus-specific fieldbus interface circuit to be connected to at least one fieldbus cable;
• and
• a fieldbus-independent interface device connected to said interface circuit;
• said interface device having operating modes and to be selectively connected to an external device;
• said interface device connecting the external device to said interface circuit during parallel signal transmission and serial signal transmission;
• and
• said interface device programmed to autonomously check a type of the external device connected to said interface device and to select an appropriate subset of said operating modes for the type of the external device.

In a fieldbus system having at least one fieldbus-specific fieldbus interface circuit, a modular connecting system for connecting an external device to the fieldbus system, the connecting system comprising:

• a fieldbus-independent interface device connected to the interface circuit;
• said interface device having operating modes and to be selectively connected to the external device;
• said interface device connecting the external device to the interface circuit during parallel signal transmission and serial signal transmission;
• and
• said interface device programmed to autonomously check a type of the external device connected to said interface device and to select an appropriate subset of said operating modes for the type of the external device.

A modular connecting system for a fieldbus system, comprising:

• a fieldbus-specific fieldbus interface circuit;
• a fieldbus-independent interface device connected to said interface circuit;
• sensors having types and varying degrees of complexity;
• actuators having types varying degrees of complexity;
• said interface device having operating modes and selectively connected to one of said sensors and said actuators;
• said interface device connecting said one of said sensors and said actuators to said interface circuit during parallel signal transmission and serial signal transmission;
• and
• said interface device programmed to autonomously check a type of said one of said sensors and said actuators connected to said interface device and to select an appropriate subset of said operating modes for said type of said sensors and said actuators.